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Mattila JM, Krug JD, Roberson WR, Burnette RP, McDonald S, Virtaranta L, Offenberg JH, Linak WP. Characterizing Volatile Emissions and Combustion Byproducts from Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Using Online Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:3942-3952. [PMID: 38350647 PMCID: PMC10985785 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) are used in firefighting applications and often contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which can detrimentally impact environmental and biological health. Incineration is a potential disposal method for AFFFs, which may produce secondary PFAS and other air pollutants. We used online chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS) to measure volatile PFAS emissions from incinerating AFFF concentrate solutions. We quantified perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) during the incineration of legacy and contemporary AFFFs. These included trifluoroacetic acid, which reached mg m-3 quantities in the incinerator exhaust. These PFCAs likely arose as products of incomplete combustion of AFFF fluorosurfactants with lower peak furnace temperatures yielding higher PFCA concentrations. We also detected other short-chain PFAS, and other novel chemical products in AFFF combustion emissions. The volatile headspace above AFFF solutions contained larger (C ≥ 8), less oxidized PFAS detected by CIMS. We identified neutral PFAS resembling fluorotelomer surfactants (e.g., fluorotelomer sulfonamide alkylbetaines and fluorotelomer thioether amido sulfonates) and fluorotelomer alcohols in contemporary AFFF headspaces. Directly comparing the distinct chemical spaces of AFFF volatile headspace and combustion byproducts as measured by CIMS provides insight toward the chemistry of PFAS during thermal treatment of AFFFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M. Mattila
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Jonathan D. Krug
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - William R. Roberson
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | | | - Stella McDonald
- Jacobs Technology Inc., Cary, North Carolina 27518, United States
| | - Larry Virtaranta
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - John H. Offenberg
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - William P. Linak
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
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Androulakakis A, Alygizakis N, Gkotsis G, Nika MC, Nikolopoulou V, Bizani E, Chadwick E, Cincinelli A, Claßen D, Danielsson S, Dekker RWRJ, Duke G, Glowacka N, Jansman HAH, Krone O, Martellini T, Movalli P, Persson S, Roos A, O'Rourke E, Siebert U, Treu G, van den Brink NW, Walker LA, Deaville R, Slobodnik J, Thomaidis NS. Determination of 56 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in top predators and their prey from Northern Europe by LC-MS/MS. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 287:131775. [PMID: 34509025 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of emerging substances that have proved to be persistent and highly bioaccumulative. They are broadly used in various applications and are known for their long-distance migration and toxicity. In this study, 65 recent specimens of a terrestrial apex predator (Common buzzard), freshwater and marine apex predators (Eurasian otter, harbour porpoise, grey seal, harbour seal) and their potential prey (bream, roach, herring, eelpout) from northern Europe (United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden) were analyzed for the presence of legacy and emerging PFAS, employing a highly sensitive liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) method. 56 compounds from 14 classes were measured; 13 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), 7 perfluoroalkyl sulphonic acids (PFSAs), 3 perfluorooctane sulfonamides (FOSAs), 4 perfluoroalkylphosphonic acids (PFAPAs), 3 perfluoroalkylphosphinic acids (PFPi's), 5 telomer alcohols (FTOHs), 2 mono-substituted polyfluorinated phosphate esters (PAPs), 2 di-substituted polyfluorinated phosphate esters (diPAPs), 6 saturated fluorotelomer acids (FTAS), 3 unsaturated fluorotelomer acids (FTUAs), 2 N-Alkyl perfluorooctane sulfonamidoethanols (FOSEs), 3 fluorotelomer sulphonic acids (FTSAs), 2 perfluoroether carboxylic acids (PFECAs) and 1 chlorinated perfluoroether sulphonic acid (Cl-PFESA). All samples were lyophilized before analysis, in order to enhance extraction efficiency, improve the precision and achieve lower detection limits. The analytes were extracted from the dry matrices through generic methods of extraction, using an accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), followed by clean-up through solid phase extraction (SPE). Method detection limits and method quantification limits ranged from 0.02 to 1.25 ng/g wet weight (ww) and from 0.05 to 3.79 ng/g (ww), respectively. Recovery ranged from 40 to 137%. Method precision ranged from 3 to 20 %RSD. The sum of PFAS concentration in apex predators livers ranged from 0.2 to 20.2 μg/g (ww), whereas in the fish species muscle tissues it ranged from 16 to 325 ng/g (ww). All analyzed specimens were primarily contaminated with PFOS, while the three PFPi's included in this study exhibited frequency of appearance (FoA) 100 %. C9 to C13 PFCAs were found at high concentrations in apex predator livers, while the overall PFAS levels in fish fillets also exceeded ecotoxicological thresholds. The findings of our study show a clear association between the PFAS concentrations in apex predators and the geographical origin of the specimens, with samples that were collected in urban and agricultural zones being highly contaminated compared to samples from pristine or semi-pristine areas. The high variety of PFAS and the different PFAS composition in the apex predators and their prey (AP&P) samples is alarming and strengthens the importance of PFAS monitoring across the food chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Androulakakis
