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Jensen CR, Genereux DP, Solomon DK, Knappe DRU, Gilmore TE. Forecasting and Hindcasting PFAS Concentrations in Groundwater Discharging to Streams near a PFAS Production Facility. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:17926-17936. [PMID: 39319827 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c06697] [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: 09/26/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are known to be highly persistent in groundwater, making it vital to develop new approaches to important practical questions such as the time scale for future persistence of PFAS in contaminated groundwater. In the approach presented here, groundwater from beneath streambeds was analyzed for PFAS and age-dated using SF6 and 3H/3He. The results were coupled with groundwater flux measurements in a convolution approach to estimate past and future PFAS concentrations in groundwater discharge to the streams. At our test site near the Cape Fear River (CFR) of North Carolina, PFAS were detected in groundwater up to 43 years old, suggesting that some PFAS entered groundwater immediately or shortly after fluorochemical production began at the nearby Fayetteville Works. Results are consistent with little to no retardation in groundwater for perfluoroethers such as hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (HFPO-DA) and perfluoro-2-methoxypropanoic acid (PMPA), the two most abundant PFAS, with mean concentrations of 229 and 498 ng/L, respectively. Future PFAS concentrations in groundwater discharge to streams were estimated to remain above current MCL or health advisory levels through at least 2050 or 2060 (using 3H/3He and SF6, respectively). Recent atmospheric deposition data suggest lower but non-negligible amounts of PFAS may continue to enter groundwater, likely further extending PFAS persistence in groundwater and the adjacent CFR. This approach shows promise for giving an overall perspective on persistence of PFAS in groundwater discharge from a broad contaminated area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig R Jensen
- Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - David P Genereux
- Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - D Kip Solomon
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Detlef R U Knappe
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Troy E Gilmore
- Conservation and Survey Division, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
- Biological Systems Engineering Department, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
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2
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Bhardwaj S, Lee M, O'Carroll D, McDonald J, Osborne K, Khan S, Pickford R, Coleman N, O'Farrell C, Richards S, Manefield MJ. Biotransformation of 6:2/4:2 fluorotelomer alcohols by Dietzia aurantiaca J3: Enzymes and proteomics. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 478:135510. [PMID: 39178776 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are recalcitrant synthetic organohalides known to negatively impact human health. Short-chain fluorotelomer alcohols are considered the precursor of various perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) in the environment. Their ongoing production and widespread detection motivate investigations of their biological transformation. Dietzia aurantiaca strain J3 was isolated from PFAS-contaminated landfill leachate using 6:2 fluorotelomer sulphonate (6:2 FTS) as a sulphur source. Resting cell experiments were used to test if strain J3 could transform fluorotelomer alcohols (6:2 and 4:2 FTOH). Strain J3 transformed fluorotelomer alcohols into PFCAs, polyfluorocarboxylic acids and transient intermediates. Over 6 days, 80 % and 58 % of 6:2 FTOH (0.1 mM) and 4:2 FTOH (0.12 mM) were degraded with 6.4 % and 14 % fluoride recovery respectively. Fluorotelomer unsaturated carboxylic acid (6:2 FTUCA) was the most abundant metabolite, accounting for 21 to 30 mol% of 6:2 FTOH (0.015 mM) applied on day zero. Glutathione (GSH) conjugates of 6:2/4:2 FTOH and 5:3 FTCA adducts were also structurally identified. Proteomics studies conducted to identify enzymes in the biotransformation pathway have revealed the role of various enzymes involved in β oxidation. This is the first report of 6:2/4:2 FTOH glutathione conjugates and 5:3 FTCA adducts in prokaryotes, and the first study to explore the biotransformation of 4:2 FTOH by pure bacterial strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shefali Bhardwaj
- UNSW Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Matthew Lee
- UNSW Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Denis O'Carroll
- UNSW Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - James McDonald
- UNSW Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Keith Osborne
- Environment Protection Science, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Lidcombe, NSW 2141, Australia
| | - Stuart Khan
- UNSW Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Russell Pickford
- UNSW Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Nicholas Coleman
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | | | | | - Michael J Manefield
- UNSW Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
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3
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Li J, Duan W, An Z, Jiang Z, Li L, Guo M, Tan Z, Zeng X, Liu X, Liu Y, Li A, Guo H. Legacy and alternative per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances spatiotemporal distribution in China: Human exposure, environmental media, and risk assessment. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 480:135795. [PMID: 39278030 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2024] [Revised: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 09/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/17/2024]
Abstract
In recent decades, China's rapid development has led to significant environmental pollution from the widespread use of chemical products. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are among the most concerning pollutants due to their persistence and bioaccumulation. This article assesses PFAS exposure levels, distribution, and health risks in Chinese blood, environment, and food. Out of 4037 papers retrieved from November 2022 to December 31, 2023, 351 articles met the criteria. Findings show perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) as the main PFAS in both Chinese populations and the environment. The highest PFOA levels in Chinese populations were in Shandong (53.868 ng/mL), while Hubei had the highest PFOS levels (43.874 ng/mL). Similarly, water samples from Sichuan (2115.204 ng/L) and Jiangsu (368.134 ng/L) had the highest PFOA and PFOS levels, respectively. Although localized areas showed high PFAS concentrations. Additionally, developed areas had higher PFAS contamination. The researches conducted in areas such as Qinghai and Hainan remain limited, underscoring the imperative for further investigation. Temporal analysis indicates declining levels of some PFAS, but emerging alternatives require more research. Limited studies on PFAS concentrations in soil, atmosphere, and food emphasize the need for comprehensive research to mitigate human exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Wenjing Duan
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Ziwen An
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Zexuan Jiang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Longfei Li
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Mingmei Guo
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Zhenzhen Tan
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Xiuli Zeng
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Xuehui Liu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Ang Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, PR China; Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, PR China.
| | - Huicai Guo
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China.
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Verley JC, McLennon E, Rein KS, Dikgang J, Kankarla V. Current trends and patterns of PFAS in agroecosystems and environment: A review. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2024. [PMID: 39256956 DOI: 10.1002/jeq2.20607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are one of the more well-known highly persistent organic pollutants with potential risks to agroecological systems. These compounds are of global concern due to their persistence and mobility, and they often lead to serious impacts on environmental, agricultural, and human health. In the past 20 years, the number of science publications on PFAS has risen; despite this, certain fundamental questions about PFAS occurrence, sources, mechanism of transport, and impacts on agroecosystems and the societies dependent on them are still open and evolving. There is a lack of systematic and comprehensive analysis of these concerns in agroecosystems. Therefore, we reviewed the current literature on PFAS with a focus on agroecosystems; our review suggests that PFASs are nearly ubiquitous in agricultural systems. We found the current research has limitations in analyzing PFAS in complex matrices because of their small size, distribution, and persistence within various environmental systems. There is consistency in the properties and composition of PFAS in and around agroecosystems, suggesting evidence of shared sources and similar components within different tropic levels. The introduction of new and varied sources of PFAS appear to be growing, adding to their residual accumulation in environmental matrices and leading to possible new types of chemical compounds that are difficult to assess accurately. This review determines existing research trends, understands mechanisms and incidence of PFAS within agroecosystems and their impact on human health, and thereby recommends further studies to remedy research gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson C Verley
- Department of Marine and Earth Science, The Water School, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida, USA
| | - Everald McLennon
- Crop and Soil Science Department, Klamath Basin Research and Extension Center, Oregon State University, Klamath Falls, Oregon, USA
| | - Kathleen S Rein
- Department of Marine and Earth Science, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida, USA
| | - Johane Dikgang
- Department of Economics and Finance, The Water School, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida, USA
| | - Vanaja Kankarla
- Department of Marine and Earth Science, The Water School, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida, USA
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Saleh L, Lin Z, Ersan MS, Coutanceau C, Westerhoff P, Croué JP. Effect of electrolyte composition on electrocatalytic transformation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in high pH medium. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 363:142879. [PMID: 39033861 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Recent regulatory actions aim to limit per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) concentrations in drinking water and wastewaters. Regenerable anion exchange resin (AER) is an effective separation process to remove PFAS from water but will require PFAS post-treatment of the regeneration wastestream. Electrocatalytic (EC) processes using chemically boron-doped diamond electrodes, stable in a wide range of chemical compositions show potential to defluorinate PFOA in drinking water and wastewater treatments. Chemical composition and concentration of mineral salts in supporting electrolytes affect AER regeneration efficiency, and play a crucial role in the EC processes. Their impact on PFAS degradation remains understudied. This study investigates the impact of 17 brine electrolytes with different compositions on perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) degradation in an alkaline medium and explores the correlation between the rate of PFOA degradation and the solution's conductivity. Results show that higher electrolyte concentrations and conductivity lead to faster PFOA degradation rates. The presence of chloride anions have negligible impact on the degradation rate. However, the presence of nitrate salts reduce PFOA degradation efficiency. Additionally, the use of mixed electrolytes may be a promising approach for reducing the cost of EC operations. PFOA degradation was not influenced by the pH of the bulk solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lama Saleh
- Institut de Chimie des Milieux et des Matériaux, Université de Poitiers, France.
| | - Zunhui Lin
- Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
| | - Mahmut S Ersan
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA.
| | - Christophe Coutanceau
- Institut de Chimie des Milieux et des Matériaux, Université de Poitiers, France; French Research Network on Hydrogen (FRH2), CNRS, France.
| | - Paul Westerhoff
- Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
| | - Jean-Philippe Croué
- Institut de Chimie des Milieux et des Matériaux, Université de Poitiers, France.
