151
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Kibbey TCG, Jabrzemski R, O'Carroll DM. Supervised machine learning for source allocation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in environmental samples. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 252:126593. [PMID: 32443272 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Environmental contamination by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is widespread, because of both their decades of use, and their persistence in the environment. These factors can make identification of the source of contamination in samples a challenge, because in many cases contamination may originate from decades ago, or from a number of candidate sources. Forensic source allocation is important for delineating plumes, and may also be able to provide insights into environmental behaviors of specific PFAS components. This paper describes work conducted to explore the use of supervised machine learning classifiers for allocating the source of PFAS contamination based on patterns identified in component concentrations. A dataset containing PFAS component concentrations in 1197 environmental water samples was assembled based on data from sites from around the world. The dataset was split evenly into training and test datasets, and the 598-sample training dataset was used to train four machine learning classifiers, including three conventional machine learning classifiers (Extra Trees, Support-Vector Machines, K-Neighbors), and one multilayer perceptron feedforward deep neural network. Of the methods tested, the deep neural network and Extra Trees exhibited particularly high performance at classification of samples from a range of sources. The fact that the methods function on completely different principles and yet provide similar predictions supports the hypothesis that patterns exist in PFAS water sample data that can allow forensic source allocation. The results of the work support the idea that supervised machine learning may have substantial promise as a tool for forensic source allocation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tohren C G Kibbey
- School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA.
| | - Rafal Jabrzemski
- School of Computer Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
| | - Denis M O'Carroll
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Manly Vale, NSW, 2093, Australia
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152
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Kim Lazcano R, Choi YJ, Mashtare ML, Lee LS. Characterizing and Comparing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Commercially Available Biosolid and Organic Non-Biosolid-Based Products. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:8640-8648. [PMID: 32567309 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b07281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
There is increasing concern over the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in biosolids, while sales in commercially available biosolid-based products used as soil amendments are also increasing. Here, the occurrence of 17 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) present in 13 commercially available biosolid-based products, six organic composts (manure, mushroom, peat, and untreated wood), and one food and yard waste compost were studied. The PFAA concentration ranges observed are as follows: biosolid-based products (9.0-199 μg/kg) > food and yard waste (18.5 μg/kg) > other organic products (0.1-1.1 μg/kg). Analysis of 2014, 2016, and 2018 bags produced from one product line showed a temporal decrease in the total PFAAs (181, 101, and 74 μg/kg, respectively). The total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay revealed the presence of PFAA precursors in the biosolid-based products at much higher levels, when the soluble carbon was removed by the ENVI-Carb clean-up prior to the TOP assay. Time-of-flight mass spectrometry confirmed the presence of three sulfonamides, two fluorotelomer sulfonates, and several polyfluoroalkyl phosphate diesters. Pore-water concentrations of water-saturated products were primarily of short-chain PFAAs and increased with increasing PFAA concentrations in the products. A strong positive log-linear correlation between organic carbon (OC)-normalized PFAA partition coefficients and the number of CFn units indicates that OC is a good predictor of PFAA release concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rooney Kim Lazcano
- Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Ecological Sciences and Engineering-Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Youn Jeong Choi
- Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Ecological Sciences and Engineering-Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Michael L Mashtare
- Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Ecological Sciences and Engineering-Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Environmental and Ecological Engineering, College of Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Linda S Lee
- Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Ecological Sciences and Engineering-Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Environmental and Ecological Engineering, College of Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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153
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Chen J, Tang L, Chen WQ, Peaslee GF, Jiang D. Flows, Stock, and Emissions of Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances in California Carpet in 2000-2030 under Different Scenarios. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:6908-6918. [PMID: 32352763 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b06956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we present a holistic analysis of the stock and emissions of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in California carpet in 2000-2030. Our high estimate is that, in 2017, the total PFAS accumulated in in-use carpet stock and landfilled carpet are ∼60 and ∼120 tonnes, respectively, and the resultant PFAS emissions are ∼800 and ∼100 kg, respectively. Among the three subclasses (side-chain polymers, PFAA, and nonpolymeric precursors), side-chain polymers dominate the in-use stock and landfill accumulation, while nonpolymeric precursors dominate the resultant emissions. Our low estimate is typically 8-15% of the high estimate and follows similar trends and subclass breakdowns as the high estimate. California's new Carpet Stewardship Regulations (24% recycling of end-of-life carpet) will reduce the landfilled PFAS by 6% (7 tonnes) at the cost of increasing the in-use stock by 2% (2 tonnes) in 2030. Aggressive PFAS phase-out by carpet manufacturers (i.e., reduce PFAS use by 15% annually starting 2020) could reduce the in-use PFAS stock by 50% by 2030, but its impact on the total landfilled PFAS is limited. The shift toward short-chain PFAS will also significantly reduce the in-use stock of long-chain PFAS in carpet by 2030 (only 25% of the total PFAS will be long-chain). Among the data gaps identified, a key one is the current area-based PFAS emission reporting (i.e., g PFAS emitted/area carpet/time), which leads to the counterintuitive result that reducing the PFAS use in carpet production has no impact on the PFAS emissions from in-use stock and landfills. Future technical studies should either confirm this or consider a mass-based unit (e.g., g PFAS emitted/g PFAS used/time) for better integration into regional substance flow analysis. Other noticeable data gaps include the lack of time-series data on emissions from the in-use stock and on leaching of side-chain polymers from landfills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinjin Chen
- Environmental Engineering Department, Montana Tech, Butte, Montana 59701, United States
| | - Linbin Tang
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Wei-Qiang Chen
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China
- Xiamen Key Lab of Urban Metabolism, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Graham F Peaslee
- Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Daqian Jiang
- Environmental Engineering Department, Montana Tech, Butte, Montana 59701, United States
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154
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Qi W, Clark JM, Timme-Laragy AR, Park Y. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Review of Epidemiologic Findings. TOXICOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY 2020; 102:1-36. [PMID: 33304027 PMCID: PMC7723340 DOI: 10.1080/02772248.2020.1763997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of fluoro-surfactants widely detected in the environment, wildlife and humans, have been linked to adverse health effects. A growing body of literature has addressed their effects on obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/ non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. This review summarizes the brief historical use and chemistry of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, routes of human exposure, as well as the epidemiologic evidence for associations between exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and the development of obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/ non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. We identified 22 studies on obesity and 32 studies on diabetes, while only 1 study was found for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/ non-alcoholic steatohepatitis by searching PubMed for human studies. Approximately 2/3 of studies reported positive associations between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances exposure and the prevalence of obesity and/or type 2 diabetes. Causal links between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/ non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, however, require further large-scale prospective cohort studies combined with mechanistic laboratory studies to better assess these associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weipeng Qi
- Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, United States
| | - John M. Clark
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, United States
| | - Alicia R. Timme-Laragy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, United States
| | - Yeonhwa Park
- Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, United States
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155
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Abstract
Since the 1960s, plastic has been used in the production of medical equipment and products that improve patient comfort, safety, and treatment. Yet an unwelcome challenge has emerged in the years since: how to safely dispose of this material without negatively affecting human health and the environment. Working with medical devices and supplies that are constructed using plastics, nurses are at the forefront of this issue and must identify solutions, collaborate with other health care workers, and lead efforts to establish more sustainable options. This series is in collaboration with the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (https://envirn.org).
