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Liu T, Hu LX, Han Y, Xiao S, Dong LL, Yang YY, Liu YS, Zhao JL, Ying GG. Non-target discovery and risk prediction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and transformation products in wastewater treatment systems. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 476:135081. [PMID: 38964036 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) serve as the main destination of many wastes containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Here, we investigated the occurrence and transformation of PFAS and their transformation products (TPs) in wastewater treatment systems using high-resolution mass spectrometry-based target, suspect, and non-target screening approaches. The results revealed the presence of 896 PFAS and TPs in aqueous and sludge phases, of which 687 were assigned confidence levels 1-3 (46 PFAS and 641 TPs). Cyp450 metabolism and environmental microbial degradation were found to be the primary metabolic transformation pathways for PFAS within WWTPs. An estimated 52.3 %, 89.5 %, and 13.6 % of TPs were believed to exhibit persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity effects, respectively, with a substantial number of TPs posing potential health risks. Notably, the length of the fluorinated carbon chain in PFAS and TPs was likely associated with increased hazard, primarily due to the influence of biodegradability. Ultimately, two high riskcompounds were identified in the effluent, including one PFAS (Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid) and one enzymatically metabolized TP (23-(Perfluorobutyl)tricosanoic acid@BTM0024_cyp450). It is noteworthy that the toxicity of some TPs exceeded that of their parent compounds. The results from this study underscores the importance of PFAS TPs and associated environmental risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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, University Town, 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, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Yu Han
- 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, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Sheng Xiao
- 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, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Liang-Li Dong
- 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, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan 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, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - You-Sheng 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, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jian-Liang Zhao
- 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, University Town, 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, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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Lee J, Kim YS, Ju K, Jeong JW, Jeong S. The significant impact of MPs in the industrial/municipal effluents on the MPs abundance in the Nakdong River, South Korea. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 363:142871. [PMID: 39019177 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Owing to extensive plastic consumption, wastewater from households, business establishments, and industrial activities have been recognised as a significant contributor to microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments. This case study represents the first investigation of MPs in the Nakdong River, Republic of Korea, that traverses through the largest industrial complex midstream and densely populated cities of Daegu and Busan downstream before flowing into the sea. Monitoring of MP abundance in effluents discharged from three municipal, two industrial, and one livestock wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) into the Nakdong River was conducted over four seasons from August 2022 to April 2023. Identification and quantification of MPs were performed using micro-Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. Seasonal variation in MPs in the Nakdong River was found to be strongly influenced by the nearest upstream WWTPs and rivers, exhibiting a linear relationship that decreased gradually with increasing distance from the WWTPs. The average concentrations of MPs in the six effluent sources ranged from 101 ± 13 to 490 ± 240 particles/L during the yearly monitoring period, while MP concentrations in the river ranged between 79 ± 25 and 120 ± 43 particles/L. Industrial effluents contained higher amounts of discharged MPs (314 ± 78 particles/L) than municipal sources (201 ± 61 particles/L). Notably, two municipal WWTPs, located in the highly densely populated city, discharged the highest total MP amounts per day and released the greatest volumes of effluents. This study provides valuable insights into the monitoring and impact of effluents on MPs in rivers, which could inform MP treatment and management strategies for in river and marine environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieun Lee
- Institute for Environment and Energy, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, South Korea
| | - Yong-Soon Kim
- Water Quality Research Institute, Busan Water Authority, Busan, 47210, South Korea.
| | - KwangYong Ju
- Water Quality Research Institute, Busan Water Authority, Busan, 47210, South Korea
| | - Jae-Won Jeong
- Water Quality Research Institute, Busan Water Authority, Busan, 47210, South Korea
| | - Sanghyun Jeong
- Institute for Environment and Energy, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, South Korea; Department of Environmental Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, South Korea.