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Biggeri A, Stoppa G, Facciolo L, Fin G, Mancini S, Manno V, Minelli G, Zamagni F, Zamboni M, Catelan D, Bucchi L. All-cause, cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality in the population of a large Italian area contaminated by perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (1980-2018). Environ Health 2024; 23:42. [PMID: 38627679 PMCID: PMC11022451 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-024-01074-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are associated with many adverse health conditions. Among the main effects is carcinogenicity in humans, which deserves to be further clarified. An evident association has been reported for kidney cancer and testicular cancer. In 2013, a large episode of surface, ground and drinking water contamination with PFAS was uncovered in three provinces of the Veneto Region (northern Italy) involving 30 municipalities and a population of about 150,000. We report on the temporal evolution of all-cause mortality and selected cause-specific mortality by calendar period and birth cohort in the local population between 1980 and 2018. METHODS The Italian National Institute of Health pre-processed and made available anonymous data from the Italian National Institute of Statistics death certificate archives for residents of the provinces of Vicenza, Padua and Verona (males, n = 29,629; females, n = 29,518) who died between 1980 and 2018. Calendar period analysis was done by calculating standardised mortality ratios using the total population of the three provinces in the same calendar period as reference. The birth cohort analysis was performed using 20-84 years cumulative standardised mortality ratios. Exposure was defined as being resident in one of the 30 municipalities of the Red area, where the aqueduct supplying drinking water was fed by the contaminated groundwater. RESULTS During the 34 years between 1985 (assumed as beginning date of water contamination) and 2018 (last year of availability of cause-specific mortality data), in the resident population of the Red area we observed 51,621 deaths vs. 47,731 expected (age- and sex-SMR: 108; 90% CI: 107-109). We found evidence of raised mortality from cardiovascular disease (in particular, heart diseases and ischemic heart disease) and malignant neoplastic diseases, including kidney cancer and testicular cancer. CONCLUSIONS For the first time, an association of PFAS exposure with mortality from cardiovascular disease was formally demonstrated. The evidence regarding kidney cancer and testicular cancer is consistent with previously reported data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annibale Biggeri
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Giorgia Stoppa
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
| | | | - Giuliano Fin
- Comitato mamme NO-PFAS, Vicenza, Padua, Verona, Italy
| | - Silvia Mancini
- Emilia-Romagna Cancer Registry, Romagna Cancer Institute, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) Dino Amadori, Meldola, Forlì, Italy
| | - Valerio Manno
- Statistical Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Giada Minelli
- Statistical Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Zamagni
- Emilia-Romagna Cancer Registry, Romagna Cancer Institute, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) Dino Amadori, Meldola, Forlì, Italy
| | | | - Dolores Catelan
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Lauro Bucchi
- Emilia-Romagna Cancer Registry, Romagna Cancer Institute, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) Dino Amadori, Meldola, Forlì, Italy
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Bui TH, Zuverza-Mena N, Dimkpa CO, Nason SL, Thomas S, White JC. PFAS remediation in soil: An evaluation of carbon-based materials for contaminant sequestration. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 344:123335. [PMID: 38211874 PMCID: PMC10922530 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
The presence of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soils is a global concern as these emerging contaminants are highly resistant to degradation and cause adverse effects on human and environmental health at very low concentrations. Sequestering PFAS in soils using carbon-based materials is a low-cost and effective strategy to minimize pollutant bioavailability and exposure, and may offer potential long-term remediation of PFAS in the environment. This paper provides a comprehensive evaluation of current insights on sequestration of PFAS in soil using carbon-based sorbents. Hydrophobic effects originating from fluorinated carbon (C-F) backbone "tail" and electrostatic interactions deriving from functional groups on the molecules' "head" are the two driving forces governing PFAS sorption. Consequently, varying C-F chain lengths and polar functional groups significantly alter PFAS availability and leachability. Furthermore, matrix parameters such as soil organic matter, inorganic minerals, and pH significantly impact PFAS sequestration by sorbent amendments. Materials such as activated carbon, biochar, carbon nanotubes, and their composites are the primary C-based materials used for PFAS adsorption. Importantly, modifying the carbon structural and surface chemistry is essential for increasing the active sorption sites and for strengthening interactions with PFAS. This review evaluates current literature, identifies knowledge gaps in current remediation technologies and addresses future strategies on the sequestration of PFAS in contaminated soil using sustainable novel C-based sorbents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trung Huu Bui
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Nubia Zuverza-Mena
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Christian O Dimkpa
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Sara L Nason
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Sara Thomas
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Jason C White
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
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Xu C, Xu C, Zhou Q, Shen C, Peng L, Liu S, Yin S, Li F. Spatial distribution, isomer signature and air-soil exchange of legacy and emerging poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 343:123222. [PMID: 38145639 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Widespread occurrences of various poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in terrestrial environment calls for the growing interest in their transport behaviors. However, limited studies detected PFAS with structural diversity in tree barks, which reflect the long-term contamination in atmosphere and play a vital role in air-soil exchange behaviors. In this study, 26 PFAS congeners and typical branched isomers were investigated in surface soils and tree barks at 28 sites along the Taihu Lake, Taipu River, and Huangpu River. Concentrations of total PFAS in soils and tree barks were 0.991-29.4 and 7.99-188 ng/g dw, with PFPeA and PFDoA were the largest contributors in the two matrices. The highest PFAS levels were found in the Taihu Lake watershed, where textile manufacturing and metal plating activities highly prosper. With regard to the congener and isomer signatures, short-chain homologs dominated in soils (65.5%), whereas long-chain PFAS showed a major proportion in barks (41.9%). The composition of linear isomers of PFOS, PFOA and PFHxS implied that precursor degradation might be an important source of PFAS in addition to the 3M electrochemical fluorination (ECF). Additionally, the distance from the emission source, total organic carbon (TOC), logKOA and logKOW were considered potential influencing factors in PFAS distributions. Based on the multi-media fugacity model, about 71% of the fugacity fraction (ffs) values of the PFAS were below 0.3, indicating the dominant deposition from the atmosphere to the soil. The average fluxes of air-soil exchange for PFAS were -0.700 ± 11.0 ng/(m2·h). Notably, the estimated daily exposure to PFAS ranged from 9.57 × 10-2 to 8.59 × 10-1 ng/kg·bw/day for children and 3.31 × 10-2 to 3.09 × 10-1 ng/kg·bw/day for adults, suggesting low risks from outdoor inhalation and dermal uptake. Overall, results from distribution with structural diversity, air-soil exchange and preliminary risk assessment. This study provided in-depth insight of PFAS in multi-medium environment and bridged gaps between field data and policy-making for pollution control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenye Xu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Chenman Xu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Quan Zhou
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Chensi Shen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Leni Peng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Shuren Liu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Interdisciplinary Research Academy (IRA), Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, 310015, China
| | - Shanshan Yin
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Interdisciplinary Research Academy (IRA), Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, 310015, China
| | - Fang Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China.
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9
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Sun R, Babalol S, Ni R, Dolatabad AA, Cao J, Xiao F. Efficient and fast remediation of soil contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by high-frequency heating. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 463:132660. [PMID: 37898088 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
This study presents a novel thermal technology (high-frequency heating, HFH) for the decontamination of soil containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs). Ultra-fast degradation of short-chain PFAS, long-chain homologs, precursors, legacy PFAS, emerging PFAS was achieved in a matter of minutes. The concentrations of PFAS and the soil type had a negligible impact on degradation efficiency, possibly due to the ultra-fast degradation rate overwhelming potential differences. Under the current HFH experiment setup, we achieved near-complete degradation (e.g., >99.9%) after 1 min for perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acids and 2 min for perfluoroalkanesulfonic acids. Polyfluoroalkyl precursors in AFFFs were found to degrade completely within 1 min of HFH; no residual cationic, zwitterionic, anionic, or non-ionic intermediate products were detected following the treatment. The gaseous byproducts were considered. Most of gaseous organofluorine products of PFAS at low-and-moderate temperatures disappeared when temperatures reached 890 °C, which is in the temperature zone of HFH. For the first time, we demonstrated minimal loss of PFAS in water during the boiling process, indicating a low risk of PFAS entering the atmosphere with the water vapor. The findings highlight HFH its potential as a promising remediation tool for PFAS-contaminated soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runze Sun
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Samuel Babalol
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Ruichong Ni
- Department of Petroleum Engineering, University of North Dakota, 243 Centennial Drive Stop 8155, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA
| | - Alireza Arhami Dolatabad
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Jiefei Cao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Feng Xiao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
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10
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Zhang M, Zhao Y, Bui B, Tang L, Xue J, Chen M, Chen W. The Latest Sensor Detection Methods for per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. Crit Rev Anal Chem 2024:1-17. [PMID: 38234139 DOI: 10.1080/10408347.2023.2299233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have emerged as a prominent environmental pollutant in recent years, primarily due to their tendency to accumulate and magnify in both the environment and living organisms. The entry of PFASs into the environment can have detrimental effects on human health. Hence, it is crucial to actively monitor and detect the presence of PFASs. The current standard detection method of PFAS is the combination of chromatography and mass spectrometry. However, this requires expensive instruments, extra sample pretreatment steps, complicated operation and long analysis time. As a result, new methods that do not rely on chromatography and mass spectrometry have been developed and applied. These alternative methods mainly include optical and electrochemical sensor methods, which offer great potential in terms of real-time field detection, instrument miniaturization, shorter analysis time, and reduced detection cost. This review provides a summary of recent advancements in PFAS detection sensors. We categorize and explain the principles and mechanisms of these sensors, and compare their limits of detection and sensitivity. Finally, we discuss the future challenges and improvements needed for PFAS sensors, such as field application, commercialization, and other related issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyu Zhang
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yanan Zhao
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Brian Bui
- Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA
| | - Liming Tang
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jiajia Xue
- Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials and State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Mingli Chen
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA
- School of CHIPS, Xi'an Jiaotong-Loverpool University, Suzhou, China
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11
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Biswas S, Wong BM. Beyond Conventional Density Functional Theory: Advanced Quantum Dynamical Methods for Understanding Degradation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. ACS ES&T ENGINEERING 2024; 4:96-104. [PMID: 38229882 PMCID: PMC10788865 DOI: 10.1021/acsestengg.3c00216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Computational chemistry methods, such as density functional theory (DFT), have now become more common in environmental research, particularly for simulating the degradation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, the vast majority of PFAS computational studies have focused on conventional DFT approaches that only probe static, time-independent properties of PFAS near stationary points on the potential energy surface. To demonstrate the rich mechanistic information that can be obtained from time-dependent quantum dynamics calculations, we highlight recent studies using these advanced techniques for probing PFAS systems. We briefly discuss recent applications ranging from ab initio molecular dynamics to DFT-based metadynamics and real-time time-dependent DFT for probing PFAS degradation in various reactive environments. These quantum dynamical approaches provide critical mechanistic information that cannot be gleaned from conventional DFT calculations. We conclude with a perspective of promising research directions and recommend that these advanced quantum dynamics simulations be more widely used by the environmental research community to directly probe PFAS degradation dynamics and other environmental processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohag Biswas
- Materials Science & Engineering
Program, Department of Chemistry, and Department of Physics &
Astronomy, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Bryan M. Wong
- Materials Science & Engineering
Program, Department of Chemistry, and Department of Physics &
Astronomy, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, United States
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12
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Niu H, Xu M, Tu P, Xu Y, Li X, Xing M, Chen Z, Wang X, Lou X, Wu L, Sun S. Emerging Contaminants: An Emerging Risk Factor for Diabetes Mellitus. TOXICS 2024; 12:47. [PMID: 38251002 PMCID: PMC10819641 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12010047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Emerging contaminants have been increasingly recognized as critical determinants in global public health outcomes. However, the intricate relationship between these contaminants and glucose metabolism remains to be fully elucidated. The paucity of comprehensive clinical data, coupled with the need for in-depth mechanistic investigations, underscores the urgency to decipher the precise molecular and cellular pathways through which these contaminants potentially mediate the initiation and progression of diabetes mellitus. A profound understanding of the epidemiological impact of these emerging contaminants, as well as the elucidation of the underlying mechanistic pathways, is indispensable for the formulation of evidence-based policy and preventive interventions. This review systematically aggregates contemporary findings from epidemiological investigations and delves into the mechanistic correlates that tether exposure to emerging contaminants, including endocrine disruptors, perfluorinated compounds, microplastics, and antibiotics, to glycemic dysregulation. A nuanced exploration is undertaken focusing on potential dietary sources and the consequential role of the gut microbiome in their toxic effects. This review endeavors to provide a foundational reference for future investigations into the complex interplay between emerging contaminants and diabetes mellitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huixia Niu
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bin Sheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou 310051, China; (H.N.); (P.T.); (X.L.); (M.X.); (Z.C.); (X.W.); (X.L.)
