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Sáez C, Bautista A, Nikolenko O, Scheiber L, Llorca M, Jurado A, Farré M, Pujades-Garnes E. Occurrence and fate of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in an urban aquifer located at the Besòs River Delta (Spain). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 358:124468. [PMID: 38950847 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124468] [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: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Urban aquifers are at risk of contamination from persistent and mobile organic compounds (PMOCs), especially per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are artificial organic substances widely used across various industrial sectors. PFAS are considered toxic, mobile and persistent, and have therefore gained significant attention in environmental chemistry. Moreover, precursors could transform into more recalcitrant products under natural conditions. However, there is limited information about the processes which affect their behaviour in groundwater at the field-scale. In this context, the aim of this study is to assess the presence of PFAS in an urban aquifer in Barcelona, and identify processes that control their evolution along the groundwater flow. 21 groundwater and 6 river samples were collected revealing the presence of 16 PFAS products and 3 novel PFAS. Short and ultra-short chain PFAS were found to be ubiquitous, with the highest concentrations detected for perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFSA). Long chain PFAS and novel PFAS were found to be present in very low concentrations (<50 ng/L). It was observed that redox conditions influence the behaviour of a number of PFAS controlling their attenuation or recalcitrant behaviour. Most substances showed accumulation, possibly explained by sorption/desorption processes or transformation processes, highlighting the challenges associated with PFAS remediation. In addition, the removal processes of different intensities for three PFAS were revealed. Our results help to establish the principles of the evolution of PFAS along the groundwater flow, which are important for the development of conceptual models used to plan and adopt site specific groundwater management activities (e.g., Managed Aquifer Recharge).
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Sáez
- Department of Geosciences, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Arianna Bautista
- ON-HEALTH Group, Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Olha Nikolenko
- Department of Geosciences, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Scheiber
- Department of Geosciences, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Llorca
- ON-HEALTH Group, Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Jurado
- Department of Geosciences, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marinella Farré
- ON-HEALTH Group, Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Estanislao Pujades-Garnes
- Department of Geosciences, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034, Barcelona, Spain.
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2
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Samuel MS, Kadarkarai G, Ryan DR, McBeath ST, Mayer BK, McNamara PJ. Enhanced perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) degradation by electrochemical activation of peroxydisulfate (PDS) during electrooxidation for water treatment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 942:173736. [PMID: 38839010 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Improved treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water is critically important in light of the proposed United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) drinking water regulations at ng L-1 levels. The addition of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) during electrooxidation (EO) can remove and destroy PFAS, but ng L-1 levels have not been tested, and PMS itself can be toxic. The objective of this research was to test peroxydisulfate (PDS, an alternative to PMS) activation by boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) degradation. The influence of PDS concentration, temperature, and environmental water matrix effects, and PFOA concentration on PDS-EO performance were systematically examined. Batch reactor experiments revealed that 99 % of PFOA was degraded and 69 % defluorination was achieved, confirming PFOA mineralization. Scavenging experiments implied that sulfate radicals (SO4-) and hydroxyl radicals (HO) played a more important role for PFOA degradation than 1O2 or electrons (e-). Further identification of PFOA degradation and transformation products by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis established plausible PFOA degradation pathways. The analysis corroborates that direct electron transfers at the electrode initiate PFOA oxidation and SO4- improves overall treatment by cleaving the CC bond between the C7F15 and COOH moieties in PFOA, leading to possible products such as C7F15 and F-. The perfluoroalkyl radicals can be oxidized by SO4- and HO, resulting in the formation of shorter chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (e.g., perfluorobutanoic acid [PFBA]), with eventual mineralization to CO2 and F-. At an environmentally relevant low initial concentration of 100 ng L-1 PFOA, 99 % degradation was achieved. The degradation of PFOA was slightly affected by the water matrix as less removal was observed in an environmental river water sample (91 %) compared to tests conducted in Milli-Q water (99 %). Overall, EO with PDS provided a destructive approach for the elimination of PFOA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melvin S Samuel
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53233, United States
| | - Govindan Kadarkarai
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53233, United States
| | - Donald R Ryan
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53233, United States
| | - Sean T McBeath
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, United States
| | - Brooke K Mayer
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53233, United States
| | - Patrick J McNamara
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53233, United States.
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Ali MA, Lyu X, Ersan MS, Xiao F. Critical evaluation of hyperspectral imaging technology for detection and quantification of microplastics in soil. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 476:135041. [PMID: 38941829 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we critically evaluated the performance of an emerging technology, hyperspectral imaging (HSI), for detecting microplastics (MPs) in soil. We examined the technology's robustness against varying environmental conditions in five groups of experiments. Our findings show that near-infrared (NIR) hyperspectral imaging (HSI) effectively detects microplastics (MPs) in soil, though detection efficacy is influenced by factors such as MP concentration, color, and soil moisture. We found a generally linear relationship between the levels of MPs in various soils and their spectral responses in the NIR HSI imaging spectrum. However, effectiveness is reduced for certain MPs, like polyethylene, in kaolinite clay. Furthermore, we showed that soil moisture considerably influenced the detection of MPs, leading to nonlinearities in quantification and adding complexities to spectral analysis. The varied responses of MPs of different sizes and colors to NIR HSI present further challenges in detection and quantification. The research suggests pre-grouping of MPs based on size before analysis and proposes further investigation into the interaction between soil moisture and MP detectability to enhance HSI's application in MP monitoring and quantification. To our knowledge, this study is the first to comprehensively evaluate this technology for detecting and quantifying microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansurat A Ali
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202-8115, United States
| | - Xueyan Lyu
- School of Hydrology and Water Resources, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
| | - Mahmut S Ersan
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202-8115, United States
| | - Feng Xiao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, United States; Missouri Water Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, United States.
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4
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Huang H, Lyu X, Xiao F, Fu J, Xu H, Wu J, Sun Y. Three-year field study on the temporal response of soil microbial communities and functions to PFOA exposure. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 476:135008. [PMID: 38943893 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135008] [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: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
Contamination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) poses a significant threat to soil ecosystem health, yet there remains a lack of understanding regarding the responses of soil microbial communities to prolonged PFAS exposure in field conditions. This study involved a three-year field investigation to track changes in microbial communities and functions in soil subjected to the contamination of a primary PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Results showed that PFOA exposure altered soil bacterial and fungal communities in terms of diversity, composition, and structure. Notably, certain bacterial communities with a delayed reaction to PFOA contamination showed the most significant response after one year of exposure. Fungal communities were sensitive to PFOA in soil, exhibiting significant responses within just four months of exposure. After two years, the impact of PFOA on both bacterial and fungal communities was lessened, likely due to the long-term adaptation of microbial communities to PFOA. Moreover, PFOA exposure notably inhibited alkaline phosphatase activity and reduced certain phosphorus cycling-related functional genes after three years of exposure, suggesting potential disruptions in soil fertility. These new insights advance our understanding of the long-term effects of PFOA on soil microbial communities and functions at a field scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Huang
- School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hydrosciences Department, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xueyan Lyu
- School of Hydrology and Water Resources, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China.
| | - Feng Xiao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Jiaju Fu
- School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hydrosciences Department, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Hongxia Xu
- School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hydrosciences Department, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jichun Wu
- School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hydrosciences Department, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; Technology Innovation Center for Ecological Monitoring & Restoration Project on Land (Arable), Nanjing 210018, China
| | - Yuanyuan Sun
- School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hydrosciences Department, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; Technology Innovation Center for Ecological Monitoring & Restoration Project on Land (Arable), Nanjing 210018, China.
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5
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Xing Z, Wang G, Liu S, Chen H, Dong X, Wang H, Liu Y. Legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in agricultural soils affected by fluorochemical manufacturing facilities, North China: Occurrence, region-specific distribution, substitution trend and source appointment. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 474:134770. [PMID: 38838522 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Accompanied with restriction of legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), numbers of emerging PFASs are widely detected in the environment. However, information on environmental occurrences and behaviors of emerging PFASs were scarce in agricultural soils. In this study, the spatial distributions, sources, substitution trends and ecological risk assessment of 31 legacy and emerging PFASs were investigated in 69 agricultural soils from Fuxin, North China. The 26 out of 31 PFASs were detected with concentrations of 57.36 - 1271.06 pg/g dry weight. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) were predominant in legacy and emerging PFASs, respectively. Based on principal component and dual carbon-nitrogen stable isotope analysis, atmosphere, fluorochemical activities and river irrigation were main sources of PFASs. Substitution trends indicated HFPO-DA and short chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (C4 - C7) as main alternatives of PFOA, and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTSA) and sodium p-perfluorous nonenoxybenzene sulfonate (OBS) as major substitutes to perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). The calculated risk quotient values (< 0.006) only indicated potential low ecological risk of 7 target PFASs in agricultural soils. The results of this study broadened out the information of PFAS contamination in agricultural soils, which were significant for PFAS supervision in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziao Xing
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, No. 1 Linghai Road, Dalian 116026, PR China
| | - Guoguang Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, No. 1 Linghai Road, Dalian 116026, PR China.
| | - Shuaihao Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, No. 1 Linghai Road, Dalian 116026, PR China
| | - Haiyue Chen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, No. 1 Linghai Road, Dalian 116026, PR China
| | - Xu Dong
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, No. 1 Linghai Road, Dalian 116026, PR China
| | - Haixia Wang
- Navigation College, Dalian Maritime University, No.1 Linghai Road, Dalian 116026, PR China
| | - Yu Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, No. 1 Linghai Road, Dalian 116026, PR China
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Haange SB, Riesbeck S, Aldehoff AS, Engelmann B, Jensen Pedersen K, Castaneda-Monsalve V, Rolle-Kampczyk U, von Bergen M, Jehmlich N. Chemical mixture effects on the simplified human intestinal microbiota: Assessing xenobiotics at environmentally realistic concentrations. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 474:134683. [PMID: 38820745 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134683] [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: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
The microbial community present in our intestines is pivotal for converting indigestible substances into vital nutrients and signaling molecules such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These compounds have considerable influence over our immune system and the development of diverse human diseases. However, ingested environmental contaminants, known as xenobiotics, can upset the delicate balance of the microbial gut community and enzymatic processes, consequently affecting the host organism. In our study, we employed an in vitro bioreactor model system based on the simplified human microbiome model (SIHUMIx) to investigate the direct effects of specific xenobiotics, such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) or bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF), either individually or in combination, on the microbiota. We observed increased SCFA production, particularly acetate and butyrate, with PFAS exposure. Metaproteomics revealed pathway alterations across treatments, including changes in vitamin synthesis and fatty acid metabolism with BPX. This study underscores the necessity of assessing the combined effects of xenobiotics to better safeguard public health. It emphasizes the significance of considering adverse effects on the microbiome in the risk assessment of environmental chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven-Bastiaan Haange
- Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ GmbH, Department of Molecular Toxicology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sarah Riesbeck
- Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ GmbH, Department of Molecular Toxicology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alix Sarah Aldehoff
- Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ GmbH, Department of Molecular Toxicology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Beatrice Engelmann
- Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ GmbH, Department of Molecular Toxicology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kristian Jensen Pedersen
- Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ GmbH, Department of Molecular Toxicology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Victor Castaneda-Monsalve
- Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ GmbH, Department of Molecular Toxicology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrike Rolle-Kampczyk
- Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ GmbH, Department of Molecular Toxicology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martin von Bergen
- Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ GmbH, Department of Molecular Toxicology, Leipzig, Germany; Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biosciences, Pharmacy and Psychology, University of Leipzig, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nico Jehmlich
- Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ GmbH, Department of Molecular Toxicology, Leipzig, Germany.
