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Zou J, Zhao M, Chan SA, Song Y, Yan S, Song W. Rapid and simultaneous determination of ultrashort-, short- and long- chain perfluoroalkyl substances by a novel liquid chromatography mass spectrometry method. J Chromatogr A 2024; 1734:465324. [PMID: 39217736 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2024.465324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 08/11/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a group of persistent organic pollutants that have received considerable attention from public and regulatory groups. Due to regulations of long-chain PFAS, the use of short-chain and ultrashort-chain PFAS is rapidly growing. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop quantitative methods for determining PFAS with different chain lengths in various environmental matrices. This study introduces an innovative liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) system combining large volume injection (LVI) and online solid phase extraction (SPE). This system incorporates three columns: a reverse-phase (RP) column, a weak anion exchange (WAX) trap column, and a hybrid HILIC/ion-exchange (HILIC/IE) column, controlled by two valves. With valve switching, ultrashort-chain PFAS that are not retained by the RP column are enriched by the trap column, while other PFAS are separated by the RP column. The trapped ultrashort PFAS are then transferred to the HILIC/IE column for further separation. The LVI significantly enhances the method's sensitivity, allowing for rapid and simultaneous determination of ultrashort-, short- and long- chain PFAS in aqueous samples. The matrix effects from various environmental samples were evaluated, and the results indicate that this unique LC-MS method is suitable for analyzing all chain-length PFAS in various matrices, including surface water, sewage effluent, and seawater. Finally, this novel LC-MS method was applied to quantify PFAS in various water samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianmin Zou
- Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, PR China
| | - Mengzhe Zhao
- Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, PR China
| | - Shen-An Chan
- Agilent Technologies, Inc., 1350 North Sichuan Road, Shanghai 200080, PR China
| | - Yue Song
- Agilent Technologies, Inc., 1350 North Sichuan Road, Shanghai 200080, PR China
| | - Shuwen Yan
- Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, PR China
| | - Weihua Song
- Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, PR China.
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Wu J, Zhuang Y, Dong B, Wang F, Yan Y, Zhang D, Liu Z, Duan X, Bo Y, Peng L. Spatial heterogeneity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances caused by glacial melting in Tibetan Lake Nam Co due to global warming. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 478:135468. [PMID: 39151357 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2024] [Revised: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in high-latitude polar regions and the Tibetan Plateau have received widespread international attention. Here, we measured 18 PFASs and 11 major isomers in the lake water, sediment, and surrounding runoff of Lake Nam Co in 2020. The concentrations of ultrashort-chain trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and perfluoropropanoic acid (PFPrA) and major isomers of perfluoooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoooctane sulfonate acid (PFOS) in water bodies in high-latitude polar regions and the Tibetan Plateau are reported for the first time. The results showed that the concentration of ∑PFASs in glacial runoff was approximately 139 % greater than that in nonglacial runoff. The concentrations of ∑PFASs in the lake water and sediment in the southern lake with multiple glacial runoff events were approximately 113 % and 108 % higher, respectively, than those in the northern lake. The concentrations of short-chain perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and ultrashort-chain TFA and PFPrA, which may be indicators of ice and snow melt, exhibited significant spatial heterogeneity. Overall, the spatial heterogeneity of PFAS concentrations in the water, sediment and surrounding runoff of Lake Nam Co may be caused mainly by glacial melting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wu
- Institute of Transport Energy and Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China; School of Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China.
| | - Yiru Zhuang
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Resource and Environmental System Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Bingqi Dong
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Resource and Environmental System Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Fan Wang
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Resource and Environmental System Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Yulong Yan
- Institute of Transport Energy and Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China; School of Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Dayu Zhang
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Resource and Environmental System Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Zhuocheng Liu
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Resource and Environmental System Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Xiaolin Duan
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Resource and Environmental System Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Yu Bo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regional Climate and Environment for Temperate East Asia, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Lin Peng
- Institute of Transport Energy and Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China; School of Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China.
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Wang Y, Liu M, Vo Duy S, Munoz G, Sauvé S, Liu J. Fast analysis of short-chain and ultra-short-chain fluorinated organics in water by on-line extraction coupled to HPLC-HRMS. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 943:173682. [PMID: 38825196 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
A rapid on-line solid-phase extraction liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (on-line SPE-LC-HRMS) method was developed to analyze 11 ultra-short and short-chain PFAS in surface water. Analytical optimization involved screening 7 chromatographic columns and 5 on-line SPE columns, as well as evaluating SPE loading conditions, filters, sample acidification, chromatographic mobile phases, and SPE loading mobile phases. The optimized method was then applied to 44 river water samples collected in Eastern Canada, including sites near airports with fire-training areas. Among the 11 targeted PFAS, the most frequently detected were trifluoroacetic acid (TFA, 4.6-220 ng/L), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA, 0.85-33 ng/L), perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA, 1.2-2100 ng/L), trifluoromethane sulfonic acid (TMS, 0.01-4.3 ng/L), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS, 0.07-450 ng/L). Levels of C3-C5 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), C2-C4 perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs) and n:3 polyfluoroalkyl acids (n = 2,3; n:3 acids) were significantly higher in water bodies near fire-training area sites compared with rivers in urban areas. In contrast, TFA, TMS, and 1:3 acid were not significantly elevated, likely reflecting atmospheric deposition or other diffuse sources for these compounds. Nontarget and suspect screening analysis revealed an abundance of other ultra-short and short-chain PFAS in AFFF-impacted water bodies. Perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides (FASA, C2, C3, and C5), perfluoroalkyl sulfonamide propanoic acids (FASA-PrA, C1-C2) and n:3 acids (n = 1, 4, and 5) were detected for the first time in environmental surface waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C3, Canada
| | - Min Liu
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C3, Canada; Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H2V 0B3, Canada
| | - Sung Vo Duy
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H2V 0B3, Canada; Centre d'expertise en analyse environnementale du Québec, Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs, Québec, QC G1P 3W8, Canada
| | - Gabriel Munoz
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H2V 0B3, Canada; Centre d'expertise en analyse environnementale du Québec, Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs, Québec, QC G1P 3W8, Canada
| | - Sébastien Sauvé
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H2V 0B3, Canada
| | - Jinxia Liu
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C3, Canada.
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Donley N, Cox C, Bennett K, Temkin AM, Andrews DQ, Naidenko OV. Forever Pesticides: A Growing Source of PFAS Contamination in the Environment. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2024; 132:75003. [PMID: 39046250 PMCID: PMC11268133 DOI: 10.1289/ehp13954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental contamination by fluorinated chemicals, in particular chemicals from the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) class, has raised concerns around the globe because of documented adverse impacts on human health, wildlife, and ecosystem quality. Recent studies have indicated that pesticide products may contain a variety of chemicals that meet the PFAS definition, including the active pesticide ingredients themselves. Given that pesticides are some of the most widely distributed pollutants across the world, the legacy impacts of PFAS addition into pesticide products could be widespread and have wide-ranging implications on agriculture and food and water contamination, as well as the presence of PFAS in rural environments. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this commentary is to explore different ways that PFAS can be introduced into pesticide products, the extent of PFAS contamination of pesticide products, and the implications this could have for human and environmental health. METHODS We submitted multiple public records requests to state and federal agencies in the United States and Canada and extracted relevant data from those records. We also compiled data from publicly accessible databases for our analyses. DISCUSSION We found that the biggest contributor to PFAS in pesticide products was active ingredients and their degradates. Nearly a quarter of all US conventional pesticide active ingredients were organofluorines and 14% were PFAS, and for active ingredients approved in the last 10 y, this had increased to 61% organofluorines and 30% PFAS. Another major contributing source was through PFAS leaching from fluorinated containers into pesticide products. Fluorination of adjuvant products and "inert" ingredients appeared to be limited, although this represents a major knowledge gap. We explored aspects of immunotoxicity, persistence, water contamination, and total fluorine load in the environment and conclude that the recent trend of using fluorinated active ingredients in pesticides may be having effects on chemical toxicity and persistence that are not given adequate oversight in the United States. We recommend a more stringent risk assessment approach for fluorinated pesticides, transparent disclosure of "inert" ingredients on pesticide labels, a complete phase-out of post-mold fluorination of plastic containers, and greater monitoring in the United States. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13954.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Donley
- Center for Biological Diversity, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Caroline Cox
- Center for Environmental Health (retired), Oakland, California, USA
| | - Kyla Bennett
- Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Alexis M. Temkin
- Environmental Working Group, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - David Q. Andrews
- Environmental Working Group, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Olga V. Naidenko
- Environmental Working Group, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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Pettersson M, Ericson Jogsten I, Yeung LWY. Ways to improve understanding of PFAS contamination - A case study within a waste management facility. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 356:124352. [PMID: 38871169 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Waste management facilities are a known source for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the environment. In this study, water samples from seven subsections within a waste management facility in Sweden were analyzed for PFAS and extractable organofluorine (EOF). Oxidative conversion was used to investigate how much PFAS precursors could contribute to the EOF. Out of the 23 analyzed PFAS, ten compounds accounted for a major proportion of the concentrations. Before oxidative conversion the ∑10PFAS were between 0.44 μg/L and 17 μg/L. The EOF ranged from 2 μg/L F up to 79 μg/L F. There was a greater difference in concentrations and profiles between the subsections in comparison to the four sampling dates at respective sampling point, suggesting different sources of PFAS from the waste. Oxidative conversion revealed presence of precursors by elevated concentrations of perfluoroalkyl acids after oxidation, which increased the explained EOF up to 25%. Seven samples from one sampling date were selected to investigate if other fluorinated compounds (inorganic anions, ultra-short-chain PFAS, and zwitterions) could be a part of the unexplained EOF fraction. The contribution of fluorine from tetrafluoroborate and hexafluorophosphate were equal or higher proportions than the ∑10PFAS. The presence of the ionic liquids tetrafluoroborate and hexafluorophosphate could originate from battery waste, due to their use as counter ions in batteries. Ultra-short-chain PFAS increased the explained EOF by an average of 8%, with trifluoroacetic acid and trifluoromethane sulfonic acid being the main contributors. However, the reported concentrations of ultra-short-chain PFAS, were underestimated due to low recovery by the additional washing step to remove inorganic fluoride for EOF analysis. The concentrations of zwitterions were low and increased the explained EOF by < 1%. Our results suggest that EOF, selected PFAS, oxidative conversion and anionic fluorinated substances give a better picture of PFAS contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mio Pettersson
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre, Department of Science and Technology, Örebro University, 701 82, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Ingrid Ericson Jogsten
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre, Department of Science and Technology, Örebro University, 701 82, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Leo W Y Yeung
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre, Department of Science and Technology, Örebro University, 701 82, Örebro, Sweden.
