Lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) are used globally as a key component of clean and sustainable energy infrastructure, and emerging LiB technologies have incorporated a class of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) known as bis-perfluoroalkyl sulfonimides (bis-FASIs). PFAS are recognized internationally as recalcitrant contaminants, a subset of which are known to be mobile and toxic, but little is known about environmental impacts of bis-FASIs released during LiB manufacture, use, and disposal. Here we demonstrate that environmental concentrations proximal to manufacturers, ecotoxicity, and treatability of bis-FASIs are comparable to PFAS such as perfluorooctanoic acid that are now prohibited and highly regulated worldwide, and we confirm the clean energy sector as an unrecognized and potentially growing source of international PFAS release. Results underscore that environmental impacts of clean energy infrastructure merit scrutiny to ensure that reduced CO₂ emissions are not achieved at the expense of increasing global releases of persistent organic pollutants.

Microplastic fibers (MFs) pollute aquatic habitats globally via sewage release, stormwater runoff, or atmospheric deposition. Of the synthetic MFs, polyester (PES) and polypropylene (PP) are the most common. Field studies show that fish ingest large quantities of MFs. However, few laboratory studies have addressed host responses, particularly at the organ and tissue levels. Adult Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes), a laboratory model fish, were exposed to aqueous concentrations of PES or PP MFs (10,000 MFs/L) for 21 days. Medaka egested 1,367 ± 819 PES MFs (0.1 ± 0.04 mg) and 157 ± 105 PP MFs (1.4 ± 0.06 mg) per 24 hrs, with PP egestion increasing over time. Exposure did not result in changes in body condition, gonadosomatic- or hepatosomatic indices. PES exposure resulted in no reproductive changes, but females exposed to PP MFs produced more eggs over time. MF exposure did not affect embryonic mortality, development, or hatching. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of gills revealed denuding of epithelium on arches, fusion of primary lamellae, and increased mucus. Histologic sections revealed aneurysms in secondary lamellae, epithelial lifting, and swellings of inner opercular membrane that altered morphology of rostral most gill lamellae. SEM and histochemical analyses showed increased mucous cells and secretions on epithelium of foregut; however, overt abrasions with sloughing of cells were absent. For these reasons, increased focus at the tissue and cell levels proved necessary to appreciate toxicity associated with MFs.

Abrasion study of Ag–PETG nanocomposites helps to estimate how much AgNP microplastics are released from composite products during use or into the environment during their lifecycle.

Lithium ion batteries (LiBs) are used globally as a key component of clean and sustainable energy iinfrastructure^1,2. Emerging LiB technologies have incorporated a novel class of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS, i.e., "forever chemicals") known as bis-perfluoroalkyl sulfonimides (bis-FASIs)^3–8. PFAS are recognized internationally as recalcitrant, mobile, and toxic environmental contaminants⁹. Despite this, virtually nothing is known about environmental impacts of bis-FASIs released during LiB manufacture, use, and disposal. Here we demonstrate that occurrence, ecotoxicity, and treatability of this novel class of PFAS are comparable to PFAS that are now prohibited and highly regulated worldwide^10–15 and confirm the clean energy sector as an unrecognized and growing source of global PFAS release. U.S. and European surface water, soil, and sediment measurements confirmed bis-FASI release internationally at concentrations as high as 2,437 parts per trillion (ppt). Toxicity data demonstrated effects on swimming behavior in Daphnia magna at bis-FASI exposures of 10 ppt and swimming behavior and metabolic process changes in Danio rerio resulting from exposures of 25 ppt. Occurrence of up to 881 ppt of bis-FASIs in landfill leachates highlights current impacts of LiB disposal. Although fully recalcitrant to advanced oxidation processes, select bis-FASIs were removed from water during adsorptive treatment with similar or better efficiency as more hydrophobic PFAS such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). LiB use is anticipated to increase globally over the next decade, and 8 million tons of LiB waste are projected by 2040 as a result of low recycling rates¹⁶. This suggests that environmental exposure to this novel, unregulated class of PFAS will increase with time and will be relevant to the majority of the world's population. Results underscore that environmental impacts of clean energy infrastructure merit scrutiny to ensure that reduced CO2 emissions are not achieved at the expense of increasing global releases of persistent organic pollutants.