| | - Manjin Xu
- School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiang’an South Road, Xiang’an District, Xiamen 361102, China; (M.X.); (Y.X.)
| | - Pengcheng Tu
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bin Sheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou 310051, China; (H.N.); (P.T.); (X.L.); (M.X.); (Z.C.); (X.W.); (X.L.)
| | - Yunfeng Xu
- School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiang’an South Road, Xiang’an District, Xiamen 361102, China; (M.X.); (Y.X.)
| | - Xueqing Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bin Sheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou 310051, China; (H.N.); (P.T.); (X.L.); (M.X.); (Z.C.); (X.W.); (X.L.)
| | - Mingluan Xing
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bin Sheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou 310051, China; (H.N.); (P.T.); (X.L.); (M.X.); (Z.C.); (X.W.); (X.L.)
| | - Zhijian Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bin Sheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou 310051, China; (H.N.); (P.T.); (X.L.); (M.X.); (Z.C.); (X.W.); (X.L.)
| | - Xiaofeng Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bin Sheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou 310051, China; (H.N.); (P.T.); (X.L.); (M.X.); (Z.C.); (X.W.); (X.L.)
| | - Xiaoming Lou
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bin Sheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou 310051, China; (H.N.); (P.T.); (X.L.); (M.X.); (Z.C.); (X.W.); (X.L.)
| | - Lizhi Wu
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bin Sheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou 310051, China; (H.N.); (P.T.); (X.L.); (M.X.); (Z.C.); (X.W.); (X.L.)
| | - Shengzhi Sun
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
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13
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D'Ambro EL, Murphy BN, Bash JO, Gilliam RC, Pye HOT. Predictions of PFAS regional-scale atmospheric deposition and ambient air exposure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 902:166256. [PMID: 37591383 PMCID: PMC10642304 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large class of human-made compounds that have contaminated the global environment. One environmental entry point for PFAS is via atmospheric emission. Air releases can impact human health through multiple routes, including direct inhalation and contamination of drinking water following air deposition. In this work, we convert the reference dose (RfD) underlying the United States Environmental Protection Agency's GenX drinking water Health Advisory to an inhalation screening level and compare to predicted PFAS and GenX air concentrations from a fluorochemical manufacturing facility in Eastern North Carolina. We find that the area around the facility experiences ~15 days per year of GenX concentrations above the inhalation screening level we derive. We investigate the sensitivity of model predictions to assumptions regarding model spatial resolution, emissions temporal profiles, and knowledge of air emission chemical composition. Decreasing the chemical specificity of PFAS emissions has the largest impact on deposition predictions with domain-wide total deposition varying by as much as 250 % for total PFAS. However, predicted domain-wide mean and median air concentrations varied by <18 % over all scenarios tested for total PFAS. Other model features like emission temporal variability and model spatial resolution had weaker impacts on predicted PFAS deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L D'Ambro
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, US EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States.
| | - Benjamin N Murphy
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, US EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States.
| | - Jesse O Bash
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, US EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Robert C Gilliam
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, US EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Havala O T Pye
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, US EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
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14
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Dauchy X. Evidence of large-scale deposition of airborne emissions of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) near a fluoropolymer production plant in an urban area. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 337:139407. [PMID: 37414291 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Airborne emissions of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) from fluoropolymer manufacturing facilities-especially those producing polyvinylidene (PVDF)-have rarely been investigated. Once PFASs are released into the air from the facility stacks, they settle in the surrounding environment, contaminating all surfaces. Human beings living in close proximity to these facilities can be exposed through air inhalation and ingestion of contaminated vegetables, drinking water or dust. In this study, we collected nine surface soil and five outdoor settled dust samples within 200 m of the fence line of a PVDF and fluoroelastomer production site near Lyon (France). Samples were collected in an urban area including a sports field. High concentrations of long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) (C ≥ 9) were found at sampling points downwind of the facility. Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) was the predominant PFAS in surface soil (12-245 ng/g dw), whereas perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) was in outdoor dust (<0.5-59 ng/g dw). The PFAS profiles observed in soil and dust samples very likely originate from the processing aids used for PVDF and fluoroelastomer production. To our knowledge, long-chain PFCA concentrations as high as reported herein have never been found outside the perimeter fencing of a fluoropolymer plant. PFAS concentrations in other environmental compartments (such as air, vegetables or groundwater) should be monitored to assess all potential pathways to exposure of nearby residents before carrying out human biomonitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Dauchy
- ANSES, Nancy Laboratory for Hydrology, Water Chemistry Department, 40 Rue Lionnois, 54000, Nancy, France.
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15
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Wu S, Yuan T, Fu W, Dong H, Zhang Y, Zhang M, Jiang C, Xu Q, Zhang L, Qiang Z. Perfluorinated compound correlation between human serum and drinking water: Is drinking water a significant contributor? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 873:162471. [PMID: 36842602 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorinated compounds (PFASs) are a new artificial chemical. Due to its substantial toxicity and complex degradation in the natural environment, monitoring PFASs has become a hot issue for many researchers. Currently, the relationship between the concentration of PFASs in serum and the concentration of PFASs in drinking water is unclear. This paper aims to study the concentration levels of PFASs in drinking water and residents' serum in a city in northern China and the relationship between them. The results show that the concentration of PFASs in drinking water is low, and the average concentrations of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were 2.57 ± 0.69 ng/L and 0.30 ng/L, respectively, which were lower than the limits specified in China's newly introduced Standards for drinking water quality (GB 5749-2022). In the serum of residents, PFOA and PFOS were the two PFASs with the highest concentration. Spearman correlation analysis showed that perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) and PFOS concentrations were positively correlated with age, and PFHxS, PFOA, PFNA, and PFOS varied with sex. At the same time, the correlation analysis also showed no correlation between PFAS in drinking water and serum, indicating that drinking water was not the main factor causing the physical burden of PFAS in residents. The HI method was used to assess the health risks of PFASs to human beings. The risk entropy of all PFASs for human hepatotoxicity and reproductive toxicity is below 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengnian Wu
- School of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Tingting Yuan
- Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Peking University Ninth School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Wei Fu
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Huiyu Dong
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Ying Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Man Zhang
- Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Peking University Ninth School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing 100191, China; Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China.
| | - Caifang Jiang
- Guangxi Nanning Water Co., Ltd., Nanning 530029, China
| | - Qian Xu
- Guangxi Nanning Water Co., Ltd., Nanning 530029, China
| | - Liping Zhang
- School of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Zhimin Qiang
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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16
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Mattila JM, Li EY, Offenberg JH. Tubing material considerably affects measurement delays of gas-phase oxygenated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2023; 73:335-344. [PMID: 36803440 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2023.2174612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental pollutants associated with negative health impacts. Assessments of tubing-related measurement bias for volatile PFAS are lacking, as gas-wall interactions with tubing can delay quantification of gas-phase analytes. We use online iodide chemical ionization mass spectrometry measurements to characterize tubing delays for three gas-phase oxygenated PFAS - 4:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (4:2 FTOH), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA). Perfluoroalkoxy alkane and high-density polyethylene tubing yielded relatively short absorptive measurement delays, with no clear dependence on tubing temperature or sampled humidity. Sampling through stainless steel tubing led to prolonged measurement delays due to reversible adsorption of PFAS to the tubing surface, with strong dependence on tubing temperature and sample humidification. Silcosteel tubing afforded shorter measurement delays than stainless steel due to diminished surface adsorption of PFAS. Characterizing and mitigating these tubing delays is crucial for reliable quantification of airborne PFAS.Implications: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants. Many PFAS are sufficiently volatile to exist as airborne pollutants. Measurements and quantification of airborne PFAS can be biased from material-dependent gas-wall interactions with sampling inlet tubing. Thus, characterizing these gas-wall interactions are crucial for reliably investigating emissions, environmental transport, and fates of airborne PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M Mattila
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Emily Y Li
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | - John H Offenberg
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
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17
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Koban LA, Pfluger AR. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure through munitions in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2023; 19:376-381. [PMID: 35983736 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Considered contaminants of emerging concern, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of toxic, manufactured chemicals found in commercial and consumer products such as nonstick cookware, food packaging, and firefighting foams. Human exposure to PFAS through inhalation and ingestion can cause a variety of harmful effects and negative health outcomes. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances possess high polarity and chemical stability, enabling them to resist degradation in most environmental conditions. These characteristics allow PFAS to be mobile in soil, air, and water, and bioaccumulate in living organisms. Due to their thermally resistant chemical properties, PFAS are used as binders in polymer-bonded explosives (PBX) and in various components of munitions. Thus, when munitions are detonated, PFAS are released into the environment as aerosols and can deposit in the soil, surface water, or biota. Air emission modeling suggests that ground-level and airborne detonation of munitions can increase PFAS deposition both locally and long range. Further, if industrial facilities with PFAS are damaged or destroyed, there is greater potential for environmental degradation from increased release of PFAS into the environment. As a consequence of their persistent nature, PFAS can remain in an environment long after armed conflict, indirectly affecting ecosystems, food sources, and human health. The toxic contamination from munitions could present a greater hazard to a larger population over time than acute detonation events. This article discusses methods for estimating war-related damage from PFAS by exploring predictive modeling approaches and postwar ground validation techniques. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:376-381. © 2022 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A Koban
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA
| | - Andrew R Pfluger
- Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, USA
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18
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Liu D, Yan S, Wang P, Chen Q, Liu Y, Cui J, Liang Y, Ren S, Gao Y. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) exposure in relation to the kidneys: A review of current available literature. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1103141. [PMID: 36776978 PMCID: PMC9909492 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1103141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid is an artificial and non-degradable chemical. It is widely used due to its stable nature. It can enter the human body through food, drinking water, inhalation of household dust and contact with products containing perfluorooctanoic acid. It accumulates in the human body, causing potential harmful effects on human health. Based on the biodegradability and bioaccumulation of perfluorooctanoic acid in the human body, there are increasing concerns about the adverse effects of perfluorooctanoic acid exposure on kidneys. Research shows that kidney is the main accumulation organ of Perfluorooctanoic acid, and Perfluorooctanoic acid can cause nephrotoxicity and produce adverse effects on kidney function, but the exact mechanism is still unknown. In this review, we summarize the relationship between Perfluorooctanoic acid exposure and kidney health, evaluate risks more clearly, and provide a theoretical basis for subsequent research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongge Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Shuqi Yan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Pingwei Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Qianqian Chen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yanping Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiajing Cui
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yujun Liang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Shuping Ren
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ying Gao
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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19
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Liu F, Guan X, Xiao F. Photodegradation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water: A review of fundamentals and applications. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 439:129580. [PMID: 35905606 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent, mobile, and toxic chemicals that are hazardous to human health and the environment. Several countries, including the United States, plan to set an enforceable maximum contamination level for certain PFAS compounds in drinking water sources. Among the available treatment options, photocatalytic treatment is promising for PFAS degradation and mineralization in the aqueous solution. In this review, recent advances in the abatement of PFAS from water using photo-oxidation and photo-reduction are systematically reviewed. Degradation mechanisms of PFAS by photo-oxidation involving the holes (hvb+) and oxidative radicals and photo-reduction using the electrons (ecb-) and hydrated electrons (eaq-) are integrated. The recent development of innovative heterogeneous photocatalysts and photolysis systems for enhanced degradation of PFAS is highlighted. Photodegradation mechanisms of alternative compounds, such as hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX) and chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (F-53B), are also critically evaluated. This paper concludes by identifying major knowledge gaps and some of the challenges that lie ahead in the scalability and adaptability issues of photocatalysis for natural water treatment. Development made in photocatalysts design and system optimization forges a path toward sustainable treatment of PFAS-contaminated water through photodegradation technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuqiang Liu
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Xiaohong Guan
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
| | - Feng Xiao
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of North Dakota, 243 Centennial Drive Stop 8115, Grand Forks, ND 58202, United States.