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7
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Soltanian M, Gitipour S, Baghdadi M, Rtimi S. PFOA-contaminated soil remediation: a comprehensive review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:49985-50011. [PMID: 39088169 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34516-y] [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: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Soil and groundwater contamination has been raised as a concern due to the capability of posing a risk to human health and ecology, especially in facing highly toxic and emerging pollutants. Because of the prevalent usage of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in industrial and production processes, and subsequently the extent of sites contaminated with these pollutants, cleaning up PFOA polluted sites is paramount. This research provides a review of remediation approaches that have been used, and nine remediation techniques were reviewed under physical, chemical, and biological approaches categorization. As the pollutant specifications, environmental implications, and adverse ecological effects of remediation procedures should be considered in the analysis and evaluation of remediation approaches, unlike previous research that considered a couple of PFAS pollutants and generally dealt with technical issues, in this study, the benefits, drawbacks, and possible environmental and ecological adverse effects of PFOA-contaminated site remediation also were discussed. In the end, in addition to providing sufficient and applicable understanding by comprehensively considering all aspects and field-scale challenges and obstacles, knowledge gaps have been found and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Soltanian
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of engineering and IT, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Saeid Gitipour
- Faculty of Environment, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Baghdadi
- Faculty of Environment, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sami Rtimi
- Global Institute for Water Environment and Health, 1201, Geneva, Switzerland.
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8
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Rasmusson K, Fagerlund F. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as contaminants in groundwater resources - A comprehensive review of subsurface transport processes. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 362:142663. [PMID: 38908440 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142663] [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: 04/06/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent contaminants in the environment. An increased awareness of adverse health effects related to PFAS has further led to stricter regulations for several of these substances in e.g. drinking water in many countries. Groundwater constitutes an important source of raw water for drinking water production. A thorough understanding of PFAS subsurface fate and transport mechanisms leading to contamination of groundwater resources is therefore essential for management of raw water resources. A review of scientific literature on the subject of processes affecting subsurface PFAS fate and transport was carried out. This article compiles the current knowledge of such processes, mainly focusing on perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA), in soil- and groundwater systems. Further, a compilation of data on transport parameters such as solubility and distribution coefficients, as well as, insight gained and conclusions drawn from the reviewed material are presented. As the use of certain fire-fighting foams has been identified as the major source of groundwater contamination in many countries, research related to this type of pollution source has been given extra focus. Uptake of PFAS in biota is outside the scope of this review. The review showed a large spread in the magnitude of distribution coefficients and solubility for individual PFAS. Also, it is clear that the influence of multiple factors makes site-specific evaluation of distribution coefficients valuable. This article aims at giving the reader a comprehensive overview of the subject, and providing a base for further work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Rasmusson
- Uppsala Water and Waste AB, Virdings allé 32B, SE-75450, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Fritjof Fagerlund
- Uppsala University, Department of Earth Sciences, Villavägen 16, 75236, Uppsala, Sweden
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Coe ST, Chakraborty S, Faheem M, Kupradit K, Bhandari RK. A second hit by PFOS exposure exacerbated developmental defects in medaka embryos with a history of ancestral BPA exposure. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 362:142796. [PMID: 38972462 PMCID: PMC11309894 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142796] [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: 05/21/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
Bisphenol-A (BPA), a known endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) in plastics and resins, has been found to induce heritable health effects in fish and mammals, affecting directly exposed individuals and indirectly their progenies in subsequent generations. It is not clearly understood if subsequent generations of the BPA-exposed ancestors have increased sensitivity to the second hit by the chemicals of emerging concern. To understand this, the present study examined the effects of developmental exposure to perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), which has been a global contaminant recently, in embryos whose ancestors were exposed to BPA. Two lineages of medaka (Oryzias latipes) were established: 1) the BPA lineage in which the F0 generation was exposed to 10 μg/L BPA during early development and 2) the control lineage with no BPA exposure in the F0 generation. These lineages were raised up to the F4 generation without further exposure. The embryos of the F4 generation were exposed to PFOS at 0, 0.002, 0.02, 0.2, 2, and 20 mg/L concentrations. Early developmental defects resulting in mortality, delayed hatching, teratogenic phenotypes, and altered gene expression were examined in both lineages. The expression level of genes encoding DNA methyltransferases and genes responsible for oxidative stress defense were determined. Following environmentally relevant PFOS exposure, organisms with a history of BPA exposure displayed significant changes in all categories of developmental defects mentioned above, including increased expression of genes related to oxidative stress, compared to individuals without BPA exposure. The present study provides initial evidence that a history of ancestral BPA exposure can alter sensitivity to developmental disorders following the second hit by PFOS exposure. The variable of ancestral BPA exposure could be considered in mechanistic, medical, and regulatory toxicology, and can also be applied to holistic environmental equity research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seraiah T Coe
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC, 27412, USA
| | - Sourav Chakraborty
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC, 27412, USA; Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Mehwish Faheem
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Karabuning Kupradit
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC, 27412, USA
| | - Ramji K Bhandari
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
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Biesek BJ, Szymkiewicz A, Šimůnek J, Gumuła-Kawęcka A, Jaworska-Szulc B. Numerical modeling of PFAS movement through the vadose zone: Influence of plant water uptake and soil organic carbon distribution. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 935:173252. [PMID: 38768720 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the effects of soil organic carbon (SOC) distribution and water uptake by plant roots on PFAS movement in the vadose zone with a deep groundwater table under temperate, humid climate conditions. Two series of numerical simulations were performed with the HYDRUS computer code, representing the leaching of historical PFOS contamination and the infiltration of water contaminated with PFOA, respectively. We considered soil profiles with three distributions of SOC (no SOC, realistic SOC distribution decreasing with depth, and uniform SOC equal to the content measured in topsoil), three root distributions (bare soil, grassland, and forest), and three soil textures (sand, sandy loam, and loam). The SOC distribution had a profound impact on the velocity of PFOS movement. The apparent retardation factor for realistic SOC distribution was twice as large as for the scenario with no SOC and more than three times smaller than for the scenario with uniformly high SOC content. We also showed that the root distribution in soil profoundly impacts the simulations of PFAS migration through soil. Including the root zone significantly slows down the movement of PFAS, primarily due to increased evapotranspiration and reduced downward water flux. Another effect of water uptake by plant roots is an increase of PFAS concentrations in soil water (evapo-concentration). The evapo-concentration and the slowdown of PFAS movement due to root water uptake are more significant in fine-textured soils than in sand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Jennifer Biesek
- Gdańsk University of Technology, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, ul. Gabriela Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Adam Szymkiewicz
- Gdańsk University of Technology, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, ul. Gabriela Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jirka Šimůnek
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Anna Gumuła-Kawęcka
- Gdańsk University of Technology, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, ul. Gabriela Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Beata Jaworska-Szulc
- Gdańsk University of Technology, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, ul. Gabriela Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland
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Huang J, Ye L, Wang J, Deng Y, Du B, Liu W, Su G. A new approach to monitoring typical organophosphorus compounds (OPs) in environmental media: From database building to suspect screening. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 189:108802. [PMID: 38875816 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108802] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Organophosphorus compounds (OPs) are widely used as flame retardants (FRs) and plasticizers, yet strategies for comprehensively screening of suspect OPs in environmental samples are still lacking. In this work, a neoteric, robust, and general suspect screening technique was developed to identify novel chemical exposures by use of ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-Q Exactive hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS). We firstly established a suspect chemical database which had 7,922 OPs with 4,686 molecular formulas, and then conducted suspect screening in n = 50 indoor dust samples, n = 76 sediment samples, and n = 111 water samples. By use of scoring criteria such as retention time prediction models, we successfully confirmed five compounds by comparison with their authentic standards, and prioritized three OPs candidates including a nitrogen/fluorine-containing compound, that is dimethyl {1H-indol-3-yl[3-(trifluoromethyl)anilino]methyl} phosphonate (DMITFMAMP). Given that the biodegradation half-life values in water (t1/2,w) of DMITFMAMP calculated by EPI Suite is 180 d, it is considered to be potentially persistent. This strategy shows promising potential in environmental pollution assessment, and can be expected to be widely used in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianan Huang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
| | - Langjie Ye
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Contaminated Sites Environmental Management and Remediation, Guangzhou 510045, China
| | - Yirong Deng
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China; Guangdong Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Contaminated Sites Environmental Management and Remediation, Guangzhou 510045, China
| | - Bing Du
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Dioxin Pollution Control, National Research Center for Environmental Analysis and Measurement, No.1 Yuhuinanlu, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China.
| | - Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Environmental Protection of Water Ecological Health in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River, Jiangsu Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Nanjing 210036, China
| | - Guanyong Su
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
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12
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Bigler MC, Brusseau ML, Guo B, Jones SL, Pritchard JC, Higgins CP, Hatton J. High-Resolution Depth-Discrete Analysis of PFAS Distribution and Leaching for a Vadose-Zone Source at an AFFF-Impacted Site. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:9863-9874. [PMID: 38780413 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c01615] [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: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The long-term leaching of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) within the vadose zone of an AFFF application site for which the depth to groundwater is approximately 100 m was investigated by characterizing the vertical distribution of PFAS in a high spatial resolution. The great majority (99%) of PFAS mass resides in the upper 3 m of the vadose zone. The depths to which each PFAS migrated, quantified by moment analysis, is an inverse function of molar volume, demonstrating chromatographic separation. The PFAS were operationally categorized into three chain-length groups based on the three general patterns of retention observed. The longest-chain (>∼335 cm3/mol molar volume) PFAS remained within the uppermost section of the core, exhibiting minimal leaching. Conversely, the shortest-chain (<∼220 cm3/mol) PFAS accumulated at the bottom of the interval, which coincides with the onset of a calcic horizon. PFAS with intermediate-chain lengths were distributed along the length of the core, exhibiting differential magnitudes of leaching. The minimal or differential leaching observed for the longest- and intermediate-chain-length PFAS, respectively, demonstrates that retention processes significantly impacted migration. The accumulation of shorter-chain PFAS at the bottom of the core is hypothesized to result from limited deep infiltration and potential-enhanced retention associated with the calcic horizon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C Bigler
- Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Mark L Brusseau
- Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
- Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences Department, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Bo Guo
- Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences Department, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Sara L Jones
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - J Conrad Pritchard
- 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
| | - James Hatton
- Jacobs Engineering Group, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111, United States
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13
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Peter L, Modiri-Gharehveran M, Alvarez-Campos O, Evanylo GK, Lee LS. PFAS fate using lysimeters during degraded soil reclamation using biosolids. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2024. [PMID: 38816342 DOI: 10.1002/jeq2.20576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Carbon- and nutrient-rich biosolids are used in agriculture and land reclamation. However, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) typically present in biosolids raise concerns of PFAS leaching to groundwater and plant uptake. Here, we investigated PFAS persistence and leaching from biosolids applied to a site constructed artificially to mimic degraded soils. Treatments included biosolids and biosolids blended with mulch applied at different rates to attain either one and five times the agronomic N rate for vegetable crops and a control treatment with synthetic urea and triple superphosphate fertilizer. Leachates were collected for a 2-year period from 15-cm depth zero-tension drainage lysimeters. Soils were analyzed post biosolids application. PFAS were quantified using isotope-dilution, solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Leachate profiles exemplified an initial high total PFAS concentration, followed by a sharp decline and subsequent small fluctuations attributed to pre-existing soil conditions and rainfall patterns. Quantifiable PFAS in leachate were proportional to biosolids application rates. Short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (CF2 < 6) were dominant in leachate, while the percentage of longer chains homologues was higher in soils. A 43% biosolids blend with mulch resulted in 21% lower PFAS leachate concentrations even with the blend application rate being 1.5 times higher than biosolids due to the blend's lower N-content. The blending effect was more pronounced for long-chain perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids that have a greater retention by soils and the air-water interface. Biosolids blending as a pragmatic strategy for reducing PFAS leachate concentrations may aid in the sustainable beneficial reuse of biosolids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynda Peter
- Department of Agronomy, Ecological Sciences & Engineering Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Mahsa Modiri-Gharehveran
- Environmental & Ecological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
- EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., PBC, Hunt Valley, Maryland, USA
| | - Odiney Alvarez-Campos
- USAID, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
- School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Gregory K Evanylo
- School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Linda S Lee
- Department of Agronomy, Ecological Sciences & Engineering Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
- Environmental & Ecological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
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14
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Feng G, Zhou B, Yuan R, Luo S, Gai N, Chen H. Influence of soil composition and environmental factors on the adsorption of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 925:171785. [PMID: 38508244 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171785] [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: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have garnered considerable scientific and regulatory scrutiny due to their widespread distribution across environments and their potential toxicological impacts on human health. The pedosphere serves as a vital reservoir for these chemicals, significantly determining their environmental trajectory and chemical transformations. This study offers a comprehensive synthesis of the current understanding regarding the adsorption mechanics of PFASs in soil matrices. Due to their unique molecular structure, PFASs predominantly engage in hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions during soil adsorption. This work thoroughly evaluates the influence of various factors on adsorption efficiency, including soil properties, molecular characteristics of PFASs, and the prevailing environmental conditions. The complex nature of soil environments complicates isolating individual impacts on PFAS behavior, necessitating an integrated approach to understanding their environmental destinies better. Through this exploration, we seek to clarify the complex interplay of factors that modulate the adsorption of PFASs in soils, highlighting the urgent need for future research to disentangle the intricate and combined effects that control the environmental behavior of PFAS compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Feng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; Key Laboratory of Eco-geochemistry, Ministry of Natural Resources of China, National Research Center for Geo-analysis (NRCGA), Beijing 100037, China
| | - Beihai Zhou
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Rongfang Yuan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Shuai Luo
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Nan Gai
- Key Laboratory of Eco-geochemistry, Ministry of Natural Resources of China, National Research Center for Geo-analysis (NRCGA), Beijing 100037, China.
| | - Huilun Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
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15
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Hu N, Sun X, Yao N, Yang M, Chen Y, Zhang Z. Recovery of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) from water using foam fractionation with whey soy protein. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 469:133992. [PMID: 38460262 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133992] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) are persistent anthropogenic chemicals that are widely distributed in the environment and pose significant risks to human health. Foam fractionation has emerged as a promising method to recover PFOS/PFOA from water. However, PFOS/PFOA concentrations in wastewater are often inadequate to generate stable foams due to their high critical micelle concentrations and the addition of a cosurfactant is necessary. In this study, we developed whey soy protein (WSP) as a green frother and collector derived from soybean meal (SBM), which is an abundant and cost-effective agro-industrial residue. WSP exhibited excellent foaming properties across a wide pH range and demonstrated strong collection capabilities that enhanced the recovery of PFOS/PFOA. The mechanism underlying this collection ability was elucidated through various methods, revealing the involvement of electrostatic attraction, hydrophobic interaction, and hydrogen bonding. Furthermore, we designed a double plate internal to improve the enrichment of PFOS/PFOA by approximately 2.3 times while reducing water recovery. Under suitable conditions (WSP concentration: 300 mg/L, pH: 6.0, air flowrate: 300 mL/min), we achieved high recovery percentages of 94-98% and enrichment ratios of 7.5-12.8 for PFOS/PFOA concentrations ranging from 5 to 20 mg/L. This foam fractionation process holds great promise for the treatment of PFOS/PFOA and other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Hu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, North University of China, No.3 Xueyuan Road, Jiancaoping District, Taiyuan 030051, China.
| | - Xiaodan Sun
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, North University of China, No.3 Xueyuan Road, Jiancaoping District, Taiyuan 030051, China
| | - Nan Yao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, North University of China, No.3 Xueyuan Road, Jiancaoping District, Taiyuan 030051, China
| | - Mei Yang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, North University of China, No.3 Xueyuan Road, Jiancaoping District, Taiyuan 030051, China
| | - Yaoxi Chen
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, North University of China, No.3 Xueyuan Road, Jiancaoping District, Taiyuan 030051, China
| | - Zhijun Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, North University of China, No.3 Xueyuan Road, Jiancaoping District, Taiyuan 030051, China.
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16
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Zhu H, Xia Y, Zhang Y, Kang Y, Ding Y, Chen R, Feng H. Distribution characteristics and transformation mechanism of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water sources: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 916:169566. [PMID: 38160823 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169566] [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: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have raised significant concerns within the realm of drinking water due to their widespread presence in various water sources. This prevalence poses potential risks to human health, ecosystems, and the safety of drinking water. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive reviews that systematically categorize the distribution characteristics and transformation mechanisms of PFASs in drinking water sources. This review aims to address this gap by concentrating on the specific sources of PFASs contamination in Chinese drinking water supplies. It seeks to elucidate the migration and transformation processes of PFASs within each source, summarize the distribution patterns of PFASs in surface and subsurface drinking water sources, and analyze how PFASs molecular structure, solubility, and sediment physicochemical parameters influence their presence in both the water phase and sediment. Furthermore, this review assesses two natural pathways for PFASs degradation, namely photolysis and biodegradation. It places particular emphasis on understanding the degradation mechanisms and the factors that affect the breakdown of PFASs by microorganisms. The ultimate goal is to provide valuable insights for the prevention and control of PFAS contamination and the assurance of drinking water quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heying Zhu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yijing Xia
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yifeng Zhang
- Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ying Kang
- Zhejiang Ecological Environmental Monitoring Center, 117 Xueyuan Road, Hangzhou 310012, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yangcheng Ding
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ruya Chen
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Huajun Feng
- Ecological-Environment & Health College (EEHC), Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou 311300, Zhejiang, China.
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17
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Smith J, Brusseau ML, Guo B. An integrated analytical modeling framework for determining site-specific soil screening levels for PFAS. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 252:121236. [PMID: 38330716 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121236] [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: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Soils at many contaminated sites have accumulated a significant amount of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and may require remediation to mitigate leaching to groundwater. USEPA's current approaches for determining soil screening levels (SSLs) were developed for non-PFAS contaminants. Because many PFAS are interfacially-active with unique leaching behaviors in soils, the current non-PFAS-specific soil screening models may not be applicable. Following USEPA's general methodology, we develop a new modeling framework representing PFAS-specific transport processes for determining site-specific SSLs for PFAS-contaminated sites. We couple a process-based analytical model for PFAS leaching in the vadose zone and a dilution factor model for groundwater in an integrated framework. We apply the new modeling framework to two typical types of contaminated sites. Comparisons with the standard USEPA SSL approach suggest that accounting for the PFAS-specific transport processes may significantly increase the SSL for some PFAS. For the range of soil properties and groundwater recharge rates examined, while SSLs determined with the new model are less than a factor of 2 different from the standard-model values for less interfacially-active shorter-chain PFAS, they are up to two orders of magnitudes greater for more interfacially-active longer-chain PFAS. The new analytical modeling framework provides an effective tool for deriving more accurate site-specific SSLs and improving site characterization and remedial efforts at PFAS-contaminated sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Smith
- Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, United States of America
| | - Mark L Brusseau
- Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, United States of America; Department of Environmental Science, University of Arizona, United States of America
| | - Bo Guo
- Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, United States of America.
