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Dong S, Yan PF, Liu C, Manz KE, Mezzari MP, Abriola LM, Pennell KD, Cápiro NL. Assessing aerobic biotransformation of 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF)-impacted soils: Pathways and microbial community dynamics. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 446:130629. [PMID: 36630879 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Production of 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (8:2 FTOH) for industrial and consumer products, including aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) used for firefighting, has resulted in its widespread occurrence in the environment. However, the fate of 8:2 FTOH at AFFF-impacted sites remains largely unknown. Using AFFF-impacted soils from two United States Air Force Bases, microcosm experiments evaluated the aerobic biotransformation of 8:2 FTOH (extent and byproduct formation) and the dose-response on microbial communities due to 8:2 FTOH exposure. Despite different microbial communities, rapid transformation of 8:2 FTOH was observed during a 90-day incubation in the two soils, and 7:2 secondary fluorotelomer alcohol (7:2 sFTOH) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were detected as major transformation products. Novel transformation products, including perfluoroalkane-like compounds (1H-perfluoroheptane, 1H-perfluorohexane, and perfluoroheptanal) were identified by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) and used to develop aerobic 8:2 FTOH biotransformation pathways. Microbial community analysis suggests that species from genus Sphingomonas are potential 8:2 FTOH degraders based on increased abundance in both soils after exposure, and the genus Afipia may be more tolerant to and/or involved in the transformation of 8:2 FTOH at elevated concentrations. These findings demonstrate the potential role of biological processes on PFAS fate at AFFF-impacted sites through fluorotelomer biotransformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Dong
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, United States
| | - Peng-Fei Yan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, United States
| | - Chen Liu
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, United States
| | - Katherine E Manz
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, United States
| | - Melissa P Mezzari
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Linda M Abriola
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, United States
| | - Kurt D Pennell
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, United States
| | - Natalie L Cápiro
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, United States.
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2
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Yan PF, Dong S, Manz KE, Liu C, Woodcock MJ, Mezzari MP, Abriola LM, Pennell KD, Cápiro NL. Biotransformation of 8:2 Fluorotelomer Alcohol in Soil from Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AFFFs)-Impacted Sites under Nitrate-, Sulfate-, and Iron-Reducing Conditions. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:13728-13739. [PMID: 36127292 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c03669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The environmental fate of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) remains largely unknown, especially under the conditions representative of natural subsurface systems. In this study, the biotransformation of 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (8:2 FTOH), a component of new-generation AFFF formulations and a byproduct in fluorotelomer-based AFFFs, was investigated under nitrate-, iron-, and sulfate-reducing conditions in microcosms prepared with AFFF-impacted soils. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) were employed to identify biotransformation products. The biotransformation was much slower under sulfate- and iron-reducing conditions with >60 mol % of initial 8:2 FTOH remaining after ∼400 days compared to a half-life ranging from 12.5 to 36.5 days under nitrate-reducing conditions. Transformation products 8:2 fluorotelomer saturated and unsaturated carboxylic acids (8:2 FTCA and 8:2 FTUA) were detected under all redox conditions, while 7:2 secondary fluorotelomer alcohol (7:2 sFTOH) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were only observed as transformation products under nitrate-reducing conditions. In addition, 1H-perfluoroheptane (F(CF2)6CF2H) and 3-F-7:3 acid (F(CF2)7CFHCH2COOH) were identified for the first time during 8:2 FTOH biotransformation. Comprehensive biotransformation pathways for 8:2 FTOH are presented, which highlight the importance of accounting for redox condition and the related microbial community in the assessment of PFAS transformations in natural environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Fei Yan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
| | - Sheng Dong
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
| | - Katherine E Manz
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Chen Liu
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Matthew J Woodcock
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Melissa P Mezzari
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030-3411, United States
| | - Linda M Abriola
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Kurt D Pennell
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Natalie L Cápiro
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
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Hua X, Luo J, Zhao Z, Wang Q, Sun H. Neutral polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances in surface water and sediment from the Haihe River and Dagu Drainage Canal deserve more attention. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:32911-32918. [PMID: 31512120 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-06331-3] [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: 08/19/2018] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Neutral polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances (nPFASs) were detected in the surface water and sediment from the Haihe River (HR) and Dagu Drainage Canal (DDC), Tianjin, China. N-methyl perfluorooctane sulfonamide ethanol (MeFOSE) and N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamide ethanol (EtFOSE) were the predominant nPFASs in surface water and sediment, which was different from the composition in air. The concentrations of ΣnPFASs in water from the HR (1.88-8.21 ng/L) were lower than those from the DDC (3.72-11.32 ng/L). Concentrations of ΣnPFASs were higher in the middle of the HR in the Dongli District due to industrial activity, whereas at lower reaches of the DDC, high ΣnPFAS concentrations might be due to effluent from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The detection frequency in sediment (13.5%) was less than that in water (83%). The concentrations in sediment from the DDC (below limit of qualification (LOQ) to 5.58 ng/g) were higher than those from the HR (below LOQ to 2.46 ng/g). The distribution coefficient (log KD) between water and sediment was calculated, and they were highly related to the compound structures. The contribution of nPFASs to nPFASs+PFAAs was up to 52% in sediment in the DDC, suggesting the importance of nPFASs in aquatic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Hua
