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Environments
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Health Effects of per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
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Health Effects of per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

A special issue of Environments (ISSN 2076-3298).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 July 2026 | Viewed by 5758

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi

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Guest Editor
1. Department of Built Environment, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
2. Environmental Health and Disease Laboratory, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
Interests: metals; cardiovascular epidemiology; multiple environmental exposures; metals and their effects on environmental and human health; mixed exposures; environmental epidemiology; environmental and urban geochemistry; global health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Cheng Fang

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Guest Editor
Global Centre for Environmental Remediation, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
Interests: advanced electrochemistry; advanced materials; SERS; PFAS; microplastics; nanoplastics; hyper spectrum; algorithm; super-resolution image; AI; environmental science; sensors; detection/imaging/remediation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) persist as environmental contaminants, spreading widely and posing long-term risks to human health, and research has tied PFAS exposure to serious conditions, such as hormone disruption, weakened immunity, metabolic issues, and certain cancers.

With growing alarm over the health impacts of PFASs, alongside a pressing need for fresh approaches to evaluate exposure, assess risks, and reduce harm, this Special Issue seeks studies on how PFAS affects human well-being.

We welcome submissions that dive into epidemiology, toxicology, or mechanisms behind exposure to PFASs, their buildup in the body, and the resulting health consequences. Work featuring new analytical methods, biomonitoring results, risk evaluation techniques, or practical steps to lessen PFAS-related health threats is especially requested.

This Special Issue accepts original research papers, review articles, and brief reports on topics including, but not limited to:

  • How PFASs enter the body and accumulates in humans;
  • Links between PFASs and ongoing illnesses (like cancer, heart disease, or metabolic conditions);
  • Interactions between PFASs and other pollutants in mixed exposures;
  • Progress in detecting, measuring, and understanding PFAS behavior in the body;
  • Population studies and biomonitoring tied to PFAS exposure;
  • Solutions, policy ideas, and regulatory steps for managing PFASs.

We eagerly await your submissions.

Dr. Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi
Dr. Cheng Fang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Environments is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • PFAS exposure
  • multi-pollutant mixtures
  • environmental epidemiology
  • endocrine disruption
  • risk assessment
  • toxicokinetics
  • biomonitoring

