Evidence of the occurrence, detection, and ecotoxicity studies of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in aqueous environments

Elizabeth Oyinkansola Omotola¹, Chinemerem Ruth Ohoro², James F Amaku^{3

4}, Jeanet Conradie⁵, Chijioke Olisah^{6

7}, Kovo G Akpomie^{5

8}, Alhadji Malloum^{5

9}, Samson O Akpotu¹⁰, Kayode Adesina Adegoke¹¹, Emmanuel Sunday Okeke^{12

13

14}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical Sciences, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ogun State, PMB 2118, Ijebu Ode, Nigeria.
² Department of Environmental Science, School of Ecological and Human Sustainability, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, Roodepoort, 1710 Gauteng South Africa.
³ Department of Chemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria.
⁴ Environmental Fate of Chemicals and Remediation Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Chemistry, Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark 1911, Gauteng, South Africa.
⁵ Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9300 South Africa.
⁶ Institute for Coastal and Marine Research (CMR), Nelson Mandela University, P.O. Box 77000, Gqeberha, 6031 South Africa.
⁷ Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5/753, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
⁸ Department of Pure & Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
⁹ Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Maroua, Maroua, Cameroon.
¹⁰ Department of Biotechnology and Chemistry, Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark, 1911 South Africa.
¹¹ Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
¹² Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State Nigeria.
¹³ Natural Science Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State Nigeria.
¹⁴ Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, School of the Environment and Safety, Jiangsu University, Engineering, Zhenjiang, 212013 People's Republic of China.

PMID: 40018265
PMCID: PMC11861503 (available on 2026-02-25)
DOI: 10.1007/s40201-025-00934-4

Review

Evidence of the occurrence, detection, and ecotoxicity studies of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in aqueous environments

Elizabeth Oyinkansola Omotola et al. J Environ Health Sci Eng. 2025.

. 2025 Feb 25;23(1):10.

doi: 10.1007/s40201-025-00934-4. eCollection 2025 Jun.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical Sciences, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ogun State, PMB 2118, Ijebu Ode, Nigeria.
² Department of Environmental Science, School of Ecological and Human Sustainability, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, Roodepoort, 1710 Gauteng South Africa.
³ Department of Chemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria.
⁴ Environmental Fate of Chemicals and Remediation Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Chemistry, Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark 1911, Gauteng, South Africa.
⁵ Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9300 South Africa.
⁶ Institute for Coastal and Marine Research (CMR), Nelson Mandela University, P.O. Box 77000, Gqeberha, 6031 South Africa.
⁷ Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5/753, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
⁸ Department of Pure & Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
⁹ Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Maroua, Maroua, Cameroon.
¹⁰ Department of Biotechnology and Chemistry, Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark, 1911 South Africa.
¹¹ Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
¹² Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State Nigeria.
¹³ Natural Science Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State Nigeria.
¹⁴ Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, School of the Environment and Safety, Jiangsu University, Engineering, Zhenjiang, 212013 People's Republic of China.

PMID: 40018265
PMCID: PMC11861503 (available on 2026-02-25)
DOI: 10.1007/s40201-025-00934-4

Abstract

Perflorochemicals (PFCs), among which are the most commonly detected perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are persistent emergent contaminants of concern in recent times. These compounds have been reported for their cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, immunotoxicity, and developmental toxicities. Meanwhile, they have been detected in diverse matrices such as soil, sediment, and, surprisingly, in serum and even breastmilk. Worrisomely, these compounds are detected in drinking water across the globe, aquaculture water, and other surface waters. Thus, it was important to appraise the studies conducted on PFOS and PFOA to provide an overview of the environmental status of contamination regarding them. The present review article sought to provide insights into the occurrence patterns and ecotoxic effects of both pollutants in the water ecosystems within five continents of the world. Based on the information gathered in this article, the $\sum P F O S$ concentration (ng/L) within the five continents is in the order Europe > Asia > Africa > North America > South America, while the $\sum P F O A$ level (ng/L) is in the order Europe > Asia > South America > Africa > North America. The study also investigated the previous works that have been conducted regarding the diverse elimination technologies employed for the removal of these pollutants from the aqueous environments, with plasma combined with surfactant process being the most efficient. Generally, studies on PFOS/PFOA are still scanty when compared to those on pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), especially in North America. The information gathered in this study could be useful in establishing thresholds of PFOA and PFOS environmental levels and be adopted by appropriate authorities as safety guidelines.

Keywords: Contamination; Ecotoxicity; Perfluorochemicals; Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid; Perfluorooctanoic acid.

© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2025. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interestThe authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Evidence of the occurrence, detection, and ecotoxicity studies of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in aqueous environments

Affiliations

Evidence of the occurrence, detection, and ecotoxicity studies of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in aqueous environments

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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