What is PFCs?
Perfluorinated organic compounds (PFCs) are man-made chemicals which have spread in the environment, causing major concern now due to their persistency, bioaccumulation and ascertained or possible effects on human health. PFCs are lately named as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by US EPA in 2019, and are considered one of the major environmental pollution humans face in the 21st century. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) are the most common PFAS observed in drinking water supplies and groundwater. They were included in Annex A in 2019 by the Stockholm Convention on the prohibited list for use and production. The European Parliament and the Council have included the maximum limit for total PFAS of 100 ng/L in Directive 2020/2184/EU. In addition, PFOS and PFOA are included in the emerging compounds list by USEPA, which has recently lowered to a limit value of 0.004ppt and 0.02ppt for PFOA and PFOS concentration in drinking water as health advisory level.
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