
Frontiers in Environmental Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13
Published: April 8, 2025
The cryosphere faces increasing threats from anthropogenic pollutants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of synthetic chemicals produced in significant quantities released into the environment for over seven decades. PFAS are widely utilized their water- grease-resistant properties numerous industrial, household, personal care, medical products. Despite widespread applications, all or degradation transformation products environmentally persistent pose health risks to humans. detected ubiquitously, even remote regions like Arctic Antarctica, they bioaccumulate within polar trophic food chains. primary transport transmission mechanisms involve atmospheric through volatile precursors, oxidation, ocean currents, formation sea spray aerosols. Additionally, contamination surface snow, post-deposition processes sediment interactions significantly contribute transport. physical chemical properties, density, melting points (Tm), boiling (Tb), solubility, vapor pressure, electronegativity, low polarizability, stability, thermal play key roles determining environmental fate transformation. toxicity certain has raised concerns, prompting bans efforts develop safer alternatives. public awareness regulations limit production legacy PFAS, long-term impacts remain unclear. As global warming accelerates shrinkage, which releases with meltwater, cold-adapted ecosystems associated biota face unprecedented challenges uncertainties, particularly regarding accumulation non-degradable materials. This situation underscores urgent need comprehensively understand adopt effective management strategies systems. review summarizes current literature on transport, distribution, along known ecological impacts, bioremediation potential, other options cryosphere.
Language: Английский