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156
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Hamid H, Li LY, Grace JR. Aerobic biotransformation of fluorotelomer compounds in landfill leachate-sediment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 713:136547. [PMID: 31958722 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Consumer products containing fluorotelomer polymers are a source of fluorotelomer compounds to the environment following their disposal at landfills. The fate and transformation of fluorotelomer compounds are unknown in landfill leachates. This study investigates the aerobic biotransformation of 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (FTOH) and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (FTS) in landfill leachate-sediment microcosms using batch tests. Spiked 8:2 FTOH, 6:2 FTS and their known biotransformation products were quantified in sediment-leachate and headspace over 90 days under aerobic conditions. 8:2 FTOH and 6:2 FTS biotransformation was slow (half-life >>30 d) in landfill leachate-sediment microcosm, suggesting persistence of fluorotelomer compounds under the conditions investigated. Significant volatilization (>20%) of 8:2 FTOH was observed in the microcosm headspace after 90 days. C6 - C8 and C4 - C6 perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) were the most abundant products for 8:2 FTOH and 6:2 FTS, respectively. PFCAs accounted for 4-9 mol% of the initially spiked parent compounds at 90 days. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was the single most abundant product of 8:2 FTOH (>2.8 mol% at 90 days). The unaccounted mass (20 to 35 mol%) of the initially spiked parent compounds indicated formation of fluorotelomer intermediates and sediment-bound residue. Overall the findings suggest that aerobic biotransformation of fluorotelomer compounds acts as a secondary source of long- and short-chain (≤C7) PFCAs in the environment. Partitioning of semi-volatile fluorotelomer compounds (e.g., 8:2 FTOH) to the gas-phase indicates possible long-range transport and subsequent release of PFCAs in pristine environments. Short-chain fluorotelomer replacements (e.g., 6:2 FTS) result in a higher abundance of short-chain PFCAs in landfill leachate. Future research is needed to understand the long-term exposure effects of short-chain PFCAs to humans, aquatic life and biota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Hamid
- Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia, 6250 Applied Science Lane, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Loretta Y Li
- Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia, 6250 Applied Science Lane, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - John R Grace
- Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
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157
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Solo-Gabriele HM, Jones AS, Lindstrom AB, Lang JR. Waste type, incineration, and aeration are associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl levels in landfill leachates. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2020; 107:191-200. [PMID: 32304853 PMCID: PMC8335518 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2020.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are found in many consumer products which will be ultimately disposed in landfills. Limiting environmental contamination and future exposures will require managing leachates from different types of landfills, each with different PFAS levels depending upon the source of the waste. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of waste type and on-site treatment on PFAS levels in landfill leachates. Eleven PFAS species (7 carboxylic acids, 3 sulfonic acids, and 5:3 fluorotelomer carboxylic acid) were evaluated in leachates from municipal solid waste (MSW), construction and demolition (C&D), MSW ash (MSWA), and a mixture of MSWA and MSW with landfill gas condensate (MSWA/MSW-GC). Leachates were also analyzed before and after on-site treatment at two of these facilities. Results indicate that MSWA leachate had significantly lower PFAS levels relative to other leachate types. Lower total PFAS concentrations in MSWA leachates were correlated with an increase in incineration temperature (R2 = 0.92, p = 0.008). The levels of PFAS in untreated C&D and untreated MSW leachate were similar. The levels of targeted PFAS species in MSW leachate for one of the facilities evaluated increased after on-site landfill treatment presumably due to the conversion of PFAS precursors in the untreated leachate sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena M Solo-Gabriele
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146-0630, USA.
| | - Athena S Jones
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146-0630, USA.
| | - Andrew B Lindstrom
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Johnsie R Lang
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, 100 ORAU Way, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA.