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Qiao B, Chen H, Song D, Yu H, Baqar M, Li X, Zhao L, Yao Y, Sun H. Multimedia distribution and release characteristics of emerging PFAS in wastewater treatment plants in Tianjin, China. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 475:134879. [PMID: 38876021 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Legacy and emerging PFAS in the air, wastewater, and sludge from two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Tianjin were investigated in this study. The semi-quantified nontarget PFAS accounted for up to 99 % of ƩPFAS in the gas phase, and aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF)-related PFAS were predominant in wastewater (up to 2250 ng/L, 79 % of ƩPFAS) and sludge (up to 4690 ng/g, 95 % of ƩPFAS). Furthermore, field-derived air particle-gas, air-wastewater, and wastewater particle-wastewater distribution coefficients of emerging PFAS are characterized, which have rarely been reported. The emerging substitute p-perfluorous nonenoxybenzenesulfonate (OBS) and AFFF-related cationic and zwitterionic PFAS show a stronger tendency to partition into particle phase in air and wastewater than perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). The estimated total PFAS emissions from the effluent and sludge of WWTP A were 202 kg/y and 351 kg/y, respectively. While the target PFAS only accounted for 20-33 % of the total emissions, suggesting a significant underestimation of environmental releases of the nontarget PFAS and unknown perfluoroalkyl acid precursors through the wastewater and sludge disposal. Overall, this study highlights the importance of comprehensive monitoring and understanding the behavior of legacy and emerging PFAS in wastewater systems, and fills a critical gap in our understanding of PFAS exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biting Qiao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Hao Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
| | - Dongbao Song
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Hao Yu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Mujtaba Baqar
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xiao Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Leicheng Zhao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yiming Yao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Hongwen Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
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Xiao S, Liu T, Hu LX, Yang B, Ying GG. Non-target and target screening and risk assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in textile wastewater and receiving river. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 927:171876. [PMID: 38531445 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Textile industry uses varieties of chemicals including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are known to be persistent and incompletely removed in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). So far, little is known about what types of PFAS are used in the textile industry and their potential risks. Here we investigated PFAS in two WWTPs and a receiving river of a textile industrial park in Guangxi, China, by using both target and non-target analyses over a two-year period. The target analysis identified 11 specific PFAS, while the non-target analysis revealed a list of 648 different PFAS, including both legacy and emerging substances. Notably, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was still the most prevalent compound detected. Of particular concern was the finding that the investigated WWTPs, which employs an A/O (Anaerobic/Aerobic) process, exhibited a poor removal efficiency for PFAS. The average removal rate was only 22.0 %, indicating that the current treatment processes are inadequate in effectively mitigating PFAS contamination. Correlation analysis further highlighted the potential for PFAS to be transported from WWTPs to the receiving river, revealing a significant and strong positive correlation between the PFAS in the WWTP effluent and those of the river. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and two emerging PFAS (DTXSID30240816 and DTXSID90240817) were identified to have high ecological risks in the receiving river. Notably, these two emerging PFAS are homologues, and their presence in WWTPs has been poorly reported. The findings highlight the wide use and persistence of PFAS in current textile WWTPs, indicating potential long term risks to the receiving environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Xiao
- 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, University Town, 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, University Town, 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, University Town, 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, University Town, 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, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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5
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Feng S, Lu X, Ouyang K, Su G, Li Q, Shi B, Meng J. Environmental occurrence, bioaccumulation and human risks of emerging fluoroalkylether substances: Insight into security of alternatives. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171151. [PMID: 38395160 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171151] [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: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widely used due to their unique structure and excellent performance, while also posing threats on ecosystem, especially long-chain perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). As the control of conventional PFASs, fluoroalkylether substances (ether-PFASs) as alternatives are constantly emerging. Subsequently, the three representative ether-PFASs, chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonic acid (F-53B), hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (HFPO-DA), and 4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoicacid (ADONA) are discovered and have received more attention in the environment and ecosystem. But their security is now also being challenged. This review systematically assesses their security from six dimensions including environmental occurrence in water, soil and atmosphere, as well as bioaccumulation and risk in plants, animals and humans. High substitution level is observed for F-53B, whether in environment or living things. Like PFOS or even more extreme, F-53B exhibits high biomagnification ability, transmission efficiency from maternal to infant, and various biological toxicity effects. HFPO-DA still has a relatively low substitution level for PFOA, but its use has emerged in Europe. Although it is less detected in human bodies and has a higher metabolic rate than PFOA, the strong migration ability of HFPO-DA in plants may pose dietary safety concerns for humans. Research on ADONA is limited, and currently, it is detected in Germany frequently while remaining at trace levels globally. Evidently, F-53B has shown increasing risk both in occurrence and toxicity compared to PFOS, and HFPO-DA is relatively safe based on available data. There are still knowledge gaps on security of alternatives that need to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siting Feng
- School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects Research, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Xiaofei Lu
- School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China
| | - Kaige Ouyang
- School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects Research, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Guijin Su
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects Research, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qianqian Li
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects Research, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bin Shi
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects Research, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jing Meng
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects Research, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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Feng C, Lin Y, Le S, Ji J, Chen Y, Wang G, Xiao P, Zhao Y, Lu D. Suspect, Nontarget Screening, and Toxicity Prediction of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Landfill Leachate. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:4737-4750. [PMID: 38408453 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c07533] [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: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Landfills are the final stage of urban wastes containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). PFASs in the landfill leachate may contaminate the surrounding groundwater. As major environmental pollutants, emerging PFASs have raised global concern. Besides the widely reported legacy PFASs, the distribution and potential toxic effects of numerous emerging PFASs remain unclear, and unknown PFASs still need discovery and characterization. This study proposed a comprehensive method for PFAS screening in leachate samples using suspect and nontarget analysis. A total of 48 PFASs from 10 classes were identified; nine novel PFASs including eight chloroperfluoropolyether carboxylates (Cl-PFPECAs) and bistriflimide (HNTf2) were reported for the first time in the leachate, where Cl-PFPECA-3,1 and Cl-PFPECA-2,2 were first reported in environmental media. Optimized molecular docking models were established for prioritizing the PFASs with potential activity against peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and estrogen receptor α. Our results indicated that several emerging PFASs of N-methyl perfluoroalkyl sulfonamido acetic acids (N-MeFASAAs), n:3 fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (n:3 FTCA), and n:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (n:2 FTSA) have potential health risks that cannot be ignored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Feng