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Mikhael E, Bouazza A, Gates WP, Gibbs D. Are Geotextiles Silent Contributors of Ultrashort Chain PFASs to the Environment? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:8867-8877. [PMID: 38733414 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
We investigated the presence of per- and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in woven and nonwoven polypropylene geotextiles and four nonwoven polyester geotextiles commonly used in modern geosynthetic composite lining systems for waste containment facilities such as landfills. Targeted analysis for 23 environmentally significant PFAS molecules and methods for examining "PFAS total" concentrations were utilized to assess their occurrence in geotextiles. This analysis showed that most geotextile specimens evaluated in the current investigation contained the ultrashort chain PFAS compound pentafluoropropionic acid (PFPrA). While the concentrations ranged from nondetectable to 10.84 μg/g, the average measured concentrations of PFPrA were higher in polypropylene than in polyester geotextiles. "PFAS total" parameters comprising total fluorine (TF) and total oxidizable precursors (TOPs) indicate that no significant precursor mass nor untargeted intermediates were present in geotextiles. Therefore, this study identified geotextiles as a possible source of ultrashort PFASs in engineered lined waste containment facilities, which may contribute to the overall PFAS total concentrations in leachates or liquors they are in contact with. The findings reported for the first time herein may lead to further implications on the fate and migration of PFASs in geosynthetic composite liners, as previously unidentified concentrations, particularly of ultrashort-chain PFASs, may impact the extent of PFAS migration through and attenuation by constituents of geosynthetic composite liner systems. Given the widespread use of geotextiles in various engineering activities, these findings may have other unknown impacts. The significance of these findings needs to be further elucidated by more extensive studies with larger geotextile sample sizes to allow broader, generalized conclusions to be drawn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elissar Mikhael
- Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, 23 College Walk, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Abdelmalek Bouazza
- Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, 23 College Walk, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Will P Gates
- Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University, Melbourne-Burwood Campus, 221 Burwood Highway, Melbourne, Victoria 3125, Australia
| | - Daniel Gibbs
- Research and Innovation, Geofabrics, 11 Production Avenue, Molendinar, Queensland 4214, Australia
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Folkerson AP, Mabury SA. A Comparative Biodegradation Study to Assess the Ultimate Fate of Novel Highly Functionalized Hydrofluoroether Alcohols in Wastewater Treatment Plant Microcosms and Surface Waters. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023. [PMID: 38131503 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of chemicals present in a wide range of commercial and consumer products due to their water-repellency, nonstick, or surfactant properties, resulting from their chemical and thermal stability. This stability, however, often leads to persistence in the environment when they are inevitability released. We utilized microbial microcosms from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) sludge to determine how employing different functional groups such as heteroatom linkages, varying chain lengths, and hydrofluoroethers (HFEs) will impact the ultimate fate of these novel PFAS structures. A suite of five novel fluorosurfactant building blocks (F7 C3 OCHFCF2 SCH2 CH2 OH (FESOH), F3 COCHFCF2 SCH2 CH2 OH (MeFESOH), F7 C3 OCHFCF2 OCH2 CH2 OH (ProFdiEOH), F7 C3 OCHFCF2 CH2 OH (ProFEOH), and F3 COCHFCF2 OCH2 CH2 OH (MeFdiEOH)) and their select transformation products, were incubated in WWTP aerobic microcosms to determine structure-activity relationships. The HFE alcohol congeners with a thioether (FESOH and MeFESOH) were observed to transform faster than the ether congeners, while also producing second-generation HFE acid products (F7 C3 OCHFC(O)OH (2H-3:2 polyfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acid [PFECA]) and F3 COCHFC(O)OH (2H-1:2 PFECA). Subsequent biodegradation experiments with 2H-1:2 PFESA and 2H-1:2 PFECA displayed no further transformation over 74 days. Surface water Photofate experiments compared 2H-1:2 PFECA, and 2H-1:2 polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (PFESA) with their fully fluorinated ether acid counterparts, and demonstrated the potential for both HFE acid species to completely mineralize over extended periods of time, a fate that highlights the value of studying novel PFAS functionalization. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-9. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Folkerson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Scott A Mabury
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Müller V, Kindness A, Feldmann J. Fluorine mass balance analysis of PFAS in communal waters at a wastewater plant from Austria. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 244:120501. [PMID: 37647770 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants are a major source of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment; moreover, long chain PFAS are known to accumulate in sewage sludge. Although publications on PFAS in wastewater are available from around the globe, little information is available from Central Europe. In this study influent, effluent, and sludge from two wastewater treatment plants from Austria were analysed for target PFAS compounds with HPLC MS/MS and extractable organic fluorine (EOF) content with combustion ion chromatography (CIC). The sum of 31 target PFAS increased from 22 to 47 ng L-1 in influent to 140 - 213 ng L-1 in effluent and around 10 ng g-1 in sludge, while EOF were found to be consistent (2.3 - 3.5 µg F L-1) in influent/effluent and 280 ng F g-1 in sludge. Mass balance analysis showed an increase in the identified PFAS compounds in the effluent compared to the influent (from 0.9% - 1.3% to 3.6% - 6.1%), suggesting biotransformation of non-targeted PFAS precursor compounds. In conclusion, wastewater treatment plants transform some PFAS, and wastewater effluent is a source of PFAS contamination in surface water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoria Müller
- The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, United Kingdom; Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Universitatsplatz 1, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Andrew Kindness
- The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, United Kingdom
| | - Jörg Feldmann
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Universitatsplatz 1, 8010 Graz, Austria.