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158
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Cui J, Gao P, Deng Y. Destruction of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) with Advanced Reduction Processes (ARPs): A Critical Review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:3752-3766. [PMID: 32162904 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b05565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Advanced reduction processes (ARPs) have emerged as a promising method for destruction of persistent per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water due to the generation of short-lived and highly reductive hydrated electrons (eaq-). This study provides a critical review on the mechanisms and performance of reductive destruction of PFAS with eaq-. Unique properties of eaq- and its generation in different ARP systems, particularly UV/sulfite and UV/iodide, are overviewed. Different degradation mechanisms of PFAS chemicals, such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), and others (e.g., short chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) and perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSAs), per- and polyfluoro dicarboxylic acids, and fluorotelomer carboxylic acids), are reviewed, discussed, and compared. The degradation pathways of these PFAS chemicals rely heavily upon their head groups. For specific PFAS types, fluoroalkyl chain lengths may also affect their reductive degradation patterns. Degradation and defluorination efficiencies of PFAS are considerably influenced by solution chemistry parameters and operating factors, such as pH, dose of chemical solute (i.e., sulfite or iodide) for eaq- photoproduction, dissolved oxygen, humic acid, nitrate, and temperature. Furthermore, implications of the state-of-the-art knowledge on practical PFAS control actions in water industries are discussed and the priority research needs are identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junkui Cui
- Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey 07043, United States
| | - Panpan Gao
- Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey 07043, United States
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430074, P. R. China
| | - Yang Deng
- Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey 07043, United States
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159
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Hamid H, Li LY, Grace JR. Formation of perfluorocarboxylic acids from 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS) in landfill leachate: Role of microbial communities. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 259:113835. [PMID: 31896477 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Revised: 12/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Fluorotelomer compounds in landfill leachate can undergo biotransformation under aerobic conditions and act as a secondary source of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) to the environment. Very little is known about the role of various microbial communities towards fluorotelomer compounds biotransformation. Using an inoculum prepared from the sediment of a leachate collection ditch, 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS) biotransformation experiments were carried out. Specific substrates (i.e., glucose, ammonia) and ammonia-oxidizing inhibitor (allylthiourea) were used to produce two experimental runs with heterotrophic (HET) growth only and heterotrophic with ammonia-oxidizing and nitrite- oxidizing bacteria (HET + AOB + NOB). After 10 days, ∼20% of the spiked 6:2 FTS removal was observed in HET + AOB + NOB, compared to ∼7% under HET condition. Higher 6:2 FTS removal in HET + AOB + NOB likely resulted from ammonia monooxygenase enzyme that catalyzes the first step of ammonia oxidation. The HET + AOB + NOB condition also showed higher PFCA (C4-C6) formation (∼2% of initially spiked 6:2 FTS), possibly due to higher overall bioactivity. Microbial community analysis through 16s rRNA sequencing confirmed that Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were the most abundant phyla (>75% relative abundance) under all experimental conditions. High abundance of Actinobacteria (>17%) was observed under the HET + AOB + NOB condition on day 7. Since Actinobacteria can synthesize a wide range of enzymes including monooxygenases, they likely play an important role in 6:2 FTS biotransformation and PFCA production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Hamid
- Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia, 6250 Applied Science Lane, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Loretta Y Li
- Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia, 6250 Applied Science Lane, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - John R Grace
- Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
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160
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Eichler CMA, Little JC. A framework to model exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in indoor environments. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2020; 22:500-511. [PMID: 32141451 DOI: 10.1039/c9em00556k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) include a wide range of halogenated chemicals, which have been used as water- and stain-resistant coatings for consumer products and industrial purposes. PFAS are persistent in the environment and several are bioaccumulative, and thus relevant for human and environmental health. Given their pervasiveness, we need to understand how we are exposed to PFAS, especially in indoor environments where many people spend most of their time. Research on indoor exposure to semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) has progressed rapidly in recent years. Because many PFAS can be considered SVOCs, much of what has been learned about SVOCs may be used to guide research on PFAS exposure in indoor environments. Here, we briefly review what has been done to assess indoor exposure to PFAS. Then, we propose a systematic indoor exposure framework for PFAS based on methods to estimate exposure to SVOCs. We illustrate how critical parameters such as partition coefficients for different media (particles, dust, surfaces, and clothing) for different types of PFAS could be measured, how these measurements can be used in exposure models for PFAS, and how fundamental, predictive relationships might be used to estimate necessary parameters for emerging compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara M A Eichler
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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161
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Wang B, Yao Y, Chen H, Chang S, Tian Y, Sun H. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and the contribution of unknown precursors and short-chain (C2-C3) perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids at solid waste disposal facilities. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 705:135832. [PMID: 31831231 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The emission of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) from municipal solid wastes (MSW) disposal raises concerns for their potential of long-term release and risks. In this study, the occurrence of PFASs was investigated in ambient air and leachate from seven MSW disposal facilities including three landfills, two incineration plants, and two MSW transfer stations in Tianjin, China. Mass loads of PFASs (≥C4) released to the atmosphere were estimated at 0.007-0.97 kg/y/site, which were much lower than those to leachate (0.04-1.3 kg/y/site), while emission to the atmosphere at landfills was more considerable. With total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay, unknown C4-C12 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs)-precursors were found contributing 10-97 mol% in leachate and accounting for additional 15%-43% mass loads. Using IC-Ba/Ag/H cartridges, trifluoroacetic acid (C2) and perfluoropropionic acid (C3) were recovered in leachate for TOP assay (62%-78%) and determined at dominant levels of 19-81 μg/L, which accounted for mass loads of 0.08-2.6 kg/y/site. Unknown C2-C3 PFAA-precursors contributed 12-93 mol% with mass loads of 0.10-3.0 kg/y/site. Overall, unknown C2-C12 PFAA-precursors remained contributing 0.35-68 mol% in biochemically treated leachate. This study emphasizes that the profiles of unknown PFAA-precursors released during MSW disposal are to be identified, which is essential for their environmental risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yiming Yao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Hao Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Shuai Chang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Ying Tian
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Hongwen Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
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162
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Qiu J, Lü F, Zhang H, Liu W, Chen J, Deng Y, Shao L, He P. UPLC Orbitrap MS/MS-based fingerprints of dissolved organic matter in waste leachate driven by waste age. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2020; 383:121205. [PMID: 31627183 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 08/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Waste leachate is a pool of complicated metabolites from waste treatment and disposal as a global environmental problem. The recognition of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in leachate is crucial to improve leachate treatment efficiency and comprehend waste stabilization process. The present study acquired the molecular information for DOM in 22 waste leachate samples using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with hybrid quadrupole Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC Orbitrap MS/MS) based on two dimensions of retention time and mass-to-charge ratio. Unique mass peaks occupied more than 20% of the detected mass peaks in each leachate, implying that the molecular information for DOM could be the fingerprint of waste landfills and storage pits. Waste age and composition predominately accounted for this unique DOM. The double-bond equivalent increased and the H/C decreased with waste age. We further found that 57 precursor ion peaks and artificial matter (confirmed as N-butylbenzenesulfonamide) were significantly correlated with waste age by multiple test and non-target screening. These molecular characteristics of raw leachate were first determined to compensate for the evolution of leachate with waste age. The fingerprints of waste leachate can be further applied in environmental monitoring scenarios, e.g., tracing landfill leakage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, PR China; Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, PR China
| | - Fan Lü
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, PR China; Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, PR China
| | - Hua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, PR China; Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, PR China
| | - Wanying Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, PR China; Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, PR China
| | - Junlan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, PR China; Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, PR China
| | - Yingtao Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, PR China; Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, PR China
| | - Liming Shao
- Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, PR China
| | - Pinjing He
- Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, PR China.