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20
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Mayakaduwage S, Ekanayake A, Kurwadkar S, Rajapaksha AU, Vithanage M. Phytoremediation prospects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances: A review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113311. [PMID: 35460639 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Extensive use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in various industrial activities and daily-life products has made them ubiquitous contaminants in soil and water. PFAS-contaminated soil acts as a long-term source of pollution to the adjacent surface water bodies, groundwater, soil microorganisms, and soil invertebrates. While several remediation strategies exist to eliminate PFASs from the soil, strong ionic interactions between charged groups on PFAS with soil constituents rendered these PFAS remediation technologies ineffective. Pilot and field-scale data from recent studies have shown a great potential of PFAS to bio-accumulate and distribute within plant compartments suggesting that phytoremediation could be a potential remediation technology to clean up PFAS contaminated soils. Even though several studies have been performed on the uptake and translocation of PFAS by different plant species, most of these studies are limited to agricultural crops and fruit species. In this review, the role of both aquatic and terrestrial plants in the phytoremediation of PFAS was discussed highlighting different mechanisms underlying the uptake of PFASs in the soil-plant and water-plant systems. This review further summarized a wide range of factors that influence the bioaccumulation and translocation of PFASs within plant compartments including both structural properties of PFASs and physiological properties of plant species. Even though phytoremediation appears to be a promising remediation technique, some limitations that reduced the feasibility of phytoremediation in the practical application have been emphasized in previous studies. Additional research directions are suggested, including advanced genetic engineering techniques and endophyte-assisted phytoremediation to upgrade the phytoremediation potential of plants for the successful removal of PFASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Mayakaduwage
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
| | - Anusha Ekanayake
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka.
| | - Sudarshan Kurwadkar
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, California State University, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA, 92831, USA
| | - Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka; Instrument Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka
| | - Meththika Vithanage
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka.
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21
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Brusseau ML, Guo B. PFAS concentrations in soil versus soil porewater: Mass distributions and the impact of adsorption at air-water interfaces. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 302:134938. [PMID: 35568214 PMCID: PMC9667730 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Determining the risk posed by PFAS leaching from soil to groundwater requires quantification of the magnitude and temporal/spatial variability of PFAS mass discharge from the vadose zone, which is governed in part by the concentrations of PFAS in soil porewater. Porewater concentrations are impacted and mediated by the properties of the PFAS and soil, multiple transport and fate processes, and site conditions. The objective of this research was to delineate the relationship between soil porewater concentrations and soil concentrations, based on a comprehensive model of PFAS mass distribution within a soil sample volume. Measured parameters representing solid-phase sorption and air-water interfacial adsorption are used to illustrate the impact of soil and PFAS properties on the distribution of representative PFAS between soil and soil porewater. Literature data reported for soil and soil porewater concentrations of several PFAS obtained from outdoor lysimeter experiments are used to test the distribution model. Soil-to-porewater concentration ratios predicted with the model compared very well to the measured concentration ratios. The nondimensional distribution coefficient that describes the distribution of PFAS mass amongst all domains within a soil sample was observed to be a function of PFAS molecular size. Numerical simulations conducted for a model fire-training source area were used to illustrate the ranges in magnitude of soil versus porewater concentrations for representative field conditions. The results of the measured and simulated data sets demonstrated the importance of air-water interfacial adsorption for the distribution of the longer-chain PFAS within soil samples. PFAS soil porewater concentrations are anticipated to range from ng/L to mg/L depending upon soil concentrations, which in turn depend upon the nature of the site.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Brusseau
- Environmental Science Department, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States; Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences Department, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States.
| | - B Guo
- Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences Department, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
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22
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Dickman RA, Aga DS. A review of recent studies on toxicity, sequestration, and degradation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 436:129120. [PMID: 35643010 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The fate, effects, and treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), an anthropogenic class of chemicals used in industrial and commercial production, are topics of great interest in recent research and news cycles. This interest stems from the ubiquity of PFAS in the global environment as well as their significant toxicological effects in humans and wildlife. Research on toxicity, sequestration, removal, and degradation of PFAS has grown rapidly, leading to a flood of valuable knowledge that can get swamped out in the perpetual rise in the number of publications. Selected papers from the Journal of Hazardous Materials between January 2018 and May 2022 on the toxicity, sequestration, and degradation of PFAS are reviewed in this article and made available as open-access publications for one year, in order to facilitate the distribution of critical knowledge surrounding PFAS. This review discusses routes of toxicity as observed in mammalian and cellular models, and the observed human health effects in exposed communities. Studies that evaluate of toxicity through in-silico approaches are highlighted in this paper. Removal of PFAS through modified carbon sorbents, nanoparticles, and anion exchange materials are discussed while comparing treatment efficiencies for different classes of PFAS. Finally, various biotic and abiotic degradation techniques, and the pathways and mechanisms involved are reviewed to provide a better understanding on the removal efficiencies and cost effectiveness of existing treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Dickman
- Department of Chemistry, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, United States
| | - Diana S Aga
- Department of Chemistry, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, United States.
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23
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Mattias S, Kikuchi J, Wiberg K, Lutz A. Spatial distribution and load of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in background soils in Sweden. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 295:133944. [PMID: 35150699 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are known to be persistent, bioaccumulative, and have adverse health effects, but very little is known about PFAS in the terrestrial environment and factors influencing their distribution. This paper presents one of the first comprehensive studies investigating PFAS (n = 28) in background forest soils (n = 27) on national scale across Sweden. The results showed that 16 of 28 target PFAS were present and all sites contained at least three PFAS compounds, with total concentrations ranging between 0.40 ng/g dry weight (dw) and 6.6 ng/g dw. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) showed the highest detection frequency of 89% and a median concentration of 0.39 ng/g dw. The PFOS loads (ng/m3) showed a distinct spatial distribution, with a significant exponential increase from north to south (R2 = 0.55; p < 0.001) and west to east (R2 = 0.35; p < 0.01). In some parts of Sweden, the compound 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTSA) had a higher median concentration (1.4 ng/g dw), but was in comparison to PFOS more impacted by local sources. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) showed regional clustering of PFAS compositional profiles, indicating that PFAS soil background concentrations are functions of spatial variations at local, regional, and countrywide scale. Such spatial trends have not been observed previously and it could not be deduced whether they are indicative of trends on a global scale, or country-specific and better explained by proximity to densely populated urban areas. An interpolation and extrapolation raster map created from the results was used to calculate the average total PFAS load on Swedish soils. Estimated total load in the top 10-cm soil layer was 2.7 ± 2.4 tons for PFOS and 16 ± 14 tons for ∑PFAS, indicating that soil carries a considerable legacy of past PFAS release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sörengård Mattias
- Department of Aquatic Science and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, SE-75007, Sweden.
| | - Johannes Kikuchi
- Department of Aquatic Science and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, SE-75007, Sweden; Swedish Geotechnical Institute (SGI), SE-581 93, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Karin Wiberg
- Department of Aquatic Science and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, SE-75007, Sweden
| | - Ahrens Lutz
- Department of Aquatic Science and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, SE-75007, Sweden.
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24
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Kirkwood KI, Fleming J, Nguyen H, Reif DM, Baker ES, Belcher SM. Utilizing Pine Needles to Temporally and Spatially Profile Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:3441-3451. [PMID: 35175744 PMCID: PMC9199521 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c06483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
As concerns over exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are continually increasing, novel methods to monitor their presence and modifications are greatly needed, as some have known toxic and bioaccumulative characteristics while most have unknown effects. This task however is not simple, as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) CompTox PFAS list contains more than 9000 substances as of September 2020 with additional substances added continually. Nontargeted analyses are therefore crucial to investigating the presence of this immense list of possible PFAS. Here, we utilized archived and field-sampled pine needles as widely available passive samplers and a novel nontargeted, multidimensional analytical method coupling liquid chromatography, ion mobility spectrometry, and mass spectrometry (LC-IMS-MS) to evaluate the temporal and spatial presence of numerous PFAS. Over 70 PFAS were detected in the pine needles from this study, including both traditionally monitored legacy perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and their emerging replacements such as chlorinated derivatives, ultrashort chain PFAAs, perfluoroalkyl ether acids including hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, "GenX") and Nafion byproduct 2, and a cyclic perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) analog. Results from this study provide critical insight related to PFAS transport, contamination, and reduction efforts over the past six decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaylie I Kirkwood
- North Carolina State University, Department of Chemistry, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Jonathon Fleming
- North Carolina State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Helen Nguyen
- North Carolina State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - David M Reif
- North Carolina State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Erin S Baker
- North Carolina State University, Department of Chemistry, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Scott M Belcher
- North Carolina State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
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25
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McIntyre H, Minda V, Hawley E, Deeb R, Hart M. Coupled photocatalytic alkaline media as a destructive technology for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in aqueous film-forming foam impacted stormwater. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 291:132790. [PMID: 34748800 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The release of aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) from fuel fire events, fire training events, and other activities has resulted in the presence of persistent and recalcitrant per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soil and water nationwide. This study describes the degradation and defluorination of PFAS in stormwater collected from an AFFF-impacted site. Silica-based granular media (SGM) containing titanium dioxide was packed into a column reactor and placed between ultraviolet (UV) lamps to excite the photocatalyst within the SGM and generate free radicals to degrade PFAS present in water that was passed through the media. The system was amended with nucleophiles (hydroxyls) to facilitate the destruction of PFAS. Results showed rapid degradation of 17 identified PFAS, including perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) precursors, perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSAs), and perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs). Significant defluorination was observed, indicating PFAS destruction as a result of the coupled photocatalytic and nucleophilic attack. Column reactor experiment findings indicate SGM in the presence of UV light passively degraded a mixture of PFAS in a concentrated waste stream at ambient conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah McIntyre
- Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Missouri - Kansas City, 5110 Rockhill Rd, 352 Flarsheim Hall, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA.
| | - Vidit Minda
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Missouri - Kansas City, 2464 Charlotte Street, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA.
| | - Elisabeth Hawley
- Geosyntec Consultants, Inc., 1111 Broadway, 6th Floor, Oakland, CA, 94607, USA.
| | - Rula Deeb
- Geosyntec Consultants, Inc., 1111 Broadway, 6th Floor, Oakland, CA, 94607, USA.
| | - Megan Hart
- Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Missouri - Kansas City, 5110 Rockhill Rd, 352 Flarsheim Hall, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA.