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Jianbo Luo
- Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Beijing, 100141, China
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Zhen Zhao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
| | - Qi Wang
- 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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Li F, Su Q, Zhou Z, Liao X, Zou J, Yuan B, Sun W. Anaerobic biodegradation of 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol in anaerobic activated sludge: Metabolic products and pathways. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 200:124-132. [PMID: 29476957 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.02.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2017] [Revised: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The anaerobic biodegradability and metabolic pathways of 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (8:2 FTOH) were investigated in anaerobic activated sludge. The biodegradation was well described by a double exponential decay model. 8:2 FTOH was biodegraded to poly- and perfluorinated metabolites with the release of fluoride ion. All polyfluorinated metabolites were intermediate metabolic products and could be further transformed to other metabolites, while perfluorinated metabolites were terminal products. 2H-perfluoro-2-decenoic acid (8:2 FTUA) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were verified as the most abundant poly- and perfluorinated metabolites, respectively. Two shorter-chain perfluorinated metabolites, perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) and perfluorobutyric acid (PFBA), were first reported in the biodegradation of 8:2 FTOH. However, the total molar recovery of 8:2 FTOH decreased with increasing incubation time, indicating that there might be some unknown metabolites. Thus, the anaerobic biodegradation pathways were proposed as follows: 8:2 FTOH was oxidized to 8:2 FTUA and 2-perfluorooctyl ethanoic acid (8:2 FTCA) via 2-perfluorooctyl acetaldehyde (8:2 FTAL), and then 8:2 FTUA and 8:2 FTCA were further transformed to 1-perfluoroheptyl ethanol (7:2 sFTOH) via 3-perfluoroheptyl propionic acid (7:3 acid) or/and 3-perfluoroheptyl acrylic acid (7:3 Uacid), and eventually 7:2 sFTOH was further biodegraded to PFOA and other perfluorocarboxylates containing less than eight carbons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Li
- Xiamen Engineering & Technology Research Center for Urban Water Environment Planning and Remediation, College of Civil Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Qiangfa Su
- Xiamen Engineering & Technology Research Center for Urban Water Environment Planning and Remediation, College of Civil Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Zhenming Zhou
- Xiamen Engineering & Technology Research Center for Urban Water Environment Planning and Remediation, College of Civil Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Xiaobin Liao
- Xiamen Engineering & Technology Research Center for Urban Water Environment Planning and Remediation, College of Civil Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Jing Zou
- Xiamen Engineering & Technology Research Center for Urban Water Environment Planning and Remediation, College of Civil Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Baoling Yuan
- Xiamen Engineering & Technology Research Center for Urban Water Environment Planning and Remediation, College of Civil Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, 361021, China.
| | - Wenjie Sun
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, 75275, USA.
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Yu X, Nishimura F, Hidaka T. Effects of microbial activity on perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) generation during aerobic biotransformation of fluorotelomer alcohols in activated sludge. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 610-611:776-785. [PMID: 28826115 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Revised: 08/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Biotransformation of fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can release toxic intermediates and perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) to the aqueous environment. However, little information is known about the role of relevant microbial activity (i.e., autotrophs and/or heterotrophs) in biotransformation of FTOHs. Additionally, the dynamics of microbial community in sludge after exposure to FTOHs remain unclear. In the present research, using domestic and industrial WWTP sludge, we performed lab-scale batch experiments to characterize the FTOHs biodegradation property under aerobic condition. Both heterotrophs and the autotrophs were associated with FTOHs biotransformation. However, the microbial activity influenced PFCAs generation efficiency. Autotrophs based on ammonia oxidation (50mgN/L) resulted in more effective generation of PFCAs than heterotrophs based on glucose (200mgC/L) metabolism. Moreover, autotrophs generated more amounts of short-chain PFCAs (carbon number ≤7) than the heterotrophs. The ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) in ammonia oxidizing microorganisms (AOMs) are suggested as responsible for the enhanced generation of PFCAs during FTOHs biotransformation. In the sludge that had been exposed to poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances in an industrial WWTP, Chlorobi was the predominant microorganisms (36.9%), followed by Proteobacteria (20.2%), Bacteroidetes (11.1%), Chloroflexi (6.2%), Crenarchaeota (5.6%), Planctomycetes (4.2%), and Acidobacteria (3.5%). In the present research, the dosed 8:2 FTOH (12.1mg/L) and its biotransformation products (intermediates and PFCAs) could force a shift in microbial community composition in the sludge. After 192h, Proteobacteria significantly increased and dominated. These results provide knowledge for comprehending the effects of microbial activity on FTOHs biodegradation and the information about interaction between microbial community and the exposure to FTOHs in activated sludge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Yu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, C1, Kyoto daigaku-Katsura, Kyoto 615-8540, Japan.