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18
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Sun R, Babalol S, Ni R, Dolatabad AA, Cao J, Xiao F. Efficient and fast remediation of soil contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by high-frequency heating. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 463:132660. [PMID: 37898088 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
This study presents a novel thermal technology (high-frequency heating, HFH) for the decontamination of soil containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs). Ultra-fast degradation of short-chain PFAS, long-chain homologs, precursors, legacy PFAS, emerging PFAS was achieved in a matter of minutes. The concentrations of PFAS and the soil type had a negligible impact on degradation efficiency, possibly due to the ultra-fast degradation rate overwhelming potential differences. Under the current HFH experiment setup, we achieved near-complete degradation (e.g., >99.9%) after 1 min for perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acids and 2 min for perfluoroalkanesulfonic acids. Polyfluoroalkyl precursors in AFFFs were found to degrade completely within 1 min of HFH; no residual cationic, zwitterionic, anionic, or non-ionic intermediate products were detected following the treatment. The gaseous byproducts were considered. Most of gaseous organofluorine products of PFAS at low-and-moderate temperatures disappeared when temperatures reached 890 °C, which is in the temperature zone of HFH. For the first time, we demonstrated minimal loss of PFAS in water during the boiling process, indicating a low risk of PFAS entering the atmosphere with the water vapor. The findings highlight HFH its potential as a promising remediation tool for PFAS-contaminated soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runze Sun
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Samuel Babalol
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Ruichong Ni
- Department of Petroleum Engineering, University of North Dakota, 243 Centennial Drive Stop 8155, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA
| | - Alireza Arhami Dolatabad
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Jiefei Cao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Feng Xiao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
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19
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Verma S, Mezgebe B, Hejase CA, Sahle-Demessie E, Nadagouda MN. Photodegradation and photocatalysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): A review of recent progress. NEXT MATERIALS 2024; 2:1-12. [PMID: 38840836 PMCID: PMC11151751 DOI: 10.1016/j.nxmate.2023.100077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are oxidatively recalcitrant organic synthetic compounds. PFAS are an exceptional group of chemicals that have significant physical characteristics due to the presence of the most electronegative element (i.e., fluorine). PFAS persist in the environment, bioaccumulate, and have been linked to toxicological impacts. Epidemiological and toxicity studies have shown that PFAS pose environmental and health risks, requiring their complete elimination from the environment. Various separation technologies, including adsorption with activated carbon or ion exchange resin; nanofiltration; reverse osmosis; and destruction methods (e.g., sonolysis, thermally induced reduction, and photocatalytic dissociation) have been evaluated to remove PFAS from drinking water supplies. In this review, we will comprehensively summarize previous reports on the photodegradation of PFAS with a special focus on photocatalysis. Additionally, challenges associated with these approaches along with perspectives on the state-of-the-art approaches will be discussed. Finally, the photocatalytic defluorination mechanism of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) following complete mineralization will also be examined in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanny Verma
- Pegasus Technical Services INC., Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA
| | - Bineyam Mezgebe
- Groundwater Characterization and Remediation Division, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, US EPA, Ada, OK 74820, USA
| | - Charifa A. Hejase
- Pegasus Technical Services INC., Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Endalkachew Sahle-Demessie
- Land Remediation and Technology Division, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, US EPA, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Mallikarjuna N. Nadagouda
- Water Infrastructure Division, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, US EPA, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
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20
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Li D, Zhang J, Liu X, Wang X, Li B, Du Z, Juhasz A, Wang J, Wang J, Zhu L. Are PFBS, PFHxS, and 6:2FTSA more friendly to the soil environment compared to PFOS? A new insight based on ecotoxicity study in soil invertebrates (Eisenia fetida). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166689. [PMID: 37652386 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166689] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
As alternatives to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) with shorter carbon chains or lower proportion of fluorine atoms, perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2FTSA) have been detected in various environmental media. However, it is unclear whether the toxicity of these alternatives is lower than that of PFOS. Therefore, this study investigated the toxicity and differences in PFBS, PFHxS, 6:2FTSA, and PFOS (0.2 mg/kg) after 56 d of exposure using the common invertebrate Eisenia fetida in soil as the test organism. The results showed that although PFOS, PFBS, PFHxS, and 6:2FTSA induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in earthworms and led to developmental and reproductive toxicity in terms of comprehensive toxicity, PFHxS > PFOS > PFBS >6:2FTSA. To reveal the mechanisms underlying the differences in toxicity between the alternatives and PFOS, we conducted molecular docking and transcriptomic analyses. The results indicated that, unlike PFOS, PFBS, and PFHxS, 6:2FTSA did not cause significant changes in antioxidant enzyme activity at the molecular level. Furthermore, PFOS exposure caused disorder in the nervous and metabolic systems of earthworms, and PFHxS disrupted energy balance and triggered inflammatory responses, which may be important reasons for the higher toxicity of these compounds. In contrast, exposure to 6:2FTSA did not result in adverse transcriptomic effects, suggesting that 6:2FTSA exerted the least molecular-scale toxicity in earthworms. The results of this study provide new insights into the environmental safety of using PFBS, PFHxS, and 6:2FTSA as alternatives to PFOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dengtan Li
- College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environment in Universities of Shandong, 61 Daizong Road, Taian 271018, China.
| | - Jingwen Zhang
- College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environment in Universities of Shandong, 61 Daizong Road, Taian 271018, China.
| | - Xiaowen Liu
- College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environment in Universities of Shandong, 61 Daizong Road, Taian 271018, China.
| | - Xiaole Wang
- College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environment in Universities of Shandong, 61 Daizong Road, Taian 271018, China.
| | - Bing Li
- College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environment in Universities of Shandong, 61 Daizong Road, Taian 271018, China.
| | - Zhongkun Du
- College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environment in Universities of Shandong, 61 Daizong Road, Taian 271018, China.
| | - Albert Juhasz
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia.
| | - Jinhua Wang
- College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environment in Universities of Shandong, 61 Daizong Road, Taian 271018, China.
| | - Jun Wang
- College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environment in Universities of Shandong, 61 Daizong Road, Taian 271018, China.
| | - Lusheng Zhu
- College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environment in Universities of Shandong, 61 Daizong Road, Taian 271018, China.
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21
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Vatankhah H, Anderson RH, Ghosh R, Willey J, Leeson A. A review of innovative approaches for onsite management of PFAS-impacted investigation derived waste. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 247:120769. [PMID: 37931356 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120769] [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: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
The historic use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) has led to widespread detection of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) in groundwater, soils, sediments, drinking water, wastewater, and receiving aquatic systems throughout the United States (U.S.). Prior to any remediation activities, in order to identify the PFAS-impacted source zones and select the optimum management approach, extensive site investigations need to be conducted. These site investigations have resulted in the generation of considerable amount of investigation-derived waste (IDW) which predominantly consists of well purging water and drill fluid, equipment washing residue, soil, drill cuttings, and residues from the destruction of asphalt and concrete surfaces. IDW is often impacted by varying levels of PFAS which poses a substantial challenge concerning disposal to prevent potential mobilization of PFAS, logistical complexities, and increasing requirement for storage as a result of accumulation of the associated wastes. The distinct features of IDW involve the intermittent generation of waste, substantial volume of waste produced, and the critical demand for onsite management. This article critically focuses on innovative technologies and approaches employed for onsite treatment and management of PFAS-impacted IDW. The overall objective of this study centers on developing and deploying end-of-life treatment technology systems capable of facilitating unrestricted disposal, discharge, and/or IDW reuse on-site, thereby reducing spatial footprints and mobilization time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hooman Vatankhah
- Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program and the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program, Arlington, VA, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA.
| | | | | | | | - Andrea Leeson
- Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program and the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program, Arlington, VA, USA
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22
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Xingchun J, Wei Z, Jing P, Guohui L, Dian C, Zhaohe Z, Yiran Z. The occurrence, spatial distribution, and well-depth dependence of PFASs in groundwater from a reclaimed water irrigation area. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 901:165904. [PMID: 37527708 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
With the growing development of modern agriculture and industry, groundwater is facing more and more complex contaminants. One such contaminant is per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), which pose a potential risk to human health, particularly for those who rely on groundwater as their primary source of drinking water. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive investigation on the occurrence, spatial distribution, and source apportionment of PFASs in shallow (<60 m) and deep (>80 m) groundwater samples from a reclaimed water irrigation area in Beijing's suburbs. Our results showed that the average total PFAS concentration (∑10PFAS) for all samples was 10.55 ± 7.77 ng/L, ranging from 1.05 to 34.28 ng/L. The dominant congeners were PFBA, PFOA, and PFBS. No significant linear relationship was observed between PFAS concentrations and the well depth. However, the averaged ΣPFASs in groundwater were highest in the uppermost layer and declined sharply to a few ng/L in the deep aquifer below 80 m. PFASs showed elevated concentration in shallow aquifers in 9 out of 11 paired wells, indicating an overall descending trend of PFASs with increasing aquifer depth. The spatial distribution of PFASs was highly heterogeneous and showed different patterns in shallow and deep groundwater, which may be related to the complicated attenuation behavior of PFAS compounds when they transport and diffuse through overlapping aquifer layers. The influence of the landfill on groundwater PFASs was most pronounced within a 5 km radius. Source apportionment results indicated that reclaimed water irrigation is the main non-point source of PFASs in shallow groundwater. In contrast, deep groundwater is primarily subject to point sources and lateral recharge flow. This investigation of PFASs in shallow and deep wells provides a foundation for further exploration of PFASs transportation and risk prevention in regions where groundwater is a major water resource for domestic and industrial development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Xingchun
- National Research Center for Geoanalysis, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, China.