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26
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McMahon PB, Tokranov AK, Bexfield LM, Lindsey BD, Johnson TD, Lombard MA, Watson E. Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Groundwater Used as a Source of Drinking Water in the Eastern United States. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:2279-2288. [PMID: 35113548 PMCID: PMC8970425 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
In 2019, 254 samples were collected from five aquifer systems to evaluate perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) occurrence in groundwater used as a source of drinking water in the eastern United States. The samples were analyzed for 24 PFAS, major ions, nutrients, trace elements, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pharmaceuticals, and tritium. Fourteen of the 24 PFAS were detected in groundwater, with 60 and 20% of public-supply and domestic wells, respectively, containing at least one PFAS detection. Concentrations of tritium, chloride, sulfate, DOC, and manganese + iron; percent urban land use within 500 m of the wells; and VOC and pharmaceutical detection frequencies were significantly higher in samples containing PFAS detections than in samples with no detections. Boosted regression tree models that consider 57 chemical and land-use variables show that tritium concentration, distance to the nearest fire-training area, percentage of urban land use, and DOC and VOC concentrations are the top five predictors of PFAS detections, consistent with the hydrologic position, geochemistry, and land use being important controls on PFAS occurrence in groundwater. Model results indicate that it may be possible to predict PFAS detections in groundwater using existing data sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter B. McMahon
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Bldg. 53, MS 415, Lakewood, Colorado, 80225, United States
| | - Andrea K. Tokranov
- U.S.
Geological Survey, 10 Bearfoot Rd., Northborough, Massachusetts 01532, United States
| | - Laura M. Bexfield
- U.S.
Geological Survey, 6700 Edith Blvd NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87113, United States
| | - Bruce D. Lindsey
- U.S.
Geological Survey, 215 Limekiln Road, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania 17070, United States
| | - Tyler D. Johnson
- U.S.
Geological Survey, 4165 Spruance Road, San Diego, California 92101, United States
| | - Melissa A. Lombard
- U.S. Geological
Survey, 331 Commerce Way, Pembroke, New Hampshire 03275, United States
| | - Elise Watson
- U.S.
Geological Survey, 4165 Spruance Road, San Diego, California 92101, United States
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27
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Suresh Babu D, Mol JMC, Buijnsters JG. Experimental insights into anodic oxidation of hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX) on boron-doped diamond anodes. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 288:132417. [PMID: 34606896 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
GenX is the trade name of the ammonium salt of hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) and is used as a replacement for the banned perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). However, recent studies have found GenX to be more toxic than PFOA. This work deals with the electrochemical degradation of HFPO-DA using boron-doped diamond anodes. For the first time, an experimental study was conducted to investigate the influence of sulfate concentration and other operating parameters on HFPO-DA degradation. Results demonstrated that sulfate radicals were ineffective in HFPO-DA degradation due to steric hindrance by -CF3 branch. Direct electron transfer was found as the rate-determining step. By comparing degradation of HFPO-DA with that of PFOA, it was observed that the steric hindrance by -CF3 branch in HFPO-DA decreased the rate of electron transfer from the carboxyl head group even though its defluorination rate was faster. Conclusively, a degradation pathway is proposed in which HFPO-DA mineralizes to CO2 and F- via formation of three intermediates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diwakar Suresh Babu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands.
| | - Johannes M C Mol
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands.
| | - Josephus G Buijnsters
- Department of Precision and Microsystems Engineering, Research Group of Micro and Nano Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands.
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28
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Guelfo JL, Korzeniowski S, Mills MA, Anderson J, Anderson RH, Arblaster JA, Conder JM, Cousins IT, Dasu K, Henry BJ, Lee LS, Liu J, McKenzie ER, Willey J. Environmental Sources, Chemistry, Fate, and Transport of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: State of the Science, Key Knowledge Gaps, and Recommendations Presented at the August 2019 SETAC Focus Topic Meeting. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2021; 40:3234-3260. [PMID: 34325493 PMCID: PMC8745034 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
A Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Focused Topic Meeting (FTM) on the environmental management of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) convened during August 2019 in Durham, North Carolina (USA). Experts from around the globe were brought together to critically evaluate new and emerging information on PFAS including chemistry, fate, transport, exposure, and toxicity. After plenary presentations, breakout groups were established and tasked to identify and adjudicate via panel discussions overarching conclusions and relevant data gaps. The present review is one in a series and summarizes outcomes of presentations and breakout discussions related to (1) primary sources and pathways in the environment, (2) sorption and transport in porous media, (3) precursor transformation, (4) practical approaches to the assessment of source zones, (5) standard and novel analytical methods with implications for environmental forensics and site management, and (6) classification and grouping from multiple perspectives. Outcomes illustrate that PFAS classification will continue to be a challenge, and additional pressing needs include increased availability of analytical standards and methods for assessment of PFAS and fate and transport, including precursor transformation. Although the state of the science is sufficient to support a degree of site-specific and flexible risk management, effective source prioritization tools, predictive fate and transport models, and improved and standardized analytical methods are needed to guide broader policies and best management practices. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:3234-3260. © 2021 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L. Guelfo
- Department of Civil, Environmental, & Construction EngineeringTexas Tech UniversityLubbockTexasUSA
| | - Stephen Korzeniowski
- American Chemistry CouncilWashingtonDCUSA
- Associated General Contractors of AmericaExtonPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Marc A. Mills
- Office of Research and DevelopmentUS Environmental Protection Agency, CincinnatiOhioUSA
| | | | | | | | | | - Ian T. Cousins
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical ChemistryStockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
| | | | | | - Linda S. Lee
- Department of AgronomyPurdue University, West LafayetteIndianaUSA
| | - Jinxia Liu
- Department of Civil EngineeringMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Erica R. McKenzie
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringTemple UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Janice Willey
- Naval Sea Systems Command, Laboratory Quality and Accreditation Office, Goose CreekSouth CarolinaUSA
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29
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Shi H, Chiang SYD, Wang Y, Wang Y, Liang S, Zhou J, Fontanez R, Gao S, Huang Q. An electrocoagulation and electrooxidation treatment train to remove and degrade per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in aqueous solution. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 788:147723. [PMID: 34034184 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the feasibility of a novel treatment train that combines electrocoagulation (EC) with electrooxidation (EO) treatment to remove and degrade per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) from water. Electrocoagulation with a zinc anode could effectively remove PFASs from water, and long-chain PFASs (C7-C10) tended to have a higher removal rate. Foam was generated when a relatively high current density (>1 mA cm-2) was applied to a relatively high PFAS concentration (each PFAS > 0.1 μM) during EC, which promoted the separation of PFASs from the bulk solution, especially for long-chain PFASs. Isotherm-like adsorption results indicated that competitive adsorption on floc occurred between PFASs when no foam was produced in a solution containing 10 different PFASs. Acid dissolution methods could recover and concentrate 10 PFASs in controlled volumes from both the floc and the foam, and it was also successfully applied in groundwater collected from a contaminated site. The concentrated PFASs in the acid solutions were efficiently destructed using EO treatment with a Ti4O7 anode at 10 mA cm-2, and no supplement of electrolyte was needed for the floc dissolved solution. This electrochemical-based process can economically separate, concentrate and destroy PFASs in groundwater and wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanhuan Shi
- School of Ecology and Environment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA 30223, United States
| | | | - Yaye Wang
- College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA 30223, United States
| | - Yifei Wang
- College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA 30223, United States
| | - Shangtao Liang
- AECOM Technical Services, Inc., Atlanta, GA 30309, United States
| | - Jing Zhou
- AECOM Technical Services, Inc., Atlanta, GA 30309, United States
| | - Raymond Fontanez
- College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA 30223, United States
| | - Shixiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Qingguo Huang
- College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA 30223, United States.
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30
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Morganti M, Polesello S, Pascariello S, Ferrario C, Rubolini D, Valsecchi S, Parolini M. Exposure assessment of PFAS-contaminated sites using avian eggs as a biomonitoring tool: A frame of reference and a case study in the Po River valley (Northern Italy). INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2021; 17:733-745. [PMID: 33764673 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
For many years, eggs of diverse bird species have been used as monitoring tools in studies investigating perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination, especially in marine and remote areas. Avian eggs are a suitable monitoring matrix because they are relatively easy to collect and their yolks store diverse maternally transferred PFAS. Moreover, the concentrations of PFAS detected in the eggs are a good proxy for maternal exposure and allow the assessment of the potential risk for birds. These features support the use of avian eggs as a key monitoring tool in exposure assessment of PFAS-contaminated sites. We first review the recent application of avian eggs in PFAS monitoring in environmental risk assessment schemes, highlighting strengths and limitations and suggesting which criteria should be considered when selecting a proper study species and structuring the sampling and analytical protocol. Eventually, we report findings from a field study realized in 2020 near a perfluoropolymer factory site in the upper Po plain (Northern Italy), revealing an unprecedented contamination level of PFOA and C6O4 in three species of wild passerines. In future, long-term monitoring of PFAS contamination using avian eggs should be maintained, to provide crucial information on the temporal trend of fluorochemical production and waste disposal, while facilitating early identification of emerging PFAS as well as the quantification of their biomagnification across the trophic web. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:733-745. © 2021 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelangelo Morganti
- Water Research Institute-National Research Council of Italy, IRSA-CNR, Brugherio, MB, Italy
| | - Stefano Polesello
- Water Research Institute-National Research Council of Italy, IRSA-CNR, Brugherio, MB, Italy
| | - Simona Pascariello
- Water Research Institute-National Research Council of Italy, IRSA-CNR, Brugherio, MB, Italy
| | - Claudia Ferrario
- Water Research Institute-National Research Council of Italy, IRSA-CNR, Brugherio, MB, Italy
| | - Diego Rubolini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Valsecchi
- Water Research Institute-National Research Council of Italy, IRSA-CNR, Brugherio, MB, Italy
| | - Marco Parolini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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31
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Roostaei J, Colley S, Mulhern R, May AA, Gibson JM. Predicting the risk of GenX contamination in private well water using a machine-learned Bayesian network model. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 411:125075. [PMID: 33858085 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are emerging contaminants that pose significant challenges in mechanistic fate and transport modeling due to their diverse and complex chemical characteristics. Machine learning provides a novel approach for predicting the spatial distribution of PFAS in the environment. We used spatial location information to link PFAS measurements from 1207 private drinking water wells around a fluorochemical manufacturing facility to a mechanistic model of PFAS air deposition and to publicly available data on soil, land use, topography, weather, and proximity to multiple PFAS sources. We used the resulting linked data set to train a Bayesian network model to predict the risk that GenX, a member of the PFAS class, would exceed a state provisional health goal (140 ng/L) in private well water. The model had high accuracy (ROC curve index for five-fold cross-validation of 0.85, 90% CI 0.84-0.87). Among factors significantly associated with GenX risk in private wells, the most important was the historic rate of atmospheric deposition of GenX from the fluorochemical manufacturing facility. The model output was used to generate spatial risk predictions for the study area to aid in risk assessment, environmental investigations, and targeted public health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javad Roostaei
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States
| | - Sarah Colley
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27516, United States
| | - Riley Mulhern
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27516, United States
| | - Andrew A May
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States.
