Question of perfluorinated compounds in environmental compartments

The target of this bachelor work is processing of literature searche on the topic: Question of perfluorinated compounds in environmental compartments. The most important substances of the group of perfluorinated compounds are perfluorooctyl sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Perfluorinated compounds have special physical and chemical properties, which make them valuable for usage in different industrial branches. These properties, which make them so useful are also the reason, why they are so harmful for the environment. The perfluoroalkyl chain is not affected by photolysis, hydrolysis or biodegradation. PFOS and PFOA are very persistent in the environment. The presence of the PFOS have been detected in liver, blood, muscle, kidney or brain of many animal species including the invertebrates over fish, amphibians, birds, mammals up to human being all over the world. An alarming fact is, that the high concentrations of PFOS have been found in arctic animals tissues far away from anthropogenic sources. Improved analytical techniques enabled scientists to take interest in perfluorinated compounds in more detail, which led to the identification of quite a number of these compounds. Nowadays there is an endeavour to eliminate the application of perfluorinated chemicals and replace them gradually by other compounds, which are better degradable and do not affect the environment