An Evaluation of Human Exposure to a Structurally Diverse Group of Fluorinated Chemicals Using the PROduction-To-Exposure (PROTEX) Multimedia Environmental Fate and Exposure Model.

Abstract

PER: and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used because of their durability, chemical stability, and water-repellent properties. However, their environmental persistence and potential health risks have raised concerns. Certain PFAS, such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid, are regulated internationally, and scientific knowledge regarding the exposure characteristics of thousands of fluorinated compounds is limited. This study evaluates and compares the environmental distribution and human exposure potential of 111 fluorinated compounds using an established multimedia environmental exposure model. Physicochemical properties were collected from authoritative sources and used to simulate realistic environmental behaviors. Our results reflect two effects: differences in various properties, such as the distribution coefficient of individual substances, and the intended functional use of the substance, thereby demonstrating the complexity of evaluating fluorinated compounds. Furthermore, when substance groups were classified into atmospheric, aquatic, and terrestrial categories based on exposure characteristics, the total exposure level for substances predominantly distributed in the atmosphere was significantly lower than that for substances predominantly distributed in soil and water. This study highlights the challenges associated with comprehensively regulating a group of fluorinated compounds and demonstrates the necessity of substance-specific exposure assessments and comparative evaluations. Our findings further support the use of screening-level exposure assessments to prioritize fluorinated compounds and guide future data collection and refined exposure evaluations.