| | - Fumitake Nishimura
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, C1, Kyoto daigaku-Katsura, Kyoto 615-8540, Japan
| | - Taira Hidaka
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, C1, Kyoto daigaku-Katsura, Kyoto 615-8540, Japan
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Shafique U, Schulze S, Slawik C, Böhme A, Paschke A, Schüürmann G. Perfluoroalkyl acids in aqueous samples from Germany and Kenya. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 24:11031-11043. [PMID: 27335016 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-7076-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Continuous monitoring of chemicals in the environment is important to control their fate and to protect human health, flora, and fauna. Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) have been detected frequently in different environmental compartments during the last 15 years and have drawn much attention because of their environmental persistence, omnipresence, and bioaccumulation potential. Water is an important source of their transport. In the present study, distributions of PFAAs in river water, wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, and tap water from eastern part of Germany and western part of Kenya were investigated. Eleven perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) and five perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSAs) were analyzed using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Sum of mean concentrations of eight PFAAs detected in drinking tap water from Leipzig was 11.5 ng L-1, dominated by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, 6.2 ng L-1). Sums of mean riverine concentrations of PFAAs detected in Pleiße/White Elster, Saale, and Elbe (Germany) were 24.8, 54.3, and 26.8 ng L-1, respectively. Annual flux of PFAAs from River Saale was estimated to be 164 ± 23 kg a-1. The effluent of WWTP in Halle was found to contain four times higher levels of PFAAs than river water and was dominated by perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) with 32 times higher concentration than the riverine level. It advocates that WWTPs are the point source of contaminating water bodies with PFAAs, and short-chain PFAAs are substituting long-chain homologues. Sums of mean riverine concentrations of PFAAs in Sosiani (Kenya) in samples from sparsely populated and densely populated areas were 58.8 and 109.4 ng L-1, respectively, indicating that population directly affected the emissions of PFAAs to surface waters. The discussion includes thorough review and comparison of recently published literature reporting occurrence of PFAAs in aqueous matrices. Graphical abstract Perfluoroalkyl acids in aqueous matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umer Shafique
- UFZ Department of Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoser-Straße 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.
- Institute for Organic Chemistry, Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg, Leipziger-Straße 29, 09596, Freiberg, Germany.
| | - Stefanie Schulze
- UFZ Department of Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoser-Straße 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute for Chemistry, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 2, 06120, Halle, Saale, Germany
| | - Christian Slawik
- UFZ Department of Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoser-Straße 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute for Organic Chemistry, Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg, Leipziger-Straße 29, 09596, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Böhme
- UFZ Department of Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoser-Straße 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Albrecht Paschke
- UFZ Department of Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoser-Straße 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gerrit Schüürmann
- UFZ Department of Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoser-Straße 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute for Organic Chemistry, Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg, Leipziger-Straße 29, 09596, Freiberg, Germany
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Rigden M, Pelletier G, Poon R, Zhu J, Auray-Blais C, Gagnon R, Kubwabo C, Kosarac I, Lalonde K, Cakmak S, Xiao B, Leingartner K, Ku KL, Bose R, Jiao J. Assessment of urinary metabolite excretion after rat acute exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid and other peroxisomal proliferators. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2015; 68:148-58. [PMID: 25015730 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-014-0058-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2014] [Accepted: 05/26/2014] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a persistent environmental contaminant. Activation of the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARα) resulting from exposure to PFOA has been extensively studied in rodents. However, marked differences in response to peroxisome proliferators prevent extrapolation of rodent PPARα activation to human health risks and additional molecular mechanisms may also be involved in the biological response to PFOA exposure. To further explore the potential involvement of such additional pathways, the effects of PFOA exposure on urinary metabolites were directly compared with those of other well-known PPARα agonists. Male rats were administered PFOA (10, 33, or 100 mg/kg/d), fenofibrate (100 mg/kg/d), or di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (100 mg/kg/d) by gavage for 3 consecutive days and allowed to recover for 4 days, and overnight urine was collected. Greater urinary output was observed exclusively in PFOA-treated rats as the total fraction of PFOA excreted in urine increased with the dose administered. Assessment of urinary metabolites (ascorbic acid, quinolinic acid, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, and malondialdehyde) provided additional information on PFOA's effects on hepatic glucuronic acid and tryptophan-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) pathways and on oxidative stress, whereas increased liver weight and palmitoyl-CoA oxidase activity indicative of PPARα activation and peroxisomal proliferation persisted up to day five after the last exposure.
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Cousins IT. Nordic research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2013; 20:7926-7929. [PMID: 24057958 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-013-2000-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2013] [Accepted: 07/10/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ian T Cousins
- Department of Applied Environmental Science (ITM), Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden,
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