# PFAS: The Journey from Wonder Chemicals to Environmental Nightmares and the Search for Solutions
## 2 Applications and Environmental Ubiquity of PFAS
### PFAS Applications from World War II to the AI Era
PFAS are used in solvent-water adhesives to have complete contact between joining surfaces and retard foaming, PFAS can reduce cement shrinkage and use to stabilize the aqueous foam to produce flowable concrete mixtures, PFAS are used in supercritical carbon dioxide fluid to synthesize ceramics including titanium dioxide and silver chloride, PFAS also use to lower the surface tension and enhance the wetting, penetration, antifogging characteristics in household cleaning products and they can be used on glass, metals, or plastics as an anti-mist film to prevent surface fogging in humid environments such as bathrooms and automobile windshields [32]. PFAS are also used in energy-related materials such as semiconductors, solar collectors, photovoltaic cells, and lithium-ion batteries (LiB) which can power electric vehicles (EVs). The fluoropolymers PTFE and PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) are also used as binders in lithium (Li) batteries (both rechargeable and non-rechargeable) to provide a stronger connection between the current collector and the electrode. Binder materials with these PFASs are essential during the manufacturing process. Due to its thermal, chemical, and electrochemical stability, PFAS is used in Li batteries to enhance performance, durability, and safety. Moreover, PFAS is also used as electrolytes in LiB, as LiB electrolytes must be conductive, electrochemically stable, low volatile, and flammable. A group of researchers analyzed samples of soil, sediments, and surface water collected in neighboring LiB manufacturing plants in Minnesota, Kentucky, Belgium and France and found the presence of bis-perfluoroalkyl sulfonimides (bis-FASIs), a subgroup of PFAS in parts per billion concentrations [39; 40]. Another widespread global use of PFAS is artificial turf fields. More than 13,000 artificial turfs are utilized across the United States and many of the regular users of these fields are children, adolescents, and young adults. Regular exposure can cause health risks. Artificial turfs include fibers, infill, and backing. Crumb rubber granules, created by shredded recycled end-of-life tires are used as infill substances. This contains hundreds of chemical agents including fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), a class of PFAS. A recent study on crumb rubber \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt}} \hline \hline
**Application Category** & **Properties of PFAS Employed** & **Function of PFAS** & **Total PFAS Concentration max – min in ppm** \\ \hline Firefighting foams & Foam formation, fire suppression properties of most PFAS molecules & Helps form Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AAFFF) for firefighting & 11,031.30 – 0.11 [38] \\ \hline Paints & Durability, oleophobic properties, and high durability & Serves as material for paints and coatings for durability and performance & \(75.67-0.0020\)[38] \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}  
* N/A: Not Applicable.  
\end{table} 
Table 2: _Cont._infill samples concluded that they exhibit carcinogenic characteristics and has possible human and environmental health risks when exposed [41; 42; 43].