Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) in irrigated agricultural systems: sources, environmental fate, crop uptake, human health risk, and mitigation strategies

Zhulvie Meylanzharie; Iswahyudi Iswahyudi; Zakiyatuz Zhulva Nabila Wahyudi; Muhammad Ilman Wahyudi

doi:10.31102/eam.3.1.47-66

Authors

Zhulvie Meylanzharie RSD Mohammad Noer
Iswahyudi Iswahyudi Universitas Islam Madura
Zakiyatuz Zhulva Nabila Wahyudi Center of Environmental and Agriculture Management
Muhammad Ilman Wahyudi Center of Environmental and Agriculture Management

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31102/eam.3.1.47-66

Keywords:

PFAS, irrigation, agriculture, crop uptake, food safety, mitigation

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent contaminants that are increasingly of concern in irrigation farming systems because they can enter the soil, water, plants, sediments, groundwater, and food chains. This review aims to synthesize sources, transportation, environmental fate, plant absorption, health risks, and PFAS mitigation strategies in agricultural agroecosystems. The literature was obtained from the Scopus database with the keyword "PFAS irrigation Agriculture" and produced 43 documents, consisting of 40 articles and 3 reviews. The results of the study show that the main sources of PFAS on agricultural land include polluted irrigation water, treated wastewater, reclaimed water, biosolids, biosolid-based compost, pesticides, agricultural plastics, atmospheric deposition, landfills, wastewater treatment plants, polluted river water, and industrial emissions. PFAS can move through infiltration, leaching, runoff, drainage, groundwater transport, and sediment accumulation. Short-chain PFAS tend to be more mobile and easily move into water and plant tissues, while long-chain PFAS are more strongly bound to soil, roots, and sediments. Some crops such as rice, soybeans, wheat, tomatoes, lettuce, turnips, and feed crops can accumulate PFAS through root uptake and, under certain conditions, foliar uptake. Health risks are mainly related to the consumption of agricultural products and animal food from polluted systems. Mitigation strategies include water source management, alternating irrigation, biochar, carbon adsorbents, soil remediation, validation of analytical methods, and transport modeling. This review emphasizes the need for a soil-water-crop-groundwater continuum approach for integrated PFAS management.

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