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikiforos Alygizakis
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece; Environmental Institute, Okružná 784/42, 97241, Koš, Slovak Republic
| | - Georgios Gkotsis
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria-Christina Nika
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece
| | - Varvara Nikolopoulou
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece
| | - Erasmia Bizani
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece
| | - Elizabeth Chadwick
- Cardiff University, Biomedical Science Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Alessandra Cincinelli
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | | | - Sara Danielsson
- Naturhistoriska riksmuseet, Box 50007, 104 05, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Guy Duke
- Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, 3 South Parks Rd, Oxford, OX1 3QY, United Kingdom
| | - Natalia Glowacka
- Environmental Institute, Okružná 784/42, 97241, Koš, Slovak Republic
| | - Hugh A H Jansman
- Wageningen Environmental Research, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Oliver Krone
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Department of Wildlife Diseases, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tania Martellini
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Paola Movalli
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, 2333 RA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Sara Persson
- Naturhistoriska riksmuseet, Box 50007, 104 05, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Roos
- Naturhistoriska riksmuseet, Box 50007, 104 05, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Emily O'Rourke
- Cardiff University, Biomedical Science Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 25761, Buesum, Germany
| | | | - Nico W van den Brink
- Division of Toxicology, Wageningen University, 6700EA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Rob Deaville
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | | | - Nikolaos S Thomaidis
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece.
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Tian L, Guo H, Li J, Yan L, Zhu E, Liu X, Li K. Fabrication of a near-infrared excitation surface molecular imprinting ratiometric fluorescent probe for sensitive and rapid detecting perfluorooctane sulfonate in complex matrix. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 413:125353. [PMID: 33609881 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Construction of fluorescent probe for highly sensitive and selective detection of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in water and biological samples is a very important strategy in related pollutant monitoring and environmental health risk appraisal. To overcome the drawback of low sensitivity caused by high-back ground signal of the conventional sensor, a molecularly imprinted near-infrared excitation ratiometric fluorescent probe was constructed and employed to determine PFOS. The sensing process was achieved through the selectively recognition of specific cavities in the probe surface with analyte, accompanied by fluorescence quenching due to the photoinduced electron transfer effect between upconversion materials and PFOS. Under optimized experimental conditions, the fluorescence quenching efficiency of the probe has good linearity against the concentrations of PFOS response divided into two segments within linear ranges of 0.001-0.1 nmol/L and 0.1-1 nmol/L, respectively, with low detection limit of 1 pmol/L. Selective experiment results indicate that the C-F chain length plays a dominant role in molecular recognition and high sensitively detection. The fabricated probe shows well detection performance in a wide pH range. Furthermore, real samples analyses indicate that such an efficient fluorescent probe has potentials in PFOS determination in surface water, human serum and egg extract sample analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingxi Tian
- Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Nanchang HangKong University, Nanchang 330063, China
| | - Huiqin Guo
- Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Nanchang HangKong University, Nanchang 330063, China.
| | - Jing Li
- Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Nanchang HangKong University, Nanchang 330063, China
| | - Liushui Yan
- Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Nanchang HangKong University, Nanchang 330063, China.
