Funding agency: World Health Organization

Objective

The primary objective was to conduct a comprehensive landscape review of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), focusing on their occurrence in environmental and food-related mediums and the associated human health effects. The review aimed to synthesize existing evidence to inform global regulatory standards and priority actions.

Methodology

A systematic landscape review approach was adopted to map evidence on PFAS occurrence across water, food, and environmental sources, alongside health effects reported across the human lifespan. Data from secondary sources including systematic reviews, evidence maps, and grey literature were extracted, standardized, and assessed using predefined scoring frameworks for exposure relevance, species relevance, and health effect significance.

Key Findings

The review confirmed widespread PFAS contamination across multiple exposure pathways, with strong evidence of bioaccumulation in humans. It identified clear links between PFAS exposure and adverse health outcomes, including immune suppression and developmental risks. The findings emphasized the urgent need for harmonized global standards for PFAS regulation and provide a critical evidence baseline to guide future public health interventions and environmental monitoring.