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163
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Pica NE, Funkhouser J, Yin Y, Zhang Z, Ceres DM, Tong T, Blotevogel J. Electrochemical Oxidation of Hexafluoropropylene Oxide Dimer Acid (GenX): Mechanistic Insights and Efficient Treatment Train with Nanofiltration. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:12602-12609. [PMID: 31599577 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b03171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, trade name GenX) is a perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acid (PFECA) that has been detected in watersheds around the world. Similar to other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), few processes are able to break HFPO-DA's persistent carbon-fluorine bonds. This study provides both experimental and computational lines of evidence for HFPO-DA mineralization during electrochemical oxidation at a boron-doped diamond anode with a low potential for the generation of stable organofluorine intermediates. Our density functional theory calculations consider the major operative mechanism, direct electron transfer, throughout the entire pathway. Initial oxidative attack does not break the ether bond, but leads to stepwise mineralization of the acidic side chain. Our mechanistic investigations reveal that hydroxyl radicals are unreactive toward HFPO-DA, while electrochemically activated sulfate facilitates its oxidation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that an NF90 membrane is capable of removing 99.5% of HFPO-DA from contaminated water. Electrochemical treatment of the nanofiltration rejectate is shown to reduce both energy and electrode costs by more than 1 order of magnitude compared to direct electrochemical treatment of the raw water. Overall, a nanofiltration-electrochemical oxidation treatment train is a sustainable destructive approach for the cost-effective elimination of HFPO-DA and other PFASs from contaminated water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasim E Pica
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Colorado State University , Fort Collins , Colorado 80523 , United States
| | - Joanna Funkhouser
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Colorado State University , Fort Collins , Colorado 80523 , United States
| | - Yiming Yin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Colorado State University , Fort Collins , Colorado 80523 , United States
| | - Zuoyou Zhang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Colorado State University , Fort Collins , Colorado 80523 , United States
| | - Donato M Ceres
- Advanced Diamond Technologies, Inc. , 48 East Belmont Drive , Romeoville , Illinois 60446 , United States
| | - Tiezheng Tong
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Colorado State University , Fort Collins , Colorado 80523 , United States
| | - Jens Blotevogel
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Colorado State University , Fort Collins , Colorado 80523 , United States
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164
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Ahrens L, Benskin JP, Cousins IT, Crimi M, Higgins CP. Themed issues on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2019; 21:1797-1802. [PMID: 31687716 DOI: 10.1039/c9em90047k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Guest editors Lutz Ahrens, Jonathan Benskin, Ian Cousins, Michelle Crimi and Christopher Higgins introduce the “Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)” themed issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lutz Ahrens
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), SE-75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jonathan P Benskin
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), Stockholm University, SE-10691, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Ian T Cousins
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), Stockholm University, SE-10691, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Michelle Crimi
- Engineering & Management, Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York, USA
| | - Christopher P Higgins
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, USA
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165
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Knutsen H, Mæhlum T, Haarstad K, Slinde GA, Arp HPH. Leachate emissions of short- and long-chain per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFASs) from various Norwegian landfills. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2019; 21:1970-1979. [PMID: 31411188 DOI: 10.1039/c9em00170k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Restrictions on the use of long-chain per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFASs) has led to substitutions with short-chain PFASs. This study investigated the presence of four short-chain PFASs and twenty-four long-chain PFASs in leachate and sediment from ten Norwegian landfills, including one site in Svalbard, to assess whether short-chain PFASs are more dominant in leachate. PFASs were detected in all sites. Short-chain PFASs were major contributors to the total PFAS leachate concentrations in six of ten landfills, though not in Svalbard. In sediment, long-chain PFASs such as perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and PFOS-precursors were dominant. Short-chain PFAS leachate concentrations ranged from 68 to 6800 ng L-1 (mean: 980 ± 1800; median: 360 ng L-1), whereas long-chain concentrations ranged from 140 to 2900 ng L-1 (mean: 530 ± 730; median: 290 ng L-1). Sediment concentrations, which contained mainly long-chain PFASs, ranged from 8.5 to 120 μg kg-1 (mean: 47 ± 36; median: 41 μg kg-1). National release from Norwegian landfills to the environment was estimated to be 17 ± 29 kg per year (median: 6.3 kg per year), which is in the same range as national emissions from the US, China and Germany after normalizing the data to a per capita emission factor (3.2 ± 5.5 mg per person per year). Results from this study are compared with previous and current studies in other countries, indicating a general trend that short-chain PFASs are dominating over long-chain PFASs in landfill leachate emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Knutsen
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box 3930 Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Trond Mæhlum
- Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), P.O. Box 115, N-1431 Ås, Norway
| | - Ketil Haarstad
- Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), P.O. Box 115, N-1431 Ås, Norway
| | - Gøril Aasen Slinde
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box 3930 Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Hans Peter H Arp
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box 3930 Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway. and Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
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166