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Munoz G, Liu M, Vo Duy S, Liu J, Sauvé S. Target and nontarget screening of PFAS in drinking water for a large-scale survey of urban and rural communities in Québec, Canada. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 233:119750. [PMID: 36827766 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Limited monitoring data are available regarding the occurrence of emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. Here, we validated an analytical procedure for 42 PFAS with individual detection limits of 0.001-0.082 ng/L. We also evaluated how different sample pH conditions, dechlorinating agents, and storage holding times might affect method performance. PFAS were analyzed in tap water samples collected at a large spatial scale in Quebec, Canada, covering 376 municipalities within 17 administrative regions. Target and nontarget screening revealed the presence of 31 and 23 compounds, respectively, representing 24 homolog classes. Overall, 99.3% of the tap water samples were positive for at least one PFAS, and the ƩPFAS ranged from below detection limits to 108 ng/L (95th percentile: 13 ng/L). On average, ƩPFAS was 12 times higher in tap water produced from surface water than groundwater; however, 6 of the top 10 contaminated locations were groundwater-based. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) had high detection rates (88% and 80%, respectively). PFOS (median: 0.15 ng/L; max: 13 ng/L) and PFOA (median: 0.27 ng/L; max: 8.1 ng/L) remained much lower than current Health Canada guidelines but higher than USEPA's interim updated health advisories. Short-chain (C3-C6) perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides were also recurrent, especially the C4 homolog (FBSA: detection rate of 50%). The 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonyl propanoamido dimethyl ethyl sulfonate (6:2 FTSO2PrAd-DiMeEtS) was locally detected at ∼15 ng/L and recurred in 8% of our samples. Multiple PFAS that are most likely to originate from aqueous film-forming foams were also reported for the first time in tap water, including X:3 and X:1:2 fluorotelomer betaines, hydroxylated X:2 fluorotelomer sulfonates, N-trimethylammoniopropyl perfluoroalkane sulfonamides (TAmPr-FHxSA and TAmPr-FOSA), and N-sulfopropyl dimethylammoniopropyl perfluoroalkane sulfonamidopropyl sulfonates (N-SPAmP-FPeSAPS and N-SPAmP-FHxSAPS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Munoz
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Min Liu
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sung Vo Duy
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jinxia Liu
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sébastien Sauvé
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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10
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Dong B, Wu J, Zhuang Y, Wang F, Zhang Y, Zhang X, Zheng H, Yang L, Peng L. Trace Analysis Method Based on UPLC-MS/MS for the Determination of (C2-C18) Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Its Application to Tap Water and Bottled Water. Anal Chem 2023; 95:695-702. [PMID: 36598765 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c02436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
As the usage of long-chain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) may be gradually restricted, short-chain and even ultra-short-chain PFASs have been widely produced and used, which has put forward new requirements for the simultaneous analysis of the above substances. Using solid phase extraction two-fraction elution and ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), an experimental method was established for the simultaneous analysis of ultrashort-chain, short-chain, and long-chain PFASs and the precursor perfluorohexanesulfonamide (FHxSA) in low-concentration water, such as tap water and bottled water. By optimizing the volume of methanol in the first-fraction elution, the concentration of ammonia in the second-fraction elution, and the concentration of ammonium acetate in the mobile phase, the high recovery and low detection limit (0.01-3 ng/L) were obtained. In addition, this method was used to measure nine tap water samples and six bottled water samples for validation, and the results showed that the concentration of PFASs in bottled water was lower than that in tap water. This study first reported the trifluoroacetic acid concentration in bottled water (6.61 ± 9.60 ng/L), which was lower than that in tap water (1712 ± 174 ng/L). The main substances in tap water and bottled water are both ultrashort-chain PFASs (C2-C3), accounting for more than 50%. There are few reports on the simultaneous analysis of ultrashort-chain, short-chain, and long-chain PFASs (C2-C18) and the precursor FHxSA in low-concentration water samples, and the new method can be further developed for different environmental media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingqi Dong
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Resource and Environmental System Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, PR China
| | - Jing Wu
- Institute of Transport Energy and Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China.,School of Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Yiru Zhuang
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Resource and Environmental System Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, PR China
| | - Fan Wang
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Resource and Environmental System Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, PR China
| | - Yueling Zhang
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Resource and Environmental System Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, PR China
| | - Xiaona Zhang
- Hebei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shijiazhuang 050021, China
| | - Hui Zheng
- Hebei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shijiazhuang 050021, China
| | - Lixin Yang
- Hebei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shijiazhuang 050021, China
| | - Lin Peng
- Institute of Transport Energy and Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China.,School of Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
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11
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Lämmer R, Weidemann E, Göckener B, Stahl T, Breuer J, Kowalczyk J, Just H, Boeddinghaus RS, Gassmann M, Kling HW, Bücking M. Evaluation of the Transformation and Leaching Behavior of Two Polyfluoroalkyl Phosphate Diesters in a Field Lysimeter Study. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022; 70:14329-14338. [PMID: 36323308 PMCID: PMC9673155 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c03334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In this study, 6:2 and 8:2 polyfluoroalkyl phosphate diester (diPAP) were individually investigated in lysimeters under near-natural conditions. Leachate was sampled for 2 years, as was the soil after the experiment. In the leachate of the diPAP-spiked soils, perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) of different chain lengths were detected [23.2% (6:2 diPAP variant) and 20.8% (8:2 diPAP variant) of the initially applied molar amount]. After 2 years, the soils still contained 36-37% 6:2 diPAP and 41-45% 8:2 diPAP, respectively, in addition to smaller amounts of PFCAs (1.5 and 10.6%, respectively). Amounts of PFCAs found in the grass were low (<0.1% in both variants). The recovery rate of both 6:2 diPAP and 8:2 diPAP did not reach 100% (63.9 and 83.2%, respectively). The transformation of immobile diPAPs into persistent mobile PFCAs and their transport into the groundwater shows a pathway for human exposure to hazardous PFCAs through drinking water and irrigation of crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- René Lämmer
- Department of Environmental and Food Analysis, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Auf dem Aberg 1, 57392 Schmallenberg, Germany
| | - Eva Weidemann
- Department of Hydrology and Substance Balance, University of Kassel, Kurt-Wolters-Straße 3, 34125 Kassel, Germany
| | - Bernd Göckener
- Department of Environmental and Food Analysis, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Auf dem Aberg 1, 57392 Schmallenberg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Stahl
- Chemical and Veterinary Analytical Institute Münsterland-Emscher-Lippe, Joseph-König-Straße 40, 48147 Münster, Germany
| | - Jörn Breuer
- Center for Agricultural Technology Augustenberg (LTZ), Neßlerstraße 25, 76227 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Janine Kowalczyk
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Hildegard Just
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Runa S Boeddinghaus
- Center for Agricultural Technology Augustenberg (LTZ), Neßlerstraße 25, 76227 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Matthias Gassmann
- Department of Hydrology and Substance Balance, University of Kassel, Kurt-Wolters-Straße 3, 34125 Kassel, Germany
| | - Hans-Willi Kling
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Wuppertal, Gaußstraße 20, 42119 Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Mark Bücking
- Department of Environmental and Food Analysis, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Auf dem Aberg 1, 57392 Schmallenberg, Germany
- School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
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12
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Amziane A, Monteau F, El Djalil Lalaouna A, Alamir B, Le Bizec B, Dervilly G. Optimization and validation of a fast supercritical fluid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantitative determination of a large set of PFASs in food matrices and human milk. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2022; 1210:123455. [PMID: 36115197 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2022.123455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
An Ultra-High Performance Supercritical Fluid Chromatography coupled with tandem Mass Spectrometry analytical method (UHPSFC-MS/MS) was developed for the determination of 34 perfluoroalkylated substances (PFASs) in food-related matrices. Two parameters (i.e. stationary phase and co-solvent) were selected and optimized using a step-by-step method, while a design of experiment (DoE) method using a central composite design (CCD) was implemented to optimize column temperature, mobile phase flow rate, co-solvent concentration and automated back pressure regulator (ABPR). The Torus 2-PIC column was selected along with ammonium acetate AcoNH4 as additive in the co-solvent. DoE optimization of both peak width and resolution enabled validating an optimized model (desirability 0.613) and setting column temperature at 38.7 °C, AcoNH4 concentration at 8 mM, mobile phase flow rate of 1.9 mL/min and ABPR at 1654 psi. The validated resulting method enabled reaching limits of quantification below 0.2 ng/g (w.w.) for 97 % PFASs in accordance with current EU requirements. The strategy was successfully applied to the characterization of a range (n > 30) of food-related matrices (red meat, poultry meat, eggs, fish and breast milk) collected in Algeria in 2019. PFOA and PFBA were observed as the most frequently detected PFASs, i.e. in 96.96 % and 90.9 % of the samples respectively. The highest concentrations were determined in fishery products up to 4.42 ng/g (w.w.) for PFTeDA and 0.75 ng/g (w.w.) for PFOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Amziane
- Oniris, INRAE, LABERCA, F44300 Nantes, France; CNT, Centre National de Toxicologie, Alger, Algérie; Algiers University I Benyoucef Benkhedda, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacy, Alger, Algeria
| | | | - Abd El Djalil Lalaouna
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Salah Boubnider University, Constantine 3, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacy, Constantine, Algeria
| | - Barkahom Alamir
- CNT, Centre National de Toxicologie, Alger, Algérie; Algiers University I Benyoucef Benkhedda, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacy, Alger, Algeria
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13
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Wu C, Wang Q, Chen H, Li M. Rapid quantitative analysis and suspect screening of per-and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) and municipal wastewater samples by Nano-ESI-HRMS. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 219:118542. [PMID: 35550967 PMCID: PMC10492922 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A rapid analytical method for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) combining nano-electrospray ionization and high-resolution mass spectrometry (Nano-ESI-HRMS) was developed and applied to aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) and wastewater samples collected from three local wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This method exhibited high sensitivity with lower limits of detection (LODs) of 3.2∼36.2 ng/L for 22 target PFAS analytes. In AFFF formulations, Nano-ESI-HRMS enabled the first-time detection of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFMS), perfluoroethyl cyclohexanesulfonate (PFECHS), 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonyl amido sulfonic acid (6:2 FTSAS-SO2), N-ammoniopropyl perfluoroalkanesulfonamidopropylsulfonate (N-AmP-FASAPS, n = 3-6), ketone-perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (Keto-PFOS), fluorotelomer unsaturated amide sulfonic acid (FTUAmS, n = 7), and 6:2 fluorotelomer amide (6:2 FTAm). Their structures were verified by the tandem MS analysis using collision-induced dissociation. Further, the combination of absolute and semi-quantification results revealed 16 PFASs from 9 PFAS classes as dominant AFFF constituents, accounting for 88.2∼96.5% of the total detected anionic and zwitterionic PFASs, including perfluorinated sulfonic acids (PFSAs, n = 1,4∼8), 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonates (6:2 FTS), fluorotelomer thioether amido sulfonic acid (FTSAS, n = 6,8), fluorotelomer sulfinyl amido sulfonic acid (FTSAS-SO, n = 6,8), N-AmP-FASAPS (n = 6), 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide alkylbetaine (6:2 FTAB), perfluoroalkylsulfonamido amino carboxylate (PFASAC, n = 6), 2-((perfluorooctyl)thio)acetatic acid (Thio-8:2 FTCA), and 6:2 FTAm. At WWTPs, aerobic and anaerobic biotransformation of PFAS precursors at the aeration tanks and secondary clarifiers were evident by the generation of mid/short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids, such as perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA), as well as the emergence of ultrashort trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and TFMS and several novel fluorotelomer carboxylic acids (FTCAs). Overall, Nano-ESI-HRMS enabled comprehensive PFAS quantitative analysis and suspect screening, applicable for rapid investigation and assessment of PFAS-related exposure and treatment in environmental matrixes. Our results also revealed that AFFFs and municipal wastewaters are two key sources contributing to the prevalent detection of ultrashort-chain PFASs (e.g., TFMS and TFA) in water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Wu
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, United States.