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200336, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Yuanjie Lin
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200336, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Sunyang Le
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200336, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Jieyun Ji
- Shanghai Changning Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200051, China
| | - Yuhang Chen
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200336, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Guoquan Wang
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200336, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Ping Xiao
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200336, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Yunfeng Zhao
- China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing 100021, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Dasheng Lu
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200336, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, Shanghai 200336, China
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7
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Fang B, Zhang Y, Chen H, Qiao B, Yu H, Zhao M, Gao M, Li X, Yao Y, Zhu L, Sun H. Stability and Biotransformation of 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid, Sulfonamide Amine Oxide, and Sulfonamide Alkylbetaine in Aerobic Sludge. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:2446-2457. [PMID: 38178542 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05506] [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: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
The 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide (6:2 FTSAm)-based compounds signify a prominent group of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) widely used in contemporary aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) formulations. Despite their widespread presence, the biotransformation behavior of these compounds in wastewater treatment plants remains uncertain. This study investigated the biotransformation of 6:2 FTSAm-based amine oxide (6:2 FTNO), alkylbetaine (6:2 FTAB), and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTSA) in aerobic sludge over a 100-day incubation period. The biotransformation of 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide alkylamine (6:2 FTAA), a primary intermediate product of 6:2 FTNO, was indirectly assessed. Their stability was ranked based on the estimated half-lives (t1/2): 6:2 FTAB (no obvious products were detected) ≫ 6:2 FTSA (t1/2 ≈28.8 days) > 6:2 FTAA (t1/2 ≈11.5 days) > 6:2 FTNO (t1/2 ≈1.2 days). Seven transformation products of 6:2 FTSA and 15 products of 6:2 FTNO were identified through nontarget and suspect screening using high-resolution mass spectrometry. The transformation pathways of 6:2 FTNO and 6:2 FTSA in aerobic sludge were proposed. Interestingly, 6:2 FTSAm was hardly hydrolyzed to 6:2 FTSA and further biotransformed to perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs). Furthermore, the novel pathways for the generation of perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) from 6:2 FTSA were revealed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Fang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yaozhi Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Hao Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Biting Qiao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Hao Yu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Maosen Zhao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Meng Gao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yiming Yao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Lingyan Zhu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Hongwen Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
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Chen YJ, Wang RD, Shih YL, Chin HY, Lin AYC. Emerging Perfluorobutane Sulfonamido Derivatives as a New Trend of Surfactants Used in the Semiconductor Industry. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:1648-1658. [PMID: 38175212 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04435] [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: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The semiconductor industry has claimed that perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), a persistent per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), has been eliminated from semiconductor production; however, information about the use of alternative compounds remains limited. This study aimed to develop a nontarget approach to discovering diverse PFAS substitutions used in semiconductor manufacturing. A distinct fragment-based approach has been established to identify the hydrophobic and hydrophilic features of acidic and neutral fluorosurfactants through fragments and neutral losses, including those outside the homologous series. Ten sewage samples from 5 semiconductor plants were analyzed with target and nontarget analysis. Among the 20 identified PFAS spanning 12 subclasses, 15 were reported in semiconductor sewage for the first time. The dominant identified PFAS compounds were C4 sulfonamido derivatives, including perfluorobutane sulfonamido ethanol (FBSE), perfluorobutane sulfonamide (FBSA), and perfluorobutane sulfonamido diethanol (FBSEE diol), with maximum concentrations of 482 μg/L, 141 μg/L, and 83.5 μg/L in sewage, respectively. Subsequently, three ultrashort chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) were identified in all samples, ranging from 0.004 to 19.9 μg/L. Three effluent samples from the associated industrial wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were further analyzed. This finding, that the C4 sulfonamido acetic acid series constitutes a significant portion (65%-82%) of effluents from WWTP3 and WWTP4, emphasizes the conversion of fluorinated alcohols to fluorinated acids during aerobic treatment. The identification of the intermediate metabolites of FBSEE diol, further supported by our laboratory batch studies, prompts the proposal of a novel metabolic pathway for FBSEE diol. The total amount of perfluorobutane sulfonamido derivatives reached 1934 μg/L (90%), while that of PFAAs, which have typically received attention, was only 205 μg/L (10%). This suggests that perfluorobutane sulfonamido derivatives are emerging as a new trend in fluorosurfactants used in the semiconductor industry, serving as PFAS precursors and contributing to the release of their metabolites into the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ju Chen
- National Environmental Research Academy, Ministry of Environment, Taoyuan City 320, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei City 106, Taiwan
| | - Ren-De Wang
- National Environmental Research Academy, Ministry of Environment, Taoyuan City 320, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Lin Shih
- National Environmental Research Academy, Ministry of Environment, Taoyuan City 320, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Yi Chin
- National Environmental Research Academy, Ministry of Environment, Taoyuan City 320, Taiwan
| | - Angela Yu-Chen Lin
- Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei City 106, Taiwan
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9
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Liu H, Wang R, Zhao B, Xie D. Assessment for the data processing performance of non-target screening analysis based on high-resolution mass spectrometry. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:167967. [PMID: 37866614 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Non-target screening (NTS) based on high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) is considered one of the most comprehensive approaches for the characterization of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in a complex sample. This study evaluated the performance of NTS in aquatic environments (including peak picking, database matching, product identification, semi-quantification, etc.) based on a self-developed data processing method using 38 glucocorticoids as testing compounds. Data-dependent acquisition (DDA) and data-independent acquisition (DIA) modes were used for obtaining the MS2 information for in-house or online database matching. Results indicate that DDA and DIA mode have their own advantages and can complement each other. The quantification method based on LC-HRMS has shown the potential to provide a fast and acceptable result for testing compounds. Finally, a matrix spike analysis was carried out on 66 CECs across different usage categories in wastewater, surface water, and seawater matrix samples, together with a case study performed for characterizing the whole contaminants in a Pearl River sample, to better illustrate the application potential of NTS workflow and the credibility of NTS outcomes. This study provides a foundation for novel applications of HRMS data by NTS workflow to identify and quantify CECs in complex systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Liu
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, PR China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Water Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, PR China
| | - Rui Wang
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, PR China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Water Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, PR China
| | - Bo Zhao
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, PR China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Water Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, PR China.
