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Grung M, Hjermann DØ, Rundberget T, Bæk K, Thomsen C, Knutsen HK, Haug LS. Low levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) detected in drinking water in Norway, but elevated concentrations found near known sources. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 947:174550. [PMID: 39004364 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous contaminants which are also found in drinking water. Concentration levels in drinking water vary widely and range from a very low contribution to total daily exposure for humans to being the major source of uptake of PFAS. PFAS concentrations in Norwegian drinking water has been rarely reported. We investigated concentrations of 31 PFAS in 164 water samples, representing both source water (i.e., before drinking water treatment) and finished drinking water. Samples were taken from 18 different water bodies across Norway. The 17 waterworks involved supply drinking water to 41 % of the Norwegian population. Only four of the waterworks utilised treatment involving activated carbon which was able to significantly reduce PFAS from the source water. Samples of source water from waterworks not employing activated carbon in treatment were therefore considered to represent drinking water with regards to PFAS (142 samples). All samples from one of the water bodies exceeded the environmental quality standard (EQS) for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) according to the water framework directive (0.65 ng/L). No concentrations exceeded the sum of (20) PFAS (100 ng/L) specified in the EU directive 2020/2184 for drinking water. Several EU countries have issued lower guidelines for the sum of the four PFAS that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has established as the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) for PFOS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS). Denmark and Sweden have guidelines specifying 2 and 4 ng/L for the sum of these PFAS. Only one of the 142 drinking water samples exceeded the Danish TWI and contained a sum of 6.6 ng/L PFAS. A population exposure model, for individuals drinking water from the investigated sources, showed that only 0.5 % of the population was receiving PFAS concentrations above the Danish limit of 2 ng/L.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merete Grung
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, 0579 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Dag Ø Hjermann
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, 0579 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Thomas Rundberget
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, 0579 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Kine Bæk
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, 0579 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Cathrine Thomsen
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Department of Food Safety, PO Box 222, Skøyen, 0213 Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Centre for Sustainable Diets, PO Box 222, Skøyen, 0213 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Helle Katrine Knutsen
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Department of Food Safety, PO Box 222, Skøyen, 0213 Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Centre for Sustainable Diets, PO Box 222, Skøyen, 0213 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Line Småstuen Haug
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Department of Food Safety, PO Box 222, Skøyen, 0213 Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Centre for Sustainable Diets, PO Box 222, Skøyen, 0213 Oslo, Norway.
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2
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Monsky RJ, Li Y, Houk KN, Dichtel WR. Low-Temperature Mineralization of Fluorotelomers with Diverse Polar Head Groups. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:17150-17157. [PMID: 38870114 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c03117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental pollutants linked to harmful health effects. Currently employed PFAS destruction methods are energy-intensive and often produce shorter-chain and recalcitrant partially fluorinated byproducts. We report the mineralization of five fluorotelomer compounds via a base-mediated degradation using NaOH and mild temperatures (120 °C) in a mixture of DMSO:H2O (8:1 v/v). The studied fluorotelomers have varying polar head groups-carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids, alcohols, and phosphonic acids, which are the most common polar head groups used in commercial and industrial applications. The degradation intermediates and byproducts were characterized using 1H, 13C, and 19F NMR spectroscopy. Density functional theory computations at the M06-2X/6-311 + G(2d,p)-SMD-(DMSO) level were consistent with the observed intermediates and guided an overall mechanistic hypothesis. Degradation of each fluorotelomer occurs through a similar process, in which the nonfluorinated carbons and the first fluorinated carbon are cleaved from the remaining perfluoroalkyl fragment, which degrades through previously identified pathways. These findings provide important insight into PFAS degradation processes and suggest that PFAS containing at least one C-H bond within or adjacent to its fluoroalkyl chain can be degraded under these mild conditions. Many PFAS in current use as well as recalcitrant fluorinated byproducts generated from other PFAS degradation methods are candidates for this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Monsky
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Yuli Li
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - K N Houk
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - William R Dichtel
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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Behnami A, Zoroufchi Benis K, Pourakbar M, Yeganeh M, Esrafili A, Gholami M. Biosolids, an important route for transporting poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances from wastewater treatment plants into the environment: A systematic review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 925:171559. [PMID: 38458438 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171559] [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: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
The pervasive presence of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in diverse products has led to their introduction into wastewater systems, making wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) significant PFAS contributors to the environment. Despite WWTPs' efforts to mitigate PFAS impact through physicochemical and biological means, concerns persist regarding PFAS retention in generated biosolids. While numerous review studies have explored the fate of these compounds within WWTPs, no study has critically reviewed their presence, transformation mechanisms, and partitioning within the sludge. Therefore, the current study has been specifically designed to investigate these aspects. Studies show variations in PFAS concentrations across WWTPs, highlighting the importance of aqueous-to-solid partitioning, with sludge from PFOS and PFOA-rich wastewater showing higher concentrations. Research suggests biological mechanisms such as cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, transamine metabolism, and beta-oxidation are involved in PFAS biotransformation, though the effects of precursor changes require further study. Carbon chain length significantly affects PFAS partitioning, with longer chains leading to greater adsorption in sludge. The wastewater's organic and inorganic content is crucial for PFAS adsorption; for instance, higher sludge protein content and divalent cations like calcium and magnesium promote adsorption, while monovalent cations like sodium impede it. In conclusion, these discoveries shed light on the complex interactions among factors affecting PFAS behavior in biosolids. They underscore the necessity for thorough considerations in managing PFAS presence and its impact on environmental systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Behnami
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Research Center for Environmental Health Technology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Khaled Zoroufchi Benis
- Department of Process Engineering and Applied Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Mojtaba Pourakbar
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran; Health and Environment Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mojtaba Yeganeh
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Research Center for Environmental Health Technology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Esrafili
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Research Center for Environmental Health Technology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mitra Gholami
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Research Center for Environmental Health Technology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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4
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Haruna I, Obeng-Gyasi E. Association of Combined Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Metals with Chronic Kidney Disease. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:468. [PMID: 38673379 PMCID: PMC11050583 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21040468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Background: Exposure to environmental pollutants such as metals and Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) has become common and increasingly associated with a decrease in the estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR), which is a marker often used to measure chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, there are limited studies involving the use of both eGFR and the urine albumin creatinine ratio (uACR), which are more comprehensive markers to determine the presence of CKD and the complexity of pollutant exposures and response interactions, especially for combined metals and PFAS, which has not been comprehensively elucidated. Objective: This study aims to assess the individual and combined effects of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), and Lead (Pb) exposure on CKD using data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2018. Methods: We employed the use of bivariate logistic regression and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) in our analysis of the data. Results: Logistic regression results revealed a positive association between PFOA and CKD. Our BKMR analysis revealed a non-linear and bi-phasic relationship between the metal exposures and CKD. In our univariate exposure-response function plot, Cd and Hg exhibited a U and N-shaped interaction, which indicated a non-linear and non-additive relationship with both low and high exposures associated with CKD. In addition, the bivariate exposure-response function between two exposures in a mixture revealed that Cd had a U-shaped relationship with CKD at different quantiles of Pb, Hg, PFOA, and PFOS, indicating that both low and high levels of Cd is associated with CKD, implying a non-linear and complex biological interaction. Hg's interaction plot demonstrated a N-shaped association across all quantiles of Cd, with the 75th quantile of Pb and the 50th and 75th quantiles of PFOA and PFOS. Furthermore, the PIP results underscored Cd's consistent association with CKD (PIP = 1.000) followed by Hg's (PIP = 0.9984), then PFOA and PFOS with a closely related PIP of 0.7880 and 0.7604, respectively, and finally Pb (PIP = 0.6940), contributing the least among the five environmental pollutants on CKD, though significant. Conclusions: Our findings revealed that exposure to environmental pollutants, particularly Hg and Cd, are associated with CKD. These findings highlight the need for public health interventions and strategies to mitigate the cumulative effect of PFAS and metal exposure and elucidate the significance of utilizing advanced statistical methods and tools to understand the impact of environmental pollutants on human health. Further research is needed to understand the mechanistic pathways of PFAS and metal-induced kidney injury and CKD, and longitudinal studies are required to ascertain the long-term impact of these environmental exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Issah Haruna
- Department of Built Environment, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
- Environmental Health and Disease Laboratory, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
| | - Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi
- Department of Built Environment, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
- Environmental Health and Disease Laboratory, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
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Hamdani SS, Elkholy HM, Alford A, Jackson K, Naveed M, Wyman I, Wang Y, Li K, Haider SW, Rabnawaz M. Synthesis of Water-Dispersible Poly(dimethylsiloxane) and Its Potential Application in the Paper Coating Industry as an Alternative for PFAS-Coated Paper and Single-Use Plastics. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1006. [PMID: 38611264 PMCID: PMC11014279 DOI: 10.3390/polym16071006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Polyethylene-, polyvinylidene chloride-, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance-coated paper generate microplastics or fluorochemicals in the environment. Here, we report an approach for the development of oil-resistant papers using an environmentally friendly, fluorine-free, water-dispersible poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) coating on kraft paper. Carboxylic-functionalized PDMS (PDMS-COOH) was synthesized and subsequently neutralized with ammonium bicarbonate to obtain a waterborne emulsion, which was then coated onto kraft paper. The water resistance of the coated paper was determined via Cobb60 measurements. The Cobb60 value was reduced to 2.70 ± 0.14 g/m2 as compared to 87.6 ± 5.1 g/m2 for uncoated paper, suggesting a remarkable improvement in water resistance. Similarly, oil resistance was found to be 12/12 on the kit test scale versus 0/12 for uncoated paper. In addition, the coated paper retained 70-90% of its inherent mechanical properties, and more importantly, the coated paper was recycled via pulp recovery using a standard protocol with a 91.1% yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syeda Shamila Hamdani
- School of Packaging, Michigan State University, 448 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; (S.S.H.); (H.M.E.)