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 4527 KB  
Article
Combined Effects of PFAS and Metals on Cognitive Function
by Adeola Shogbaike and Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi
Environments 2026, 13(6), 319; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments13060319 - 7 Jun 2026
Viewed by 244
Abstract
Background: Heavy metals and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread environmental pollutants that have been linked to worsening cognition, but how the two classes act together to shape cognitive function is still not well characterized. Drawing on data from the National Health [...] Read more.
Background: Heavy metals and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread environmental pollutants that have been linked to worsening cognition, but how the two classes act together to shape cognitive function is still not well characterized. Drawing on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), this observational analysis evaluated how PFAS and metals are jointly related to performance across distinct cognitive domains in older adults. Methods: We analyzed 1447 adults aged 60 years and older from the 2011–2012 NHANES cycle in a cross-sectional design study. Metal levels in serum and whole blood were determined with standardized laboratory assays. Associations of single exposures and of the overall mixture with the CERAD word-learning and recall tasks, Animal Fluency, and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test were assessed using multivariable linear regression, together with Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR). Results: Single-exposure models produced largely modest and inconsistent associations across the cognitive measures. Within the mixture models, PFAS, especially PFOA, PFDE, and PFOS, were repeatedly flagged as influential across several domains, whereas the metals tended to matter for specific outcomes only. The strongest negative signals at elevated joint exposure emerged for memory-related measures, notably CERAD Trials 1 and 2. Conclusions: Joint exposure to PFAS and heavy metals appears to influence cognitive domains unevenly, with memory-related measures seeming more responsive as combined exposure rises. These results reinforce the value of mixture-oriented analytic strategies when investigating environmental contaminants in relation to cognitive aging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects of per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS))
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18 pages, 272 KB  
Article
Environmental Health Literacy in American Indian Communities: Evaluating Per-And Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Educational Materials
by Logan Young, Vanessa Watts Simonds, Christine Martin, Margaret Eggers, John Doyle and Shuangying Yu
Environments 2026, 13(6), 293; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments13060293 - 26 May 2026
Viewed by 393
Abstract
American Indian communities may be at increased risk of water-related PFAS exposure. However, communicating the health risks of PFAS exposure requires attention to concepts of health literacy and aligning educational messages with the community’s understanding of health. The purpose of this study was [...] Read more.
American Indian communities may be at increased risk of water-related PFAS exposure. However, communicating the health risks of PFAS exposure requires attention to concepts of health literacy and aligning educational messages with the community’s understanding of health. The purpose of this study was to determine the health literacy demand of PFAS educational materials, with specific attention to their appropriateness for American Indian communities. Publicly available PFAS educational materials were evaluated using the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), the Patient Education Material Assessment Tool (PEMAT), and a cultural appropriateness tool. The mean reading level of the materials was above 12th grade. The PEMAT scores for the 33 print materials were 62% (understandability), 34% (actionability), and 61% (cultural appropriateness). For the videos, the scores were 62% (understandability), 53% (actionability), and 68% (cultural appropriateness). Neither the print nor the video materials met acceptable health literacy standards, meaning the materials are not well-designed for a variety of health literacy levels. There was a lack of actionable directives that should be addressed in future PFAS educational materials. This study highlights the importance of working closely with community partners to develop education materials that match the skills and preferences of the intended audience. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects of per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS))
20 pages, 7013 KB  
Article
PFAS in Mallard Breast Tissue and Surface Water in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA
by Rae-Ann Eifert, Patrick Gorski, Madeline Magee and Sean Strom
Environments 2026, 13(5), 271; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments13050271 - 13 May 2026
Viewed by 687
Abstract
Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA, is a popular waterfowl hunting location with thousands of waterfowl hunters visiting the area annually. Despite its popularity, the potential exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) through the consumption of waterfowl harvested in the area is unknown. Between [...] Read more.
Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA, is a popular waterfowl hunting location with thousands of waterfowl hunters visiting the area annually. Despite its popularity, the potential exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) through the consumption of waterfowl harvested in the area is unknown. Between 2022 and 2024, mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) breast tissue was collected from Green Bay and an unimpacted reference location to better understand waterfowl hunters’ exposure to PFAS. Results indicate that PFAS exposure is site-specific, as only two mallards from the reference location had detectable levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in the breast tissue, while mallard breast tissue detection rates ranged from 67% to over 90% in two Green Bay locations. PFOS concentrations in the duck breast tissue were high enough to warrant a “one meal per month” (10 ng/g) and a “do not eat” (40 ng/g) advisory for mallards from Middle and Lower Green Bay, respectively, based on current consumption advisory thresholds used in Wisconsin. Paired water samples at the Lower Green Bay mallard collection site had PFOS concentrations higher than the Wisconsin surface water criteria of 8 ng/L, and the relative composition of PFAS in the water indicated multiple sources of PFAS to the area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects of per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS))
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20 pages, 1149 KB  
Article
The Association Between Serum Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Above the Intervention Threshold Level and Vaccine Antibody Concentrations in an Environmentally Exposed Population
by Mihai Zamfir, Heidi Lahne, Volker Fingerle, Doris Gerstner, Johannes Redwitz, Wolfgang Völkel, Wolfgang Schober, Bettina Aschenbrenner, Claudia Röhl, Caroline Herr, Caroline Quartucci and Stefanie Heinze
Environments 2026, 13(2), 84; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments13020084 - 3 Feb 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1218
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has been associated with various health effects, including immunotoxicity. This study aimed to examine associations between PFOA serum levels above the intervention threshold level (HBM-II, 10 µg/L) and diphtheria, tetanus and SARS-CoV-2 antibody concentrations among adult residents with increased internal [...] Read more.
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has been associated with various health effects, including immunotoxicity. This study aimed to examine associations between PFOA serum levels above the intervention threshold level (HBM-II, 10 µg/L) and diphtheria, tetanus and SARS-CoV-2 antibody concentrations among adult residents with increased internal PFOA. A total of 662 questionnaire data points and vaccination passports were collected and blood samples were used to determine PFOA serum levels and diphtheria, tetanus and SARS-CoV-2 antibody concentrations. Logistic regression modelling was used to examine potential associations. The median PFOA concentration was 9.17 µg/L with 45.2% exceeding the HBM-II. Of participants with at least one vaccination, 48.1% had reliable protection against diphtheria and 91.9% against tetanus. Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid protein were detected in 96.4% and 53.8%, respectively. Age was a significant predictor for lack of immunity against diphtheria (OR = 3.6 (95% CI: 2.3; 5.7)) in the age group ≥60. No association was found between PFOA levels and SARS-CoV-2 N antibody concentrations. After adjusting for age group, PFOA serum concentrations above the intervention threshold were not associated with lower diphtheria or SARS-CoV-2 N antibody concentrations in the adult population. Further studies are needed to determine whether PFOA exposure has a long-term effect on the immune system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects of per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS))
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Review

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23 pages, 2370 KB  
Review
From Dawn to Now: The Evolution of PFAS Research Trends
by Phuong D. Tran and Kyoungtae Kim
Environments 2025, 12(12), 476; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12120476 - 6 Dec 2025
Viewed by 2277
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large family of synthetic chemicals known for their exceptional stability, strong surface activity, and ability to repel both water and oil. Due to these characteristics, PFAS have been widely used since the 1950s across multiple industries. [...] Read more.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large family of synthetic chemicals known for their exceptional stability, strong surface activity, and ability to repel both water and oil. Due to these characteristics, PFAS have been widely used since the 1950s across multiple industries. However, over the decades, these substances have emerged as persistent and bioaccumulative contaminants. While it is evident that PFAS pose adverse effects on both ecosystems and human well-being, the mechanisms underlying their toxicities are yet to be fully understood. To better examine the thematic evolution of PFAS research, this review divides the literature into four distinct eras: before 2000s, from 2000 to 2010, from 2010 to 2020, and from 2020 onwards. Since the latter half of the 20th century, the rapid development and mass production of PFAS resulted in the manufacture of thousands of industrial and household products. After decades of concerns regarding their toxic impacts, major phase-outs in the early 2000s shifted attention towards environmental studies and biomonitoring. Throughout the 2010s, extensive studies were conducted to assess the PFAS toxicities, especially perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), the two widely detected compounds on human populations. Since 2020, research efforts have increasingly progressed toward molecular-level studies, advancements in analytical detection methods, and remediation technologies. Additionally, this review examines regulatory changes, highlights current knowledge gaps, and outlines directions for future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects of per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS))
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