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 ∑ P F O S concentration (ng/L) within the five continents is in the order Europe > Asia > Africa > North America > South America, while the ∑ 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.

Department of Biochemistry Faculty of Biological Sciences University of Nigeria Nsukka Enugu State Nigeria

Department of Biotechnology and Chemistry Vaal University of Technology Vanderbijlpark 1911 South Africa

Department of Chemical Sciences Tai Solarin University of Education Ogun State PMB 2118 Ijebu Ode Nigeria

Department of Chemistry Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike Nigeria

Department of Chemistry University of the Free State Bloemfontein 9300 South Africa

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

Department of Physics Faculty of Science University of Maroua Maroua Cameroon

Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso Nigeria

Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry University of Nigeria Nsukka Nigeria

Environmental Fate of Chemicals and Remediation Laboratory Department of Biotechnology and Chemistry Vaal University of Technology Vanderbijlpark 1911 Gauteng South Africa

Institute for Coastal and Marine Research Nelson Mandela University P O Box 77000 Gqeberha 6031 South Africa

Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security School of the Environment and Safety Jiangsu University Engineering Zhenjiang 212013 People's Republic of China

Natural Science Unit School of General Studies University of Nigeria Nsukka Enugu State Nigeria

Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment Faculty of Science Masaryk University Kamenice 5 753 625 00 Brno Czech Republic

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