| | - Hazem M. Elkholy
- School of Packaging, Michigan State University, 448 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; (S.S.H.); (H.M.E.)
| | - Alexandra Alford
- School of Packaging, Michigan State University, 448 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; (S.S.H.); (H.M.E.)
| | - Kang Jackson
- School of Packaging, Michigan State University, 448 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; (S.S.H.); (H.M.E.)
| | - Muhammad Naveed
- School of Packaging, Michigan State University, 448 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; (S.S.H.); (H.M.E.)
| | - Ian Wyman
- School of Packaging, Michigan State University, 448 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; (S.S.H.); (H.M.E.)
| | - Yun Wang
- Department of Chemical and Paper Engineering, Western Michigan University, 1903 W, Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, USA
| | - Kecheng Li
- Department of Chemical and Paper Engineering, Western Michigan University, 1903 W, Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, USA
| | - Syed W. Haider
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Muhammad Rabnawaz
- School of Packaging, Michigan State University, 448 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; (S.S.H.); (H.M.E.)
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6
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Mofokeng NN, Madikizela LM, Tiggelman I, Sanganyado E, Chimuka L. Determination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds in paper recycling grades using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:30126-30136. [PMID: 38602641 PMCID: PMC11058588 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33250-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Globally, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-related research on paper products has focused on food packaging with less consideration on the presence of PFAS at different stages of the paper recycling chain. This study analysed the prevalence of PFAS in paper grades used for the manufacture of recycled paperboard. The presence of PFAS was attributed to the use of PFAS-containing additives, consumer usage, exposure to packed goods as well as contamination during mingling, sorting, collection, and recovery of paper recycling material. Q Orbitrap mass spectrometry was used to analyse the paper samples after accelerated solvent extraction and solid phase extraction. The distribution and possible propagation of 22 PFAS were determined in pre-consumer, retail and post-consumer paper products. Post-consumer samples had the highest combined average concentration (ΣPFAS) at 213 ng/g, while the ΣPFAS in retail (159 ng/g) and pre-consumer samples (121 ng/g) was detected at lower concentrations. This study showed that waste collection and recycling protocols may influence PFAS propagation and that measures must be developed to minimise and possibly eliminate exposure opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nondumiso Nomonde Mofokeng
- Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, 1 Jan Smuts Ave, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa.
- Mpact Operations Pty (Ltd), Innovation, Research & Development, Devon Valley Road, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa.
| | - Lawrence Mzukisi Madikizela
- Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, 28 Pioneer Ave, Roodepoort, Johannesburg, 1709, South Africa
| | - Ineke Tiggelman
- Mpact Operations Pty (Ltd), Innovation, Research & Development, Devon Valley Road, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
| | - Edmond Sanganyado
- Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Luke Chimuka
- Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, 1 Jan Smuts Ave, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa
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7
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Chen YF, Liu T, Hu LX, Chen CE, Yang B, Ying GG. Unveiling per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance contamination in Chinese paper products and assessing their exposure risk. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 185:108540. [PMID: 38428191 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108540] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
The contamination characteristics, migration patterns and health risks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were investigated in 66 Chinese paper products by using target and non-target screening methods. Among 57 target PFASs, 5 and 6 PFASs were found in the hygiene paper products (
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Fei Chen
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Ting Liu
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Li-Xin Hu
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Chang-Er Chen
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bin Yang
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Guang-Guo Ying
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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8
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Langberg HA, Choyke S, Hale SE, Koekkoek J, Cenijn PH, Lamoree MH, Rundberget T, Jartun M, Breedveld GD, Jenssen BM, Higgins CP, Hamers T. Effect-Directed Analysis Based on Transthyretin Binding Activity of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in a Contaminated Sediment Extract. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:245-258. [PMID: 37888867 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Only a fraction of the total number of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are monitored on a routine basis using targeted chemical analyses. We report on an approach toward identifying bioactive substances in environmental samples using effect-directed analysis by combining toxicity testing, targeted chemical analyses, and suspect screening. PFAS compete with the thyroid hormone thyroxin (T4 ) for binding to its distributor protein transthyretin (TTR). Therefore, a TTR-binding bioassay was used to prioritize unknown features for chemical identification in a PFAS-contaminated sediment sample collected downstream of a factory producing PFAS-coated paper. First, the TTR-binding potencies of 31 analytical PFAS standards were determined. Potencies varied between PFAS depending on carbon chain length, functional group, and, for precursors to perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSA), the size or number of atoms in the group(s) attached to the nitrogen. The most potent PFAS were the seven- and eight-carbon PFSA, perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and the eight-carbon perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid (PFCA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which showed approximately four- and five-times weaker potencies, respectively, compared with the native ligand T4 . For some of the other PFAS tested, TTR-binding potencies were weak or not observed at all. For the environmental sediment sample, not all of the bioactivity observed in the TTR-binding assay could be assigned to the PFAS quantified using targeted chemical analyses. Therefore, suspect screening was applied to the retention times corresponding to observed TTR binding, and five candidates were identified. Targeted analyses showed that the sediment was dominated by the di-substituted phosphate ester of N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido ethanol (SAmPAP diester), whereas it was not bioactive in the assay. SAmPAP diester has the potential for (bio)transformation into smaller PFAS, including PFOS. Therefore, when it comes to TTR binding, the hazard associated with this substance is likely through (bio)transformation into more potent transformation products. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:245-258. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Håkon A Langberg
- Environment and Geotechnics, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sarah Choyke
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, USA
- Eurofins Environment Testing, Tacoma, Washington, USA
| | - Sarah E Hale
- Environment and Geotechnics, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Oslo, Norway
- DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser (German Water Centre), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Jacco Koekkoek
- Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter H Cenijn
- Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marja H Lamoree
- Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Morten Jartun
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gijs D Breedveld
- Environment and Geotechnics, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Arctic Technology, University Centre in Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Norway
| | - Bjørn M Jenssen
- Department of Arctic Technology, University Centre in Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Norway
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Christopher P Higgins
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, USA
| | - Timo Hamers
- Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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9
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Uwayezu JN, Ren Z, Sonnenschein S, Leiviskä T, Lejon T, van Hees P, Karlsson P, Kumpiene J, Carabante I. Combination of separation and degradation methods after PFAS soil washing. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:168137. [PMID: 37890625 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
The current study evaluated a three-stage treatment to remediate PFAS-contaminated soil. The treatment consisted of soil washing, foam fractionation (FF), and electrochemical oxidation (EO). The possibility of replacing the third stage, i.e., EO, with an adsorption process was also assessed. The contamination in the studied soils was dominated by perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), with a concentration of 760 and 19 μg kg-1 in soil I and in soil II, accounting for 97 % and 70 % of all detected per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Before applying a pilot treatment of soil, soil washing was performed on a laboratory scale, to evaluate the effect of soil particle size, initial pH and a liquid-to-soil ratio (L/S) on the leachability of PFAS. A pilot washing system generated soil leachate that was subsequently treated using FF and EO (or adsorption) and then reused for soil washing. The results indicated that the leaching of PFAS occurred easier in 0.063-1 mm particles than in the soil particles having a size below 0.063 mm. Both alkaline conditions and a continual replacement of the leaching solution increased the leachability of PFAS. The analysis using one-way ANOVA showed no statistical difference in means of PFOS washed out in laboratory and pilot scales. This allowed estimating twenty washing cycles using 120 L water to reach 95 % PFOS removal in 60 kg soil. The aeration process removed 95-99 % PFOS in every washing cycle. The EO and adsorption processes achieved similar results removing up to 97 % PFOS in concentrated soil leachate. The current study demonstrated a multi-stage treatment as an effective and cost-efficient method to permanently clean up PFAS-contaminated soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Noel Uwayezu
- Waste Science and Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden.
