PFAS And Biopharmaceuticals: What You Should Know

By Kendall Horst

The proposed restriction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is a growing topic of conversation in the bioprocess and biopharma industry. Regulatory bodies have concerns regarding the hazardous properties of these chemicals as they are increasingly detected as environmental pollutants, with some linked to negative effects on human health. There are over 9,000 chemicals being lumped together with the blanket categorization of PFAS due to a fully fluorinated carbon atom in their molecular structure. Here, we share why this broad category of PFAS is an insufficient way of looking at these chemicals, and a more scientific approach should be taken to discriminate between the subcategories.