Change in global PFAS cycling as a response of permafrost degradation to climate change
Ali Mahmoudnia, Naser Mehrdadi, Majid Baghdadi, Gholamreza Moussavi
Abstract
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been detected worldwide in different environmental compartments, even in the Arctic ice and soil. Permafrost is an essential component in the Arctic regions because it may be a crucial potential pool of airborne PFAS. Permafrost is greatly sensitive to climate change. Therefore, permafrost will grievously degrade and thaw in response to climate warming, affecting the global PFAS. Yet, our knowledge about the influence of permafrost degradation on the global PFAS cycle is very limited. The present discussion aims to enlarge on the disastrous impact of permafrost degradation on PFAS cycling in response to climate change to address the gap. This influence has not been paid attention to in scientific research related to PFAS. The discussion also calls for further attention to examine this issue's potential scale and scope and its underlying mechanisms.