| | - Zhao Wei
- Beijing Institute of Geological Environment Monitoring, China
| | - Pan Jing
- Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, China
| | - Lu Guohui
- National Research Center for Geoanalysis, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, China
| | - Chen Dian
- School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences Beijing, China
| | - Zhang Zhaohe
- School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences Beijing, China
| | - Zhao Yiran
- National Research Center for Geoanalysis, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, China
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23
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Li R, Gibson JM. Predicting Groundwater PFOA Exposure Risks with Bayesian Networks: Empirical Impact of Data Preprocessing on Model Performance. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:18329-18338. [PMID: 37594027 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c00348] [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: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
The plethora of data on PFASs in environmental samples collected in response to growing concern about these chemicals could enable the training of machine-learning models for predicting exposure risks. However, differences in sampling and analysis methods across data sets must be reconciled through data preprocessing, and little information is available about how such manipulations affect the resulting models. This study evaluates how data preprocessing influences machine-learned Bayesian network models of PFOA in groundwater. We link 19 years of PFOA measurements from Minnesota, USA, to publicly available information about potential PFOA sources and factors that may influence their environmental fate. Nine different preprocessing methods were tested, and the resulting data sets were used to train models to predict the probability of PFOA ≥ 35 ppt, the 2017 Minnesota health advisory level. Different preprocessing approaches produced varying model structures with significantly different accuracies. Nonetheless, models showed similar relationships between predictor variables and PFOA exposure risks, and all models were relatively accurate, distinguishing wells at high risk from those at low risk for 82.0% to 89.0% of test data samples. There was a trade-off between data quality and model performance since a stricter data screening strategy decreased the sample size for model training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runwei Li
- Department of Civil Engineering, New Mexico State University, 3035 S Espina St, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003, United States
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, 915 Partners Way, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, 915 Partners Way, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
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24
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Silver M, Phelps W, Masarik K, Burke K, Zhang C, Schwartz A, Wang M, Nitka AL, Schutz J, Trainor T, Washington JW, Rheineck BD. Prevalence and Source Tracing of PFAS in Shallow Groundwater Used for Drinking Water in Wisconsin, USA. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:17415-17426. [PMID: 37916814 PMCID: PMC10653221 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c02826] [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: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Samples from 450 homes with shallow private wells throughout the state of Wisconsin (USA) were collected and analyzed for 44 individual per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), general water quality parameters, and indicators of human waste as well as agricultural influence. At least one PFAS was detected in 71% of the study samples, and 22 of the 44 PFAS analytes were detected in one or more samples. Levels of PFOA and/or PFOS exceeded the proposed Maximum Contaminant Levels of 4 ng/L, put forward by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in March 2023, in 17 of the 450 samples, with two additional samples containing PFHxS ≳ 9 ng/L (the EPA-proposed hazard index reference value). Those samples above the referenced PFAS levels tend to be associated with developed land and human waste indicators (artificial sweeteners and pharmaceuticals), which can be released to groundwater via septic systems. For a few samples with levels of PFOA, PFOS, and/or PFHxS > 40 ng/L, application of wastes to agricultural land is a possible source. Overall, the study suggests that human waste sources, septic systems in particular, are important sources of perfluoroalkyl acids, especially ones with ≤8 perfluorinated carbons, in shallow groundwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Silver
- Bureau
of Drinking Water and Groundwater—Groundwater Section, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin 53707, United States
| | - William Phelps
- Bureau
of Drinking Water and Groundwater—Groundwater Section, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin 53707, United States
| | - Kevin Masarik
- Center
for Watershed Science and Education, College of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin—Stevens Point, Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481, United States
| | - Kyle Burke
- Environmental
Health Division—Organics, Wisconsin
State Laboratory of Hygiene, Madison, Wisconsin 53707, United States
| | - Chen Zhang
- Environmental
Health Division—Organics, Wisconsin
State Laboratory of Hygiene, Madison, Wisconsin 53707, United States
| | - Alex Schwartz
- Environmental
Health Division—Organics, Wisconsin
State Laboratory of Hygiene, Madison, Wisconsin 53707, United States
| | - Miaoyan Wang
- Department
of Statistics, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53707, United States
| | - Amy L. Nitka
- Center
for Watershed Science and Education, College of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin—Stevens Point, Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481, United States
| | - Jordan Schutz
- Bureau
of Drinking Water and Groundwater—Groundwater Section, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin 53707, United States
| | - Tom Trainor
- Bureau
of Environmental Analysis and Sustainability − Laboratory Certification, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54313, United States
| | - John W. Washington
- Center
for
Environmental Measurement and Modeling, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, Georgia 30605, United States
| | - Bruce D. Rheineck
- Bureau
of Drinking Water and Groundwater—Groundwater Section, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin 53707, United States
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25
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Hou C, Deng J, Li S, Li H, Zhou Y, Zhai Y. Differences between reductive defluorination of perfluorooctanoic acid by chlorination, bromination, and iodization in the vacuum-ultraviolet/sulfite process. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 460:132459. [PMID: 37683349 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
The introduction of iodide (I-) has broad perspectives on the decomposition of perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs, CnF2n+1COO-). However, the iodinated substances produced are highly toxic synthetic chemicals, hence, it is urgent to find a similar alternative with less toxicity. In this work, the defluorination of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) by I-, bromide (Br-) and chlorine (Cl-) was systematically compared in the VUV/sulfite process. Results indicated that the PFOA defluorination rates increased with increasing nucleophilicity of halogens (I > Br > Cl). Meanwhile, the introduction of I-, Br-, and Cl- reduced the interference of the coexisting water matrix on the degrading influence of PFOA. The in situ produced eaq-, SO3•-, H•, and HO• were recognized, among the addition of I- maximized the relative contribution of eaq- but Br- and Cl- decreased that of H• and other radicals. Additionally, HPLC/MS analysis revealed the presence of I-, Br-, and Cl- had a vital impact on the difference in product concentrations, while they had a negligible effect on the change in the pathway of degradation. Overall, this study demonstrated the similarities and differences between I-, Br-, and Cl-, which has significant implications for further understanding VUV/sulfite degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changlan Hou
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Jiaqin Deng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, PR China
| | - Shanhong Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Hui Li
- Hunan Academy of Forestry and State Key Laboratory of Utilization of Woody Oil Resource, Changsha 410004, PR China
| | - Yin Zhou
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Yunbo Zhai
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China.
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26
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Al Amin M, Luo Y, Shi F, Yu L, Liu Y, Nolan A, Awoyemi OS, Megharaj M, Naidu R, Fang C. A modified TOP assay to detect per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) and soil. Front Chem 2023; 11:1141182. [PMID: 37881243 PMCID: PMC10595011 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1141182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Total oxidisable precursor (TOP) assay can oxidise some per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and their precursors, most of which cannot be quantitatively detected so far, and convert them to detectable PFASs, such as perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs). However, the conversion is constrained by the complexity of the target samples, including co-existent organics, unknown PFAS precursors, and background. In this study, the TOP assay is modified to increase the oxidation and conversion efficiency by changing the initial concentration of target sample, increasing oxidising doses, time, temperature, etc. The modified TOP assay is applied to test several aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) and a PFAS-contaminated soil extract. The sum concentrations of the detectable PFASs are increased by up to ∼534× in the AFFF samples and ∼7× in the PFAS-contaminated soil extract. The detectable fluorotelomer sulfonate (FTS, such as 6:2/8:2 FTS) is accounted as an oxidation indicator to monitor the oxidation and conversion progress of the oxidisable PFASs precursors to the detectable PFASs. Overall, the modified TOP assay could be an appropriate method for identifying missing PFASs mass in complex matrices by detecting the PFASs precursors effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Al Amin
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Yunlong Luo
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Feng Shi
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Linbo Yu
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Yanju Liu
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Olalekan Simon Awoyemi
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Mallavarapu Megharaj
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Ravi Naidu
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Cheng Fang
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
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27
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Chen Z, Zhang S, Wang X, Mi N, Zhang M, Zeng G, Dong H, Liu J, Wu B, Wei S, Gu C. Amine-Functionalized A-Center Sphalerite for Selective and Efficient Destruction of Perfluorooctanoic Acid. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 37406161 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c01266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorochemicals (PFCs), especially perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), have contaminated the ground and surface waters throughout the world. Efficient removal of PFCs from contaminated waters has been a major challenge. This study developed a novel UV-based reaction system to achieve fast PFOA adsorption and decomposition without addition of sacrificial chemicals by using synthetic photocatalyst sphalerite (ZnS-[N]) with sufficient surface amination and defects. The obtained ZnS-[N] has the capability of both reduction and oxidation due to the suitable band gap and photo-generated hole-trapping properties created by surface defects. The cooperated organic amine functional groups on the surface of ZnS-[N] play a crucial role in the selective adsorption of PFOA, which guarantee the efficient destruction of PFOA subsequently, and 1 μg L-1 PFOA could be degraded to <70 ng L-1 after 3 h in the presence of 0.75 g L-1 ZnS-[N] under 500 W UV irradiation. In this process, the photogenerated electrons (reduction) and holes (oxidation) on the ZnS-[N] surface work in a synergistic manner to achieve complete defluorination of PFOA. This study not only provides promising green technology for PFC-pollution remediation but also highlights the significance of developing a target system capable of both reduction and oxidation for PFC degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanghao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China
| | - Shuoqi Zhang
- Kuang Yaming Honors School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China
| | - Xinhao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China
| | - Na Mi
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China
- Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Nanjing 210042, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, P. R. China
| | - Guixiang Zeng
- Kuang Yaming Honors School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China
| | - Hailiang Dong
- Center for Geomicrobiology and Biogeochemistry Research, State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Jinyong Liu
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Bing Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China
| | - Si Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China
| | - Cheng Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China
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28
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Guo B, Saleem H, Brusseau ML. Predicting Interfacial Tension and Adsorption at Fluid-Fluid Interfaces for Mixtures of PFAS and/or Hydrocarbon Surfactants. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:8044-8052. [PMID: 37204869 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Many per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are surface-active and adsorb at fluid-fluid interfaces. The interfacial adsorption controls PFAS transport in multiple environmental systems, including leaching through soils, accumulation in aerosols, and treatment methods such as foam fractionation. Most PFAS contamination sites comprise mixtures of PFAS as well as hydrocarbon surfactants, which complicates their adsorption behaviors. We present a mathematical model for predicting interfacial tension and adsorption at fluid-fluid interfaces for multicomponent PFAS and hydrocarbon surfactants. The model is derived from simplifying a prior advanced thermodynamic-based model and applies to nonionic and ionic mixtures of the same charge sign with swamping electrolytes. The only required model inputs are the single-component Szyszkowski parameters obtained for the individual components. We validate the model using literature interfacial tension data of air-water and NAPL (non-aqueous phase liquid)-water interfaces covering a wide range of multicomponent PFAS and hydrocarbon surfactants. Application of the model to representative porewater PFAS concentrations in the vadose zone suggests competitive adsorption can significantly reduce PFAS retention (up to 7 times) at some highly contaminated sites. The multicomponent model can be readily incorporated into transport models to simulate the migration of mixtures of PFAS and/or hydrocarbon surfactants in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Guo
- Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Hassan Saleem
- Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Mark L Brusseau
- Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85719, United States
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29
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Rafiei V, Nejadhashemi AP. Watershed scale PFAS fate and transport model for source identification and management implications. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 240:120073. [PMID: 37235893 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Developing strategic plans for the remediation and mitigation of pre- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soil, groundwater, and surface water requires an understanding of the fate and transport of these chemicals on a regional scale. To fill this knowledge gap, we developed a distributed hydrogeochemical model and applied it to a large-scale watershed with various point and non-point sources of a long-chain, highly persistent PFAS compound known as perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). The results showed that the developed model could reproduce the spatiotemporal concentration of PFOS across a large and diverse watershed. Herein, our first objective was to quantify the PFOS transport from the unsaturated zone to the groundwater and surface water via leaching, surface runoff, lateral flow, and sediment transport. The second objective was to identify factors influencing PFOS release from confirmed and suspected PFAS sites and urban and agricultural areas. The modeling results show that surface runoff played a significant role in PFOS transport, with urban areas and industrial sites being major contributors. In addition, sediment transport was found to be a notable pathway for PFOS release, particularly from sites with biosolids application. Further analysis revealed the relative importance of topography, soil water retention, and water-solid adsorption factors in determining PFOS transport dynamics at the watershed scale for better source identification and targeted management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Rafiei
- Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University (MSU), USA
| | - A Pouyan Nejadhashemi
- Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University (MSU), USA.