| | - Zhongfei Ren
- Chemical Process Engineering, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Sarah Sonnenschein
- Waste Science and Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Tiina Leiviskä
- Chemical Process Engineering, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Tore Lejon
- Department of Chemistry, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Norway
| | | | | | - Jurate Kumpiene
- Waste Science and Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Ivan Carabante
- Waste Science and Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
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10
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Tolaymat T, Robey N, Krause M, Larson J, Weitz K, Parvathikar S, Phelps L, Linak W, Burden S, Speth T, Krug J. A critical review of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) landfill disposal in the United States. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167185. [PMID: 37734620 PMCID: PMC10842600 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Landfills manage materials containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from municipal solid waste (MSW) and other waste streams. This manuscript summarizes state and federal initiatives and critically reviews peer-reviewed literature to define best practices for managing these wastes and identify data gaps to guide future research. The objective is to inform stakeholders about waste-derived PFAS disposed of in landfills, PFAS emissions, and the potential for related environmental impacts. Furthermore, this document highlights data gaps and uncertainties concerning the fate of PFAS during landfill disposal. Most studies on this topic measured PFAS in liquid landfill effluent (leachate); comparatively fewer have attempted to estimate PFAS loading in landfills or other effluent streams such as landfill gas (LFG). In all media, the reported total PFAS heavily depends on waste types and the number of PFAS included in the analytical method. Early studies which only measured a small number of PFAS, predominantly perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), likely report a significant underestimation of total PFAS. Major findings include relationships between PFAS effluent and landfill conditions - biodegradable waste increases PFAS transformation and leaching. Based on the results of multiple studies, it is estimated that 84% of PFAS loading to MSW landfills (7.2 T total) remains in the waste mass, while 5% leaves via LFG and 11% via leachate on an annual basis. The environmental impact of landfill-derived PFAS has been well-documented. Additional research is needed on PFAS in landfilled construction and demolition debris, hazardous, and industrial waste in the US.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thabet Tolaymat
- The Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Management, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Nicole Robey
- Innovative Technical Solutions, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Max Krause
- The Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Management, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Judd Larson
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Keith Weitz
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | - Lara Phelps
- The Center for Environmental Measurements and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - William Linak
- The Center for Environmental Measurements and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Susan Burden
- Office of Science Advisor, Policy and Engagement, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Tom Speth
- The Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Management, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jonathan Krug
- The Center for Environmental Measurements and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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11
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Umeh AC, Hassan M, Egbuatu M, Zeng Z, Al Amin M, Samarasinghe C, Naidu R. Multicomponent PFAS sorption and desorption in common commercial adsorbents: Kinetics, isotherm, adsorbent dose, pH, and index ion and ionic strength effects. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166568. [PMID: 37633378 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
The adsorption and desorption of 9 PFAS, including 3 perfluoroalkyl sulphonic and 6 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids, in artificial groundwater was investigated using 3 commercial adsorbents that comprised a powdered activated carbon (PAC), a surface-modified organoclay (NMC+n), and a carbonaceous organic amendment (ROAC). Sorption kinetics and isotherms of PFAS, as well as the effects of adsorbent dose, pH, index ion and ionic strength on PFAS adsorption and desorption were investigated. Sorption of multicomponent PFAS in the adsorbents was rapid, especially for NMC+n and ROAC, regardless of PFAS chain length. The sorption and (and especially) desorption of PFAS in the adsorbents was impacted by the pH, index ion, and ionic strength of simulated groundwater, especially for the short chain PFAS, with only minimal impacts on NMC+n and PAC compared to ROAC. Although the potential mineral and charged constituents of the adsorbents contributed to the adsorption of short chain PFAS through electrostatic interactions, these interactions were susceptible to variable groundwater chemistry. Hydrophobic interactions also played a major role in facilitating and increasing PFAS sorption, especially in adsorbents with aliphatic functional groups. The desorption of PFAS from the adsorbents was below 8 % when the aqueous phase was deionised water, with no measurable desorption for NMC+n. In contrast, the desorption of short chain PFAS in simulated groundwater increased substantially (30-100 %) in the adsorbents, especially in ROAC and NMC+n, but more so with ROAC. In general, the three adsorbents exhibited strong stability for the long chain PFAS, especially the perfluoroalkyl sulphonic acids, with minimal to no sorption reversibility under different pH and ionic composition of simulated groundwater. This study highlights the importance of understanding not only the sorption of PFAS in groundwater using adsorbents, but also the desorption of PFAS, which may be useful for decision making during the ex-situ and in-situ treatment of PFAS-contaminated groundwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony C Umeh
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; crcCARE, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Masud Hassan
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Maureen Egbuatu
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Zijun Zeng
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Md Al Amin
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Chamila Samarasinghe
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; crcCARE, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Ravi Naidu
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; crcCARE, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
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12
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Kim Y, Pike KA, Gray R, Sprankle JW, Faust JA, Edmiston PL. Non-targeted identification and semi-quantitation of emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in US rainwater. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2023; 25:1771-1787. [PMID: 36341487 DOI: 10.1039/d2em00349j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
High-resolution mass spectrometry was used to screen for emerging per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in precipitation samples collected in summer 2019 at seven sites in the United States. We previously quantified the concentration of ten PFAS in the rainwater samples using the method of isotopic dilution (Pike et al., 2021). Nine of these targeted analytes belonged to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Screening Level list, herein referred to as EPA-monitored analytes. In this new work, we identify emerging PFAS compounds by liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Several emerging PFAS were detected across all samples, with the most prevalent compounds being C3-C8 hydrogen-substituted perfluorocarboxylic acids (H-PFCAs) and fluorotelomer carboxylic acids (FTCAs). Concentrations of emerging PFAS were in the 10-1000 ng L-1 range (approximately 1-2 orders of magnitude greater than EPA-monitored PFAS) at all sites except Wooster, OH, where concentrations were even higher, with a maximum estimated ΣPFAS of 16 400 ng L-1. The elevated levels of emerging PFAS in the Wooster samples were predominantly even and odd chain-length H-PFCAs and FTCAs comprised of complex mixtures of branched isomers. This unique composition did not match any known manufactured PFAS formulation reported to date, but it could represent thermally transformed by-products emitted by a local point source. Overall, the results indicate that PFAS outside of the standard analyte lists make up a significant and previously unappreciated fraction of contaminants in rainwater collected within the central U.S.-and potentially world-wide-especially in proximity to localized point sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubin Kim
- Department of Chemistry, College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, USA.
| | - Kyndal A Pike
- Department of Chemistry, College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, USA.
- Department of Mathematical & Computational Sciences, College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, USA
| | - Rebekah Gray
- Department of Chemistry, College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, USA.
| | - Jameson W Sprankle
- Department of Chemistry, College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, USA.
- Department of Earth Sciences, College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, USA
| | | | - Paul L Edmiston
- Department of Chemistry, College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, USA.
