Perfluorinated Compounds: Persistent, Pesky Pollutants Presence in Arctic Environment and Wildlife, Leading to Presence in Human Blood Serum
PERFLUORINATED COMPOUNDS:
PERSISTENT, PESKY POLLUTANTS PRESENCE IN ARCTIC ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE, LEADING TO PRESENCE IN HUMAN BLOOD SERUM
J. Horton CHEM 422- Environmental Chemistry 4th of May, 2012
1
I N TR O D U CTI O N
Perflurorinated compounds (PFCs) are heterogeneous organic compounds that have a partially or fully fluorinated alkyl chain, which can range from four to fourteen carbons and can have other functional organic groups attached. PFCs are mostly the products of industrial applications, and are transported globally via the ocean and the atmosphere. These perfluorinated compounds accumulate in the largest concentrations in arctic regions. Due to the nature of the structure of perfluorinated carbons, they are very persistent, and they tend to bioaccumulate and biomagnify through the food chain. Because of this, the existence of PFCs in the environment has become a great concern. due to their persistent nature and their tendency to bioaccumulate and biomagnify through the food chain. PFCs have been detected in the blood serum of mammals, birds, and fish, as well as in humans. Perfluorinated compounds are a general class of compounds, which include perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids, perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids, perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides, and fluorotelomer alcohols. These compounds are comparable to legacy persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), brominated flame-retardants, and some organometallic compounds (Butt et al., 2010).
2
comparable to POPs due to their long half-lives, their persistence, their tendency to bioaccumulate, and their ability produce toxic effects. However, the mechanism of bioaccumulation for PFCs is different from that of POPs. POPs tend to bind to lipids, whereas PFCs bind to blood serum, which leads to buildup in the liver, kidneys, and bile secretions (Butt et al., 2010). This report will cover some of the studies of the environment, animals, and humans
PERSISTENT, PESKY POLLUTANTS PRESENCE IN ARCTIC ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE, LEADING TO PRESENCE IN HUMAN BLOOD SERUM
J. Horton CHEM 422- Environmental Chemistry 4th of May, 2012
1
I N TR O D U CTI O N
Perflurorinated compounds (PFCs) are heterogeneous organic compounds that have a partially or fully fluorinated alkyl chain, which can range from four to fourteen carbons and can have other functional organic groups attached. PFCs are mostly the products of industrial applications, and are transported globally via the ocean and the atmosphere. These perfluorinated compounds accumulate in the largest concentrations in arctic regions. Due to the nature of the structure of perfluorinated carbons, they are very persistent, and they tend to bioaccumulate and biomagnify through the food chain. Because of this, the existence of PFCs in the environment has become a great concern. due to their persistent nature and their tendency to bioaccumulate and biomagnify through the food chain. PFCs have been detected in the blood serum of mammals, birds, and fish, as well as in humans. Perfluorinated compounds are a general class of compounds, which include perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids, perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids, perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides, and fluorotelomer alcohols. These compounds are comparable to legacy persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), brominated flame-retardants, and some organometallic compounds (Butt et al., 2010).
2
comparable to POPs due to their long half-lives, their persistence, their tendency to bioaccumulate, and their ability produce toxic effects. However, the mechanism of bioaccumulation for PFCs is different from that of POPs. POPs tend to bind to lipids, whereas PFCs bind to blood serum, which leads to buildup in the liver, kidneys, and bile secretions (Butt et al., 2010). This report will cover some of the studies of the environment, animals, and humans