Have you ever wondered why some jackets and shoes are waterproof or why microwave popcorn doesn't stick? The answer lies in a group of compounds called per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds, or PFAS for short. These compounds are man-made and thanks to the fact that they contain one of the strongest covalent bonds (carbon-fluorine bond) they have found a wide range of applications such as telecommunications, cosmetics, textile industry, etc. On the other hand, the carbon-fluorine bond makes these compounds extremely resistant to biodegradation, so the question arises, what happens to products containing PFAS when we throw them away after use?

Unfortunately, such products accumulate in the environment, so it is not surprising that PFAS compounds have acquired the unpopular name of "eternal" chemicals nowadays. In addition to the above, numerous studies have shown that exposure to PFAS compounds is associated with adverse effects on human health.

An interdisciplinary team of experts gathered around the projects PFAStwin (GA 101059534, funded by the European Research Executive Agency) and PhytoPFAS (No. 6684, funded by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia) carry out research that has shown that innovative scientific approaches can help solve problems of "eternal" chemicals.

As part of our interactive installation, visitors will have the opportunity to travel to the kingdom of microorganisms and learn about their incredible possibilities in the field of bioremediation of PFAS compounds, but also to take a look at an innovative garden that uses the power of plants to detoxify soil polluted by perfluorinated compounds.

Authors: Kristina Kasalica, research associate (ICTM); Natalija Petronijević, research trainee (UBFC); Dr. Branka Lončarević, research associate (ICTM); Dr. Nicoleta Lugonja, Senior Research Fellow (ICTM); Dr. Kristina Joksimović, research associate (ICTM); Ph.D. Itana Nuša Bubanja, PhD assistant and senior research associate (FFHUB); Dr. Ana Medić, assistant professor (MFUB); Dr. Lidija Izrael Živković, associate professor (MFUB).