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13
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Joseph NT, Schwichtenberg T, Cao D, Jones GD, Rodowa AE, Barlaz MA, Charbonnet JA, Higgins CP, Field JA, Helbling DE. Target and Suspect Screening Integrated with Machine Learning to Discover Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Source Fingerprints. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:14351-14362. [PMID: 37696050 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
This study elucidates per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) fingerprints for specific PFAS source types. Ninety-two samples were collected from aqueous film-forming foam impacted groundwater (AFFF-GW), landfill leachate, biosolids leachate, municipal wastewater treatment plant effluent (WWTP), and wastewater effluent from the pulp and paper and power generation industries. High-resolution mass spectrometry operated with electrospray ionization in negative mode was used to quantify up to 50 target PFASs and screen and semi-quantify up to 2,266 suspect PFASs in each sample. Machine learning classifiers were used to identify PFASs that were diagnostic of each source type. Four C5-C7 perfluoroalkyl acids and one suspect PFAS (trihydrogen-substituted fluoroethernonanoic acid) were diagnostic of AFFF-GW. Two target PFASs (5:3 and 6:2 fluorotelomer carboxylic acids) and two suspect PFASs (4:2 fluorotelomer-thia-acetic acid and N-methylperfluoropropane sulfonamido acetic acid) were diagnostic of landfill leachate. Biosolids leachates were best classified along with landfill leachates and N-methyl and N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid assisted in that classification. WWTP, pulp and paper, and power generation samples contained few target PFASs, but fipronil (a fluorinated insecticide) was diagnostic of WWTP samples. Our results provide PFAS fingerprints for known sources and identify target and suspect PFASs that can be used for source allocation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayantara T Joseph
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Trever Schwichtenberg
- Chemistry Department, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Dunping Cao
- Chemistry Department, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Gerrad D Jones
- Department of Biological & Ecological Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Alix E Rodowa
- National Institutes of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Morton A Barlaz
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Joseph A Charbonnet
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Christopher P Higgins
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Jennifer A Field
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Damian E Helbling
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
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14
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Haque F, Soerensen AL, Sköld M, Awad R, Spaan KM, Lauria MZ, Plassmann MM, Benskin JP. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in white-tailed sea eagle eggs from Sweden: temporal trends (1969-2021), spatial variations, fluorine mass balance, and suspect screening. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2023; 25:1549-1563. [PMID: 37622471 DOI: 10.1039/d3em00141e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Temporal and spatial trends of 15 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were determined in white-tailed sea eagle (WTSE) eggs (Haliaeetus albicilla) from two inland and two coastal regions of Sweden between 1969 and 2021. PFAS concentrations generally increased from ∼1969 to ∼1990s-2010 (depending on target and site) and thereafter plateaued or declined, with perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) declining faster than most perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs). The net result was a shift in the PFAS profile from PFOS-dominant in 1969-2010 to an increased prevalence of PFCAs over the last decade. Further, during the entire period higher PFAS concentrations were generally observed in coastal populations, possibly due to differences in diet and/or proximity to more densely populated areas. Fluorine mass balance determination in pooled samples from three of the regions (2019-2021) indicated that target PFAS accounted for the vast majority (i.e. 81-100%) of extractable organic fluorine (EOF). Nevertheless, high resolution mass-spectrometry-based suspect screening identified 55 suspects (31 at a confidence level [CL] of 1-3 and 24 at a CL of 4-5), of which 43 were substances not included in the targeted analysis. Semi-quantification of CL ≤ 2 suspects increased the identified EOF to >90% in coastal samples. In addition to showing the impact of PFAS regulation and phase-out initiatives, this study demonstrates that most extractable organofluorine in WTSE eggs is made up of known (legacy) PFAS, albeit with low levels of novel substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faiz Haque
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 8, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
| | - Anne L Soerensen
- Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, 104 05, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Martin Sköld
- Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, 104 05, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Mathematics, Stockholm University, Albanovägen 28, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Raed Awad
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 8, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
- IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Valhallavägen 81, 114 28, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kyra M Spaan
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 8, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Mélanie Z Lauria
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 8, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Merle M Plassmann
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 8, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Jonathan P Benskin
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 8, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
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15
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Boisacq P, De Keuster M, Prinsen E, Jeong Y, Bervoets L, Eens M, Covaci A, Willems T, Groffen T. Assessment of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in commercially available drinking straws using targeted and suspect screening approaches. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2023; 40:1230-1241. [PMID: 37619405 DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2023.2240908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Many food contact materials (FCMs) and reusable plastics in the food industry contain poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of synthetic pollutants that are known to be potentially harmful for wildlife, humans, and the environment. PFAS may migrate from FCMs to food consumed by humans. As a replacement for plastics, often paper and other plant-based materials are used in commercial settings. This also applies to drinking straws, where plant-based and other presumably eco-friendly straws are increasingly used to reduce plastic pollution. In order to make these materials water-repellent, PFAS are added during manufacturing but can also already be present early in the supply chain due to the use of contaminated raw materials. In the present study, we examined the PFAS concentrations in 39 different brands of straws, made from five materials (i.e. paper, bamboo, glass, stainless steel, and plastic) commercially available on the Belgian market. We combined both targeted and suspect-screening approaches to evaluate a wide range of PFAS. PFAS were found to be present in almost all types of straws, except for those made of stainless steel. PFAS were more frequently detected in plant-based materials, such as paper and bamboo. We did not observe many differences between the types of materials, or the continents of origin. The presence of PFAS in plant-based straws shows that they are not necessarily biodegradable and that the use of such straws potentially contributes to human and environmental exposure of PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Boisacq
- ECOSPHERE, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Maarten De Keuster
- ECOSPHERE, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Els Prinsen
- Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Yunsun Jeong
- Toxicological Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
- Division for Environmental Health, Korea Environment Institute (KEI), Sejong, Republic of Korea
| | - Lieven Bervoets
- ECOSPHERE, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marcel Eens
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Tim Willems
- Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Thimo Groffen
- ECOSPHERE, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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16
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Savvidou EK, Sha B, Salter ME, Cousins IT, Johansson JH. Horizontal and Vertical Distribution of Perfluoroalkyl Acids (PFAAs) in the Water Column of the Atlantic Ocean. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS 2023; 10:418-424. [PMID: 37181535 PMCID: PMC10173459 DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.3c00119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are widely distributed in the oceans which are their largest global reservoir, but knowledge is limited about their vertical distribution and fate. This study measured the concentrations of PFAAs (perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) with 6 to 11 carbons and perfluoroalkanesulfonic acids (PFSAs) with 6 and 8 carbons) in the surface and deep ocean. Seawater depth profiles from the surface to a 5000 m depth at 28 sampling stations were collected in the Atlantic Ocean from ∼50° N to ∼50° S. The results demonstrated PFAA input from the Mediterranean Sea and the English Channel. Elevated PFAA concentrations were observed at the eastern edge of the Northern Atlantic Subtropical Gyre, suggesting that persistent contaminants may accumulate in ocean gyres. The median ΣPFAA surface concentration in the Northern Hemisphere (n = 17) was 105 pg L-1, while for the Southern Hemisphere (n = 11) it was 28 pg L-1. Generally, PFAA concentrations decreased with increasing distance to the coast and increasing depth. The C6-C9 PFCAs and C6 and C8 PFSAs dominated in surface waters, while longer-chain PFAAs (C10-C11 PFCAs) peaked at intermediate depths (500-1500 m). This profile may be explained by stronger sedimentation of longer-chain PFAAs, as they sorb more strongly to particulate organic matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni K. Savvidou
- Department
of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bo Sha
- Department
of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Matthew E. Salter
- Department
of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
- Bolin
Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ian T. Cousins
- Department
of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jana H. Johansson
- Department
of Thematic Studies − Environmental Change, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
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17
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Giffard NG, Gitlin SA, Rardin M, Petali JM, Chen CY, Romano ME. Occurrence and Risks of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Shellfish. Curr Environ Health Rep 2022; 9:591-603. [PMID: 36255596 PMCID: PMC9841895 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00379-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse class of persistent, fluorinated surfactants used widely in industrial and commercial applications with known adverse health effects. Seafood consumption is thought to be an underappreciated source of PFAS exposure in the general population. This review synthesizes the current understanding of PFAS occurrence in shellfish, a term used to describe animals such as mollusk bivalves, certain gastropods (snails), cephalopods (e.g., octopuses and squid), and crustaceans, and highlights scientific gaps relative to bioaccumulation and the protection of shellfish consumers. RECENT FINDINGS A range of sampling methodologies are used across studies, and the suite of PFAS surveyed across studies is highly variable. Concentrations of PFAS observed in shellfish vary by geographic location, shellfish species, habitat, and across PFAS compounds, and studies informing estimates of bioaccumulation of PFAS in shellfish are extremely limited at this time. This review identifies several important opportunities for researchers to standardize PFAS sampling techniques, sample preparation, and analytical methodologies to allow for better comparison of PFAS analytes both within and across future studies. Increasing the range of geographic locations where samples are collected is also a critical priority to support a greater knowledge of worldwide PFAS contamination. When put into the context of risk to consumer, concentrations of PFAS, especially PFOS, found in shellfish collected from sites containing aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) and industrial contamination may present risks to frequent consumers. Further research is needed to protect shellfish consumers and to inform shellfish advisories and health protective policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan G Giffard
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Saige A Gitlin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Marta Rardin
- Environmental Health Program, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Concord, NH, USA
| | - Jonathan M Petali
- Environmental Health Program, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Concord, NH, USA
| | - Celia Y Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Megan E Romano
- Department of Epidemiology, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA.
