PFAS: THE PERSISTENT THREAT TO FOOD SAFETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH

Persistent organic pollutants called per- and poly fluoro alkyl substances (PFAS) are found in common items. They are a serious danger to food security and agricultural sustainability worldwide, especially in Indian farmlands. Biosolid applications, contaminated irrigation water, and industrial discharges are the main sources of contamination. The scope of PFAS contamination, its effects on food security, and creative treatment techniques are all examined in this study. To reduce PFAS contamination while maintaining sustainable farming methods, a multifaceted approach combining detection instruments, cutting-edge remediation technologies, and legislative initiatives is suggested. This review highlights important issues that make it difficult for India to successfully manage PFAS pollution, including legislative inadequacies, insufficient monitoring, and technological obstacles. India's regulatory structure is still in its infancy when compared to other countries' guideline limitations, such as those of the US and the EU, which emphasizes the necessity of thorough monitoring and effective remediation techniques. The need for more research on PFAS source tracking close to industrial and urban centers is highlighted by a systematic gap analysis. To lessen the growing threat of PFAS contamination in India, the findings highlight the necessity of enacting stricter laws, extending monitoring networks, raising stakeholder and public knowledge, and making well-informed policy decisions.