Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS for short, play a key role in numerous industrial sectors due to their properties and wide range of applications. The downside is that they are non-degradable and accumulate in the environment, animals, and humans
What are PFAS? PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) are chemicals widely used by industries for their unique properties, making them difficult to replace. However, at the same time, it is crucial to find an alternative that is less harmful to the environment. These chemicals are considered “forever chemicals” because they accumulate in the environment and do not break down over time. Whether in cookware, rain jackets, food packaging, or firefighting foam, numerous everyday products contain PFAS. This group of versatile organic compounds has hydrogen atoms replaced by fluorine atoms, either fully (perfluorinated) or partially (polyfluorinated), which gives them properties that make them valuable for various sectors and products.
What’s Behind Their Bad Reputation?
It has been shown that smaller PFAS molecules, such as perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), are toxic to humans and the environment. Low molecular weight PFAS can accumulate in animal tissues, ultimately ending up on our tables. These chemicals enter the human body through food or drinking water, causing significant health effects, including organ damage, cancer, and developmental disorders. For this reason, many countries have already imposed limits on certain PFAS in drinking water.
The European Union’s Efforts to Reduce Widespread Use
The European Union has already imposed restrictions on the deliberate use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) across various sectors. As outlined in the EU’s Sustainable Chemicals Strategy, the European Commission has proposed a series of actions to address the issues arising from the use of PFAS, aiming for their gradual elimination within the European Union, except in cases where their use is deemed essential. A specific European directive has set limits for 30 different PFAS in drinking water. Furthermore, measures introduced on September 19 by the European Commission will ban the sale and use of undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and related substances—particularly persistent and mobile PFAS subgroups in water—across specific products.
Is It Possible to Solve the PFAS Issue?
It is clear from many international studies that there is currently no material capable of completely replacing fluoropolymers for all their applications. However, efforts are being made to find alternatives on a case-by-case basis. A research team from the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials (IFAM) has been working for years to develop solutions that can replace the use of PFAS in certain sectors, including medical engineering. However, the European restrictions apply only to uses where the risks are not controlled, which has significant implications for medical technology development. PFAS have many properties that make them essential in medicine, in various products. The researchers at the German institute, led by Ralph Wilken, head of the Surface Technology division at Fraunhofer, are experts in PFAS. Wilken said about their alternative solution: “We have been using organosilicon chemistry for over two decades to find effective substitutes for a broad range of positive properties of PFAS.“
Replacement: Harmless Alternatives to PFAS
The solutions developed by the German scientists have already been introduced in sectors such as the food industry, where they have met the required standards. Now, they could also be used in medical technology, as they are biocompatible and inert, making them well-tolerated by the human body without reacting or reacting minimally with other substances. Moreover, the researchers have developed several coatings that exhibit electrically insulating properties and can be optimally adjusted in terms of how they interact with cells. The key is customization. “We can thoroughly analyze the component that needs to be replaced and then focus on a substitute that exactly matches the desired properties. At the same time, we can provide our partners with in-depth support through tested processes, our knowledge of surfaces and functional materials, and our experience in how materials can be effectively replaced and how to do it. It doesn’t take long to reach a result that companies can work with,” explained Kai Borcherding, head of the Medical Technology and Life Sciences division at Fraunhofer IFAM.
Fraunhofer researchers also mention that “many properties can be achieved without fluoride through gas-phase or wet chemical coating,” which is why plasma technology is among the various technologies for PFAS replacement. In this process, water-repellent coatings, for example, on single-use items, are made using fluoride-free gases that are harmless to humans and the environment.
Ongoing Toxicity Testing of PFAS
Furthermore, the Fraunhofer research center has developed screening procedures to evaluate potential alternatives to PFAS during the development of new materials. Through specific patented tests on cells, particularly skin cells, adverse effects on metabolic processes in cells and tissues can be detected. For instance, immunomodulatory, sensitizing, cell stress-inducing, or pro-inflammatory effects can be identified.
