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Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) represent a group of anthropogenic chemicals that were produced since the 1950s, however, voluntary and legal actions against the use of legacy PFASs were only implemented in recent years. These actions are aimed to trigger certain trends in PFAS chemistry, leading to the introduction of novel PFASs or the fortified use of short-chain derivatives. In order to investigate global trends in PFAS chemistry, relevant literature about PFASs in the aquatic environment were studied and grouped into three phases. Furthermore, in this article data that has never been shown before, which comprises monitoring of 99 Hessian surface waters from 2014 to 2018, was evaluated in an attempt to depict anticipated trends as fingerprint of a defined area. Finally, this review describes the important developments in the field of environmental investigation of PFASs and summarizes new approaches and challenges for analytical chemistry. • Short-chain and novel PFASs were analyzed in up to 90% of studies after 2009. • No significant decrease in PFOS or PFOA detection frequencies was observed in cited literature. • Detection frequencies and maximum PFOA concentrations decreased in Hessian rivers. • Hessian monitoring data showed higher shares of short-chain PFASs after 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]