{"id":7056,"date":"2026-07-15T09:10:50","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T07:10:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uni-freiburg.de\/cup-en\/?p=7056"},"modified":"2026-07-28T12:47:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T10:47:52","slug":"pfas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uni-freiburg.de\/cup-en\/pfas\/","title":{"rendered":"Per- and polyfluorinated active pharmaceutical ingredients: an overview and alternatives"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWhat is it about?\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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What is it about?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are molecules containing at least one -CF\u2083 or -CF\u2082 group (OECD definition, 2021). They are often referred to as \u2018forever chemicals<\/em>\u2019 because they either do not degrade themselves or are transformed into persistent degradation products such as trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), which also cannot be broken down to any significant extent. Their persistence and the associated unknown but anticipated long-term effects of PFAS on human and environmental health are giving rise to growing concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2023, a proposal to restrict PFAS was submitted to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA<\/a>) \u2013 however, biocides, plant protection products and medicinal products for human and veterinary use were exempted from this restriction as they are considered \u2018essential\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The paper presented, \u201ePer- and polyfluorinated active pharmaceutical ingredients: Overview and alternatives<\/strong><\/a>\u201c , examines one such exemption \u2013 namely active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), which the OECD classifies as PFAS \u2013 and identifies alternatives for the pharmaceutical industry.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Key messages<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The study systematically searched various databases and publications to identify, from the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) listed therein, those that qualify as PFAS according to the OECD<\/a>\u2019s definition. The authors arrived at the following conclusions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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