Analytical methodologies and occurrence of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances - A review

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a family of compounds of anthropogenic origin that, as a result of the strength of the C-F bonds, possess excellent physicochemical properties that make them chemically stable, and resistant to degradation (even at high temperatures); characteristics which have led to their use for a wide range of applications. Nonetheless, as a counterpart, PFASs innate resistance to chemical, physical, and/or biological degradation, increases their persistence in the environment and also leads to their entrance in food and biological matrices, up to the point that they have even been designated as "forever chemicals". This review article pretends to provide a global vision of the current analytical methods that are being used for PFASs determination in a wide variety of matrices (mainly, environmental, biological and food matrices), including their occurrence, with special emphasis in works published between 2018 and 2023. Furthermore, emphasis has been made in current analytical challenges as well as in the advancements in sensor technologies that are being made.