Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) present a grand challenge to sustainability due to their use across a remarkable variety of industrial processes and consumer products. These chemicals enable countless critical applications, including in technology, green energy, and healthcare, yet also pose serious risks to environmental and human health due to their extreme persistence and the toxicity of many members of their chemical class. With the phase-out of recognized bioaccumulative and toxic PFAS such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), structurally diverse replacements, like the GenX chemicals, have been introduced but have proven problematic, representing cases of regrettable substitution.
This session will explore the urgent need for a more systematic and scientifically sound means to identify, evaluate, and design safer replacements for hazardous chemicals such as PFAS. It will highlight recent advances in alternatives assessment, hazard evaluation, and informed chemical design, aided by the quantum leaps achieved in computational power and the application of AI to tackle previously intractable problems in biology, medicine, and chemistry. We welcome submissions that address innovative approaches, breakthroughs, and the implementation of safer alternatives.