Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances as Emerging Pollutants in the Global South: Occurrence, Distribution, and Challenges in Latin America

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are globally recognized as persistent environmental contaminants with significant implications for ecosystem and human health. However, knowledge of PFAS occurrence and management in Latin America remains fragmented. Thus, the present review systematically compiles and critically evaluates the peer-reviewed studies reporting PFAS occurrence and distribution in abiotic environmental matrices across Latin America and assesses international and regional regulatory frameworks. Among 11,723 PFAS-related studies published worldwide up to 2025, only 175 (1.49%) originate from Latin America. Studies were conducted mainly by Brazil (61.1%), followed by Colombia (11.1%), Mexico (11.1%), Argentina (5.5%), Chile (5.5%), and Ecuador (5.5%). Brazil is the only country reporting PFAS across multiple environmental compartments, including soils, sediments, surface waters, and groundwater. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid remain the most frequently detected compounds; however, increasing detection of short-chain PFAS reflects a transition toward alternative substances with higher environmental mobility. Notably, continued use of PFOS precursors, particularly sulfluramid-based pesticides, emerges as a region-specific and underrecognized source of PFOS contamination. Overall, this review reveals substantial scientific, analytical, and regulatory gaps in Latin America. Limited monitoring capacity, ongoing precursor use, and fragmented governance frameworks may facilitate long-term PFAS contamination, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated monitoring efforts, capacity building, and regionally adapted regulatory strategies.