| | - Danping Xie
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, PR China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Water Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, PR China.
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10
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Motteau S, Deborde M, Gombert B, Karpel Vel Leitner N. Non-target analysis for water characterization: wastewater treatment impact and selection of relevant features. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:4154-4173. [PMID: 38097837 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30972-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Non-target analyses were conducted to characterize and compare the molecular profiles (UHPLC-HRMS fingerprint) of water samples from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Inlet and outlet samples were collected from three campaigns spaced 6 months apart in order to highlight common trends. A significant impact of the treatment on the sample fingerprints was shown, with a 65-70% abatement of the number of features detected in the effluent, and more polar, smaller and less intense molecules found overall compared to those in WWTP influent waters. Multivariate analysis (PCA) associated with variations of the features between inlets and outlets showed that features appearing or increasing were correlated with effluents while those disappearing or decreasing were correlated with influents. Finally, effluent features considered as relevant to a potentially adverse effect on aqueous media (i.e. those which appeared or increased or slightly varied from the influent) were highlighted. Three hundred seventy-five features common with the 3 campaigns were thus selected and further characterized. For most of them, elementary composition was found to be C, H, N, O (42%) and C, H, N, O, P (18%). Considering the MS2 spectra and several reference MS2 databases, annotations were proposed for 35 of these relevant features. They include synthetic products, pharmaceuticals and metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solène Motteau
- University of Poitiers, Institut de Chimie Des Milieux Et Des Matériaux de Poitiers (IC2MP UMR CNRS 7285), Equipe Eaux Biomarqueurs Contaminants Organiques Milieux (E.BICOM), 1 Rue Marcel Doré, Bâtiment B1, TSA 41105 86073, Cedex, Poitiers, France
| | - Marie Deborde
- University of Poitiers, Institut de Chimie Des Milieux Et Des Matériaux de Poitiers (IC2MP UMR CNRS 7285), Equipe Eaux Biomarqueurs Contaminants Organiques Milieux (E.BICOM), 1 Rue Marcel Doré, Bâtiment B1, TSA 41105 86073, Cedex, Poitiers, France.
- University of Poitiers, UFR Médecine Et de Pharmacie, 6 Rue de La Milétrie, Bâtiment D1, TSA 51115, 86073, Cedex 9, Poitiers, France.
| | - Bertrand Gombert
- University of Poitiers, Institut de Chimie Des Milieux Et Des Matériaux de Poitiers (IC2MP UMR CNRS 7285), Equipe Eaux Biomarqueurs Contaminants Organiques Milieux (E.BICOM), 1 Rue Marcel Doré, Bâtiment B1, TSA 41105 86073, Cedex, Poitiers, France
| | - Nathalie Karpel Vel Leitner
- University of Poitiers, Institut de Chimie Des Milieux Et Des Matériaux de Poitiers (IC2MP UMR CNRS 7285), Equipe Eaux Biomarqueurs Contaminants Organiques Milieux (E.BICOM), 1 Rue Marcel Doré, Bâtiment B1, TSA 41105 86073, Cedex, Poitiers, France
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11
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Qiao B, Song D, Fang B, Yu H, Li X, Zhao L, Yao Y, Zhu L, Chen H, Sun H. Nontarget Screening and Fate of Emerging Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Wastewater Treatment Plants in Tianjin, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:20127-20137. [PMID: 37800548 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are typical point sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) released into the environment. The suspect and nontarget screening based on gas chromatography or liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry were performed on atmosphere, wastewater, and sludge samples collected from two WWTPs in Tianjin to discover emerging PFAS and their fate in this study. A total of 40 PFAS (14 neutral and 26 ionic) and 64 PFAS were identified in the atmosphere and wastewater/sludge, respectively, among which 5 short-chain perfluoroalkyl sulfonamide derivatives, 4 ionic PFAS, and 15 aqueous film-forming foam-related cationic or zwitterionic PFAS have rarely or never been reported in WWTPs in China. Active air sampling is more conducive to the enrichment of emerging PFAS, while passive sampling is inclined to leave out some ultrashort-chain PFAS or unstable transformation intermediates. Moreover, most precursors and intermediates could be enriched in the atmosphere at night, while the PFAS associated with aerosols with high water content or particles enter the atmosphere easily during the day. Although most emerging PFAS could not be eliminated efficiently in conventional treatment units, deep bed filtration and advanced oxidation processes could partly remove some emerging precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biting Qiao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Dongbao Song
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Bo Fang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Hao Yu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xiao Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Leicheng Zhao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yiming Yao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Lingyan Zhu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Hao Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Hongwen Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