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Toskos T, Panagiotakis I, Dermatas D. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances - Challenges associated with a family of ubiquitous emergent contaminants. WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOLID WASTES AND PUBLIC CLEANSING ASSOCIATION, ISWA 2019; 37:449-451. [PMID: 30967103 DOI: 10.1177/0734242x19843085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
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167
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Washington JW, Rankin K, Libelo EL, Lynch DG, Cyterski M. Determining global background soil PFAS loads and the fluorotelomer-based polymer degradation rates that can account for these loads. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 651:2444-2449. [PMID: 30336434 PMCID: PMC7957346 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Revised: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, fluorotelomer-based polymers (FTPs) have been the dominant product of the fluorotelomer industry. For the last decade, whether FTPs degrade to toxic perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs) has been vigorously contested, with early studies arguing that FTPs have half-lives >1000 years, and others concluding decadal half-lives. Given this FTP half-life discrepancy of 10- to >100-fold, here we investigate whether environmental loads of long-chain PFCAs might offer an independent approach to assess FTP half-lives. Specifically we: i) use surface soil-PFCA data to estimate terrestrial surface-soil background PFCA concentrations and loads; ii) extrapolate these data to generate global PFCA load estimates; iii) compare these estimates to published ocean-derived and industrial-emissions load estimates, finding agreement for perfluorooctanoate (C8), but an excess in longer-chain (C10,C12) PFCAs for ocean- and soil-derived loads relative to emissions; iv) model FTP degradation rates required to reconcile this discrepancy; and iv) compare our modeled estimates to existing experimental results. These findings show agreement for FTP half-lives at the decades-scale supporting existing laboratory studies that report decade-scale half-lives for FTPs. This suggests that global long-chain PFCA loads will increase for decades if legacy FTPs already manufactured are not contained upon disposal. These results suggest that FTPs comprised of novel poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) now in production might constitute considerable sources to the environment of the new generation of PFASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W Washington
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, USEPA, 960 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605, United States of America.
| | - Keegan Rankin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - E Laurence Libelo
- Office of Land and Emergency Management, USEPA, Washington, DC 20460, United States of America
| | - David G Lynch
- Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, USEPA, Washington, DC 20460, United States of America
| | - Mike Cyterski
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, USEPA, 960 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605, United States of America.
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168
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Dolan MJ, Blackledge RD, Jorabchi K. Classifying single fibers based on fluorinated surface treatments. Anal Bioanal Chem 2019; 411:4775-4784. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-019-01596-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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169
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Abada B, Alivio TEG, Shao Y, O'Loughlin TE, Klemashevich C, Banerjee S, Jayaraman A, Chu KH. Photodegradation of fluorotelomer carboxylic 5:3 acid and perfluorooctanoic acid using zinc oxide. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 243:637-644. [PMID: 30219589 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Occurrence of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the environment and biota has raised a great concern to public health because these compounds are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. Biodegradation of polyfluoroalkyl substances, particularly long-chain fluorotelomer-based products, can lead to production of various short-chain PFASs, with 5:3 fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (referred as 5:3 FTCA hereafter) as a dominant polyfluoroalkyl metabolite. Perfluoroalkyl acids, particularly perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are toxic and current removal methods are not cost-effective. This study reports the photodegradation of 5:3 FTCA and PFOA using ZnO as a photocatalyst under neutral pH and room temperature conditions. Under long UV wavelength (365 nm), both tetrapod and commercial ZnO can photodegrade 5:3 FTCA. Five removal products-perfluorohexanoic acid, perfluoropentanoic acid, perfluorobutyric acid, 5:2 fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (5:2 FTCA), and inorganic fluoride-were identified, with PFBA and F- as dominant end products. SEM and XPS high-resolution scans on the surface of the utilized ZnO showed less units of CF2 than that in 5:3 FTCA, supporting occurrence of photodegradation of 5:3 FTCA by ZnO. Defluorination of PFOA was not observed with ZnO only, but at pH 5 and in the co-presence of Fe-citrate. PFOA defluorination increased from 0.93% after 3 days of UV light exposure to 3.9% after additional 135 h under direct sunlight exposure. To the authors' best knowledge, this is the first report studying ZnO-catalyzed photodegradation of 5:3 FTCA, and examining the Fe co-addition for PFOA defluorination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Abada
- Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Theodore E G Alivio
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Yiru Shao
- Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Thomas E O'Loughlin
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Cory Klemashevich
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Sarbajit Banerjee
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Arul Jayaraman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Kung-Hui Chu
- Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
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170