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30
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Gasco Cavero S, García-Gil A, Cruz-Pérez N, Martín Rodríguez LF, Laspidou C, Contreras-Llin A, Quintana G, Díaz-Cruz S, Santamarta JC. First emerging pollutants profile in groundwater of the volcanic active island of El Hierro (Canary Islands). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 872:162204. [PMID: 36796686 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Emerging pollutants (EPs) are substances present in wastewater that have not been studied, previously, leading to ambiguity in regulations for their presence in water resources. Territories that are highly dependent on groundwater resources are at a high risk of suffering the consequences of EP contamination due to their dependence on good quality groundwater for agriculture, drinking, and other uses. A relevant example is El Hierro (Canary Islands), which was declared a biosphere reserve by the UNESCO in 2000 and is almost completely powered by renewable energies. Using high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, the concentrations of 70 EPs were assessed at 19 sampling points on El Hierro. The results indicated that no pesticides were present in groundwater; however, varied concentration levels of ultraviolet (UV) filters, UV stabilizers/blockers and pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) were found, with La Frontera being the most contaminated municipality. With regard to the different installation types, piezometers and wells were the ones showing the highest concentrations for most EPs. Interestingly, the depth of sampling correlated positively with EP concentration, and four different clusters virtually dividing the island into two areas could be identified based on the presence of each EP. More studies should be performed to ascertain why a few of the EPs showed considerably high concentrations at different depths. The results obtained highlight the need to, not only implement remediation measures once EPs have reached the soil and aquifers, but also to avoid their incorporation into the water cycle via homes, animal husbandry, agriculture, industry, and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Samanta Gasco Cavero
- Geological Survey of Spain (IGME), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), C/ Ríos Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro García-Gil
- Geological Survey of Spain (IGME), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), C/ Ríos Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Noelia Cruz-Pérez
- Departamento de Ingeniería Agraria y del Medio Natural, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Tenerife, Spain.
| | - Luis Fernando Martín Rodríguez
- Insular Water Authority of El Hierro (CIAEH)/Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
| | - Chrysi Laspidou
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece.
| | - Albert Contreras-Llin
- Dept. Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), C/Jordi Girona 18-26, E-08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gerard Quintana
- Dept. Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), C/Jordi Girona 18-26, E-08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Díaz-Cruz
- Dept. Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), C/Jordi Girona 18-26, E-08034 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Juan C Santamarta
- Departamento de Ingeniería Agraria y del Medio Natural, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Tenerife, Spain.
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31
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Jahn KL, Lincoln SA, Freeman KH, Saffer DM. Preferential Retention and Transport of Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid in a Dolomite Aquifer. GROUND WATER 2023; 61:318-329. [PMID: 36103019 DOI: 10.1111/gwat.13255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can represent a significant human health risk if present in aquifers used as a drinking water source. Accurate assessment of PFAS exposure risks requires an improved understanding of field-scale PFAS transport in groundwater. Activities at a former firefighter training site in University Park, Pennsylvania introduced perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) to the underlying dolomite aquifer. Groundwater sampling from 2015 to 2018 delineated a PFOS plume with two concentration maxima located approximately 20 and approximately 220 m downgradient of the training site, separated by a zone of lower concentrations. We use a combination of analytical and numerical models, informed by independent measurements of aquifer porosity, hydraulic conductivity, and organic carbon content, to interpret the field observations. Our analysis demonstrates that preferential retention and transport resulting from simple heterogeneity in bedrock sorption, as caused by organic carbon (OC) content variability, provides a plausible explanation for plume separation. Dissolved PFOS partitions strongly to organic solids (high Koc ), so even a small OC (<1 wt%) significantly retards PFOS transport, whereas zones with little to no OC allow for transport rates that approximate those of a conservative solute. Our work highlights an important consideration for modeling the groundwater transport of PFOS, and other compounds with high Koc . In aquifers with discrete layers of varying OC, models using a uniform site-average OC will underestimate transport distances, thereby misrepresenting exposure risks for downgradient communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalle L Jahn
- USGS New York Water Science Center, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Sara A Lincoln
- Department of Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
- Akima Systems Engineering, Herndon, VA
| | - Katherine H Freeman
- Department of Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
| | - Demian M Saffer
- Institute for Geophysics, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
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Chen C, Fang Y, Zhou D. Selective pressure of PFOA on microbial community: Enrichment of denitrifiers harboring ARGs and the transfer of ferric-electrons. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 233:119813. [PMID: 36863277 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a class of permanent organic pollutants, is frequently detected in surface and ground water, with the latter made up primarily of porous media (such as soils, sediments, and aquifers) that harbor microbial communities. Therefore, we investigated the effects of PFOA on water ecosystems and found that, under stimulation by 2.4 μM PFOA, denitrifiers were significantly enriched due to their hosting antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs), which were 1.45 times more abundant than the control. Furthermore, denitrifying metabolism was enhanced by Fe(II) electron donation. Specifically, 2.4 μM PFOA significantly enhanced the removal of total inorganic nitrogen by 178.6%. The microbial community became predominated by denitrifying bacteria (67.8% abundance). Notably, the nitrate-reduction ferrous-oxidizing (NRFO) bacteria Dechloromonas, Acidovorax, Bradyrhizorium, etc. were significantly enriched. The selective pressures of PFOA driving the enrichment of denitrifiers were twofold. First, the toxic PFOA induced denitrifying bacteria to produce ARGs, mainly including the efflux (occupying 55.4%) and antibiotic inactivation (occupying 41.2%) types, which improved microbial tolerance to PFOA. The risk of horizontal ARGs transmission was elevated as the overall number of horizontally transmissible ARGs increased by 47.1%. Second, Fe(II) electrons were transported via the porin-cytochrome c extracellular electrons transfer system (EET), promoting the expression of nitrate reductases, which in turn further enhanced denitrification. In summary, PFOA regulated the microbial community structure and influenced microbial TN removal functions and increased the contribution of ARGs by the denitrifier hosts, but the PFOA-induced production of ARGs may pose a serious ecological threat that needs to be comprehensively investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congli Chen
- Engineering Research Center of Low-Carbon Treatment and Green Development of Polluted Water in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China; Jilin Engineering Lab for Water Pollution Control and Resources Recovery, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China; School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
| | - Yuanping Fang
- Engineering Research Center of Low-Carbon Treatment and Green Development of Polluted Water in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China; Jilin Engineering Lab for Water Pollution Control and Resources Recovery, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China; School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
| | - Dandan Zhou
- Engineering Research Center of Low-Carbon Treatment and Green Development of Polluted Water in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China; Jilin Engineering Lab for Water Pollution Control and Resources Recovery, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China; School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China.
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Liu S, Liu Z, Tan W, Johnson AC, Sweetman AJ, Sun X, Liu Y, Chen C, Guo H, Liu H, Wan X, Zhang L. Transport and transformation of perfluoroalkyl acids, isomer profiles, novel alternatives and unknown precursors from factories to dinner plates in China: New insights into crop bioaccumulation prediction and risk assessment. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 172:107795. [PMID: 36764184 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are contaminants of global concern, and the inadvertent consumption of PFAA-contaminated crops may pose a threat to public health. Therefore, systematically studying their source tracing, bioaccumulation prediction and risk assessments in crops is an urgent priority. This study investigated the source apportionment and transport of PFAAs and novel fluorinated alternatives (collectively as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFASs) from factories to agricultural fields in a fluorochemical industrial region of China. Furthermore, bioaccumulation specificities and prediction of these chemicals in different vegetables were explored, followed by a comprehensive risk assessment from agricultural fields to dinner plates which considered precursor degradation. A positive matrix factorization model revealed that approximately 70 % of PFASs in agricultural soils were derived from fluorochemical manufacturing and metal processing. Alarming levels of ∑PFASs ranged 8.28-84.3 ng/g in soils and 163-7176 ng/g in vegetables. PFAS with short carbon chain or carboxylic acid group as well as branched isomers exhibited higher environmental transport potentials and bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) across a range of vegetables. The BAFs of different isomers of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) decreased as the perfluoromethyl group moved further from the acid functional group. Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX) showed relatively low BAFs, probably related to its ether bond with a high affinity to soil. Vegetables with fewer Casparian strips (e.g., carrot and radish), or more protein, possessed larger BAFs of PFASs. A bioaccumulation equation integrating critical parameters of PFASs, vegetables and soils, was built and corroborated with a good contamination prediction. After a total oxidizable precursors (TOP) assay, incremental perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) were massively found (325-5940 ng/g) in edible vegetable parts. Besides, precursor degradation and volatilization loss of PFASs was firstly confirmed during vegetable cooking. A risk assessment based on the TOP assay was developed to assist the protection of vegetable consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Liu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Health and Green Remediation, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Zhaoyang Liu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Health and Green Remediation, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Wenfeng Tan
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Health and Green Remediation, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Andrew C Johnson
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Crowmarsh Gifford Wallingford, Oxon, OX 10 8BB, UK
| | - Andrew J Sweetman
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Xiaoyan Sun
- Institute of Microbiology, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang 330096, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Institute of Microbiology, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang 330096, China
| | - Chang Chen
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Health and Green Remediation, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Hao Guo
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Health and Green Remediation, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Hanyu Liu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Health and Green Remediation, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xiang Wan
- Hubei Geological Survey, Wuhan 430034, China
| | - Limei Zhang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Health and Green Remediation, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
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Groffen T, Prinsen E, Devos Stoffels OA, Maas L, Vincke P, Lasters R, Eens M, Bervoets L. PFAS accumulation in several terrestrial plant and invertebrate species reveals species-specific differences. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:23820-23835. [PMID: 36331738 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23799-8] [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: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Despite the known persistence and bioaccumulation potential of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), much uncertainty exists regarding their bioavailability in the terrestrial environment. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of soil characteristics and PFAS concentrations on the adsorption of PFAS to soil and their influence on the PFAS bioavailability to terrestrial plants and invertebrates. PFAS concentrations and profile were compared among different invertebrate and plant species and differences between leaves and fruits/nuts of the plant species were assessed. Soil concentrations were primarily affected by organic carbon content. The PFAS accumulation in biota was, except for PFOA concentrations in nettles, unrelated to the soil concentrations, as well as to the soil characteristics. The PFAS profiles in soil and invertebrates were mainly dominated by PFOA and PFOS, whereas short-chained PFAS were more abundant in plant tissues. Our results show that different invertebrate taxa accumulate different PFAS, likely due to dietary differences. Both long-chained and, to lesser extent, short-chained PFAS were observed in herbivorous invertebrate taxa, whereas the carnivorous invertebrates only accumulated long-chained PFAS. Correlations were observed between PFOA concentrations in herbivorous invertebrates and in the leaves of some plant species, whereas such relationships were absent for the carnivorous spiders. It is essential to continuously monitor PFAS exposure in terrestrial organisms, taking into account differences in bioaccumulation, and subsequent potential toxicity, among taxa, in order to protect the terrestrial ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thimo Groffen
- ECOSPHERE, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium.
