PFAS Padlet Wall (PER 1, GRP 9) by bunnyrabbit123

Investigate how PFAS from discarded biodegradable products affect soil and water quality, and their potential bioaccumulation in wildlife.

kaylied2805 — 2025-03-27 19:48:31 UTC

-PFAS from biodegradable products commonly infiltrate soil and leech onto the particles underground, making it more at risk for soil and agricultural contamination.

-Crops grown in contaminated soil can be affected which can lead to it harming animals or humans that consume these organisms.

-Furthermore, once one organism consumes a contaminated crop, this can lead to a domino affect of it spreading throughout the food chain and affecting many more species down the line and possibly wavering the food chain itself.

SOURCES:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7906948/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949919424000694

Analyze whether PFAS content hinders the decomposition process of biodegradable products, potentially leading to prolonged environmental persistence.

kaylied2805 — 2025-03-28 04:40:05 UTC

-PFAS are primarily made up of carbon-fluorine bonds, which are highly sturdy and firmly formed bonds known

-This results in them being highly resistant to the decomposition process in general as it affects the water absorption process and microbial formation, two crucial areas within the process

-The PFAS contamination in compost can limit the benefits of decomposition, leading to higher rates of pollution

SOURCES:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41545-024-00427-1

Assess the extent to which PFAS can migrate from products into beverages and food and the possible health implications of chronic exposure through this pathway.

kaylied2805 — 2025-03-28 04:53:11 UTC

-There are several factors that can affect the extent to which PFAS chemicals can migrate into food and beverage products, first being high temperatures. Higher temperatures in products such as hot coffee cups, microwavable containers, etc. can lead to an increased risk of the chemicals being exposed

-Another factor that can affect the rate of PFAS contamination is acidity levels of foods and beverages. For example, beverages that contain higher levels of carbonation such as sodas, are more likely to have an increased rate of PFAS chemicals migrating from the packaging

-Another element that can affect the rate of PFAS chemicals contaminating foods and beverages can be the duration that the items are stored for. Longer periods of storage for certain packaging can increase the rate of contamination for these items.

-Exposure to PFAS chemicals over long periods of time have been linked to many health complications such as: development issues, immune system weakness, liver damage, cancer risk, reproductive system issues, and increased cholesterol/cardiovascular risks

SOURCES:

https://www.epa.gov/pfas/our-current-understanding-human-health-and-environmental-risks-pfas

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41538-024-00319-1

Explore legislative approaches to limit or ban PFAS in food contact materials and the potential impact on public health and the environment.

kaylied2805 — 2025-03-28 05:01:29 UTC

-In the United States, the government has started banning certain long-chain PFAS in food/beverage packaging, but most short-chain PFAS are still used as alternatives

-Specific states such as California, have specifically banned PFAS in food packaging since the date of January 1st, 2023

-Others like New York and Washington placed similar bans to prohibit usage of PFAS in food-related materials and packaging as well

-Canada is still in a process of evaluation, determining the risks of PFAS before placing any permanent bans or restrictions

-Asia and a few other regions have recently put higher focus on the issue of PFAS, but are still monitoring the affects of them are have yet to take any action regarding the ban of these materials

SOURCES: https://www.fda.gov/food/environmental-contaminants-food/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas

https://perkinscoie.com/insights/update/pfas-and-food-packaging-state-regulation

Investigate how awareness of PFAS content influences consumer choices and trust in products marketed as sustainable or biodegradable.

kaylied2805 — 2025-03-28 05:14:22 UTC

-The awareness brought to PFAS content in food/beverage packaging has resulted in many consumers feeling misled when buying products listed as "eco-friendly" or "biodegradable" as they later realize the packaging still contains harmful chemicals that can harm both the environment and consumers themselves

-The demand for certifications that confirm whether products and packaging are PFAS and chemical free are increasing as they are gaining more credibility and trust within consumers

-There are also changes in brand loyalty and swaps as brands who claim to be PFAS free and can prove so are more likely to gain and keep costumers as they are pleased and stay loyal. On the other hand, brands that have been proven to be dishonest about containing PFAS and harmful chemicals are more likely to lose a great amount of their costumers.

SOURCES:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154324004733