| | - Mengyan Li
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, United States.
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14
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Neuwald IJ, Hübner D, Wiegand HL, Valkov V, Borchers U, Nödler K, Scheurer M, Hale SE, Arp HPH, Zahn D. Ultra-Short-Chain PFASs in the Sources of German Drinking Water: Prevalent, Overlooked, Difficult to Remove, and Unregulated. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:6380-6390. [PMID: 35507024 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c07949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been a focal point of environmental chemistry and chemical regulation in recent years, culminating in a shift from individual PFAS regulation toward a PFAS group regulatory approach in Europe. PFASs are a highly diverse group of substances, and knowledge about this group is still scarce beyond the well-studied, legacy long-chain, and short-chain perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs) and perfluorosulfonates (PFSAs). Herein, quantitative and semiquantitative data for 43 legacy short-chain and ultra-short-chain PFASs (≤2 perfluorocarbon atoms for PFCAs, ≤3 for PFSAs and other PFASs) in 46 water samples collected from 13 different sources of German drinking water are presented. The PFASs considered include novel compounds like hexafluoroisopropanol, bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, and tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate. The ultra-short-chain PFASs trifluoroacetate, perfluoropropanoate, and trifluoromethanesulfonate were ubiquitous and present at the highest concentrations (98% of sum target PFAS concentrations). "PFAS total" parameters like the adsorbable organic fluorine (AOF) and total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay were found to provide only an incomplete picture of PFAS contamination in these water samples by not capturing these highly prevalent ultra-short-chain PFASs. These ultra-short-chain PFASs represent a major challenge for drinking water production and show that regulation in the form of preventive measures is required to manage them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle J Neuwald
- Hochschule Fresenius gemGmbH, Limburger Straße 2, Idstein 65510, Germany
| | - Daniel Hübner
- Hochschule Fresenius gemGmbH, Limburger Straße 2, Idstein 65510, Germany
| | - Hanna L Wiegand
- IWW Zentrum Wasser, Moritzstraße 26, Mülheim an der Ruhr 45476, Germany
| | - Vassil Valkov
- IWW Zentrum Wasser, Moritzstraße 26, Mülheim an der Ruhr 45476, Germany
| | - Ulrich Borchers
- IWW Zentrum Wasser, Moritzstraße 26, Mülheim an der Ruhr 45476, Germany
| | - Karsten Nödler
- TZW: DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser, Karlsruher Straße 84, Karlsruhe 76139, Germany
| | - Marco Scheurer
- TZW: DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser, Karlsruher Straße 84, Karlsruhe 76139, Germany
| | - Sarah E Hale
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Postboks 3930 Ulleval Stadion, Oslo 0806, Norway
| | - Hans Peter H Arp
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Postboks 3930 Ulleval Stadion, Oslo 0806, Norway
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway
| | - Daniel Zahn
- Hochschule Fresenius gemGmbH, Limburger Straße 2, Idstein 65510, Germany
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15
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Fan C, Chen J, Li H, Quan K, Qiu H. Preparation and evaluation of two silica-based hydrophilic-hydrophobic and acid-base balanced stationary phases via in-situ surface polymerization. J Chromatogr A 2022; 1667:462912. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2022.462912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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16
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Aro R, Eriksson U, Kärrman A, Jakobsson K, Yeung LWY. Extractable organofluorine analysis: A way to screen for elevated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance contamination in humans? ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 159:107035. [PMID: 34896670 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.107035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitous occurrence of a few per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in humans and the environment has been previously reported. However, the number of PFAS humans and the environment are potentially exposed to is much higher, making it difficult to investigate every sample in detail. More importantly, recent studies have shown an increasing fraction of potentially unknown PFAS in human samples. A screening tool for identifying samples of concern that may contain high PFAS levels, to be studied more thoroughly, is needed. This study presents a simplified workflow to detect elevated PFAS levels using extractable organofluorine (EOF) analysis. A fluorine mass balance analysis on samples with high EOF, targeting 63 PFAS, can then confirm the PFAS contamination. Whole blood samples from a cohort of individuals with historical drinking water contamination from firefighting foams (n = 20) in Ronneby (Sweden) and a control group (n = 9) with background exposure were used as a case study. The average EOF concentration in the Ronneby group was 234 ng/mLF (<107-592 ng/mLF) vs 24.8 ng/mLF (17.6-37.8 ng/mL F) in the control group. The large difference (statistically significant, p < 0.05) in the EOF levels between the exposed and control groups would have made it possible to identify samples with high PFAS exposure only using EOF data. This was confirmed by target analysis, which found an average ∑PFAS concentration of 346 ng/mL in the exposed group and 7.9 ng/mL in the control group. The limit of quantification for EOF analysis (up to 107 ng/mLF using 0.5 mL whole blood) did not allow for the detection of PFAS levels in low or sub parts per billion (ng/mL) concentrations, but the results indicate that EOF analysis is a suitable screening method sensitive enough to detect elevated/significant/exposure above background levels by known or unknown PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudolf Aro
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro, SE 701 82, Sweden
| | - Ulrika Eriksson
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro, SE 701 82, Sweden
| | - Anna Kärrman
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro, SE 701 82, Sweden
| | - Kristina Jakobsson
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SE 405 30, Sweden
| | - Leo W Y Yeung
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro, SE 701 82, Sweden.
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17
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Björnsdotter MK, Yeung LWY, Kärrman A, Jogsten IE. Mass Balance of Perfluoroalkyl Acids, Including Trifluoroacetic Acid, in a Freshwater Lake. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:251-259. [PMID: 34927432 PMCID: PMC8733927 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are highly persistent chemicals that are ubiquitously found in the environment. The atmospheric degradation of precursor compounds has been identified as a source of PFAAs and might be an important pathway for contamination. Lake Vättern is one of Sweden's largest lakes and is an important source for drinking water. In addition to contamination via atmospheric deposition, the lake is subject to several potential contamination sources via surface water inflow. The relevance of different sources is not well understood. A mass balance of selected PFAAs was assembled based on measured concentrations in atmospheric deposition, surface water from streams that constitute the main inflow and outflow, and surface water in the lake. The largest input was seen for trifluoroacetic acid (150 kg/year), perfluoropropanoic acid (1.6 kg/year), perfluorobutanoic acid (4.0 kg/year), and perfluoro-octanoic acid (1.5 kg/year). Both atmospheric deposition and surface water inflow was found to be important input pathways. There was a positive correlation between the input of most perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids via atmospheric deposition and global radiation and between the input via surface water inflow and catchment area. These findings highlight the importance of atmospheric oxidation of volatile precursor compounds for contamination in surface waters.