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32
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Charbonnet JA, Rodowa AE, Joseph NT, Guelfo JL, Field JA, Jones GD, Higgins CP, Helbling DE, Houtz EF. Environmental Source Tracking of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances within a Forensic Context: Current and Future Techniques. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:7237-7245. [PMID: 33983714 PMCID: PMC9724633 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c08506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The source tracking of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is a new and increasingly necessary subfield within environmental forensics. We define PFAS source tracking as the accurate characterization and differentiation of multiple sources contributing to PFAS contamination in the environment. PFAS source tracking should employ analytical measurements, multivariate analyses, and an understanding of PFAS fate and transport within the framework of a conceptual site model. Converging lines of evidence used to differentiate PFAS sources include: identification of PFASs strongly associated with unique sources; the ratios of PFAS homologues, classes, and isomers at a contaminated site; and a site's hydrogeochemical conditions. As the field of PFAS source tracking progresses, the development of new PFAS analytical standards and the wider availability of high-resolution mass spectral data will enhance currently available analytical capabilities. In addition, multivariate computational tools, including unsupervised (i.e., exploratory) and supervised (i.e., predictive) machine learning techniques, may lead to novel insights that define a targeted list of PFASs that will be useful for environmental PFAS source tracking. In this Perspective, we identify the current tools available and principal developments necessary to enable greater confidence in environmental source tracking to identify and apportion PFAS sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A Charbonnet
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Alix E Rodowa
- Biochemical and Exposure Science Group, National Institute of Standards & Technology, Charleston, South Carolina 29412, United States
| | - Nayantara T Joseph
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-0001, United States
| | - Jennifer L Guelfo
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79409, United States
| | - Jennifer A Field
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331-7301, United States
| | - Gerrad D Jones
- Department of Biological and Ecological Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Christopher P Higgins
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Damian E Helbling
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-0001, United States
| | - Erika F Houtz
- Arcadis, 100 Montgomery Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California 94104, United States
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33
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Logeshwaran P, Sivaram AK, Surapaneni A, Kannan K, Naidu R, Megharaj M. Exposure to perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) but not perflurorooctanoic acid (PFOA) at ppb concentration induces chronic toxicity in Daphnia carinata. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 769:144577. [PMID: 33482550 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Widespread environmental contamination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is well established. Nevertheless, few studies have reported on the aquatic toxicity of PFAS, especially in indicator species such as Daphnia. In this study, the toxicity of two major PFAS, namely perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), was investigated on water flea (Daphnia carinata) using a battery of comprehensive toxicity tests, including a 48 h acute and a 21-day chronic assays. The survival, growth, and reproduction of D. carinata were monitored over a 21-day life cycle. PFOS exhibited higher toxicity than PFOA. The 48 h LC50 values (confidence interval) based on acute toxicity for PFOA and PFOS were 78.2 (54.9-105) mg L-1 and 8.8 (6.4-11.6) mg L-1, respectively. Chronic exposure to PFOS for 21 days displayed mortality and reproductive defects in D. carinata at a concentration as low as 0.001 mg L-1. Genotoxicity assessment using comet assay revealed that exposure for 96 h to PFOS at 1 and 10.0 mg L-1 significantly damaged the organism's genetic makeup. The results of this study have great implications for risk assessment of PFOS and PFOA in aquatic ecosystems, given the potential of PFOS to pose a risk to Daphnia even at lower concentrations (1 μg L-1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Panneerselvan Logeshwaran
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation, Faculty of Science, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Anithadevi Kenday Sivaram
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation, Faculty of Science, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Aravind Surapaneni
- South East Water, Frankston, Victoria 3199, Australia; ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kurunthachalam Kannan
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Ravi Naidu
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation, Faculty of Science, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Mallavarapu Megharaj
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation, Faculty of Science, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
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34
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Pétré MA, Genereux DP, Koropeckyj-Cox L, Knappe DRU, Duboscq S, Gilmore TE, Hopkins ZR. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Transport from Groundwater to Streams near a PFAS Manufacturing Facility in North Carolina, USA. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:5848-5856. [PMID: 33797238 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c07978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
We quantified per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) transport from groundwater to five tributaries of the Cape Fear River near a PFAS manufacturing facility in North Carolina (USA). Hydrologic and PFAS data were coupled to quantify PFAS fluxes from groundwater to the tributaries. Up to 29 PFAS were analyzed, including perfluoroalkyl acids and recently identified fluoroethers. Total quantified PFAS (ΣPFAS) in groundwater was 20-4773 ng/L (mean = 1863 ng/L); the range for stream water was 426-3617 ng/L (mean = 1717 ng/L). Eight PFAS constituted 98% of ΣPFAS; perfluoro-2-(perfluoromethoxy)propanoic acid (PMPA) and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX) accounted for 61%. For PFAS discharge from groundwater to one tributary, values estimated from stream water measurements (18 ± 4 kg/yr) were similar to those from groundwater measurements in streambeds (22-25 ± 5 kg/yr). At baseflow, 32 ± 7 kg/yr of PFAS discharged from groundwater to the five tributaries, eventually reaching the Cape Fear River. Given the PFAS emission timeline at the site, groundwater data suggest the abundant fluoroethers moved through the subsurface to streams in ≪50 yr. Discharge of contaminated groundwater may lead to long-term contamination of surface water and impacts on downstream drinking water supplies. This work addresses a gap in the PFAS literature: quantifying PFAS mass transfer between groundwater and surface water using field data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Amélie Pétré
- Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695-8201, North Carolina, United States
| | - David P Genereux
- Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695-8201, North Carolina, United States
| | - Lydia Koropeckyj-Cox
- Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695-8201, North Carolina, United States
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, Raleigh, North Carolina 27711, United States
| | - Detlef R U Knappe
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695-8201, North Carolina, United States
| | - Sandrine Duboscq
- Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695-8201, North Carolina, United States
| | - Troy E Gilmore
- Conservation and Survey Division-School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln 68583, Nebraska, United States
| | - Zachary R Hopkins
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695-8201, North Carolina, United States
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35
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Turner LP, Kueper BH, Jaansalu KM, Patch DJ, Battye N, El-Sharnouby O, Mumford KG, Weber KP. Mechanochemical remediation of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) amended sand and aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) impacted soil by planetary ball milling. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 765:142722. [PMID: 33268250 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are manmade, fluorinated organic chemicals which have been identified as persistent organic pollutants. PFAS have surface active properties that have made them suitable for applications in oil- and water-resistant products, as well as many firefighting foams. No on-site remediation strategies exist to treat PFAS impacted soils. Mechanochemical remediation of PFOS- and PFOA-amended sand via a planetary ball mill was studied. The effect of sand mass, KOH as a co-milling reagent, and water saturation on the degradation of PFOA and PFOS was evaluated. By 4 h of milling concentrations were reduced by up to 98% for PFOS-amended dry sand and 99% for PFOA-amended dry sand without the addition of a co-milling reagent. Water saturation was determined to be a significant hindrance on the mechanochemical destruction of PFOS and PFOA. A maximum of 89% of fluoride was recovered from PFOS-amended sand when KOH was used as a co-milling reagent. It is hypothesized that reactive particles generated from the fracture of sand grains react with PFAS molecules to initiate destruction, which can result in full defluorination. Milling experiments were also conducted on soils from a Canadian firefighting training area (FFTA), demonstrating that PFOS concentrations can be reduced by up to 96% in site soils. For the first time, ball milling for the remediation of PFAS in environmental media has been demonstrated using amended sand and legacy soils from a FFTA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren P Turner
- Department of Civil Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Bernard H Kueper
- Department of Civil Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Kevin M Jaansalu
- Environmental Sciences Group, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - David J Patch
- Environmental Sciences Group, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Nick Battye
- Environmental Sciences Group, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | | | - Kevin G Mumford
- Department of Civil Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Kela P Weber
- Department of Civil Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada; Environmental Sciences Group, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON, Canada.
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36
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Garnick L, Massarsky A, Mushnick A, Hamaji C, Scott P, Monnot A. An evaluation of health-based federal and state PFOA drinking water guidelines in the United States. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 761:144107. [PMID: 33360549 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a synthetic, perfluorinated organic acid previously used in fluoropolymer production in the United States. PFOA has been a recent focal point for regulation because of its ubiquitous presence in drinking water throughout the United States. In 2016, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) issued a lifetime drinking water Health Advisory (HA) for PFOA of 0.07 μg/L; several states have also implemented their own drinking water guidelines for PFOA. The current study aimed to evaluate the basis and derivation of state and federal guidelines for PFOA in drinking water, with particular emphasis on the exposure parameters utilized. Twelve distinct PFOA drinking water standards were identified ranging from 0.0051 to 2 μg/L. The US EPA HA assumptions were evaluated using a Monte Carlo analysis that included distributions for drinking water intake (DWI) rate and the relative source contribution (RSC). We determined that US EPA's HA of 0.07 μg/L is protective of 99% of the population of lactating women. We also demonstrated that the health-based guidelines were highly variable across states and that the actual RSC of PFOA from drinking water is likely greater than 20%, based on studies of actual PFOA exposures from dust, water, and food. A sensitivity analysis was performed using the same equations as the US EPA, while substituting the RSC and DWI variables; resulting in HAs ranging from 0.074 to 0.346 μg/L. We also evaluated the contribution of PFOA in drinking water to the systemic PFOA body burden of the general population using an available biokinetic model. We conclude that more rigorous efforts are warranted to establish consistent health-based drinking water guidelines for PFOA, given that drinking water is a primary source of human exposure to PFOA in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey Garnick
- Cardno ChemRisk, San Francisco, CA 94104, United States of America
| | - Andrey Massarsky
- Cardno ChemRisk, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656, United States of America
| | - Adam Mushnick
- Cardno ChemRisk, San Francisco, CA 94104, United States of America; Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment, Durham, NC 27705, United States of America
| | - Claire Hamaji
- Cardno ChemRisk, San Francisco, CA 94104, United States of America
| | - Paul Scott
- Cardno ChemRisk, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, United States of America
| | - Andrew Monnot
- Cardno ChemRisk, San Francisco, CA 94104, United States of America.