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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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Moneta BG, Feo ML, Torre M, Tratzi P, Aita SE, Montone CM, Taglioni E, Mosca S, Balducci C, Cerasa M, Guerriero E, Petracchini F, Cavaliere C, Laganà A, Paolini V. Occurrence of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances in wastewater treatment plants in Northern Italy. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 894:165089. [PMID: 37355117 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants are known to be relevant input sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the aquatic environment. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence, fate, and seasonal variability of twenty-five PFAS in four municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP A, B, C, and D) surrounding the city of Milan (Northern, Italy). Composite 24-h wastewater samples were collected in July and October 2021 and May and February 2022 from influents and effluents of the four WWTPs. PFAS were detected at concentrations ranging between 24.1 and 66.9 μg L-1 for influent and 13.4 and 107 μg L-1 for effluent wastewater samples. Perfluoropentanoic acid was the most abundant (1.91-30.0 μg L-1) in influent samples, whereas perfluorobutane sulfonic acid predominated (0.80-66.1 μg L-1) in effluent samples. In sludge, PFOA was detected in plant A at concentrations in the range of 96.6-165 ng kg-1 dw in primary sludge samples and 98.6-440 ng kg-1 dw in secondary treatment sludge samples. The removal efficiency of total PFAS varied between 6 % and 96 %. However, an increase of PFAS concentrations was observed from influents to effluents for plant D (during July and October), plant A (during October and May), and plant C (during May) indicating that biotransformation of PFAS precursors can occur during biological treatments. This was supported by the observed increase in concentrations of PFOA from primary to secondary treatment sludge samples in plant A. Moreover, the plant operating at shorter hydraulic retention times (plant D) showed lower removal efficiency (<45 %). Seasonal variation of PFAS in influent and effluent appears rather low and more likely due to pulse release instead of seasonal factors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Luisa Feo
- Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, National Research Council of Italy (CNR IIA), Via Salaria km 29.300, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy.
| | - Marco Torre
- Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, National Research Council of Italy (CNR IIA), Via Salaria km 29.300, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizio Tratzi
- Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, National Research Council of Italy (CNR IIA), Via Salaria km 29.300, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Elsa Aita
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Carmela Maria Montone
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Taglioni
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Mosca
- Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, National Research Council of Italy (CNR IIA), Via Salaria km 29.300, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Catia Balducci
- Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, National Research Council of Italy (CNR IIA), Via Salaria km 29.300, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Marina Cerasa
- Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, National Research Council of Italy (CNR IIA), Via Salaria km 29.300, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Ettore Guerriero
- Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, National Research Council of Italy (CNR IIA), Via Salaria km 29.300, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Petracchini
- Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, National Research Council of Italy (CNR IIA), Via Salaria km 29.300, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Cavaliere
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Aldo Laganà
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Valerio Paolini
- Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, National Research Council of Italy (CNR IIA), Via Salaria km 29.300, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
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14
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Hulleman T, Turkina V, O’Brien JW, Chojnacka A, Thomas KV, Samanipour S. Critical Assessment of the Chemical Space Covered by LC-HRMS Non-Targeted Analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:14101-14112. [PMID: 37704971 PMCID: PMC10537454 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Non-targeted analysis (NTA) has emerged as a valuable approach for the comprehensive monitoring of chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) in the exposome. The NTA approach can theoretically identify compounds with diverse physicochemical properties and sources. Even though they are generic and have a wide scope, non-targeted analysis methods have been shown to have limitations in terms of their coverage of the chemical space, as the number of identified chemicals in each sample is very low (e.g., ≤5%). Investigating the chemical space that is covered by each NTA assay is crucial for understanding the limitations and challenges associated with the workflow, from the experimental methods to the data acquisition and data processing techniques. In this review, we examined recent NTA studies published between 2017 and 2023 that employed liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry. The parameters used in each study were documented, and the reported chemicals at confidence levels 1 and 2 were retrieved. The chosen experimental setups and the quality of the reporting were critically evaluated and discussed. Our findings reveal that only around 2% of the estimated chemical space was covered by the NTA studies investigated for this review. Little to no trend was found between the experimental setup and the observed coverage due to the generic and wide scope of the NTA studies. The limited coverage of the chemical space by the reviewed NTA studies highlights the necessity for a more comprehensive approach in the experimental and data processing setups in order to enable the exploration of a broader range of chemical space, with the ultimate goal of protecting human and environmental health. Recommendations for further exploring a wider range of the chemical space are given.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Hulleman
- Van
’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS), University of Amsterdam, 1090 GD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Viktoriia Turkina
- Van
’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS), University of Amsterdam, 1090 GD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jake W. O’Brien
- Van
’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS), University of Amsterdam, 1090 GD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Queensland
Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Aleksandra Chojnacka
- Van
’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS), University of Amsterdam, 1090 GD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kevin V. Thomas
- Queensland
Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Saer Samanipour
- Van
’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS), University of Amsterdam, 1090 GD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- UvA