- One Medical Center Drive, Hinman, Box 7927, Lebanon, NH, 03756, USA.
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18
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Minet L, Wang Z, Shalin A, Bruton TA, Blum A, Peaslee GF, Schwartz-Narbonne H, Venier M, Whitehead H, Wu Y, Diamond ML. Use and release of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in consumer food packaging in U.S. and Canada. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2022; 24:2032-2042. [PMID: 36218049 DOI: 10.1039/d2em00166g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Numerous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) occur in consumer food packaging due to intentional and unintentional addition, despite increasing concern about their health and environmental hazards. We present a substance flow analysis framework to assess the flows of PFASs contained in plant fiber-based and plastic food packaging to the waste stream and environment. Each year between 2018 and 2020, an estimated 9000 (range 1100-25 000) and 940 (range 120-2600) tonnes per year of polymeric PFASs were used in 2% of food packaging in the U.S. and Canada, respectively. At least 11 tonnes per year of non-polymeric PFASs also moved through the food packaging life cycle. Approximately 6100 (range 690-13 000) and 700 (range 70-1600) tonnes per year of these PFASs were landfilled or entered composting facilities in the U.S. and Canada, respectively, with the potential to contaminate the environment. The results suggest that minimal food packaging contains intentionally added PFASs which, nonetheless, has the potential to contaminate the entire waste stream. Further, this indicates that PFASs are not needed for most food packaging. These results serve as a benchmark to judge the effectiveness of future industry and government initiatives to limit PFAS use in food packaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Minet
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Victoria, Canada
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Canada.
| | - Zhanyun Wang
- Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Technology and Society Laboratory, Switzerland
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH-Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Anna Shalin
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Canada.
| | | | - Arlene Blum
- Green Science Policy Institute, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | | | | | - Marta Venier
- O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, USA
| | | | - Yan Wu
- O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, USA
| | - Miriam L Diamond
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Canada.
- School of the Environment, University of Toronto, Canada
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19
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Lämmer R, Weidemann E, Göckener B, Stahl T, Breuer J, Kowalczyk J, Just H, Boeddinghaus RS, Gassmann M, Kling HW, Bücking M. Evaluation of the Transformation and Leaching Behavior of Two Polyfluoroalkyl Phosphate Diesters in a Field Lysimeter Study. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022; 70:14329-14338. [PMID: 36323308 PMCID: PMC9673155 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c03334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In this study, 6:2 and 8:2 polyfluoroalkyl phosphate diester (diPAP) were individually investigated in lysimeters under near-natural conditions. Leachate was sampled for 2 years, as was the soil after the experiment. In the leachate of the diPAP-spiked soils, perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) of different chain lengths were detected [23.2% (6:2 diPAP variant) and 20.8% (8:2 diPAP variant) of the initially applied molar amount]. After 2 years, the soils still contained 36-37% 6:2 diPAP and 41-45% 8:2 diPAP, respectively, in addition to smaller amounts of PFCAs (1.5 and 10.6%, respectively). Amounts of PFCAs found in the grass were low (<0.1% in both variants). The recovery rate of both 6:2 diPAP and 8:2 diPAP did not reach 100% (63.9 and 83.2%, respectively). The transformation of immobile diPAPs into persistent mobile PFCAs and their transport into the groundwater shows a pathway for human exposure to hazardous PFCAs through drinking water and irrigation of crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- René Lämmer
- Department of Environmental and Food Analysis, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Auf dem Aberg 1, 57392 Schmallenberg, Germany
| | - Eva Weidemann
- Department of Hydrology and Substance Balance, University of Kassel, Kurt-Wolters-Straße 3, 34125 Kassel, Germany
| | - Bernd Göckener
- Department of Environmental and Food Analysis, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Auf dem Aberg 1, 57392 Schmallenberg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Stahl
- Chemical and Veterinary Analytical Institute Münsterland-Emscher-Lippe, Joseph-König-Straße 40, 48147 Münster, Germany
| | - Jörn Breuer
- Center for Agricultural Technology Augustenberg (LTZ), Neßlerstraße 25, 76227 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Janine Kowalczyk
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Hildegard Just
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Runa S Boeddinghaus
- Center for Agricultural Technology Augustenberg (LTZ), Neßlerstraße 25, 76227 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Matthias Gassmann
- Department of Hydrology and Substance Balance, University of Kassel, Kurt-Wolters-Straße 3, 34125 Kassel, Germany
| | - Hans-Willi Kling
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Wuppertal, Gaußstraße 20, 42119 Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Mark Bücking
- Department of Environmental and Food Analysis, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Auf dem Aberg 1, 57392 Schmallenberg, Germany
- School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
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20
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Londhe K, Lee CS, McDonough CA, Venkatesan AK. The Need for Testing Isomer Profiles of Perfluoroalkyl Substances to Evaluate Treatment Processes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:15207-15219. [PMID: 36314557 PMCID: PMC9670843 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c05518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Many environmentally relevant poly-/perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) exist in different isomeric (branched and linear) forms in the natural environment. The isomeric distribution of PFASs in the environment and source waters is largely controlled by the source of contamination and varying physicochemical properties imparted by their structural differences. For example, branched isomers of PFOS are relatively more reactive and less sorptive compared to the linear analogue. As a result, the removal of branched and linear PFASs during water treatment can vary, and thus the isomeric distribution in source waters can influence the overall efficiency of the treatment process. In this paper, we highlight the need to consider the isomeric distribution of PFASs in contaminated matrices while designing appropriate remediation strategies. We additionally summarize the known occurrence and variation in the physicochemical properties of PFAS isomers influencing their detection, fate, toxicokinetics, and treatment efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaushik Londhe
- Department
of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, United States
- New
York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony
Brook, New York 11794, United States
| | - Cheng-Shiuan Lee
- New
York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony
Brook, New York 11794, United States
- Research
Center for Environmental Changes, Academia
Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Carrie A. McDonough
- Department
of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Arjun K. Venkatesan
- Department
of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, United States
- New
York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony
Brook, New York 11794, United States
- School
of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony
Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, United States
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21
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Zhu W, Khan K, Roakes H, Maker E, Underwood KL, Zemba S, Badireddy AR. Vermont-wide assessment of anthropogenic background concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances in surface soils. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 438:129479. [PMID: 35803188 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Shallow surface soils from 66 suburban sampling locations across Vermont were analyzed for 17 different perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA). PFAA were detected in all 66 surface soils, with a total concentration of PFAA ranging from 540 to 36,000 ng/kg dry soil weight (dw). Despite the complexity of site-specific factors, some general trends and correlations in PFAA concentrations were observed. For instance, perfluoro-1-octanesulfonate (PFOS) dominated in all soil samples while seven other PFAA, including perfluoro-n-nonanoic acid, perfluoro-n-octanoic acid, perfluoro-n-hexanoic acid, perfluoro-n-heptanoic acid, perfluoro-n-decanoic acid, perfluoro-n-undecanoic acid, perfluoro-1-butanesulfonate, and perfluoro-1-hexanesulfonate (PFNA, PFOA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFDA, PFUnDA, and PFBS, respectively), were identified at more than 50 % of the locations. Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCA) showed a positive correlation with total organic carbon, whereas no clear correlation was observed for perfluoroalkyl sulfonate acids (PFSA). In addition, variations in geographical distributions of PFAA were observed, with relatively higher total PFAA in northern regions when compared to Southern Vermont. Moreover, PFHxA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA, PFOS, and total PFAA were positively correlated to land-use types in Northern Vermont. These results are useful for understanding unique behaviors of PFCA vs. PFSA in geospatially distributed surface soils and for providing anthropogenic background data for setting PFAS cleanup standards for surface soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyu Zhu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Kamruzzaman Khan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Harrison Roakes
- Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc., 187 Saint Paul Street suite 4-C, Burlington, VT 05401, USA
| | - Elliot Maker
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Kristen L Underwood
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Stephen Zemba
- Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc., 187 Saint Paul Street suite 4-C, Burlington, VT 05401, USA
| | - Appala Raju Badireddy
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
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22
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Mayakaduwage S, Ekanayake A, Kurwadkar S, Rajapaksha AU, Vithanage M. Phytoremediation prospects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances: A review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113311. [PMID: 35460639 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Extensive use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in various industrial activities and daily-life products has made them ubiquitous contaminants in soil and water. PFAS-contaminated soil acts as a long-term source of pollution to the adjacent surface water bodies, groundwater, soil microorganisms, and soil invertebrates. While several remediation strategies exist to eliminate PFASs from the soil, strong ionic interactions between charged groups on PFAS with soil constituents rendered these PFAS remediation technologies ineffective. Pilot and field-scale data from recent studies have shown a great potential of PFAS to bio-accumulate and distribute within plant compartments suggesting that phytoremediation could be a potential remediation technology to clean up PFAS contaminated soils. Even though several studies have been performed on the uptake and translocation of PFAS by different plant species, most of these studies are limited to agricultural crops and fruit species. In this review, the role of both aquatic and terrestrial plants in the phytoremediation of PFAS was discussed highlighting different mechanisms underlying the uptake of PFASs in the soil-plant and water-plant systems. This review further summarized a wide range of factors that influence the bioaccumulation and translocation of PFASs within plant compartments including both structural properties of PFASs and physiological properties of plant species. Even though phytoremediation appears to be a promising remediation technique, some limitations that reduced the feasibility of phytoremediation in the practical application have been emphasized in previous studies. Additional research directions are suggested, including advanced genetic engineering techniques and endophyte-assisted phytoremediation to upgrade the phytoremediation potential of plants for the successful removal of PFASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Mayakaduwage
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
| | - Anusha Ekanayake
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka.
