Perfluorinated compounds: a threat to the clean ocean

Per-and polyfluorinated compounds (PFAS) have been produced for more than seven decades and widely used in the most diverse areas, from food packaging, textile industry, aqueous film-forming foam to pesticides and surfactants. However, the characteristics that allow the wide range of applications also bring environmental concerns due to their persistence and toxic effects. Although the ocean might be the final destination of PFAS, in Brazil few studies have been carried out about PFAS and there are many gaps regarding their environmental occurrence, sources and distribution. Therefore, this article presents a review of the production, use, behavior in the environment, legislation, the occurrence of classic PFAS in the Brazilian marine environment, as well as perceptions about their fluorinated substitutes.