Data Science Center, University of Amsterdam, 1012 WP Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Queensland
Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
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15
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Li H, Zhang S, Yao C, He R, Lu P, Li G, Liu R, Ma S, Zhang X, Cao Z, An T. Nontarget Screening of Novel Urinary Biomarkers for Occupational Exposure to Toxic Chemicals from Coking Industry Using HPLC-QTOF-MS. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:13004-13014. [PMID: 37526013 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c01663] [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: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
High-resolution mass spectrometry is an advanced technique for comprehensive screening of toxic chemicals. In this study, urine samples were collected from both an occupationally exposed population at a coking site and normal inhabitants to identify novel urinary biomarkers for occupational exposure to coking contaminants. A coking-site-appropriate analytical method was developed for unknown chemical screening. Through nontarget screening, 515 differential features were identified, and finally, 32 differential compounds were confirmed as candidates for the current study, including 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolites. Besides monohydroxy-PAHs (such as 1-&2-naphthol, 2-&9-hydroxyfluorene, 2-&4-phenanthrol, and 1-&2-hydroxypyrene), many other PAH metabolites including dihydroxy metabolites, PAH oxide, and sulfate conjugate were detected, suggesting that the quantification based solely on monohydroxy-PAHs significantly underestimated the human exposure to PAHs. Furthermore, several novel compounds were recognized that could be considered as biomarkers for the exposure to coking contaminants, including quinolin-2-ol (1.10 ± 0.44 ng/mL), naphthylmethanols (11.4 ± 5.47 ng/mL), N-hydroxy-1-aminonaphthalene (0.78 ± 0.43 ng/mL), hydroxydibenzofurans (17.4 ± 7.85 ng/mL), hydroxyanthraquinone (0.13 ± 0.053 ng/mL), and hydroxybiphenyl (2.70 ± 1.03 ng/mL). Despite their lower levels compared with hydroxy-PAHs (95.1 ± 30.8 ng/mL), their severe toxicities should not be overlooked. The study provides a nontarget screening approach to identify chemicals in human urine, which is crucial for accurately assessing the health risks of toxic chemicals in the coking industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailing Li
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Shu Zhang
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Chunyang Yao
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Rujian He
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Ping Lu
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- School of Environment, Key Laboratory for Yellow River and Huai River Water Environment and Pollution Control, Ministry of Education, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Guiying Li
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Ranran Liu
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Shengtao Ma
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Zhiguo Cao
- School of Environment, Key Laboratory for Yellow River and Huai River Water Environment and Pollution Control, Ministry of Education, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Taicheng An
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
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16
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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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17
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Olomukoro AA, DeRosa C, Gionfriddo E. Investigation of the adsorption/desorption mechanism of perfluoroalkyl substances on HLB-WAX extraction phases for microextraction. Anal Chim Acta 2023; 1260:341206. [PMID: 37121661 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.341206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The C-F alkyl structural backbone of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances makes this class of molecules resistant to heat and degradation, leading to their high persistence and mobility in the environment and bioaccumulation in the tissues of living organisms. In this study, 15 PFAS with an alkyl chain length from C4 to C14, currently monitored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), were preconcentrated by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The adsorption and desorption mechanisms of PFAS onto ion-exchange extraction phases was evaluated to understand the extraction process of PFAS from various environmental matrices under different conditions. This was achieved using two SPME geometries, namely fibers and thin films. The use of thin films resulted in a twofold improvement in extraction efficiency compared to fibers, especially for the short-chain PFAS. Methanol:water (80:20, v/v) was chosen as the optimized desorption solution, with ammonium formate added to minimize carryover. Extraction time profiles for both SPME geometries showed faster equilibration with thin films (30 min) compared to fibers (90-120 min). The linear dynamic range obtained with this method using fibers and thin films ranged from 10 to 5000 ng L-1 and 2.5-5000 ng L-1, respectively, with acceptable accuracy (70-130%) and precision (<15%). LOD ranged within 2.5-10 ng L-1 for fibers and 0.01-0.25 ng L-1 for thin films. Investigating the factors affecting PFAS recovery in complex samples enabled the quantitative assessment of PFAS contamination in various environmental water samples such as seawater, melted snow and biospecimens like human plasma. A 96-SPME holder was used for validation, which is compatible with sampling in 96-well plates and ensures high throughput in the analysis of real samples. The total concentration of PFAS detected in seawater and snow was 51.3 ng L-1 and 16.4 ng L-1, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aghogho A Olomukoro
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA; Dr. Nina McClelland Laboratories for Water Chemistry and Environmental Analysis, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA
| | - Charlotte DeRosa
- Dr. Nina McClelland Laboratories for Water Chemistry and Environmental Analysis, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA; College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA
| | - Emanuela Gionfriddo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA; Dr. Nina McClelland Laboratories for Water Chemistry and Environmental Analysis, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA; School of Green Chemistry and Engineering, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA.