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Els Prinsen
- Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research (IMPRES), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ona-Abeni Devos Stoffels
- ECOSPHERE, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Layla Maas
- ECOSPHERE, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Pieter Vincke
- ECOSPHERE, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Robin Lasters
- ECOSPHERE, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Marcel Eens
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Lieven Bervoets
- ECOSPHERE, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
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Mao R, Lu Y, Zhang M, Wang C, Sun B, Shi Y, Song S, Wang P, Yuan J, Zhao J. Distribution of legacy and novel per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in surface and groundwater affected by irrigation in an arid region. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 858:159693. [PMID: 36302407 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Frequent exchange of surface water and groundwater occurs in arid/semi-arid areas due to high evaporation and intensive irrigation activities, affecting the migration and transformation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and threatening drinking water safety. This study analyzed legacy PFASs and potential precursors in surface water, groundwater, soil, and aquifer solid samples collected from a typical arid area, the Hetao Irrigation District of Northern China, to explore PFASs distribution and transformation between surface and ground. Total PFASs (ΣPFASs) in surface water was 29-232 ng/L, higher than 2-77 ng/L in groundwater. ΣPFASs in soil were 0.29-0.59 ng/g, higher than 0.09-0.27 in the aquifer solids. Regarding horizontal distribution, the concentration of PFASs in groundwater increased in downtowns and the areas recharged with lake water. In terms of vertical distribution, ΣPFASs decreased with the increase of depth, and more PFASs adsorbed on clay particles in the aquifer. The total oxidable precursor analysis showed that 8:2 FT and 4:2 FT were the dominant precursors of PFASs, resulting in an increment of 0.1-4 ng/L PFASs. Hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope compositions suggest similar sources between surface water and groundwater in the study area, while principal component analysis and Bayesian inference also indicate that surface water is an important source of groundwater PFASs. The annual infiltration PFASs to groundwater from Ulansuhai was estimated by the water balance approach to be 9.39 kg. Results highlight the influence of agricultural irrigation activities and lake infiltration on groundwater PFASs in the arid region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoyu Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yonglong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal Wetland Ecosystems, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Fujian 361102, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Meng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Cong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bin Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yajuan Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shuai Song
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Pei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal Wetland Ecosystems, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Jingjing Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal Wetland Ecosystems, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Jixin Zhao
- Bayannur Institute of Environmental Science, Bayannur 015000, China
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36
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Toxicity Effects of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) on Two Green Microalgae Species. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032446. [PMID: 36768770 PMCID: PMC9916455 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Amongst per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) compounds, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) have a high persistence in physicochemical and biological degradation; therefore, the accumulation of PFOS and PFOA can negatively affect aquatic organisms and human health. In this study, two microalgae species (Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus) were exposed to different concentrations of a PFOS and PFOA mixture (0 to 10 mg L-1). With increases in the contact time (days) and the PFAS concentration (mg L-1) from 1 to 7, and 0.5 to 10, respectively, the cell viability, total chlorophyll content, and protein content decreased, and the decrease in these parameters was significantly greater in Scenedesmus obliquus. As another step in the study, the response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the toxicity effects of PFAS on microalgae in a logical way, as demonstrated by the high R2 (>0.9). In another stage, a molecular docking study was performed to monitor the interaction of PFOS and PFOA with the microalgae, considering hydrolysis and the enzymes involved in oxidation-reduction reactions using individual enzymes. The analysis was conducted on carboxypeptidase in Chlorella vulgaris and on c-terminal processing protease and oxidized cytochrome c6 in Scenedesmus obliquus. For the enzyme activity, the affinity and dimensions of ligands-binding sites and ligand-binding energy were estimated in each case.
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Xing Y, Li Q, Chen X, Huang B, Ji L, Zhang Q, Fu X, Li T, Wang J. PFASs in Soil: How They Threaten Human Health through Multiple Pathways and Whether They Are Receiving Adequate Concern. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:1259-1275. [PMID: 36622935 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c06283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been mass-produced and widely applied in consumer and industrial products, resulting in their widespread presence in the environment. Features such as environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, and high toxicity even at low doses have made PFASs an increasing concern. This brief review focuses on soil PFASs, especially the effect of soil PFASs on other environmental media and their potential threats to human health through daily diet. Specifically, soil PFASs contamination caused by different pathways was first investigated. Soil pollution from application of aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) is generally more severe than that from fluorochemical manufacturing plants, followed by biosolid land use, landfill, and irrigation. Factors, such as carbon chain length of PFASs, wastewater treatment technology, geographical conditions, and regional development level, are related to soil PFASs' pollution. Then, the migration, bioaccumulation, and toxicity characteristics of soil PFASs were analyzed. Short-chain PFASs have higher solubility, mobility, and bioavailability, while long-chain PFASs have higher bioaccumulation potential and are more toxic to organisms. Factors such as soil texture, solution chemistry conditions, enzymes, and fertilization conditions also influence the environmental behavior of PFASs. The risk of human exposure to PFASs through agricultural and animal products is difficult to control and varies depending on living region, age, eating habits, lifestyle, ethnicity, etc. Soil PFASs threaten drinking water safety, affect soil function, and enter food webs, threatening human health. Knowledge gaps and perspectives in these research fields are also included in current work to assist future research to effectively investigate and understand the environmental risks of soil PFASs, thereby reducing human exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingna Xing
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, China
| | - Qi Li
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Bin Huang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Lei Ji
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, China
| | - Xiaowen Fu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, China
| | - Tianyuan Li
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, China
| | - Jianing Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, China
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East A, Egeghy PP, Hubal EAC, Slover R, Vallero DA. Computational estimates of daily aggregate exposure to PFOA/PFOS from 2011 to 2017 using a basic intake model. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2023; 33:56-68. [PMID: 34373583 PMCID: PMC10568366 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-021-00374-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances has been modeled to estimate serum concentrations. Given that the production and use of these compounds have decreased in recent years, especially PFOA and PFOS, and that additional concentration data have become available from the US and other industrialized countries over the past decade, aggregate median intakes of these two compounds were estimated using more recent data. METHODS Summary statistics from secondary sources were collected, averaged, and mapped for indoor and outdoor air, water, dust, and soil for PFOA and PFOS to estimate exposures for adults and children. European dietary intake estimates were used to estimate daily intake from food. RESULTS In accordance with decreased concentrations in media, daily intake estimates among adults, i.e., 40 ng/day PFOA and 40 ng/day PFOS, are substantially lower than those reported previously, as are children's estimates of 14 ng/day PFOA and 17 ng/day PFOS. Using a first-order pharmacokinetic model, these results compare favorably to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey serum concentration measurements. CONCLUSION Concomitant blood concentrations support this enhanced estimation approach that captures the decline of PFOA/PFOS serum concentration over a decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander East
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Peter P Egeghy
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Elaine A Cohen Hubal
- U.S. EPA, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Rachel Slover
- U.S. EPA, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Daniel A Vallero
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
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Stefano PHP, Roisenberg A, D'Anna Acayaba R, Roque AP, Bandoria DR, Soares A, Montagner CC. Occurrence and distribution of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface and groundwaters in an urbanized and agricultural area, Southern Brazil. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:6159-6169. [PMID: 35987853 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-22603-x] [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: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, are emerging contaminants detected in surface water, groundwater, drinking water, air, and food. Due to its chemical stability and high hydrophobicity, these compounds are used as surfactants, surface protectors, flame retardants, textile impregnation, fire-fighting foam, and pesticides and may be a risk for human health in the long-term exposure. Currently, a little research has been carried out for these compounds in Brazil. In this study, the concentration and distribution of 23 PFAS were analyzed in groundwater samples collected from water wells in urbanized areas and in surface water samples from Porto Alegre, one of the biggest cities in Brazil. The total concentrations of PFAS (ΣPFAS) in a groundwater sample varied between 22 and 718 ng L-1. Eleven PFAS species were detected in groundwater, including PFOA, PFHxA, PFPeA, PFBA, PFDA, PFNA, and PFOS. Most of PFAS were quantified in samples located in the aquifer formed by medium to coarse sands intercalated with silty-sandy lenses and low organic matter content that could facilitate the percolation of these compounds. The total concentrations of PFAS (ΣPFAS) in a surface water sample varied between 11 and 17 ng L-1. Ten species were founded in surface water being PFOA, PFOS, and PFHpA the most dominant. Considering all the samples, PFOA was the predominant species in the study. In addition, tributary water bodies had higher concentrations of PFAS than the main water body (Guaiba Lake) probably due dilution process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Henrique Prado Stefano
- Analytical Chemistry Department, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, São Paulo, Campinas, Brazil
- Hydrogeology Laboratory, Geology Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Ari Roisenberg
- Hydrogeology Laboratory, Geology Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Raphael D'Anna Acayaba
- Analytical Chemistry Department, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, São Paulo, Campinas, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Cassiana Carolina Montagner
- Analytical Chemistry Department, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, São Paulo, Campinas, Brazil.
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Gnesda WR, Draxler EF, Tinjum J, Zahasky C. Adsorption of PFAAs in the Vadose Zone and Implications for Long-Term Groundwater Contamination. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:16748-16758. [PMID: 36395358 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c03962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are persistent environmental contaminants that sorb to air-water and solid interfaces throughout the vadose zone. These sorption processes lead to decadal leaching of PFAS from the source zones to groundwater systems. While these processes are increasingly well understood, critical gaps exist in describing the vertically variable adsorption in the presence of vadose zone heterogeneity and methods for efficiently upscaling the laboratory observations to predict field-scale PFAA transport and retardation. In this work, we build upon fundamental theories and scalable relationships to define a semi-analytical framework for synthesizing and upscaling PFAA adsorption in heterogeneous vadose zone systems. Solid-phase and air-water interfacial adsorption are quantified mechanistically for several PFAAs and then applied to a contaminated site in Northern Wisconsin. The results highlight the dominance of air-water and organic carbon solid-phase adsorption processes in the vadose zone. Strong sorption heterogeneity─driven by depth-dependent adsorption mechanisms─produces complex spatially variable retardation profiles. We develop vadose zone retardation potentials to quantify this field-scale heterogeneity and propose vertical integration methods to upscale spatially resolved information for transport modeling. This work highlights the importance of accounting for multiscale and multiprocess heterogeneity for accurately describing and predicting the long-term fate and transport of PFAAs in the subsurface.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Gnesda
- Department of Geoscience, University of Wisconsin─Madison, Madison, Wisconsin53715, United States
| | - Elliot F Draxler
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin─Madison, Madison, Wisconsin53715, United States
| | - James Tinjum
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin─Madison, Madison, Wisconsin53715, United States
| | - Christopher Zahasky
- Department of Geoscience, University of Wisconsin─Madison, Madison, Wisconsin53715, United States
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Qian X, Huang J, Yan C, Xiao J. Ecological restoration performance enhanced by nano zero valent iron treatment in constructed wetlands under perfluorooctanoic acid stress. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 846:157413. [PMID: 35870581 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157413] [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: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) of widespread use can enter constructed wetlands (CWs) via migration, and inevitably causes negative impacts on removal efficiencies of conventional pollutants due to its ecotoxicity. However, little attention has been paid to strengthen performance of CWs under PFOA stress. In this study, influences of nano zero valent iron (nZVI), which has been demonstrated to improve nutrients removal, were explored after exemplifying threats of PFOA to operation performance in CWs. The results revealed that 1 mg/L PFOA suppressed the nitrification capacity and phosphorus removal, and nZVI distinctly improved the removal efficiency of ammonia and total phosphorus in CWs compared to PFOA exposure group without nZVI, with the maximum increases of 3.65 % and 16.76 %. Furthermore, nZVI significantly stimulated dehydrogenase (390.64 % and 884.54 %) and urease (118.15 % and 246.92 %) activities during 0-30 d and 30-60 d in comparison to PFOA group. On the other hand, nitrifying enzymes were also promoted, in which ammonia monooxygenase increased by 30.90 % during 0-30 d, and nitrite oxidoreductase was raised by 117.91 % and 232.10 % in two stages. Besides, the content of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) under nZVI treatment was 72.98 % higher than PFOA group. Analyses of Illumina Miseq sequencing further certified that nZVI effectively improved the community richness and caused the enrichment of microorganisms related to nitrogen and phosphorus removal and EPS secreting. These results could provide valuable information for ecological restoration and decontamination performance enhancement of CWs exposed to PFOA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuwen Qian
- Department of Municipal Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Juan Huang
- Department of Municipal Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China.