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18
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Björnsdotter MK, Hartz WF, Kallenborn R, Ericson Jogsten I, Humby JD, Kärrman A, Yeung LWY. Levels and Seasonal Trends of C 1-C 4 Perfluoroalkyl Acids and the Discovery of Trifluoromethane Sulfonic Acid in Surface Snow in the Arctic. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:15853-15861. [PMID: 34779623 PMCID: PMC8655978 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
C1-C4 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are highly persistent chemicals that have been found in the environment. To date, much uncertainty still exists about their sources and fate. The importance of the atmospheric degradation of volatile precursors to C1-C4 PFAAs were investigated by studying their distribution and seasonal variation in remote Arctic locations. C1-C4 PFAAs were measured in surface snow on the island of Spitsbergen in the Norwegian Arctic during January-August 2019. Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), perfluoropropanoic acid (PFPrA), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), and trifluoromethane sulfonic acid (TFMS) were detected in most samples, including samples collected at locations presumably receiving PFAA input solely from long-range processes. The flux of TFA, PFPrA, PFBA, and TFMS per precipitation event was in the ranges of 22-1800, 0.79-16, 0.19-170, and 1.5-57 ng/m2, respectively. A positive correlation between the flux of TFA, PFPrA, and PFBA with downward short-wave solar radiation was observed. No correlation was observed between the flux of TFMS and solar radiation. These findings suggest that atmospheric transport of volatile precursors and their subsequent degradation plays a major role in the global distribution of C2-C4 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and their consequential deposition in Arctic environments. The discovery of TFMS in surface snow at these remote Arctic locations suggests that TFMS is globally distributed. However, the transport mechanism to the Arctic environment remains unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria K. Björnsdotter
- Man-Technology-Environment
Research Centre (MTM), Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden
| | - William F. Hartz
- Department
of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3AN, United Kingdom
- Department
of Arctic Geology, University Centre in
Svalbard (UNIS), Longyearbyen, Svalbard NO-9171, Norway
| | - Roland Kallenborn
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Sciences (KBM), Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås NO-1432, Norway
- Department
of Arctic Technology, University Centre
in Svalbard (UNIS), Longyearbyen, Svalbard NO-9171, Norway
| | - Ingrid Ericson Jogsten
- Man-Technology-Environment
Research Centre (MTM), Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden
| | - Jack D. Humby
- Ice Dynamics
and Paleoclimate, British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Cambridge CB3 0ET, United
Kingdom
| | - Anna Kärrman
- Man-Technology-Environment
Research Centre (MTM), Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden
| | - Leo W. Y. Yeung
- Man-Technology-Environment
Research Centre (MTM), Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden
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19
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Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems: Environmental Exposure and Human Health Risks. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182312550. [PMID: 34886275 PMCID: PMC8657007 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly persistent synthetic organic contaminants that can cause serious human health concerns such as obesity, liver damage, kidney cancer, hypertension, immunotoxicity and other human health issues. Integrated crop–livestock systems combine agricultural crop production with milk and/or meat production and processing. Key sources of PFAS in these systems include firefighting foams near military bases, wastewater sludge and industrial discharge. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances regularly move from soils to nearby surface water and/or groundwater because of their high mobility and persistence. Irrigating crops or managing livestock for milk and meat production using adjacent waters can be detrimental to human health. The presence of PFAS in both groundwater and milk have been reported in dairy production states (e.g., Wisconsin and New Mexico) across the United States. Although there is a limit of 70 parts per trillion of PFAS in drinking water by the U.S. EPA, there are not yet regional screening guidelines for conducting risk assessments of livestock watering as well as the soil and plant matrix. This systematic review includes (i) the sources, impacts and challenges of PFAS in integrated crop–livestock systems, (ii) safety measures and protocols for sampling soil, water and plants for determining PFAS concentration in exposed integrated crop–livestock systems and (iii) the assessment, measurement and evaluation of human health risks related to PFAS exposure.
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20
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Aro R, Carlsson P, Vogelsang C, Kärrman A, Yeung LW. Fluorine mass balance analysis of selected environmental samples from Norway. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 283:131200. [PMID: 34157625 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The presence of unidentified organofluorine compounds (UOF) has been investigated in recent publication, but their environmental occurrence is still poorly understood. Fluorine mass balance analysis was performed on environmental samples from lake Mjøsa and river Alna (surface water (n = 9), sediment (n = 5) and fish liver (n = 4)) and sewage samples from Oslo (n = 5), to reveal to the fraction of UOF. In samples that had extractable organofluorine (EOF) concentrations above the limit of detection (LoD), more than 70% of their EOF could not be accounted for by the 37 PFAS monitored in this study. The surface water samples from lake Mjøsa had EOF concentrations several times higher than what has been reported elsewhere in Nordic nations. The flux of EOF in river Alna and selected sewage pipes revealed that it was 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than the flux of the measured PFAS. The elevated concentrations of EOF in all samples pose a potential health and environmental hazard, as their composition remains mostly unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudolf Aro
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82, Sweden
| | - Pernilla Carlsson
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Fram Centre, Hjalmar Johansens vei 14, NO-9007, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Christian Vogelsang
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 24, 0234, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anna Kärrman
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82, Sweden
| | - Leo Wy Yeung
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82, Sweden.
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21
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Aro R, Eriksson U, Kärrman A, Yeung LWY. Organofluorine Mass Balance Analysis of Whole Blood Samples in Relation to Gender and Age. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:13142-13151. [PMID: 34520171 PMCID: PMC8495894 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Studies have highlighted the increasing fraction of unidentified organofluorine (UOF) compounds in human blood, whose health effects are not known. In this study, 130 whole blood samples from the Swedish general population were analyzed for extractable organofluorine (EOF) and selected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Organofluorine mass balance analysis revealed that 60% (0-99%) of the EOF in female samples could not be explained by the 63 monitored PFAS; in males, 41% (0-93%) of the EOF was of unidentified origin. Significant differences between both age groups and gender were seen, with the highest fraction of UOF in young females (70% UOF, aged 18-44), which is contrary to what has been reported in the literature for commonly monitored compounds (e.g., perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, PFOS). Increasing the number of monitored PFAS did not lead to a large decrease of the UOF fraction; the seven highest PFAS (C8-C11 PFCAs, C6-C8 PFSAs) accounted for 98% of sum 63 PFAS. The high fraction of UOF in human samples is of concern, as the chemical species of these organofluorine compounds remain unknown and thus their potential health risks cannot be assessed.
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22
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Light-Induced Advanced Oxidation Processes as PFAS Remediation Methods: A Review. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/app11188458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PFAS substances, which have been under investigation in recent years, are certainly some of the most critical emerging contaminants. Their presence in drinking water, correlated with diseases, is consistently being confirmed by scientific studies in the academic and health sectors. With the aim of developing new technologies to mitigate the water contamination problem, research activity based on advanced oxidation processes for PFAS dealkylation and subsequent mineralization is active. While UV radiation could be directly employed for decontamination, there are nevertheless considerable problems regarding its use, even from a large-scale perspective. In contrast, the use of cheap, robust, and green photocatalytic materials active under near UV-visible radiation shows interesting prospects. In this paper we take stock of the health problems related to PFAS, and then provide an update on strategies based on the use of photocatalysts and the latest findings regarding reaction mechanisms. Finally, we detail some brief considerations in relation to the economic aspects of possible solutions.
