Application of satellite imagery and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for PFAS Contamination Mapping in African Aquatic Systems: Advancing Data-Driven Environmental and Public Health Risk Assessment

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in African aquatic systems represents a critical environmental and public health challenge that demands innovative monitoring approaches to overcome traditional analytical limitations. This comprehensive review examines the transformative potential of integrating satellite imagery with Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies for PFAS contamination mapping across African water bodies, addressing the persistent gap between contamination prevalence and monitoring capacity. The synthesis of current research reveals that while PFAS contamination has been documented across multiple African countries including Ghana, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and South Africa, comprehensive monitoring remains severely constrained by the scarcity of mass spectrometry facilities, with only 49 out of 54 African countries lacking dedicated PFAS analytical capabilities. Our analysis demonstrates that satellite-based monitoring, enhanced by machine learning algorithms, offers unprecedented opportunities for large-scale, cost-effective surveillance that can reduce operational costs by 60-80% while providing continental-scale coverage with daily to weekly temporal resolution. The integration of remote sensing data with AI algorithms addresses critical environmental justice concerns by democratizing access to environmental monitoring capabilities and supporting evidence-based policy interventions in resource-constrained settings. This review provides a comprehensive framework for understanding PFAS contamination patterns, evaluating technological solutions, and implementing sustainable monitoring strategies that align with African development priorities and environmental protection needs. The findings underscore the urgent need for coordinated international cooperation, capacity building initiatives, and policy framework development to realize the full potential of these innovative monitoring approaches in protecting public health and environmental integrity across African aquatic systems.