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Rewerts JN, Morré JT, Massey Simonich SL, Field JA. In-Vial Extraction Large Volume Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry for Analysis of Volatile PFASs on Papers and Textiles. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:10609-10616. [PMID: 30148348 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b04304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Volatile per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) are found in consumer goods that contribute to human exposure to PFASs. Volatile PFAS precursors transform to perfluorinated carboxylates (PFCAs) and sulfonates (PFSAs) in both humans and the environment. Established methods for volatile PFASs in consumer goods exist, but higher sample throughput and greener sample preparation methods are needed to minimize analyte loss, while maintaining sensitivity. New analytical methodology was developed where a 1.5 × 1.5 cm piece of paper or textile is placed into an autosampler vial with solvent and mass-labeled internal standards, sonicated for 30 min, and directly injected without removal of material from the autosampler vial. Large volume injection (20 μL) gas chromatography mass spectrometry was applied for the quantification for 21 individual PFASs from five classes: fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), fluorinated sulfonamides (N-MeFASA, N-EtFASA), and fluorinated sulfonamidoethanols (N-MeFASE, N-EtFASE). Nontargeted analysis revealed additional C2-C7 homologues of N-MeFASE and N-EtFASE, which accounted for 14-18% of the total volatile PFASs on three textiles. Overlooking short-chain (≤C7) N-MeFASE, N-EtFASE, and long-chained (10:2-14:2) FTOHs on older textiles from the 1980s leads to an underestimation of human and environmental exposure to volatile PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin N Rewerts
- Department of Chemistry , Oregon State University , 153 Gilbert Hall , Corvallis , Oregon 97331 , United States
| | - Jeffrey T Morré
- Department of Chemistry , Oregon State University , 153 Gilbert Hall , Corvallis , Oregon 97331 , United States
| | - Staci L Massey Simonich
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology , Oregon State University , 1007 ALS Bldg., 2750 Campus Way , Corvallis , Oregon 97331 , United States
| | - Jennifer A Field
- Department of Chemistry , Oregon State University , 153 Gilbert Hall , Corvallis , Oregon 97331 , United States
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology , Oregon State University , 1007 ALS Bldg., 2750 Campus Way , Corvallis , Oregon 97331 , United States
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171
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Gewurtz SB, Martin PA, Letcher RJ, Burgess NM, Champoux L, Elliott JE, Idrissi A. Perfluoroalkyl Acids in European Starling Eggs Indicate Landfill and Urban Influences in Canadian Terrestrial Environments. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:5571-5580. [PMID: 29660979 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b06623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) were determined in European starling ( Sturnus vulgaris) eggs collected between 2009 and 2014 from industrial, rural/agricultural, and landfill locations within five urban centers across Canada. Within each urban center, perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acid (PFSA) concentrations were generally greater in starling eggs collected from urban/industrial locations and PFSAs and perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) were generally greater at landfills compared to rural and remote locations. However, the relative importance of urban/industrial versus landfill locations as potential sources was chemical- and location-specific. PFSA concentrations in eggs collected from nonlandfills were positively correlated with human population. Despite the 2000 to 2002 phase-out of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and its C8 precursors, leaching from consumer products during use likely continues to be a major source to the environment. In comparison, the concentrations of most PFCAs in eggs were not related to population, which supports the hypothesis that atmospheric transport and degradation of precursor chemicals are influencing their spatial trends. PFAA concentrations in eggs from landfills were not correlated with the quantity of waste received by a given landfill. The variability in PFAAs between landfills may be due to the specific composition of waste items.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pamela A Martin
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington , Ontario L7S 1A1 , Canada
| | - Robert J Letcher
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University , Ottawa , Ontario K1A 0H3 , Canada
| | - Neil M Burgess
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Mount Pearl , Newfoundland A1N 4T3 , Canada
| | - Louise Champoux
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Québec City Québec G1J 0C3 , Canada
| | - John E Elliott
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Pacific Wildlife Research Centre, Delta , British Columbia V4K 3N2 , Canada
| | - Abde Idrissi
- Laboratory Services, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa , Ontario K1A 0H3 , Canada
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172
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Hamid H, Li LY, Grace JR. Review of the fate and transformation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in landfills. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 235:74-84. [PMID: 29275271 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.12.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Revised: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
A critical review of existing publications is presented i) to summarize the occurrence of various classes of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and their sources in landfills, ii) to identify temporal and geographical trends of PFASs in landfills; iii) to delineate the factors affecting PFASs in landfills; and iv) to identify research gaps and future research directions. Studies have shown that perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are routinely detected in landfill leachate, with short chain (C4-C7) PFAAs being most abundant, possibly indicating their greater mobility, and reflecting the industrial shift towards shorter-chain compounds. Despite its restricted use, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) remains one of the most abundant PFAAs in landfill leachates. Recent studies have also documented the presence of PFAA-precursors (e.g., saturated and unsaturated fluorotelomer carboxylic acids) in landfill leachates at concentrations comparable to, or higher than, the most frequently detected PFAAs. Landfill ambient air also contains elevated concentrations of PFASs, primarily semi-volatile precursors (e.g., fluorotelomer alcohols) compared to upwind control sites, suggesting that landfills are potential sources of atmospheric PFASs. The fate of PFASs inside landfills is controlled by a combination of biological and abiotic processes, with biodegradation releasing most of the PFASs from landfilled waste to leachate. Biodegradation in simulated anaerobic reactors has been found to be closely related to the methanogenic phase. The methane-yielding stage also results in higher pH (>7) of leachates, correlated with higher mobility of PFAAs. Little information exists regarding PFAA-precursors in landfills. To avoid significant underestimation of the total PFAS released from landfills, PFAA-precursors and their degradation products should be determined in future studies. Owing to the semi-volatile nature of some precursor compounds and their degradation products, future studies also need to include landfill gas to clarify degradation pathways and the overall fate of PFASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Hamid
- Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia, 6250 Applied Science Lane, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Loretta Y Li
- Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia, 6250 Applied Science Lane, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - John R Grace
- Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
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173
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Kaboré HA, Vo Duy S, Munoz G, Méité L, Desrosiers M, Liu J, Sory TK, Sauvé S. Worldwide drinking water occurrence and levels of newly-identified perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 616-617:1089-1100. [PMID: 29100694 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Revised: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
In the last decade or so, concerns have arisen with respect to the widespread occurrence of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in the environment, food, drinking water, and humans. In this study, the occurrence and levels of a large range of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were investigated in drinking water (bottled and tap water samples) from various locations around the world. Automated off-line solid phase extraction followed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry was used to analyze PFASs of various chain lengths and functional groups. In total, 29 target and 104 suspect-target PFASs were screened in drinking water samples (n=97) from Canada and other countries (Burkina Faso, Chile, Ivory Coast, France, Japan, Mexico, Norway, and the USA) in 2015-2016. Out of the 29 PFASs quantitatively analyzed, perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs: C4/14), perfluoroalkane sulfonates (PFSAs: C4, C6, C8), and perfluoroalkyl acid precursors (e.g., 5:3 fluorotelomer carboxylate (5:3 FTCA)) were recurrently detected in drinking water samples (concentration range: <LOD to 39ngL-1). Tap water samples from Canada showed noteworthy differences depending on their source; for instance, ∑29PFASwas significantly greater in those produced from the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence River ecosystem than those produced from other types of sources (14 versus 5.3ngL-1, respectively). A suspect-target screening approach indicated that other perfluoroalkane sulfonamides (FBSA, FHxSA), perfluoroethyl cyclohexane sulfonate (PFECHS), ultrashort chain (C2-C3) PFSAs (PFEtS, PFPrS), and two additional PFSAs (PFPeS (C5) and PFHpS (C7)) were repeatedly present in tap water samples (concentration ranges: <LOD to 4.0ngL-1). To the authors' best knowledge, this constitutes the first observation of a cyclic perfluoroalkane sulfonate (PFECHS) and C4-C6 perfluoroalkane sulfonamides (FBSA, FHxSA) in drinking water. According to the newly updated US EPA health advisory for PFOS and PFOA (70ngL-1), the drinking water samples collected in the present monitoring would not pose a health risk to consumers as regards PFAA levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hermann A Kaboré
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal H3C 3J7, QC, Canada
| | - Sung Vo Duy
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal H3C 3J7, QC, Canada
| | - Gabriel Munoz
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal H3C 3J7, QC, Canada; Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, 817 Sherbrook Street West, Montreal H3A 0C3, QC, Canada
| | - Ladji Méité
- Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement, Unité de Formation et de Gestion des Sciences et Gestion de l'Environnement, Université Nangui Abrogoua, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Ivory Coast
| | - Mélanie Desrosiers
- Centre d'Expertise en Analyse Environnementale du Québec, Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, 2700 Einstein Street, Quebec City G1P 3W8, QC, Canada
| | - Jinxia Liu
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, 817 Sherbrook Street West, Montreal H3A 0C3, QC, Canada
| | - Traoré Karim Sory
- Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement, Unité de Formation et de Gestion des Sciences et Gestion de l'Environnement, Université Nangui Abrogoua, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Ivory Coast
| | - Sébastien Sauvé
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal H3C 3J7, QC, Canada.
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174
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Liu J, Qu R, Wang Z, Mendoza-Sanchez I, Sharma VK. Thermal- and photo-induced degradation of perfluorinated carboxylic acids: Kinetics and mechanism. WATER RESEARCH 2017; 126:12-18. [PMID: 28917116 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2017] [Revised: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) of different carbon chain lengths are chemicals of concern to human health and their removal, using conventional remediation technologies, is challenging. The present paper pursuits thermal and photo-induced degradation of PFCAs (F(CF2)nCOOH, n = 1-9) under various concentrations of four different acids (HNO3, H2SO4, HCl, and H3PO4) covering a range of strong acidic to basic pH. For thermal-induced experiments, the temperature was set at 40 °C, 60 °C, and 80 °C at acid strengths of 0.04-18.4 M. Photo-induced experiments were conducted at pH 0.5, 7.0, and 13.0 under a light intensity of (150 ± 10) × 100 μW/cm2. The degradation first-order rate constant (k1, h-1) as a function of [H+] was modeled by considering equilibrium of nondissociated (F(CF2)nCOOH, HX) and dissociated (F(CF2)nCOO-, X-) species of PFCAs (HX ⇌ X- + H+, pKa = -0.1). Species-specific rate constants, k1HX, reasonably described the trend of thermal and photo decay of PFCAs, where k1HX increased with acidity of solution and the carbon chain length of PFCAs. Mechanism of degradation of PFCAs (e.g. perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)) involved homolytic breakage of CC bond between alkyl and carboxyl groups, which produced radicals and subsequently decarboxylation to perfluoroheptene-1. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations supported the mechanism. The calculations indicated that a breaking of CC bond is more feasible with nondissociated HX than dissociated X- species of PFCAs and also with increase in chain length. The potential of a combination of thermal- and photo-induced processes under acidic conditions to enhance degradation of PFOA in water is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaoqin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Jiangsu, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Ruijuan Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Jiangsu, Nanjing, 210023, PR China.