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Che S, Jin B, Liu Z, Yu Y, Liu J, Men Y. Structure-Specific Aerobic Defluorination of Short-Chain Fluorinated Carboxylic Acids by Activated Sludge Communities. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS 2021; 8:668-674. [PMID: 35316934 PMCID: PMC8936751 DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of manmade chemicals that impose emerging environmental concerns. Among them, short-chain per- and polyfluorinated carboxylic acids represent an important subgroup used as building blocks of biologically active chemicals and functional materials. Some are also considered PFAS alternatives, and some could be byproducts of the physicochemical treatment of PFAS. However, little is known about the environmental fate of short-chain fluorinated carboxylic acids (FCAs) and their defluorination/transformation by microorganisms. To fill the knowledge gap, we investigated the structure-reactivity relationships in the aerobic defluorination of C3-C5 FCAs by activated sludge communities. Four structures exhibited greater than 20% defluorination, with 3,3,3-trifluoropropionic acid being almost completely defluorinated. We further analyzed the defluorination/transformation pathways and inferred the structures susceptible to aerobic microbial defluorination. We also demonstrated that the defluorination was via cometabolism. The findings advance the fundamental understanding of aerobic microbial defluorination and help assess the environmental fate of PFAS. Since some short-chain PFAS, such as 3,3,3-trifluoropropionic acid, are the incomplete defluorination byproducts of advanced reduction processes, their defluorination by activated sludge communities sheds light on the development of cost-effective chemical-biological PFAS treatment train systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Che
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Bosen Jin
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Zekun Liu
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Yaochun Yu
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Jinyong Liu
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Yujie Men
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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Lenka SP, Kah M, Padhye LP. A review of the occurrence, transformation, and removal of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater treatment plants. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 199:117187. [PMID: 34010737 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) comprise more than 4,000 anthropogenically manufactured compounds with widescale consumer and industrial applications. This critical review compiles the latest information on the worldwide distribution of PFAS and evaluates their fate in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). A large proportion (>30%) of monitoring studies in WWTPs were conducted in China, followed by Europe (30%) and North America (16%), whereas information is generally lacking for other parts of the world, including most of the developing countries. Short and long-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) were widely detected in both the influents (up to 1,000 ng/L) and effluents (15 to >1,500 ng/L) of WWTPs. To date, limited data is available regarding levels of PFAS precursors and ultra-short chain PFAS in WWTPs. Most WWTPs exhibited low removal efficiencies for PFAS, and many studies reported an increase in the levels of PFAAs after wastewater treatment. The analysis of the fate of various classes of PFAS at different wastewater treatment stages (aerobic and/aerobic biodegradation, photodegradation, and chemical degradation) revealed biodegradation as the primary mechanism responsible for the transformation of PFAS precursors to PFAAs in WWTPs. Remediation studies at full scale and laboratory scale suggest advanced processes such as adsorption using ion exchange resins, electrochemical degradation, and nanofiltration are more effective in removing PFAS (~95-100%) than conventional processes. However, the applicability of such treatments for real-world WWTPs faces significant challenges due to the scaling-up requirements, mass-transfer limitations, and management of treatment by-products and wastes. Combining more than one technique for effective removal of PFAS, while addressing limitations of the individual treatments, could be beneficial. Considering environmental concentrations of PFAS, cost-effectiveness, and ease of operation, nanofiltration followed by adsorption using wood-derived biochar and/or activated carbons could be a viable option if introduced to conventional treatment systems. However, the large-scale applicability of the same needs to be further verified.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Melanie Kah
- School of Environment, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Lokesh P Padhye
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
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25
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Trends and perspectives in per-and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) determination: Faster and broader. Trends Analyt Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2020.116114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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26
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Liang M, Xian Y, Wang B, Hou X, Wang L, Guo X, Wu Y, Dong H. High throughput analysis of 21 perfluorinated compounds in drinking water, tap water, river water and plant effluent from southern China by supramolecular solvents-based microextraction coupled with HPLC-Orbitrap HRMS. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 263:114389. [PMID: 32220691 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The present work reported a high-throughput strategy for the analysis of 21 perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in drinking water, tap water, river water and plant effluent from southern China by supramolecular solvent (SUPARS) vortex-mixed microextraction combined with high performance liquid chromatography-Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-Orbitrap HRMS). The SUPRAS without heating assistance is less solvent-consumption, meeting the requirements for green environmental protection and sustainable development. Parameters in the microextraction such as volume of dodecanol and tetrahydrofuran (THF), vortexing extraction and centrifugation time, salt concentration were investigated. The optimal extraction conditions were 250 μL of undecanol, 1.0 mL of THF and 20.0% (w/v, 4 g) NaCl. Under the optimum conditions, method limit of detection and method limit of quantitation in the ranges of 0.01-0.08 μg/L and 0.03-0.25 μg/L, good recoveries (72.5-117.8%) and intra-day precision (1.1-11.2%, n = 6), high enrichment factors (48-78) were obtained. The developed method was successfully applied for analysis of PFCs in 13 drinking water, tap water, river water and plant effluent samples collected from southern China. Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid was detected in one river water with concentration of 0.48 μg/L and 1H,1H,2H,2H-Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid was detected in one river water and two plant effluent samples with concentrations in the range of 0.14-0.67 μg/L.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Liang
- Guangzhou Quality Supervision and Testing Institute, Guangzhou City Research Center of Risk Dynamic Detection and Early Warning for Food Safety, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Detection Technology for Food Safety, No. 1-2, Zhujiang Road, Chaotian Industrial Zone, Panyu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 511447, China
| | - Yanping Xian
- Guangzhou Quality Supervision and Testing Institute, Guangzhou City Research Center of Risk Dynamic Detection and Early Warning for Food Safety, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Detection Technology for Food Safety, No. 1-2, Zhujiang Road, Chaotian Industrial Zone, Panyu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 511447, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Guangzhou Quality Supervision and Testing Institute, Guangzhou City Research Center of Risk Dynamic Detection and Early Warning for Food Safety, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Detection Technology for Food Safety, No. 1-2, Zhujiang Road, Chaotian Industrial Zone, Panyu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 511447, China
| | - Xiangchang Hou
- Guangzhou Quality Supervision and Testing Institute, Guangzhou City Research Center of Risk Dynamic Detection and Early Warning for Food Safety, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Detection Technology for Food Safety, No. 1-2, Zhujiang Road, Chaotian Industrial Zone, Panyu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 511447, China
| | - Li Wang
- Guangzhou Quality Supervision and Testing Institute, Guangzhou City Research Center of Risk Dynamic Detection and Early Warning for Food Safety, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Detection Technology for Food Safety, No. 1-2, Zhujiang Road, Chaotian Industrial Zone, Panyu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 511447, China
| | - Xindong Guo
- Guangzhou Quality Supervision and Testing Institute, Guangzhou City Research Center of Risk Dynamic Detection and Early Warning for Food Safety, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Detection Technology for Food Safety, No. 1-2, Zhujiang Road, Chaotian Industrial Zone, Panyu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 511447, China
| | - Yuluan Wu
- Guangzhou Quality Supervision and Testing Institute, Guangzhou City Research Center of Risk Dynamic Detection and Early Warning for Food Safety, Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Detection Technology for Food Safety, No. 1-2, Zhujiang Road, Chaotian Industrial Zone, Panyu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 511447, China
| | - Hao Dong
- College of Light Industry and Food Sciences, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, No. 24, Dongsha Street, Fangzhi Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510225, China.
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Ji Y, Cui Z, Li X, Wang Z, Zhang J, Li A. Simultaneous determination of nine perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids by a series of amide acetals derivatization and gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 2020; 1622:461132. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2020.461132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Challenges in the analytical determination of ultra-short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids and implications for environmental and human health. Anal Bioanal Chem 2020; 412:4785-4796. [PMID: 32399685 PMCID: PMC7334270 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-020-02692-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Ultra-short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids have recently gained attention due to increasing environmental concentrations being observed. The most well-known ultra-short-chain perfluoroalkyl acid is trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) which has been studied since the 1990s. Potential sources and the fate of ultra-short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids other than TFA are not well studied and data reporting their environmental occurrence is scarce. The analytical determination of ultra-short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids is challenging due to their high polarity resulting in low retention using reversed-phase liquid chromatography. Furthermore, recent studies have reported varying extraction recoveries in water samples depending on the water matrix and different methods have been suggested to increase the extraction recovery. The present review gives an overview of the currently used analytical methods and summarizes the findings regarding potential analytical challenges. In addition, the current state of knowledge regarding TFA and other ultra-short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids, namely perfluoropropanoic acid, trifluoromethane sulfonic acid, perfluoroethane sulfonic acid, and perfluoropropane sulfonic acid‚ are reviewed. Both known and potential sources as well as environmental concentrations are summarized and discussed together with their fate and the environmental and human implications.
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29
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Lee JW, Choi K, Park K, Seong C, Yu SD, Kim P. Adverse effects of perfluoroalkyl acids on fish and other aquatic organisms: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 707:135334. [PMID: 31874399 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) have been widely used in many industrial and consumer products. They have been detected ubiquitously in ambient water along with other environmental matrices, and their adverse effects on aquatic organisms have been a subject of active investigation. Here, we intended to summarize and synthesize the existing body of knowledge on PFAA toxicity through an extensive literature review, and shed light on areas where further research is warranted. PFAA toxicity appears to be influenced by the sex and developmental stages of aquatic organisms, but not significantly by exposure route. PFAA-induced aquatic toxicity could be classified as metabolism disturbance, reproduction disruption, oxidative stress, developmental toxicity, thyroid disruption, etc. At the molecular level, these responses can be initiated by key events, such as nuclear receptor activation, reactive oxygen species induction, or interaction with a membrane, followed by a cascade of downstream responses. PFAA-induced toxicity involves diverse metabolic processes, and therefore elucidating crosstalk or interactions among diverse metabolic pathways is a challenging task. In the presence of other chemicals, PFAAs can function as agonists or antagonists, resulting in different directions of combined toxicity. Therefore, mixture toxicity with other groups of chemicals is another research opportunity. Experimental evidence supports the trans-generational toxicity of PFAAs, suggesting that their long-term consequences for aquatic ecosystems should become of concern. A recent global ban of several PFAAs resulted in an increasing dependence on PFAA alternatives. The lack of sufficient toxicological information on this emerging group of chemicals warrant caution and rigorous toxicological assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Wuk Lee
- Research Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon 404-708, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungho Choi
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyunghwa Park
- Research Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon 404-708, Republic of Korea
| | - Changho Seong
- Research Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon 404-708, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Do Yu
- Research Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon 404-708, Republic of Korea
| | - Pilje Kim
- Research Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon 404-708, Republic of Korea.