| | - Sudarshan Kurwadkar
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, California State University, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA, 92831, USA
| | - Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka; Instrument Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka
| | - Meththika Vithanage
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka.
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23
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Ganesan S, Chawengkijwanich C, Gopalakrishnan M, Janjaroen D. Detection methods for sub-nanogram level of emerging pollutants - Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Food Chem Toxicol 2022; 168:113377. [PMID: 35995078 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2022.113377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are organofluorine compounds has been manufactured for more than five decades and used in different purposes. Among persistent organic pollutants, PFAS are toxic, bioaccumulative in humans, wildlife, and global environment. As per environmental protection agency (EPA) guidelines, the perfluorooctanoate and perfluorooctane sulfonate permissible limit was 0.07 ng/L in drinking water. When the concentration exceeds the acceptable limit, it has negative consequences for humans. In such a case, PFAS monitoring is critical, and a quick detection technique are highly needed. Health departments and regulatory agencies have interests in monitoring of PFAS presences and exposures. For the detection of PFAS, numerous highly precise and sensitive chromatographic methods are available. However, the drawbacks of analytical techniques include timely sample preparations and the lack of on-site applicability. As a result, there is an increasing demand for simple sensor systems for monitoring of PFAS in real field samples. In this review, we first describe the sample pre-treatment and analytical techniques for the detection of PFAS. Second, we broadly discussed available sensor system for the quantification of PFAS in different filed samples. Finally, future trends in PFASs sensor are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunantha Ganesan
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
| | - Chamorn Chawengkijwanich
- Research Network of NANOTEC - CU on Environment, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; National Nanotechnology Center, National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 12120, Pathumthani, Thailand.
| | - Mohan Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Dao Janjaroen
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; National Nanotechnology Center, National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 12120, Pathumthani, Thailand.
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24
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Neuwald IJ, Hübner D, Wiegand HL, Valkov V, Borchers U, Nödler K, Scheurer M, Hale SE, Arp HPH, Zahn D. Ultra-Short-Chain PFASs in the Sources of German Drinking Water: Prevalent, Overlooked, Difficult to Remove, and Unregulated. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:6380-6390. [PMID: 35507024 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c07949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been a focal point of environmental chemistry and chemical regulation in recent years, culminating in a shift from individual PFAS regulation toward a PFAS group regulatory approach in Europe. PFASs are a highly diverse group of substances, and knowledge about this group is still scarce beyond the well-studied, legacy long-chain, and short-chain perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs) and perfluorosulfonates (PFSAs). Herein, quantitative and semiquantitative data for 43 legacy short-chain and ultra-short-chain PFASs (≤2 perfluorocarbon atoms for PFCAs, ≤3 for PFSAs and other PFASs) in 46 water samples collected from 13 different sources of German drinking water are presented. The PFASs considered include novel compounds like hexafluoroisopropanol, bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, and tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate. The ultra-short-chain PFASs trifluoroacetate, perfluoropropanoate, and trifluoromethanesulfonate were ubiquitous and present at the highest concentrations (98% of sum target PFAS concentrations). "PFAS total" parameters like the adsorbable organic fluorine (AOF) and total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay were found to provide only an incomplete picture of PFAS contamination in these water samples by not capturing these highly prevalent ultra-short-chain PFASs. These ultra-short-chain PFASs represent a major challenge for drinking water production and show that regulation in the form of preventive measures is required to manage them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle J Neuwald
- Hochschule Fresenius gemGmbH, Limburger Straße 2, Idstein 65510, Germany
| | - Daniel Hübner
- Hochschule Fresenius gemGmbH, Limburger Straße 2, Idstein 65510, Germany
| | - Hanna L Wiegand
- IWW Zentrum Wasser, Moritzstraße 26, Mülheim an der Ruhr 45476, Germany
| | - Vassil Valkov
- IWW Zentrum Wasser, Moritzstraße 26, Mülheim an der Ruhr 45476, Germany
| | - Ulrich Borchers
- IWW Zentrum Wasser, Moritzstraße 26, Mülheim an der Ruhr 45476, Germany
| | - Karsten Nödler
- TZW: DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser, Karlsruher Straße 84, Karlsruhe 76139, Germany
| | - Marco Scheurer
- TZW: DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser, Karlsruher Straße 84, Karlsruhe 76139, Germany
| | - Sarah E Hale
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Postboks 3930 Ulleval Stadion, Oslo 0806, Norway
| | - Hans Peter H Arp
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Postboks 3930 Ulleval Stadion, Oslo 0806, Norway
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway
| | - Daniel Zahn
- Hochschule Fresenius gemGmbH, Limburger Straße 2, Idstein 65510, Germany
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25
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van der Veen I, Schellenberger S, Hanning AC, Stare A, de Boer J, Weiss JM, Leonards PEG. Fate of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Durable Water-Repellent Clothing during Use. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:5886-5897. [PMID: 35404577 PMCID: PMC9069696 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c07876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
To make outdoor clothing water- or dirt-repellent, durable water-repellent (DWR) coatings based on side-chain fluorinated polymers (SFPs) are used. During use of outdoor clothing, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) can be emitted from the DWR to the environment. In this study, the effects of aging, washing, and tumble drying on the concentration of extractable PFASs in the DWR of perfluorohexane-based short-chain SFPs (FC-6 chemistry) and of perfluorooctane-based long-chain SFPs (FC-8 chemistry) were assessed. For this purpose, polyamide (PA) and polyester (PES) fabrics were coated with FC-6- and FC-8-based DWRs. Results show that aging of the coated fabrics causes an increase in concentration and formation of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs). The effect of aging on the volatile PFASs depends on the type of fabric. Washing causes a decrease in PFAA concentrations, and in general, volatile PFASs are partly washed out of the textiles. However, washing can also increase the extractable concentration of volatile PFASs in the fabrics. This effect becomes stronger by a combination of aging and washing. Tumble drying does not affect the PFAS concentrations in textiles. In conclusion, aging and washing of fabrics coated with the DWR based on SFPs release PFASs to the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ike van der Veen
- Department
Environment and Health (E&H), Vrije
Universiteit, De Boelelaan
1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Steffen Schellenberger
- Department
Environmental Science (ACES), Stockholm
University, Svante Arrhenius väg 8, SE-11418 Stockholm, Sweden
- RISE,
Research Institutes of Sweden, Brinellvägen 68, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Ann Stare
- RISE
IVF AB, Argongatan 30, SE-431 53 Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Jacob de Boer
- Department
Environment and Health (E&H), Vrije
Universiteit, De Boelelaan
1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jana M. Weiss
- Department
Environmental Science (ACES), Stockholm
University, Svante Arrhenius väg 8, SE-11418 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pim E. G. Leonards
- Department
Environment and Health (E&H), Vrije
Universiteit, De Boelelaan
1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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26
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Kirkwood KI, Fleming J, Nguyen H, Reif DM, Baker ES, Belcher SM. Utilizing Pine Needles to Temporally and Spatially Profile Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:3441-3451. [PMID: 35175744 PMCID: PMC9199521 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c06483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
As concerns over exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are continually increasing, novel methods to monitor their presence and modifications are greatly needed, as some have known toxic and bioaccumulative characteristics while most have unknown effects. This task however is not simple, as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) CompTox PFAS list contains more than 9000 substances as of September 2020 with additional substances added continually. Nontargeted analyses are therefore crucial to investigating the presence of this immense list of possible PFAS. Here, we utilized archived and field-sampled pine needles as widely available passive samplers and a novel nontargeted, multidimensional analytical method coupling liquid chromatography, ion mobility spectrometry, and mass spectrometry (LC-IMS-MS) to evaluate the temporal and spatial presence of numerous PFAS. Over 70 PFAS were detected in the pine needles from this study, including both traditionally monitored legacy perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and their emerging replacements such as chlorinated derivatives, ultrashort chain PFAAs, perfluoroalkyl ether acids including hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, "GenX") and Nafion byproduct 2, and a cyclic perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) analog. Results from this study provide critical insight related to PFAS transport, contamination, and reduction efforts over the past six decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaylie I Kirkwood
- North Carolina State University, Department of Chemistry, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Jonathon Fleming
