With reference to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that are used in making many consumer products, consider the following statements:
- 1.PFAS are found to be widespread in drinking water, food and food packaging materials.
- 2.PFAS are not easily degraded in the environment.
- 3.Persistent exposure to PFAS can lead to bioaccumulation in animal bodies.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
PFAS are man-made fluorinated chemicals used for non-stick, stain-proof and grease-proof products. Their carbon–fluorine bonds make them extremely persistent ('forever chemicals'), so they spread through water, food and packaging and build up in the bodies of people and animals. All three statements hold.
- ✓ 1. PFAS turn up in drinking water, in foods such as fish and dairy, and in grease-resistant food packaging like fast-food wrappers and pizza boxes.
- ✓ 2. They are long-lasting chemicals whose components break down very slowly, so they persist in the environment.
- ✓ 3. Because they persist, many PFAS are found in the blood of people and animals worldwide, and some accumulate in the body over time.
Remember · PFAS = 'forever chemicals': very slow to break down, found in water, food and packaging, and accumulate in human and animal bodies.
Sources
- US EPA: PFAS Explained ↗ “PFAS are widely used, long lasting chemicals, components of which break down very slowly over time. Because of their widespread use and their persistence in the environment, many PFAS are found in the blood of people and animals all over the world”
- US EPA: Our current understanding of the human health and environmental risks of PFAS ↗ “Food packaging – for example in grease-resistant paper, fast food containers/wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, pizza boxes, and candy wrappers. … Some PFAS chemicals can accumulate in the body over time. Current research has shown that people can be exposed to PFAS by: Working in occupations such as firefighting or chemicals manufacturing and processing. Drinking water contaminated with PFAS.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·