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31
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Joudan S, Liu R, D'eon JC, Mabury SA. Unique analytical considerations for laboratory studies identifying metabolic products of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Trends Analyt Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2019.02.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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32
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Zahn D, Neuwald IJ, Knepper TP. Analysis of mobile chemicals in the aquatic environment-current capabilities, limitations and future perspectives. Anal Bioanal Chem 2020; 412:4763-4784. [PMID: 32086538 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-020-02520-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Persistent and mobile water contaminants are rapidly developing into a focal point of environmental chemistry and chemical regulation. Their defining parameter that sets them apart from the majority of regularly monitored and regulated contaminants is their mobility in the aquatic environment, which is intrinsically tied to a high polarity. This high polarity, however, may have severe implications in the analytical process and thus the most polar of these mobile contaminants may not be covered by widely utilized trace-analytical methods, and thus, alternatives are required. In this review, we infer the physical and chemical properties of mobile water contaminants from a set of almost 1800 prioritized REACH chemicals and discuss the implications these substance properties may have on four integral steps of the analytical process: sampling and sample storage, sample pre-treatment, separation and detection. We discuss alternatives to widely utilized trace-analytical methods, examine their application range and limitations, highlight potential analytical techniques on the horizon and emphasize research areas we believe still offer the most room for further improvement. While we have a comprehensive set of analytical methods to cover a large portion of the known mobile chemicals, these methods are still only infrequently utilized. Graphical abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Zahn
- Hochschule Fresenius gem. GmbH, Limburger Str. 2, 65510, Idstein, Germany.
| | - Isabelle J Neuwald
- Hochschule Fresenius gem. GmbH, Limburger Str. 2, 65510, Idstein, Germany
| | - Thomas P Knepper
- Hochschule Fresenius gem. GmbH, Limburger Str. 2, 65510, Idstein, Germany
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Applicability of mixed-mode chromatography for the simultaneous analysis of C 1-C 18 perfluoroalkylated substances. Anal Bioanal Chem 2020; 412:4849-4856. [PMID: 32006062 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-020-02434-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
A new analytical method for the determination of 22 perfluoroalkylated (carboxylic and sulfonic) acids in water samples is presented. The method's objective was to achieve the simultaneous quantification of compounds with different chain lengths (from C1 to C18). To this end, 500 mL of water were extracted with Oasis WAX solid-phase extraction cartridges and eluted with 3 mL of 5% ammonia in methanol. After evaporation to dryness, extracts were reconstituted in methanol:ultrapure water (1:1) and analyzed by mixed-mode liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (MMLC-MS/MS) using a weak anion exchange/reversed-phase column. The method provided good results, with limits of quantification lower than 1 ng/L in river water for most of compounds, except the two perfluorocarboxylic acids with the longest alkyl chain (>C14) and trifluoroacetic acid, for which a blank contamination problem was observed. The method proved good trueness and precision in both ultrapure and river water (R ≥ 81%, RSD ≤ 15%). After validation, the method was applied to the analysis of nine water samples where nine perfluoroalkylated acids were quantified. Seven of them were ultrashort- (C1-C4) and short-chain (C4-C8) perfluoroalkylated acids, pointing out the importance of developing methods capable to target such substances for further monitoring.
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34
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Koch A, Aro R, Wang T, Yeung LW. Towards a comprehensive analytical workflow for the chemical characterisation of organofluorine in consumer products and environmental samples. Trends Analyt Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2019.02.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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35
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Yu W, Liu X, Zhang Y, Lin Y, Qiu J, Kong F. Simultaneous Determination of Pigments in Tea by Ultra-Performance Convergence Chromatography (UPC2). ANAL LETT 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/00032719.2020.1715420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Weisong Yu
- Institute of Tobacco Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Xue Liu
- Institute of Tobacco Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Yizhi Zhang
- Institute of Tobacco Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Yingnan Lin
- Institute of Tobacco Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Jun Qiu
- Institute of Tobacco Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Fanyu Kong
- Institute of Tobacco Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, PR China
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan D. Richardson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29205, United States
| | - Susana Y. Kimura
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
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37
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Worldwide trends in tracing poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment. Trends Analyt Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2019.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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38
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Feng H, Ruan Y, Zhang K, Lam PK. Current analytical methodologies and gaps for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances determination in the marine environment. Trends Analyt Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2018.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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39
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Björnsdotter MK, Yeung LWY, Kärrman A, Jogsten IE. Ultra-Short-Chain Perfluoroalkyl Acids Including Trifluoromethane Sulfonic Acid in Water Connected to Known and Suspected Point Sources in Sweden. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:11093-11101. [PMID: 31496234 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b02211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Data presenting the environmental occurrence of ultra-short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are scarce and little is known about the potential sources. In this study, ultra-short-chain PFAAs were analyzed in water connected to potential point sources using supercritical fluid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Samples (n = 34) were collected in connection with firefighting training sites, landfills, and a hazardous waste management facility. Ultra-short-chain PFAAs were detected in all samples at concentrations up to 84 000 ng/L (∑C1-C3), representing up to 69% of the concentration of 29 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), perfluoropropanoic acid (PFPrA), trifluoromethane sulfonic acid (TFMS), perfluoroethane sulfonic acid (PFEtS), and perfluoropropane sulfonic acid (PFPrS) were detected at concentrations up to 14 000, 53 000, 940, 1700, and 15 000 ng/L, respectively. Principal component analysis suggests that TFA is associated with landfills. PFPrS was associated with samples collected close to the source at all types of sites included in this study. These findings reveal the presence of high concentrations of ultra-short-chain PFAAs released into the environment from various sources and emphasize the large fraction of ultra-short-chain PFAAs to the total concentration of PFASs in water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria K Björnsdotter
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre (MTM) , Örebro University , 701 82 Örebro , Sweden
| | - Leo W Y Yeung
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre (MTM) , Örebro University , 701 82 Örebro , Sweden
| | - Anna Kärrman
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre (MTM) , Örebro University , 701 82 Örebro , Sweden
| | - Ingrid Ericson Jogsten
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre (MTM) , Örebro University , 701 82 Örebro , Sweden
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40
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Dispersive solid-phase extraction followed by triethylsilyl derivatization and gas chromatography mass spectrometry for perfluorocarboxylic acids determination in water samples. J Chromatogr A 2019; 1597:1-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2019.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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41
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Ateia M, Maroli A, Tharayil N, Karanfil T. The overlooked short- and ultrashort-chain poly- and perfluorinated substances: A review. CHEMOSPHERE 2019; 220:866-882. [PMID: 33395808 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.12.186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 210] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 12/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Poly- and perfluorinated substances (PFAS) comprise more than 3000 individual compounds; nevertheless, most studies to date have focused mainly on the fate, transport and remediation of long-chain PFAS (C > 7). The main objective of this article is to provide the first critical review of the peer-reviewed studies on the analytical methods, occurrence, mobility, and treatment for ultra-short-chain PFAS (C = 2-3) and short-chain PFAS (C = 4-7). Previous studies frequently detected ultra-short-chain and short-chain PFAS in various types of aqueous environments including seas, oceans, rivers, surface/urban runoffs, drinking waters, groundwaters, rain/snow, and deep polar seas. Besides, the recent regulations and restrictions on the use of long-chain PFAS has resulted in a significant shift in the industry towards short-chain alternatives. However, our understanding of the environmental fate and remediation of these ultra-short-chain and short-chain PFAS is still fragmentary. We have also covered the handful studies involving the removal of ultra-short and short-chain PFAS and identified the future research needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Ateia
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Science, Clemson University, SC 29634, USA
| | - Amith Maroli
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Science, Clemson University, SC 29634, USA
| | - Nishanth Tharayil
- Department of Plant & Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, SC 29634, USA
| | - Tanju Karanfil
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Science, Clemson University, SC 29634, USA.