- North Carolina State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Helen Nguyen
- North Carolina State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - David M Reif
- North Carolina State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Erin S Baker
- North Carolina State University, Department of Chemistry, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Scott M Belcher
- North Carolina State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
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27
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Liu S, Jin B, Arp HPH, Chen W, Liu Y, Zhang G. The Fate and Transport of Chlorinated Polyfluorinated Ether Sulfonates and Other PFAS through Industrial Wastewater Treatment Facilities in China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:3002-3010. [PMID: 35133129 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater from certain industrial processes can be primary emission sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and fluorinated alternatives like chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonates (Cl-PFESA). Two such industrial processes are electroplating and textile printing and dyeing (PD). This study focused on the fate of Cl-PFESA in wastewater from these two industrial processes, in comparison to other PFAS, as they went through different wastewater treatment plants located in southeast China. The total target PFAS concentrations were 520 ± 30 and 4200 ± 270 ng/L at the effluents of the PD WWTP and electroplating WWTP, respectively. Specifically, 6:2 Cl-PFESA (18%) and 8:2 Cl-PFESA (0.7%) were abundant in electroplating-wastewater. Cl-PFESA were also detected in PD wastewater but at trace concentrations and were likely present due to diffuse emissions. The dissolved-phase Cl-PFESA and PFAS mass flows through the WWTPs were fairly constant throughout both facilities. The majority of Cl-PFESA was captured by sludge sedimentation. However, there were individual treatment processes that could cause the wastewater concentrations to fluctuate, and also could lead to relative enrichment of specific Cl-PFESAs as indicated by the 6:2/8:2 Cl-PFESA ratios. Cl-PFESA and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids were more influenced by the investigated treatment processes than perfluorocarboxylic acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou 510640, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 10069, China
| | - Biao Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou 510640, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 10069, China
| | - Hans Peter H Arp
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box 3930 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo N-0806, Norway
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Wenwen Chen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Yi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou 510640, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 10069, China
| | - Gan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou 510640, China
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28
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Langberg HA, Hale SE, Breedveld GD, Jenssen BM, Jartun M. A review of PFAS fingerprints in fish from Norwegian freshwater bodies subject to different source inputs. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2022; 24:330-342. [PMID: 35079763 DOI: 10.1039/d1em00408e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The extensive use of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) has resulted in many environmental point and diffuse sources. Identifying the source responsible for a pollution hot spot is vital for assessing remediation measures, however, as there are many possible sources of environmental PFAS pollution, this can be challenging. Chemical fingerprinting has been proposed as an approach to identify contamination sources. Here, concentrations and profiles (relative distribution profiles) of routinely targeted PFAS in freshwater fish from eight sites in Norway, representing three different sources: (1) production of paper products, (2) the use of aqueous film forming foams (AFFF), and (3) long-range atmospheric transport, were investigated. The data were retrieved from published studies. Results showed that fingerprinting of PFAS in fish can be used to identify the dominant exposure source(s), and the profiles associated with the different sources were described in detail. Based on the results, the liver was concluded to be better suited for source tracking compared to muscle. PFAS fingerprints originating from AFFF were dominated by perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and other perfluoroalkanesulfonic acids (PFSA). Fingerprints originating from both long-range atmospheric transport and production of paper products were associated with high percentages of long chained perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCA). However, there were differences between the two latter sources with respect to the ∑PFAS concentrations and ratios of specific PFCA pairs (PFUnDA/PFDA and PFTrDA/PFDoDA). Low ∑PFAS concentrations were detected in fish exposed mainly to PFAS via long-range atmospheric transport. In contrast, ∑PFAS concentrations were high and high percentages of PFOS were detected in fish exposed to pollution from production of paper products. The source-specific fingerprints described here can be used for source tracking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Håkon A Langberg
- Environment and Geotechnics, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), Oslo, Norway.
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Sarah E Hale
- Environment and Geotechnics, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), Oslo, Norway.
| | - Gijs D Breedveld
- Environment and Geotechnics, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), Oslo, Norway.
- Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Arctic Technology, The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Norway
| | - Bjørn M Jenssen
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Morten Jartun
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, Norway
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29
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Dasu K, Xia X, Siriwardena D, Klupinski TP, Seay B. Concentration profiles of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in major sources to the environment. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 301:113879. [PMID: 34619593 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
A review of published literature was conducted to present the concentrations and composition profiles of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from significant sources to the environment. The major sources of PFAS to the environment are categorized under direct and indirect sources. The characteristic compounds and concentrations are summarized as found from direct sources such as manufacturing facilities, aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) applications, metal coating operations, and textile and paper coating operations; and from indirect sources such as landfills and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The major findings are: 1) among the aqueous matrices for which data were reviewed, groundwater impacted by AFFF contamination showed the highest median concentrations for both perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), while the second-highest median concentrations were associated with landfill leachates for PFOA and metal-plating sources for PFOS; 2) many of the unknown polyfluorinated precursors present in AFFF-impacted sites could potentially convert to persistent PFAS by abiotic or biotic transformation, and therefore could act as the long-term source of contamination to the environment; 3) part per billion (ppb) concentrations of PFAS were detected in water bodies surrounding fluorochemical manufacturing plants; 4) in consumer products such as textile, paper, and personal care products, PFOA concentrations were an order of magnitude higher compared to other PFAS; 5) biotransformation products such as fluorotelomer carboxylic acids (FTCAs) and perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are detected in landfill leachates and WWTP effluents; and 6) many studies have shown increased PFAA concentrations in WWTP effluents compared to influents. This work provides a comprehensive review of the literature on the PFAS concentration and composition trends of select non-polymeric PFAS in different sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavitha Dasu
- Battelle Memorial Institute, 505 King Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43201, USA.
| | - Xiaoyan Xia
- Battelle Memorial Institute, 505 King Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43201, USA
| | | | | | - Brannon Seay
- Battelle Memorial Institute, 505 King Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43201, USA
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Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems: Environmental Exposure and Human Health Risks. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182312550. [PMID: 34886275 PMCID: PMC8657007 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly persistent synthetic organic contaminants that can cause serious human health concerns such as obesity, liver damage, kidney cancer, hypertension, immunotoxicity and other human health issues. Integrated crop–livestock systems combine agricultural crop production with milk and/or meat production and processing. Key sources of PFAS in these systems include firefighting foams near military bases, wastewater sludge and industrial discharge. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances regularly move from soils to nearby surface water and/or groundwater because of their high mobility and persistence. Irrigating crops or managing livestock for milk and meat production using adjacent waters can be detrimental to human health. The presence of PFAS in both groundwater and milk have been reported in dairy production states (e.g., Wisconsin and New Mexico) across the United States. Although there is a limit of 70 parts per trillion of PFAS in drinking water by the U.S. EPA, there are not yet regional screening guidelines for conducting risk assessments of livestock watering as well as the soil and plant matrix. This systematic review includes (i) the sources, impacts and challenges of PFAS in integrated crop–livestock systems, (ii) safety measures and protocols for sampling soil, water and plants for determining PFAS concentration in exposed integrated crop–livestock systems and (iii) the assessment, measurement and evaluation of human health risks related to PFAS exposure.