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18
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Gobelius L, Glimstedt L, Olsson J, Wiberg K, Ahrens L. Mass flow of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a Swedish municipal wastewater network and wastewater treatment plant. CHEMOSPHERE 2023:139182. [PMID: 37302497 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
PER: and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitously distributed in wastewater, due to their numerous uses in industry and consumer products, but little is known of PFAS mass flows in municipal wastewater network systems and within wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This study assessed mass flows of 26 PFAS in a wastewater network and WWTP, to provide new insights into their sources, transport, and fate in different treatment steps. Wastewater and sludge samples were collected from pumping stations and the main WWTP in Uppsala, Sweden. PFAS composition profiles and mass flows were used to identify sources within the sewage network. Wastewater from one pumping station showed elevated concentrations of C3-C8 PFCA, likely caused by an industrial source, and two stations had elevated concentrations of 6:2 FTSA, probably originating from a nearby firefighter training facility. Within the WWTP, short-chain PFAS dominated in wastewater, whereas long-chain PFAS dominated in sludge. The ratio of perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSA) and ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (EtFOSAA) to ∑26PFAS decreased during the WWTP process, likely due to sorption to sludge, but also transformation (EtFOSAA). Overall, PFAS were not efficiently removed in the WWTP, with mean removal efficiency of 10 ± 68% for individual PFAS, resulting in discharge of 7000 mg d-1 ∑26PFAS into the recipient. This shows that conventional WWTPs are inefficient in removing PFAS from wastewater and sludge, so advanced treatment techniques are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gobelius
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7050, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Linda Glimstedt
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7050, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jesper Olsson
- Uppsala Vatten Och Avfall AB, Box 1444, 75144, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karin Wiberg
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7050, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lutz Ahrens
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7050, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
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19
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Munoz G, Liu M, Vo Duy S, Liu J, Sauvé S. Target and nontarget screening of PFAS in drinking water for a large-scale survey of urban and rural communities in Québec, Canada. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 233:119750. [PMID: 36827766 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Limited monitoring data are available regarding the occurrence of emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. Here, we validated an analytical procedure for 42 PFAS with individual detection limits of 0.001-0.082 ng/L. We also evaluated how different sample pH conditions, dechlorinating agents, and storage holding times might affect method performance. PFAS were analyzed in tap water samples collected at a large spatial scale in Quebec, Canada, covering 376 municipalities within 17 administrative regions. Target and nontarget screening revealed the presence of 31 and 23 compounds, respectively, representing 24 homolog classes. Overall, 99.3% of the tap water samples were positive for at least one PFAS, and the ƩPFAS ranged from below detection limits to 108 ng/L (95th percentile: 13 ng/L). On average, ƩPFAS was 12 times higher in tap water produced from surface water than groundwater; however, 6 of the top 10 contaminated locations were groundwater-based. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) had high detection rates (88% and 80%, respectively). PFOS (median: 0.15 ng/L; max: 13 ng/L) and PFOA (median: 0.27 ng/L; max: 8.1 ng/L) remained much lower than current Health Canada guidelines but higher than USEPA's interim updated health advisories. Short-chain (C3-C6) perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides were also recurrent, especially the C4 homolog (FBSA: detection rate of 50%). The 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonyl propanoamido dimethyl ethyl sulfonate (6:2 FTSO2PrAd-DiMeEtS) was locally detected at ∼15 ng/L and recurred in 8% of our samples. Multiple PFAS that are most likely to originate from aqueous film-forming foams were also reported for the first time in tap water, including X:3 and X:1:2 fluorotelomer betaines, hydroxylated X:2 fluorotelomer sulfonates, N-trimethylammoniopropyl perfluoroalkane sulfonamides (TAmPr-FHxSA and TAmPr-FOSA), and N-sulfopropyl dimethylammoniopropyl perfluoroalkane sulfonamidopropyl sulfonates (N-SPAmP-FPeSAPS and N-SPAmP-FHxSAPS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Munoz
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Min Liu
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sung Vo Duy
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jinxia Liu
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sébastien Sauvé
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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20
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Schaefer CE, Hooper JL, Strom LE, Abusallout I, Dickenson ERV, Thompson KA, Mohan GR, Drennan D, Wu K, Guelfo JL. Occurrence of quantifiable and semi-quantifiable poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances in united states wastewater treatment plants. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 233:119724. [PMID: 36801573 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Both quantifiable and semi-quantifiable poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were evaluated in the influent, effluent, and biosolids of 38 wastewater treatment plants. PFAS were detected in all streams at all facilities. For the means of the sums of detected, quantifiable PFAS concentrations were 98 ± 28 ng/L, 80 ± 24 ng/L, and 160,000 ± 46,000 ng/kg (dry weight basis) in the influent, effluent, and biosolids (respectively). In the aqueous influent and effluent streams this quantifiable PFAS mass was typically associated with perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs). In contrast, quantifiable PFAS in the biosolids were primarily polyfluoroalkyl substances that potentially serve as precursors to the more recalcitrant PFAAs. Results of the total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay on select influent and effluent samples showed that semi-quantified (or, unidentified) precursors accounted for a substantial portion (21 to 88%) of the fluorine mass compared to that associated with quantified PFAS, and that this fluorine precursor mass was not appreciably transformed to perfluoroalkyl acids within the WWTPs, as influent and effluent precursor concentrations via the TOP assay were statistically identical. Evaluation of semi-quantified PFAS, consistent with results of the TOP assay, showed the presence of several classes of precursors in the influent, effluent, and biosolids; perfluorophosphonic acids (PFPAs) and fluorotelomer phosphate diesters (di-PAPs) occurred in 100 and 92% of biosolid samples, respectively. Analysis of mass flows showed that, for both quantified (on a fluorine mass basis) and semi-quantified PFAS, the majority of PFAS exited WWTPs through the aqueous effluent compared to the biosolids stream. Overall, these results highlight the importance of semi-quantified PFAS precursors in WWTPs, and the need to further understand the impacts of their ultimate fate in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laurel E Strom