| | - Enze Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Nanchang HangKong University, Nanchang 330063, China
| | - Xiaoming Liu
- Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Nanchang HangKong University, Nanchang 330063, China
| | - Kexin Li
- Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Nanchang HangKong University, Nanchang 330063, China
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Lasters R, Groffen T, Bervoets L, Eens M. Perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) profile and concentrations in two co-occurring tit species: distinct differences indicate non-generalizable results across passerines. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 761:143301. [PMID: 33183821 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Eggs of terrestrial bird species have often been used to biomonitor both legacy and emerging anthropogenic contaminants, such as perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs). However, few, if any, studies have examined whether results obtained in a given model species can be generalized across bird species. Therefore, we compared potential differences in egg PFAA profile and concentrations between two widely studied passerine species, great tit (Parus major) and blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), which are similar in many aspects of their ecology and life history. Whole clutches of both species were collected from the same breeding season and at the same place (Antwerp, Belgium), enabling us to study laying order effects. Additionally, we evaluated how egg PFAA concentrations for both species changed along a distance gradient from a PFAA point source. Although the sum PFAA concentrations did not significantly differ between great tits and blue tits, large differences in PFAA profile and laying order effects were observed. Great tits showed a more diverse PFAA detection profile, including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and various long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) but no short-chain compounds. Contrarily, short-chain PFCAs (perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)) were only detected in blue tit eggs. The variation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) concentrations within clutches was large in both species, although laying order effects on PFOA concentrations were only found in blue tits. Although egg PFOA concentrations of both species decreased similarly from the fluorochemical point source onwards, more variation in egg PFOA concentrations could be explained by distance from the fluorochemical plant in great tits (60%) than in blue tits (15%). Results showed that both species markedly differed in terms of egg PFAA profile and concentrations, most likely reflecting differences in diet, foraging habits and egg protein composition. Finally, biomonitoring results of PFAAs in eggs are likely not generalizable across bird species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Lasters
- Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium; Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Thimo Groffen
- Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium; Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Lieven Bervoets
- Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Marcel Eens
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
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Rodowa AE, Reiner JL. Utilization of a NIST SRM: a case study for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in NIST SRM 1957 organic contaminants in non-fortified human serum. Anal Bioanal Chem 2021; 413:2295-2301. [PMID: 33651119 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-021-03241-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) generates and maintains thousands of Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) to serve commerce worldwide. Many SRMs contain metrologically traceable mass fractions of known organic chemicals and are commercially available to aid the analytical chemistry community. One such material, NIST SRM 1957 Organic Contaminants in Non-Fortified Human Serum, was one of the first materials issued by NIST with measurements for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) listed on the Certificate of Analysis and was commercially available in 2009. Since the release of SRM 1957, nearly 400 units have been sold to date, and over 50 publications related to PFAS measurements have included this material for multiple analytical purposes, such as a quality control material, for interlaboratory comparison, as an in-house comparison tool, for inter- and intra-day measurement accuracy, as an indicator of isomeric patterns of PFAS, and for other uses. This perspective details the ways SRM 1957 is utilized by the analytical community and how data have been reported in the literature. A discussion on accurately comparing SRM data to generated data is included. Furthermore, we conducted an in-depth investigation around additional applications for NIST SRMs, such as a matrix-matched reference material, and for the identification of targeted compounds during high-resolution mass spectrometry data collection. Ultimately, this manuscript illustratively describes the ways to utilize a NIST SRMs for chemicals of emerging concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alix E Rodowa
- Chemical Sciences Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 331 Fort Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC, 29412, USA.
| | - Jessica L Reiner
- Chemical Sciences Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 331 Fort Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC, 29412, USA
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Robuck AR, Cantwell MG, McCord J, Addison LM, Pfohl M, Strynar MJ, McKinney R, Katz DR, Wiley DN, Lohmann R. Legacy and Novel Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Juvenile Seabirds from the U.S. Atlantic Coast. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:12938-12948. [PMID: 32894676 PMCID: PMC7700771 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c01951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are anthropogenic, globally distributed chemicals. Legacy PFAS, including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), have been regularly detected in marine fauna but little is known about their current levels or the presence of novel PFAS in seabirds. We measured 36 emerging and legacy PFAS in livers from 31 juvenile seabirds from Massachusetts Bay, Narragansett Bay, and the Cape Fear River Estuary (CFRE), United States. PFOS was the major legacy perfluoroalkyl acid present, making up 58% of concentrations observed across all habitats (range: 11-280 ng/g). Novel PFAS were confirmed in chicks hatched downstream of a fluoropolymer production site in the CFRE: a perfluorinated ether sulfonic acid (Nafion byproduct 2; range: 1-110 ng/g) and two perfluorinated ether carboxylic acids (PFO4DA and PFO5DoDA; PFO5DoDA range: 5-30 ng/g). PFOS was inversely associated with phospholipid content in livers from CFRE and Massachusetts Bay individuals, while δ 13C, an indicator of marine versus terrestrial foraging, was positively correlated with some long-chain PFAS in CFRE chick livers. There is also an indication that seabird phospholipid dynamics are negatively impacted by PFAS, which should be further explored given the importance of lipids for seabirds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna R. Robuck
- University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI 02882
| | - Mark G. Cantwell
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, Narragansett, RI 02882
| | - James McCord
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Durham, NC 27709
| | | | - Marisa Pfohl
- University of Rhode Island, Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kingston, RI 02881
| | - Mark J. Strynar
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Durham, NC 27709
| | - Richard McKinney
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, Narragansett, RI 02882
| | - David R. Katz
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, Narragansett, RI 02882
| | - David N. Wiley
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Scituate, MA 02066 0
| | - Rainer Lohmann
- University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI 02882
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