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A review of emerging PFAS contaminants: sources, fate, health risks, and a comprehensive assortment of recent sorbents for PFAS treatment by evaluating their mechanism. RESEARCH ON CHEMICAL INTERMEDIATES 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11164-021-04603-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Ng C, Cousins IT, DeWitt JC, Glüge J, Goldenman G, Herzke D, Lohmann R, Miller M, Patton S, Scheringer M, Trier X, Wang Z. Addressing Urgent Questions for PFAS in the 21st Century. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:12755-12765. [PMID: 34519210 PMCID: PMC8590733 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite decades of research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), fundamental obstacles remain to addressing worldwide contamination by these chemicals and their associated impacts on environmental quality and health. Here, we propose six urgent questions relevant to science, technology, and policy that must be tackled to address the "PFAS problem": (1) What are the global production volumes of PFAS, and where are PFAS used? (2) Where are the unknown PFAS hotspots in the environment? (3) How can we make measuring PFAS globally accessible? (4) How can we safely manage PFAS-containing waste? (5) How do we understand and describe the health effects of PFAS exposure? (6) Who pays the costs of PFAS contamination? The importance of each question and barriers to progress are briefly described, and several potential paths forward are proposed. Given the diversity of PFAS and their uses, the extreme persistence of most PFAS, the striking ongoing lack of fundamental information, and the inequity of the health and environmental impacts from PFAS contamination, there is a need for scientific and regulatory communities to work together, with cooperation from PFAS-related industries, to fill in critical data gaps and protect human health and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Ng
- Departments of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Environmental & Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA
| | - Ian T. Cousins
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jamie C. DeWitt
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834 USA
| | - Juliane Glüge
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Dorte Herzke
- Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), Fram Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway, and Institute for Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, N-9037 TromsH, Norway
| | - Rainer Lohmann
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA
| | - Mark Miller
- National Institute of Environmental Health Science and U.S. Public Health Service, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Sharyle Patton
- Health and Environment Program, Commonweal, Bolinas, California 94924, United States
| | - Martin Scheringer
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
- RECETOX, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Xenia Trier
- European Environment Agency, Kgs Nytorv 6, DK - 1050 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Zhanyun Wang
- Chair of Ecological Systems Design, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
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Ahmadireskety A, Da Silva BF, Awkerman JA, Aufmuth J, Yost RA, Bowden JA. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in sediments collected from the Pensacola Bay System watershed. ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANCES 2021; 5:1-8. [PMID: 38268644 PMCID: PMC10807301 DOI: 10.1016/j.envadv.2021.100088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Sediment samples from 25 locations in the Pensacola Bay System (PBS) watershed were analyzed for the presence of 51 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) and selected reaction monitoring. Results revealed quantifiable concentrations of PFAS in all sampling locations. More specifically, perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) was present in every sediment sample with a minimum and maximum concentration of 0.04 to 0.48 ng g-1 dry weight, respectively, across the 25 sites with an average of 0.1 ± 0.09 ng g-1. While PFOS, with an average of 0.11 ± 0.14 ng g-1 (range:
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bianca F. Da Silva
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Jill A. Awkerman
- Gulf Ecosystem Measurement & Modeling Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Breeze, Florida, USA
| | - Joe Aufmuth
- George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Richard A. Yost
- Chemistry Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - John A. Bowden
- Chemistry Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Kibbey TCG, Jabrzemski R, O'Carroll DM. Source allocation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) with supervised machine learning: Classification performance and the role of feature selection in an expanded dataset. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 275:130124. [PMID: 33984906 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This work explores the use of supervised machine learning as a tool for identifying the source of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in water samples on the basis of the detected component concentrations. Specifically, the work focuses on distinguishing between PFAS used in aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) fire suppression applications, and PFAS from other sources. The fact that many sites contaminated with legacy PFOS-based AFFF formulations are dominated by perfluorinated sulfonates can make it tempting to naïvely classify samples dominated by perfluorinated sulfonates as being of AFFF origin. However, a large fraction of samples do not follow this pattern, including some of the most important cases, such as legacy PFOS-based AFFF far from its source. Although PFAS composition can vary substantially at a site as a result of mobility differences between components and other factors, the hypothesis driving the work is that compositional patterns created in the environment can be recognized across different sites by machine learning, and used for source allocation. This work builds on earlier preliminary work by the authors based on a small dataset. This work is based on a much larger 8040-sample dataset, and explores different preprocessing approaches, as well as how feature selection impacts classification performance. The results of this work strongly support the idea that supervised machine learning based on composition can identify patterns that can be used to distinguish PFAS sources. The results provide new insights into selection of classifiers and features for source identification based on PFAS sample composition.
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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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Ramírez Carnero A, Lestido-Cardama A, Vazquez Loureiro P, Barbosa-Pereira L, Rodríguez Bernaldo de Quirós A, Sendón R. Presence of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Food Contact Materials (FCM) and Its Migration to Food. Foods 2021; 10:foods10071443. [PMID: 34206351 PMCID: PMC8306913 DOI: 10.3390/foods10071443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemical compounds widely used in different industry fields including food contact materials (FCM), providing resistance to fat and humidity, and non-stick properties. PFAS enter into the food chain directly from the intake of contaminated food or indirectly from the migration of the FCM into the food. This exposure published in different research highlights a public health concern. Therefore, it is necessary to perform analysis of the content of different FCM and evaluate the migration from the FCM under normal conditions of use and storage. This bibliographical review proves that different perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl compounds are detected in fast food packaging, microwave popcorn bags, and frying pans, among others. Furthermore, it shows the conditions or factors that favor the migration of the PFAS from the FCM into the food.
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Ali AM, Langberg HA, Hale SE, Kallenborn R, Hartz WF, Mortensen ÅK, Ciesielski TM, McDonough CA, Jenssen BM, Breedveld GD. The fate of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances in a marine food web influenced by land-based sources in the Norwegian Arctic. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2021; 23:588-604. [PMID: 33704290 DOI: 10.1039/d0em00510j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Although poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in the Arctic, their sources and fate in Arctic marine environments remain unclear. Herein, abiotic media (water, snow, and sediment) and biotic media (plankton, benthic organisms, fish, crab, and glaucous gull) were sampled to study PFAS uptake and fate in the marine food web of an Arctic Fjord in the vicinity of Longyearbyen (Svalbard, Norwegian Arctic). Samples were collected from locations impacted by a firefighting training site (FFTS) and a landfill as well as from a reference site. Mean concentration in the landfill leachate was 643 ± 84 ng L-1, while it was 365 ± 8.0 ng L-1 in a freshwater pond and 57 ± 4.0 ng L-1 in a creek in the vicinity of the FFTS. These levels were an order of magnitude higher than in coastal seawater of the nearby fjord (maximum level , at the FFTS impacted site). PFOS was the most predominant compound in all seawater samples and in freshly fallen snow (63-93% of ). In freshwater samples from the Longyear river and the reference site, PFCA ≤ C9 were the predominant PFAS (37-59%), indicating that both local point sources and diffuse sources contributed to the exposure of the marine food web in the fjord. concentrations increased from zooplankton (1.1 ± 0.32 μg kg-1 ww) to polychaete (2.8 ± 0.80 μg kg-1 ww), crab (2.9 ± 0.70 μg kg-1 ww whole-body), fish liver (5.4 ± 0.87 μg kg-1 ww), and gull liver (62.2 ± 11.2 μg kg-1). PFAS profiles changed with increasing trophic level from a large contribution of 6:2 FTS, FOSA and long-chained PFCA in zooplankton and polychaetes to being dominated by linear PFOS in fish and gull liver. The PFOS isomer profile (branched versus linear) in the active FFTS and landfill was similar to historical ECF PFOS. A similar isomer profile was observed in seawater, indicating major contribution from local sources. However, a PFOS isomer profile enriched by the linear isomer was observed in other media (sediment and biota). Substitutes for PFOS, namely 6:2 FTS and PFBS, showed bioaccumulation potential in marine invertebrates. However, these compounds were not found in organisms at higher trophic levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aasim M Ali
- Department of Contaminants and Biohazards, Institute of Marine Research, Bergen NO-5817, Norway.
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