- CDM Smith, 14432 SE Eastgate Way Suite 100, Bellevue, WA 98007, USA
| | | | - Eric R V Dickenson
- Water Quality Research and Development, Southern Nevada Water Authority, 1299 Burkholder Blvd., Henderson, NV, 89015, USA
| | - Kyle A Thompson
- Water Quality Research and Development, Southern Nevada Water Authority, 1299 Burkholder Blvd., Henderson, NV, 89015, USA; Carollo Engineers, 8911N Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX 78759, USA
| | - Gayathri Ram Mohan
- Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources, Lawrenceville, GA 30045, USA
| | - Dina Drennan
- CDM Smith, 14432 SE Eastgate Way Suite 100, Bellevue, WA 98007, USA
| | - Ke Wu
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Construction Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - Jennifer L Guelfo
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Construction Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
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21
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Zhang Q, Xu H, Song N, Liu S, Wang Y, Ye F, Ju Y, Jiao S, Shi L. New insight into fate and transport of organic compounds from pollution sources to aquatic environment using non-targeted screening: A wastewater treatment plant case study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 863:161031. [PMID: 36549534 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
A variety of chemicals discharged into the aquatic environment by the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), which is a potential source of hazard to the ecological environment and human health. This study established a novel analytical method for all compounds using non-targeted screening to comprehensively explore the fate and transport of organic compounds from WWTP to aquatic environment. 3967 and 3636 features were detected in WWTP samples and river samples, respectively. Multi-level classification was applied to all identified compounds, and results showed that aliphatics were dominant in both abundance and response, accounting for an average of 35.49 % and 74.10 %, respectively. A total of 88 Emerging Contaminants (ECs), including 22 endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), 12 pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), 12 pesticides, 10 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 5 persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and 27 chemicals with other uses, were identified from all compounds, and their traceability analysis was performed. Furthermore, the contribution rate of organic compounds from WWTP effluent to river was calculated to be 33.60 % by the analysis of source-sink relationship. An in-depth and comprehensive exploration of the fate and transport of all organic compounds will help to provide guidelines for the treatment technologies and achieve the traceability of pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210042, PR China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China
| | - Hang Xu
- College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China
| | - Ninghui Song
- Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210042, PR China.
| | - Sitao Liu
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Yixuan Wang
- Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210042, PR China
| | - Fei Ye
- Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210042, PR China
| | - Yongming Ju
- Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210042, PR China
| | - Shaojun Jiao
- Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210042, PR China
| | - Lili Shi
- Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210042, PR China
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22
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Xiao HM, Zhao S, Hussain D, Chen JL, Luo D, Wei F, Wang X. Fluoro-cotton assisted non-targeted screening of organic fluorine compounds from rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown in perfluoroalkyl substance polluted soil. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114801. [PMID: 36375504 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114801] [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: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The toxicity and environmental persistence of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are of great concern for food intake in humans. However, PFASs conversion or conjugation to other substances in rice grown on PFASs polluted soil has not been explored clearly. These unknown transformed or conjugated products of PFOA and PFOS could be harmful to human health. The restriction factor in evaluating the possible transformation of PFOA and PFOS is mainly attributed to the lack of an efficient method for screening PFOA and PFOS and their related metabolites. To circumvent this challenge, we established a non-targeted screening method by combining a fluoro-cotton fiber-based solid phase extraction (FC-SPE) and liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) to monitor the formation of possible organic fluorine compounds from rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown on PFASs. We synthesized fluoro-cotton fibers to serve as the FC-SPE packing material and characterized by field-emission scanning electron-microscope, Fourier transform infrared, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. The optimal extraction conditions for the prepared FC-SPE were investigated. The performance of FC-SPE in LC-MS analysis was validated by linearity, precision, recovery, and matrix effect. Then the FC-SPE combined with LC-HRMS was used to specifically capture organic fluorine compounds from complex matrices via F-F interaction, including rice seedlings grown in PFOA and PFOS polluted soil and soil samples. By the established FC-SPE LC-HRMS method, in total 429 features were found as the possible organic fluorine compounds from rice seedlings grown in PFOA polluted soil among the 1781 features from the rice seedlings. Finally, we employed a13C metabolic tracing analysis of organic fluorine compounds in combination with the FC-SPE LC-HRMS method to further identify the features that detected from rice seedlings grown in PFOA polluted soil. The final result indicated that there were not any new organic fluorine metabolites screened out from rice grown in PFOA or PFOS polluted soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua-Ming Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Oilseeds Processing of Ministry of Agriculture, Hubei Key Laboratory of Lipid Chemistry and Nutrition, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, China; Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan, 430074, China.
| | - Shuai Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou, 213164, People's Republic of China
| | - Dilshad Hussain
- HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Jian-Li Chen
- Shimadzu (China) Co., LTD. Wuhan Branch, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Dan Luo
- Shimadzu (China) Co., LTD. Wuhan Branch, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Fang Wei
- Key Laboratory of Oilseeds Processing of Ministry of Agriculture, Hubei Key Laboratory of Lipid Chemistry and Nutrition, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Xian Wang
- Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan, 430074, China
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