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Schroeder T, Bond D, Foley J. PFAS soil and groundwater contamination via industrial airborne emission and land deposition in SW Vermont and Eastern New York State, USA. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2021; 23:291-301. [PMID: 33443261 DOI: 10.1039/d0em00427h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
In order to understand the extent to which airborne PFAS emission can impact soil and groundwater, we conducted a sampling campaign in areas of conserved forest lands near Bennington, VT/Hoosick Falls, NY. This has been home to sources of PFAS air-emissions from Teflon-coating operations for over 50 years. Since 2015, the Vermont and New York Departments of Environmental Conservation have documented ∼1200 residential wells and two municipal water systems across a 200 km2 area contaminated with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Given the large areal extent of the plume, and the fact that much of the contaminated area lies up-gradient and across rivers from manufactures, we seek to determine if groundwater contamination could have resulted primarily from air-emission, land deposition, and subsequent leaching to infiltrating groundwater. Sampling of soils and groundwater in the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) downwind of factories shows that both soil and groundwater PFOA contamination extend uninterrupted from inhabited areas into conserved forest lands. Groundwater springs and seeps in the GMNF located 8 km downwind, but >300 meters vertically above factories, contain up to 100 ppt PFOA. Our results indicate that air-emitted PFAS can contaminate groundwater and soil in areas outside of those normally considered down-gradient of a source with respect to regional groundwater flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Schroeder
- Bennington College, 1 College Drive, Bennington, VT 05201, USA.
| | - David Bond
- Bennington College, 1 College Drive, Bennington, VT 05201, USA.
| | - Janet Foley
- Bennington College, 1 College Drive, Bennington, VT 05201, USA.
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38
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De Silva AO, Armitage JM, Bruton TA, Dassuncao C, Heiger-Bernays W, Hu XC, Kärrman A, Kelly B, Ng C, Robuck A, Sun M, Webster TF, Sunderland EM. PFAS Exposure Pathways for Humans and Wildlife: A Synthesis of Current Knowledge and Key Gaps in Understanding. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2021; 40:631-657. [PMID: 33201517 PMCID: PMC7906948 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 299] [Impact Index Per Article: 99.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
We synthesize current understanding of the magnitudes and methods for assessing human and wildlife exposures to poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Most human exposure assessments have focused on 2 to 5 legacy PFAS, and wildlife assessments are typically limited to targeted PFAS (up to ~30 substances). However, shifts in chemical production are occurring rapidly, and targeted methods for detecting PFAS have not kept pace with these changes. Total fluorine measurements complemented by suspect screening using high-resolution mass spectrometry are thus emerging as essential tools for PFAS exposure assessment. Such methods enable researchers to better understand contributions from precursor compounds that degrade into terminal perfluoroalkyl acids. Available data suggest that diet is the major human exposure pathway for some PFAS, but there is large variability across populations and PFAS compounds. Additional data on total fluorine in exposure media and the fraction of unidentified organofluorine are needed. Drinking water has been established as the major exposure source in contaminated communities. As water supplies are remediated, for the general population, exposures from dust, personal care products, indoor environments, and other sources may be more important. A major challenge for exposure assessments is the lack of statistically representative population surveys. For wildlife, bioaccumulation processes differ substantially between PFAS and neutral lipophilic organic compounds, prompting a reevaluation of traditional bioaccumulation metrics. There is evidence that both phospholipids and proteins are important for the tissue partitioning and accumulation of PFAS. New mechanistic models for PFAS bioaccumulation are being developed that will assist in wildlife risk evaluations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:631-657. © 2020 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Carla Ng
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Anna Robuck
- University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI USA
| | - Mei Sun
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC USA
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39
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D’Ambro EL, Pye HOT, Bash JO, Bowyer J, Allen C, Efstathiou C, Gilliam RC, Reynolds L, Talgo K, Murphy BN. Characterizing the Air Emissions, Transport, and Deposition of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from a Fluoropolymer Manufacturing Facility. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:862-870. [PMID: 33395278 PMCID: PMC7887699 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c06580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been released into the environment for decades, yet contributions of air emissions to total human exposure, from inhalation and drinking water contamination via deposition, are poorly constrained. The atmospheric transport and fate of a PFAS mixture from a fluoropolymer manufacturing facility in North Carolina were investigated with the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model applied at high resolution (1 km) and extending ∼150 km from the facility. Twenty-six explicit PFAS compounds, including GenX, were added to CMAQ using current best estimates of air emissions and relevant physicochemical properties. The new model, CMAQ-PFAS, predicts that 5% by mass of total emitted PFAS and 2.5% of total GenX are deposited within ∼150 km of the facility, with the remainder transported out. Modeled air concentrations of total GenX and total PFAS around the facility can reach 24.6 and 8500 ng m-3 but decrease to ∼0.1 and ∼10 ng m-3 at 35 km downwind, respectively. We find that compounds with acid functionality have higher deposition due to enhanced water solubility and pH-driven partitioning to aqueous media. To our knowledge, this is the first modeling study of the fate of a comprehensive, chemically resolved suite of PFAS air emissions from a major manufacturing source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L. D’Ambro
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science Education, Oak Ridge, TN
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC
| | - Havala O. T. Pye
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC
| | - Jesse O. Bash
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC
| | - James Bowyer
- North Carolina Division of Air Quality, NC DEQ, Raleigh, NC
| | - Chris Allen
- General Dynamics Information Technology, Research Triangle Park, NC
| | | | - Robert C. Gilliam
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC
| | - Lara Reynolds
- General Dynamics Information Technology, Research Triangle Park, NC
| | - Kevin Talgo
- General Dynamics Information Technology, Research Triangle Park, NC
| | - Benjamin N. Murphy
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC
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40
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Jabeen M, Fayyaz M, Irudayaraj J. Epigenetic Modifications, and Alterations in Cell Cycle and Apoptosis Pathway in A549 Lung Carcinoma Cell Line upon Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances. TOXICS 2020; 8:toxics8040112. [PMID: 33238432 PMCID: PMC7711517 DOI: 10.3390/toxics8040112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of human-made compounds with strong C-F bonds, and have been used in various manufacturing industries for decades. PFAS have been reported to deleterious effect on human health, which has led to studies identifying the possible toxicity and toxicity routes of these compounds. We report that these compounds have the potential to cause epigenetic modifications, and to induce dysregulation in the cell proliferation cycle as well as apoptosis in A549 lung cancer cells when exposed to 10-, 200- and 400 μM concentrations of each compound. Our studies show that exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) may cause hypomethylation in the epigenome, but changes in the epigenetic makeup are not evident upon exposure to GenX. We establish that exposure to lower doses of these compounds causes the cells' balance to shift to cell proliferation, whereas exposure to higher concentrations shifts the balance more towards apoptosis. Furthermore, the apoptosis pathway upon exposure to GenX, PFOA, and PFOS has also been identified. Our findings suggest that exposure to any of these compounds may have profound effects in patients with pre-existing lung conditions or could trigger lung cancinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Musarrat Jabeen
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; (M.J.); (M.F.)
- Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Cancer Centre at Illinois (CCIL), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Muhammad Fayyaz
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; (M.J.); (M.F.)
- Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Cancer Centre at Illinois (CCIL), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Joseph Irudayaraj
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; (M.J.); (M.F.)
- Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Cancer Centre at Illinois (CCIL), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Nick Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +217-300-0525
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41
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Costanza J, Abriola LM, Pennell KD. Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Exhibit Greater Interfacial Activity than PFOA, PFOS, or FOSA. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:13590-13597. [PMID: 32965107 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c03117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl acids spontaneously concentrate at air-water and non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL)-water interfaces, which can influence their retention during subsurface transport. This work presents measurements of air- and NAPL-water interfacial tension for synthetic groundwater containing perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanesulfonamide (FOSA), or aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) formulations at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to greater than 1000 mg/L. The NAPLs tested included dodecane, tetrachloroethylene, and jet fuel. AFFF formulations were less efficient at lowering interfacial tension than PFOA, FPOS, or FOSA substances below 100 mg/L, while above 100 mg/L, these formulations were more effective, achieving tensions of less than 3 mN/m. Infiltration of solutions with such low tension could lead to mobilization of residual NAPL. Equations based on interfacial tension measurements show that concentrations of PFOA, PFOS, and FOSA at the air-water interface were from 2 to 16 times greater than at the NAPL-water interface below 100 mg/L and were 10-50 times greater for AFFF below 20 mg/L. Calculations for unsaturated soil estimate that up to 87% of PFOS mass was at the air-water interface and less than 4% at the dodecane-water interface for bulk-water concentrations below 1 mg/L.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jed Costanza
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Linda M Abriola
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Kurt D Pennell
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
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42
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Meegoda JN, Kewalramani JA, Li B, Marsh RW. A Review of the Applications, Environmental Release, and Remediation Technologies of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E8117. [PMID: 33153160 PMCID: PMC7663283 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17218117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are pollutants that have demonstrated a high level of environmental persistence and are very difficult to remediate. As the body of literature on their environmental effects has increased, so has regulatory and research scrutiny. The widespread usage of PFAS in industrial applications and consumer products, complicated by their environmental release, mobility, fate, and transport, have resulted in multiple exposure routes for humans. Furthermore, low screening levels and stringent regulatory standards that vary by state introduce considerable uncertainty and potential costs in the environmental management of PFAS. The recalcitrant nature of PFAS render their removal difficult, but existing and emerging technologies can be leveraged to destroy or sequester PFAS in a variety of environmental matrices. Additionally, new research on PFAS remediation technologies has emerged to address the efficiency, costs, and other shortcomings of existing remediation methods. Further research on the impact of field parameters such as secondary water quality effects, the presence of co-contaminants and emerging PFAS, reaction mechanisms, defluorination yields, and the decomposition products of treatment technologies is needed to fully evaluate these emerging technologies, and industry attention should focus on treatment train approaches to improve efficiency and reduce the cost of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay N. Meegoda
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA;
| | - Jitendra A. Kewalramani
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA;
| | - Brian Li
- Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA;
| | - Richard W. Marsh
- Department of Chemical and Material Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA;
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43
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Zhang D, Zhang W, Liang Y. Bacterial community in a freshwater pond responding to the presence of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 2020; 41:3646-3656. [PMID: 31071274 DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2019.1616828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Microbial community is an essential component of freshwater, providing valuable self-purification ecosystem service. Poly-and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have attracted increasing concerns in light of their potential ecotoxicological effects and ubiquitous occurrence in the aquatic environment. Knowledge about their influences on the microbial community, however, remains largely unknown. In the present study, Illumina high-throughput sequencing of 16S ribosomal DNA was applied to explore the changes in the dynamic and composition of the bacterial community upon exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) at different concentrations, i.e. 0.45 µg L-1, 130 µg L-1 and 5.0 mg L-1. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed variations of 57.2% for Principal Component 1 and 16.0% for Principal Component 2 of the total community. This clearly demonstrated changes in the bacterial community structure between the controls and PFOA-amended water samples. At the phylum level, the predominant bacteria in the original pond water included Proteobacteria (64.47%), Armatimonadetes (11.87%), Actinobacteria (10.81%), Bacteroidetes (6.36%), Chloroflexi (1.44%), Verrucomicrobia (0.61%) and Firmicutes (0.14%). The relative abundance of Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Verrucomicrobia decreased 26.5-38.8%, 40.5-70.7%, and 47.4-87.5%, respectively, upon PFOA exposure. By contrast, PFOA led to an obvious increase of Proteobacteria, by 12.5-18.6% and Chloroflexi by 19.1-74.4%. Results from this study provided the needed evidence that PFAS at high concentrations could affect the microbial community in a freshwater ecosystem. Principle Component Analysis (PCA) results suggest clear distinctions of bacterial community structure between the original pond water and the water samples spiked with PFOA based on pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongqing Zhang
- Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science, University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Weilan Zhang
- Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science, University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Yanna Liang
- Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science, University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA
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44
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Brusseau ML, Anderson RH, Guo B. PFAS concentrations in soils: Background levels versus contaminated sites. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 740:140017. [PMID: 32927568 PMCID: PMC7654437 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 260] [Impact Index Per Article: 65.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are contaminants of critical concern due to their persistence, widespread distribution in the environment, and potential human-health impacts. In this work, published studies of PFAS concentrations in soils were compiled from the literature. These data were combined with results obtained from a large curated database of PFAS soil concentrations for contaminated sites. In aggregate, the compiled data set comprises >30,000 samples collected from >2500 sites distributed throughout the world. Data were collected for three types of sites- background sites, primary-source sites (fire-training areas, manufacturing plants), and secondary-source sites (biosolids application, irrigation water use). The aggregated soil-survey reports comprise samples collected from all continents, and from a large variety of locations in both urban and rural regions. PFAS were present in soil at almost every site tested. Low but measurable concentrations were observed even in remote regions far from potential PFOS sources. Concentrations reported for PFAS-contaminated sites were generally orders-of-magnitude greater than background levels, particularly for PFOS. Maximum reported PFOS concentrations ranged upwards of several hundred mg/kg. Analysis of depth profiles indicates significant retention of PFAS in the vadose zone over decadal timeframes and the occurrence of leaching to groundwater. It is noteworthy that soil concentrations reported for PFAS at contaminated sites are often orders-of-magnitude higher than typical groundwater concentrations. The results of this study demonstrate that PFAS are present in soils across the globe, and indicate that soil is a significant reservoir for PFAS. A critical question of concern is the long-term migration potential to surface water, groundwater, and the atmosphere. This warrants increased focus on the transport and fate behavior of PFAS in soil and the vadose zone, in regards to both research and site investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark L Brusseau
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| | | | - Bo Guo
- Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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45
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Degradation mechanism of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) during electrocoagulation using Fe electrode. Sep Purif Technol 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2020.116911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Kwiatkowski CF, Andrews DQ, Birnbaum LS, Bruton TA, DeWitt JC, Knappe DRU, Maffini MV, Miller MF, Pelch KE, Reade A, Soehl A, Trier X, Venier M, Wagner CC, Wang Z, Blum A. Scientific Basis for Managing PFAS as a Chemical Class. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS 2020; 7:532-543. [PMID: 34307722 PMCID: PMC8297807 DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 221] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
This commentary presents a scientific basis for managing as one chemical class the thousands of chemicals known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). The class includes perfluoroalkyl acids, perfluoroalkylether acids, and their precursors; fluoropolymers and perfluoropolyethers; and other PFAS. The basis for the class approach is presented in relation to their physicochemical, environmental, and toxicological properties. Specifically, the high persistence, accumulation potential, and/or hazards (known and potential) of PFAS studied to date warrant treating all PFAS as a single class. Examples are provided of how some PFAS are being regulated and how some businesses are avoiding all PFAS in their products and purchasing decisions. We conclude with options for how governments and industry can apply the class-based approach, emphasizing the importance of eliminating non-essential uses of PFAS, and further developing safer alternatives and methods to remove existing PFAS from the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol F. Kwiatkowski
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - David Q. Andrews
- Environmental Working Group, Washington, D.C. 20009, United States
| | - Linda S. Birnbaum
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Thomas A. Bruton
- Green Science Policy Institute, Berkeley, California 94709, United States
| | - Jamie C. DeWitt
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27834, United States
| | - Detlef R. U. Knappe
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | | | - Mark F. Miller
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and U.S. Public Health Service, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Katherine E. Pelch
- School of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas 76126, United States
| | - Anna Reade
- Natural Resources Defense Council, San Francisco, California 94104, United States
| | - Anna Soehl
- Green Science Policy Institute, Berkeley, California 94709, United States
| | - Xenia Trier
- European Environment Agency, DK-1050 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marta Venier
- O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47401, United States
| | - Charlotte C. Wagner
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Zhanyun Wang
- Chair of Ecological Systems Design, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Arlene Blum
- Green Science Policy Institute, Berkeley, California 94709, United States; Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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Dicko C, Engberg A, Houston JE, Jackson AJ, Pettersson A, Dalgliesh RM, Akeroyd FA, Venero DA, Rogers SE, Martel A, Porcar L, Rennie AR. NUrF-Optimization of in situ UV-vis and fluorescence and autonomous characterization techniques with small-angle neutron scattering instrumentation. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2020; 91:075111. [PMID: 32752852 DOI: 10.1063/5.0011325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We have designed, built, and validated a (quasi)-simultaneous measurement platform called NUrF, which consists of neutron small-angle scattering, UV-visible, fluorescence, and densitometry techniques. In this contribution, we illustrate the concept and benefits of the NUrF setup combined with high-performance liquid chromatography pumps to automate the preparation and measurement of a mixture series of Brij35 nonionic surfactants with perfluorononanoic acid in the presence of a reporter fluorophore (pyrene).
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Affiliation(s)
- Cedric Dicko
- Chemistry Department, Lund University, Lund 221 00, Sweden
| | - Adam Engberg
- Centre for Neutron Scattering, Uppsala University, Uppsala 751 20, Sweden
| | | | | | | | - Robert M Dalgliesh
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Source-STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Frederick A Akeroyd
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Source-STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Diego Alba Venero
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Source-STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah E Rogers
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Source-STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Anne Martel
- Institut Laue Langevin, Grenoble 38000, France
| | | | - Adrian R Rennie
- Centre for Neutron Scattering, Uppsala University, Uppsala 751 20, Sweden
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Galloway JE, Moreno AVP, Lindstrom AB, Strynar MJ, Newton S, May AA, Weavers LK. Evidence of Air Dispersion: HFPO-DA and PFOA in Ohio and West Virginia Surface Water and Soil near a Fluoropolymer Production Facility. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:7175-7184. [PMID: 32458687 PMCID: PMC8015386 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b07384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was used as a fluoropolymer manufacturing aid at a fluoropolymer production facility in Parkersburg, WV from 1951 to 2013. The manufacturer introduced a replacement surfactant hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) that has been in use at this site since 2013. Historical releases of PFOA and related epidemiological work in this area has been primarily focused on communities downstream. To provide an update on the ongoing impacts from this plant, 94 surface water samples and 13 soil samples were collected mainly upstream and downwind of this facility. PFOA was detected in every surface water sample with concentrations exceeding 1000 ng/L at 13 sample sites within an 8 km radius of the plant. HFPO-DA was also found to be widespread with the highest levels (>100 ng/L) found in surface water up to 6.4 km north of the plant. One sample site, 28 km north of the plant, had PFOA at 143 ng/L and HFPO-DA at 42 ng/L. Sites adjacent to landfills containing fluorochemical waste had PFOA concentrations ranging up to >1000 ng/L. These data indicate that downwind atmospheric transport of both compounds has occurred and that the boundaries of the impact zone have yet to be fully delineated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason E Galloway
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Anjelica V P Moreno
- Environmental Science Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Andrew B Lindstrom
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States
| | - Mark J Strynar
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling (CEMM), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States
| | - Seth Newton
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States
| | - Andrew A May
- Environmental Science Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering, The Ohio State University, 2070 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Linda K Weavers
- Environmental Science Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering, The Ohio State University, 2070 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
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Ali M, Meaney SP, Giles LW, Holt P, Majumder M, Tabor RF. Capture of Perfluorooctanoic Acid Using Oil-Filled Graphene Oxide-Silica Hybrid Capsules. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:3549-3558. [PMID: 32022547 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b05469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Fluorinated hydrocarbon (FHC) contamination has attracted global attention recently because of persistence within the environment and ecosystems of many types of FHC. The surfactant perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is particularly commonly found in contaminated sites, and thus, urgent action is needed for its removal from the environment. In this study, water dispersible hybrid capsules were successfully prepared from an oil-in-water emulsion stabilized by graphene oxide and including a silicate precursor to grow a strong, mesoporous capsule shell surrounding the droplets. These capsules were decorated with amine groups to present a positively charged outer corona that attracts negative PFOA molecules. The aminated capsules were effectively applied as a novel technology to adsorb and sequester PFOA contamination in water. It was confirmed that PFOA removal by the capsules was pH and PFOA concentration dependent, with adsorption efficiencies of >60 mg g-1 under ideal conditions. PFOA removal kinetics followed using high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that capture of PFOA by the capsules reached a maximum of >99.9% in 2-3 days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muthana Ali
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Department of Chemistry, Karbala University, Karbala 56001, Iraq
| | - Shane P Meaney
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Luke W Giles
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Phillip Holt
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Mainak Majumder
- Nanoscale Science and Engineering Laboratory (NSEL), Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- ARC Research Hub on Graphene Enabled Industry Transformation, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Rico F Tabor
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
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50
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Groffen T, Rijnders J, Verbrigghe N, Verbruggen E, Prinsen E, Eens M, Bervoets L. Influence of soil physicochemical properties on the depth profiles of perfluoroalkylated acids (PFAAs) in soil along a distance gradient from a fluorochemical plant and associations with soil microbial parameters. CHEMOSPHERE 2019; 236:124407. [PMID: 31545204 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The widespread use of perfluoroalkylated acids (PFAAs) has led to a global presence in the environment, in which they accumulate and may cause detrimental effects. Although soils are known sinks for many persistent organic pollutants, still little is known on the behaviour of PFAAs in soils. Furthermore, studies that examine the relationships between PFAA concentrations and soil microbial parameters are scarce. The 3 M fluorochemical plant near Antwerp has been characterized as a PFAAs hotspot. In the present study, we examined the vertical distribution of 15 PFAAs and their associations with multiple physicochemical soil properties along a distance gradient from this hotspot. Additionally, we tested the relationships between PFAA concentrations in the top soil with soil respiration, microbial activity and microbial biomass. Our results show that both perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) concentrations were elevated in the subsurface layer (up to 50 cm), after which concentrations decreased again, suggesting a downward migration of both analytes in the soil. This downward movement might pose a potential threat for the contamination of the groundwater and, consequently, organisms that rely on this water for consumption. The soil concentrations were influenced by multiple physicochemical properties of the soil, which suggests differences in bioavailability and sorption/desorption capacities between different soil types. We did not observe any influence of PFAA contamination in the top soil on microbial activity and biomass nor soil respiration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thimo Groffen
- Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicologal Research (SPHERE), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium; Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group (BECO), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Jet Rijnders
- Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicologal Research (SPHERE), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Niel Verbrigghe
- Centre of Excellence Plants and Ecosystems (PLECO), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Erik Verbruggen
- Centre of Excellence Plants and Ecosystems (PLECO), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Els Prinsen
- Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research (IMPRES), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Marcel Eens
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group (BECO), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Lieven Bervoets
- Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicologal Research (SPHERE), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium.
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