Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a complex & ever-expanding group of manufactured chemicals widely used in everyday products. They are called ‘Forever Chemicals’ due to their non-degradability, long-term environmental persistence, and accumulation potential. They belong to a group of more than 5000 compounds with a strong carbon-fluorine bond coupled with a hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tail that contribute to their unique properties, including heat, water, and oil resistance. PFAS are used in many things we use daily and has extensive industrial and consumer applications, including non-stick cookware, food packaging, cleaning solutions, fire-fighting foam, stain/water resistant fabrics, and personal care items. PFAS compounds are considered ‘Contaminants of Emerging Concern’ as exposure to these has been associated with adverse human health issues such as reduced immune response, hormonal imbalances, low birth weight, etc., and even carcinogenic. Also, limited numbers in the class are highly studied, and impacts are inconsistent across the class. In addition, the lack of standards and inconsistencies across the globe have made the detection and remediation of PFAS a serious challenge. The presence of PFAS in drinking water due to the various environmental and health issues described above and in the environment is an urgent global public health issue that needs tremendous attention. The challenge is posed by sampling and analysis due to their low concentrations in natural systems. Conventional water and wastewater treatment plants are ineffective in removing these chemicals. In some cases, the final effluent concentration might increase due to the unknown precursors in the influent water and their transformations. Hence, this necessitates an advanced polishing treatment to eliminate these toxic chemicals from the water system. This research focuses on detecting PFAS in the waters of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and developing effective treatment strategies for their removal and degradation along with risk assessment.

Keywords: Forever chemicals, detection, suspect screening, Chennai, occurrence, waters, separation, degradation.