| | - Zunyao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Jiangsu, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Itza Mendoza-Sanchez
- Program for the Environment and Sustainability, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Virender K Sharma
- Program for the Environment and Sustainability, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
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175
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan D Richardson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina , Columbia, South Carolina 29205, United States
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176
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Yin T, Chen H, Reinhard M, Yi X, He Y, Gin KYH. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances removal in a full-scale tropical constructed wetland system treating landfill leachate. WATER RESEARCH 2017; 125:418-426. [PMID: 28892769 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.08.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2017] [Revised: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Landfill leachate is often an important source of emerging organic contaminants including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) requiring proper treatment to protect surface water and groundwater resources. This study investigated the occurrence of PFASs in the leachate of a capped landfill site in Singapore and the efficacy of PFASs removal during flow through a constructed wetland (CW) treatment system. The CW treatment system consists of equalization tank, aeration lagoons, sedimentation tank, reed beds and polishing ponds. Target compounds included 11 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) (7 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and 4 perfluoroalkane sulfonates (PFSAs)) and 7 PFAA precursors. Although total PFASs concentrations in the leachate varied widely (1269 to 7661 ng/L) over the one-year sampling period, the PFASs composition remained relatively stable with PFCAs consistently being predominant (64.0 ± 3.8%). Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) concentrations were highly correlated with total PFASs concentrations and could be an indicator for the release of PFASs from this landfill. The release of short-chain PFAAs strongly depended on precipitation whereas concentrations of the other PFASs appeared to be controlled by partitioning. Overall, the CW treatment system removed 61% of total PFASs and 50-96% of individual PFASs. PFAAs were removed most efficiently in the reed bed (42-49%), likely due to the combination of sorption to soils and sediments and plant uptake, whereas most of the PFAA precursors (i.e. 5:3 fluorotelomer carboxylate (5:3 acid), N-substituted perfluorooctane sulfonamides (N-MeFOSAA and N-EtFOSAA)) were removed in the aeration lagoon (>55%) by biodegradation. The sedimentation tank and polishing ponds were relatively inefficient, with only 7% PFASs removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingru Yin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, 1 Engineering Drive 2, Singapore, 117576, Singapore
| | - Huiting Chen
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, 5A Engineering Drive 1, T-Lab Building, Singapore, 117411, Singapore
| | - Martin Reinhard
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, 5A Engineering Drive 1, T-Lab Building, Singapore, 117411, Singapore; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Xinzhu Yi
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, 5A Engineering Drive 1, T-Lab Building, Singapore, 117411, Singapore
| | - Yiliang He
- School of Environmental Science and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Karina Yew-Hoong Gin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, 1 Engineering Drive 2, Singapore, 117576, Singapore; NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, 5A Engineering Drive 1, T-Lab Building, Singapore, 117411, Singapore.
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177
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Robel AE, Marshall K, Dickinson M, Lunderberg D, Butt C, Peaslee G, Stapleton HM, Field JA. Closing the Mass Balance on Fluorine on Papers and Textiles. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:9022-9032. [PMID: 28712295 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b02080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Papers and textiles that are treated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are sources of human and environmental exposure. Data for individual PFASs, such as perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), are not placed into the context of total fluorine for papers and textiles. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were used to quantify volatile and ionic PFASs, respectively, and the total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay was used to quantify precursors that form perfluoroalkyl carboxylates. Molar sums of PFASs obtained by GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, and precursors were compared to total fluorine (nmol F/cm2) determined by particle-induced gamma ray emission (PIGE) spectroscopy, measured before and after extraction. Volatile and ionic PFASs and unknown precursors accounted for 0-2.2%, 0-0.41%, and 0.021-14%, respectively, of the total nmol F/cm2 determined by PIGE. After extraction, papers and textiles retained 64 ± 28% to 110 ± 30% of the original nmol F/cm2 as determined by PIGE, indicating that the majority of fluorine remains associated with the papers and textiles. The sum of PFASs in the volatile, ionic, and precursor fraction, and total fluorine after extraction indicate that mass balance was achieved (within analytical error) of the initial total fluorine measured by PIGE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alix E Robel
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, 2750 Campus Way, Oregon State University , Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Kristin Marshall
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, 2750 Campus Way, Oregon State University , Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Margaret Dickinson
- Science Center Rm 2106A , 35 East 12th Street, Holland, Michigan 49422-9000, United States
| | - David Lunderberg
- Science Center Rm 2106A , 35 East 12th Street, Holland, Michigan 49422-9000, United States
| | - Craig Butt
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University , Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Graham Peaslee
- Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame , Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Heather M Stapleton
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University , Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Jennifer A Field
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, 2750 Campus Way, Oregon State University , Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
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178
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Olsen GW, Mair DC, Lange CC, Harrington LM, Church TR, Goldberg CL, Herron RM, Hanna H, Nobiletti JB, Rios JA, Reagen WK, Ley CA. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in American Red Cross adult blood donors, 2000-2015. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2017; 157:87-95. [PMID: 28528142 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2017] [Revised: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
In 2015, thirteen per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), and perfluorodecanoate (PFDA) were analyzed in human plasma that were collected from a total of 616 American Red Cross male and female blood donors (ages 20-69) at 6 regional blood collection centers. Plasma samples were analyzed using a validated solvent precipitation-isotope dilution direction-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method. The data were analyzed in conjunction with prior cross-sectional investigations [2000-2001 (n =645), 2006 (n =600), and 2010 (n =600)] to determine PFAS trends. Age- and sex-adjusted geometric mean serum (2000-2001) and plasma (2006, 2010, 2015) concentrations (ng/mL) were, respectively: PFHxS (2.3, 1.5, 1.3, 0.9); PFOS (35.1, 14.5, 8.4, 4.3); PFOA (4.7, 3.4, 2.4, 1.1); PFNA (0.6, 1.0, 0.8, 0.4); and PFDA (0.2, 0.3, 0.3, 0.1). The percentage decline in these geometric mean concentrations from 2000-2001 to 2015 were: PFHxS (61%); PFOS (88%); PFOA (77%); PFNA (33%); and PFDA (50%). The results indicate a continued decline of PFHxS, PFOS, and PFOA concentrations in American Red Cross blood donors. For the remaining PFAS measured in 2015, including the shorter chain perfluoroalkyls perfluorobutanesulfonate (PFBS) and perfluorohexanoate (PFHxA), the majority of samples were below the lower limit of quantitation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David C Mair
- American Red Cross, North Central Region, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | | | | | - Timothy R Church
- University of Minnesota, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | - Ross M Herron
- American Red Cross, Southern California Region, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hank Hanna
- American Red Cross, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR, USA
| | - John B Nobiletti
- American Red Cross, Greater Alleghenies Region, Johnstown, PA, USA
| | - Jorge A Rios
- American Red Cross, New England Region, Dedham, MA, USA
| | | | - Carol A Ley
- 3M Company, Medical Department, St. Paul, MN, USA
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