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Pilařová V, Plachká K, Khalikova MA, Svec F, Nováková L. Recent developments in supercritical fluid chromatography – mass spectrometry: Is it a viable option for analysis of complex samples? Trends Analyt Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2018.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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43
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GAMA MARIANAR, MELCHERT WANESSAR, PAIXÃO THIAGOR, ROCHA FÁBIOR. An overview of the Brazilian contributions to Green Analytical Chemistry. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 91:e20180294. [DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765201920180294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Dreyer A, Nickel S, Schröder W. (Persistent) Organic pollutants in Germany: results from a pilot study within the 2015 moss survey. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES EUROPE 2018; 30:43. [PMID: 30524917 PMCID: PMC6244560 DOI: 10.1186/s12302-018-0172-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since 1990, every 5 years, moss sampling is conducted within the European moss monitoring programme to assess the atmospheric deposition of airborne pollutants. Besides many other countries, Germany takes regularly part at these evaluations. Within the European moss monitoring 2015, more than 400 moss samples across Germany were taken according to a harmonized methodology for the assessment heavy metal and nitrogen input. In a pilot programme, eight of these sites were chosen for additional investigations on a broad range of organic contaminants to evaluate their accumulation in moss and thereby their presence in atmospheric deposition in Germany. Target compound classes comprised polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and -furans (PCDD/F), dioxin-like and non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCB, ndl-PCB), polyfluorinated alkyl substances, classical flame retardants as well as emerging chlorinated and brominated flame retardants. In total, 120 target compounds were analysed. For some analytes, comparisons of accumulation in moss and tree leave samples were possible. RESULTS Except for certain flame retardants, PFAS, and ndl-PCB, substances of all other compound classes could be quantified in moss samples of all sites. Concentrations were highest for PAH (40-268 ng g-1) followed by emerging flame retardants (0.5-7.7 ng g-1), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE; 0.3-3.7 ng g-1), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD; 0.3-1.2 ng g-1), dl-PCB (0.04-0.4 ng g-1) and PCDD/F (0.008-0.06 ng g-1). CONCLUSIONS Results show the widespread atmospheric distribution and deposition of organic contaminants across Germany as well as the suitability of moss as bioaccumulation monitor for most of these compound classes. Compared to nearby tree leaf samples, accumulation potential of moss appeared to be higher for pollutants of high octanol-air partition coefficient (KOA) and octanol-water partition coefficient (KOW).
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Affiliation(s)
- Annekatrin Dreyer
- Eurofins GfA GmbH, Air Monitoring, Stenzelring 14b, 21107 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Nickel
- University of Vechta, P.O.B. 1553, 49364 Vechta, Germany
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Rapid analysis of tristyrylphenol ethoxylates in cucumber-field system using supercritical fluid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Food Chem 2018; 266:119-125. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.05.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 05/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Cheng W, Ng CA. Predicting Relative Protein Affinity of Novel Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) by An Efficient Molecular Dynamics Approach. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:7972-7980. [PMID: 29897239 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b01268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
With the phasing out of long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), production of a wide variety of alternative PFASs has increased to meet market demand. However, little is known about the bioaccumulation potential of these replacement compounds. Here, we developed a modeling workflow that combines molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation techniques to estimate the relative binding affinity of a total of 15 legacy and replacement PFASs for human and rat liver-type fatty acid binding protein (hLFABP and rLFABP). The predicted results were compared with experimental data extracted from three different studies. There was good correlation between predicted free energies of binding and measured binding affinities, with correlation coefficients of 0.97, 0.79, and 0.96, respectively. With respect to replacement PFASs, our results suggest that EEA and ADONA are at least as strongly bound to rLFABP as perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), and as strongly bound to hLFABP as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). For F-53 and F-53B, both have similar or stronger binding affinities than perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS). Given that interactions of PFASs with proteins (e.g., LFABPs) are important determinants of bioaccumulation potential in organisms, these alternatives could be as bioaccumulative as legacy PFASs, and are therefore not necessarily safer alternatives to long-chain PFASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weixiao Cheng
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15261 , United States
| | - Carla A Ng
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15261 , United States
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Lorenzo M, Campo J, Picó Y. Analytical challenges to determine emerging persistent organic pollutants in aquatic ecosystems. Trends Analyt Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Kotthoff M, Bücking M. Four Chemical Trends Will Shape the Next Decade's Directions in Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Research. Front Chem 2018; 6:103. [PMID: 29675408 PMCID: PMC5895726 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2018.00103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent a versatile group of ubiquitously occurring chemicals of increasing regulatory concern. The past years lead to an ever expanding portfolio of detected anthropogenic PFAS in numerous products encountered in daily life. Yet no clear picture of the full range of individual substance that comprise PFAS is available and this challenges analytical and engineering sciences. Authorities struggle to cope with uncertainties in managing risk of harm posed by PFAS. This is a result of an incomplete understanding of the range of compounds that they comprise in differing products. There are analytical uncertainties identifying PFAS and estimating the concentrations of the total PFAS load individual molecules remain unknown. There are four major trends from the chemical perspective that will shape PFAS research for the next decade.
Mobility: A wide and dynamic distribution of short chain PFAS due to their high polarity, persistency and volatility. Substitution of regulated substances: The ban or restrictions of individual molecules will lead to a replacement with substitutes of similar concern. Increase in structural diversity of existing PFAS molecules: Introduction of e.g., hydrogens and chlorine atoms instead of fluorine, as well as branching and cross-linking lead to a high versatility of unknown target molecules. Unknown “Dark Matter”: The amount, identity, formation pathways, and transformation dynamics of polymers and PFAS precursors are largely unknown.
These directions require optimized analytical setups, especially multi-methods, and semi-specific tools to determine PFAS-sum parameters in any relevant matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Kotthoff
- Department Environmental and Food Analysis, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Schmallenberg, Germany
| | - Mark Bücking
- Department Environmental and Food Analysis, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Schmallenberg, Germany
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Ross I, McDonough J, Miles J, Storch P, Thelakkat Kochunarayanan P, Kalve E, Hurst J, S. Dasgupta S, Burdick J. A review of emerging technologies for remediation of PFASs. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/rem.21553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ian Ross
- Senior Technical Director; Arcadis; Leeds West Yorkshire U.K
| | | | | | - Peter Storch
- Principal Chemical Engineer; Arcadis; Melbourne Australia
| | | | | | - Jake Hurst
- Principal Consultant; Arcadis; Leeds West Yorkshire U.K
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Kaboré HA, Vo Duy S, Munoz G, Méité L, Desrosiers M, Liu J, Sory TK, Sauvé S. Worldwide drinking water occurrence and levels of newly-identified perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 616-617:1089-1100. [PMID: 29100694 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Revised: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
In the last decade or so, concerns have arisen with respect to the widespread occurrence of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in the environment, food, drinking water, and humans. In this study, the occurrence and levels of a large range of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were investigated in drinking water (bottled and tap water samples) from various locations around the world. Automated off-line solid phase extraction followed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry was used to analyze PFASs of various chain lengths and functional groups. In total, 29 target and 104 suspect-target PFASs were screened in drinking water samples (n=97) from Canada and other countries (Burkina Faso, Chile, Ivory Coast, France, Japan, Mexico, Norway, and the USA) in 2015-2016. Out of the 29 PFASs quantitatively analyzed, perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs: C4/14), perfluoroalkane sulfonates (PFSAs: C4, C6, C8), and perfluoroalkyl acid precursors (e.g., 5:3 fluorotelomer carboxylate (5:3 FTCA)) were recurrently detected in drinking water samples (concentration range: <LOD to 39ngL-1). Tap water samples from Canada showed noteworthy differences depending on their source; for instance, ∑29PFASwas significantly greater in those produced from the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence River ecosystem than those produced from other types of sources (14 versus 5.3ngL-1, respectively). A suspect-target screening approach indicated that other perfluoroalkane sulfonamides (FBSA, FHxSA), perfluoroethyl cyclohexane sulfonate (PFECHS), ultrashort chain (C2-C3) PFSAs (PFEtS, PFPrS), and two additional PFSAs (PFPeS (C5) and PFHpS (C7)) were repeatedly present in tap water samples (concentration ranges: <LOD to 4.0ngL-1). To the authors' best knowledge, this constitutes the first observation of a cyclic perfluoroalkane sulfonate (PFECHS) and C4-C6 perfluoroalkane sulfonamides (FBSA, FHxSA) in drinking water. According to the newly updated US EPA health advisory for PFOS and PFOA (70ngL-1), the drinking water samples collected in the present monitoring would not pose a health risk to consumers as regards PFAA levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hermann A Kaboré
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal H3C 3J7, QC, Canada
| | - Sung Vo Duy
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal H3C 3J7, QC, Canada
| | - Gabriel Munoz
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal H3C 3J7, QC, Canada; Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, 817 Sherbrook Street West, Montreal H3A 0C3, QC, Canada
| | - Ladji Méité
- Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement, Unité de Formation et de Gestion des Sciences et Gestion de l'Environnement, Université Nangui Abrogoua, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Ivory Coast
| | - Mélanie Desrosiers
- Centre d'Expertise en Analyse Environnementale du Québec, Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, 2700 Einstein Street, Quebec City G1P 3W8, QC, Canada
| | - Jinxia Liu
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, 817 Sherbrook Street West, Montreal H3A 0C3, QC, Canada
| | - Traoré Karim Sory
- Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement, Unité de Formation et de Gestion des Sciences et Gestion de l'Environnement, Université Nangui Abrogoua, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Ivory Coast
| | - Sébastien Sauvé
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal H3C 3J7, QC, Canada.
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