Balancing Act: Environmental, Social, and Economic Impacts of PFAS Removal from Water

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are emerging water contaminants with significant environmental and health impacts, posing challenges in water treatment due to their degradation resistance. This study reviews 10 papers on the sustainability of technologies for PFAS removal, revealing a critical literature gap as regulations emerge. Our review shows sustainability varies across technologies and contexts. Specifically, single-use ion exchange (IX) demonstrates cost-effectiveness and environmental favorability for long-chain PFAS removal from groundwater and aqueous film-forming foam impacted water, while granular activated carbon (GAC) appears costlier due to rapid breakthroughs. These limited findings underscore the need for more comprehensive research to validate results across contexts and understand the full sustainability profile of PFAS treatment technologies, including removal and destruction. Current literature often overlooks key considerations like the ultimate fate of PFAS. To address these gaps, we propose a framework for future sustainability studies, enabling clearer technology evaluations under specific conditions. While IX shows broad applicability, treatment choice should consider water type, system boundary, functional unit, PFAS concentration, and ultimate fate of PFAS for a more holistic view of sustainability.