| | - Chunni Yan
- Department of Municipal Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Jun Xiao
- Department of Municipal Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
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Chen C, Fang Y, Cui X, Zhou D. Effects of trace PFOA on microbial community and metabolisms: Microbial selectivity, regulations and risks. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 226:119273. [PMID: 36283234 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a "forever chemical", is continuously discharged and mitigated in the environment despite its production and use being severely restricted globally. Due to the transformation, attachment, and adsorption of PFOA in aquatic environments, PFOA accumulates in the porous media of sediments, soils, and vadose regions. However, the impact of trace PFOA in the porous media on interstitial water and water safety is not clear. In this work, we simulated a porous media layer using a sand column and explored the effects of µg-level PFOA migration on microbial community alternation, microbial function regulation, and the generation and spread of microbial risks. After 60 days of PFOA stimulation, Proteobacteria became the dominant phylum with an abundance of 91.8%, since it carried 71% of the antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Meanwhile, the halogen-related Dechloromonas abundance increased from 0.4% to 10.6%. In addition, PFOA significantly stimulated protein (more than 1288%) and polysaccharides (more than 4417%) production by up-regulating amino acid metabolism (p< 0.001) and membrane transport (p < 0.001) to accelerate the microbial aggregation. More importantly, the rapidly forming biofilm immobilized and blocked PFOA. The more active antioxidant system repaired the damaged cell membrane by significantly up-regulating glycerophospholipid metabolism and peptidoglycan biosynthesis. It is worth noting that PFOA increased the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and human bacterial pathogens (HBPs) in porous media by 30% and 106%. PFOA increased the proportion of vertical transmission ARGs (vARGs), and co-occurrence network analysis (r ≥ 0.8, p ≤ 0.01) verified that vARGs were mainly mediated by HBPs. A comprehensive understanding of PFOA interactions with its microecological environment is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congli Chen
- Engineering Lab for Water Pollution Control and Resources Recovery of Jilin Province, School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
| | - Yuanping Fang
- Engineering Lab for Water Pollution Control and Resources Recovery of Jilin Province, School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
| | - Xiaochun Cui
- Engineering Lab for Water Pollution Control and Resources Recovery of Jilin Province, School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
| | - Dandan Zhou
- Engineering Lab for Water Pollution Control and Resources Recovery of Jilin Province, School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China.
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Zhou Y, Lv H, Lin J, Lv T, Wang N, Tang H, Zhu L. Complete mechanochemical defluorination of perfluorooctanoic acid using Al 2O 3 and Al powders through matching electron-mediated reduction with decarboxylation. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 307:135872. [PMID: 35934094 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This work reports a mechanochemical (MC) method for complete defluorination of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) by using Al and Al2O3 as milling agents. Both the Al/Al2O3 molar ratio ( [Formula: see text] ) and the pre-thermal treatment of Al2O3 strongly influenced the defluorination of PFOA. When commercial γ-Al2O3 was pre-treated at 1200 °C, the use of Al and heat-treated γ-Al2O3 with [Formula: see text] of 1: 1 led to PFOA defluorination of 100% after ball milling for 26 min at 350 rpm, being much higher than those (8.3%-58.1%) for using singlet milling agents or binary milling agents containing γ-Al2O3 pre-heated at temperatures lower than 700 °C. It was clarified that the carboxylate-mediated adsorption of PFOA on Al2O3 was essential for the MC decarboxylation as a degradation initiation step, and the in-situ generated electron on milled Al consequently caused the reductive dissociation of C-F bonds in the decarboxylation intermediate. A larger [Formula: see text] increased the in-situ electron generation rate (re), and a higher heat-treatment temperature decreased OH-/H2O adsorbed on Al2O3 to low the PFOA decarboxylation rate (rdec). The re/rdec ratio determined defluorination pathways, and the percentage of the defluorination of PFOA in its total degradation including the generation of any degradation intermediates increased linearly with increasing re/rdec.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqi Zhou
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, 430074, PR China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Resources and Ecological Environment Geology, Hubei Geological Bureau, Wuhan, 430022, PR China
| | - Hanqing Lv
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, 430074, PR China; School of Life Science, Jiaying University, Meizhou, 514015, PR China
| | - Jin Lin
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, 430074, PR China
| | - Tianyu Lv
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, 430074, PR China
| | - Nan Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, 430074, PR China.
| | - Heqing Tang
- College of Resources and Environmental, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan, 430074, PR China
| | - Lihua Zhu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, 430074, PR China.
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Liu F, Guan X, Xiao F. Photodegradation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water: A review of fundamentals and applications. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 439:129580. [PMID: 35905606 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent, mobile, and toxic chemicals that are hazardous to human health and the environment. Several countries, including the United States, plan to set an enforceable maximum contamination level for certain PFAS compounds in drinking water sources. Among the available treatment options, photocatalytic treatment is promising for PFAS degradation and mineralization in the aqueous solution. In this review, recent advances in the abatement of PFAS from water using photo-oxidation and photo-reduction are systematically reviewed. Degradation mechanisms of PFAS by photo-oxidation involving the holes (hvb+) and oxidative radicals and photo-reduction using the electrons (ecb-) and hydrated electrons (eaq-) are integrated. The recent development of innovative heterogeneous photocatalysts and photolysis systems for enhanced degradation of PFAS is highlighted. Photodegradation mechanisms of alternative compounds, such as hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX) and chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (F-53B), are also critically evaluated. This paper concludes by identifying major knowledge gaps and some of the challenges that lie ahead in the scalability and adaptability issues of photocatalysis for natural water treatment. Development made in photocatalysts design and system optimization forges a path toward sustainable treatment of PFAS-contaminated water through photodegradation technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuqiang Liu
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Xiaohong Guan
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
| | - Feng Xiao
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of North Dakota, 243 Centennial Drive Stop 8115, Grand Forks, ND 58202, United States.
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Johnson GR, Brusseau ML, Carroll KC, Tick GR, Duncan CM. Global distributions, source-type dependencies, and concentration ranges of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in groundwater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 841:156602. [PMID: 35690215 PMCID: PMC9653090 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
A meta-analysis was conducted of published literature reporting concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater for sites distributed in 20 countries across the globe. Data for >35 PFAS were aggregated from 96 reports published from 1999 to 2021. The final data set comprises approximately 21,000 data points after removal of time-series and duplicate samples as well as non-detects. The reported concentrations range over many orders of magnitude, from ng/L to mg/L levels. Distinct differences in concentration ranges are observed between sites located within or near sources versus those that are not. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), ranging from <0.03 ng/L to ~7 mg/L, and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), ranging from 0.01 ng/L to ~5 mg/L, were the two most reported PFAS. The highest PFAS concentration in groundwater is ~15 mg/L reported for the replacement-PFAS 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS). Maximum reported groundwater concentrations for PFOA and PFOS were compared to concentrations reported for soils, surface waters, marine waters, and precipitation. Soil concentrations are generally significantly higher than those reported for the other media. This accrues to soil being the primary entry point for PFAS release into the environment for many sites, as well as the generally significantly greater retention capacity of soil compared to the other media. The presence of PFAS has been reported for all media in all regions tested, including areas that are far removed from specific PFAS sources. This gives rise to the existence of a "background" concentration of PFAS that must be accounted for in both regional and site-specific risk assessments. The presence of this background is a reflection of the large-scale use of PFAS, their general recalcitrance, and the action of long-range transport processes that distribute PFAS across regional and global scales. This ubiquitous distribution has the potential to significantly impact the quality and availability of water resources in many regions. In addition, the pervasive presence of PFAS in the environment engenders concerns for impacts to ecosystem and human health.
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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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Yang W, Long L, Guo H, Wu C, Zhou S, Mei Y, Peng LE, Liu W, Yang Z, Li W, Tang CY. Facile synthesis of nanofiltration membrane with asymmetric selectivity towards enhanced water recovery for groundwater remediation. J Memb Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2022.121038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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Zhu Q, Qian J, Huang S, Li Q, Guo L, Zeng J, Zhang W, Cao X, Yang J. Occurrence, distribution, and input pathways of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in soils near different sources in Shanghai. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 308:119620. [PMID: 35709920 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are complex emerging pollutants that are widely distributed in soils. The compositions of PFAS vary according to the emission sources. However, the soil distributions of PFAS from different sources are still poorly understood. In this study, the concentrations and compositions of 18 PFAS in soils close to potential sources (industrial areas, airports, landfills, fire stations and agricultural areas) were investigated in Shanghai. The total PFAS concentrations varied from 0.64 to 294 μg kg-1d.w.. Among the sites, the highest PFAS concentration was found near the fire station (average = 57.9 μg kg-1d.w.), followed by the industrial area (average = 8.53 μg kg-1d.w.). The detection frequencies of the 18 PFAS ranged from 47.5% to 100%. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) were detected in all samples. The detection frequencies of PFAS near the fire station were higher than those near other sources. The PFAS in soils were mainly composed of short-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (C ≤ 8). Elevated concentrations of long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (C > 12) were found in industrial area. Principal component analysis revealed that long-chain PFAS had different factor loadings compared to short-chain PFAS. With the exception of agricultural soils, the correlations between individual PFAS were more positive than negative. Strong positive correlations were found within three groups of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (C5-C7, C9-C12, and C14-C18), suggesting their similar inputs and transportation pathways. The PFAS in soils around the fire station were likely directly emitted from a point source. In contrast, the PFAS in soils near the other sites had multiple input pathways, including both direct emission and precursor degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghe Zhu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China; State Environmental Protection Engineering Center for Urban Soil Contamination Control and Remediation, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Jiahao Qian
- State Environmental Protection Engineering Center for Urban Soil Contamination Control and Remediation, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, 200233, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Shenfa Huang
- State Environmental Protection Engineering Center for Urban Soil Contamination Control and Remediation, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Qingqing Li
- State Environmental Protection Engineering Center for Urban Soil Contamination Control and Remediation, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Lin Guo
- State Environmental Protection Engineering Center for Urban Soil Contamination Control and Remediation, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Jun Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Xinde Cao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Jie Yang
- State Environmental Protection Engineering Center for Urban Soil Contamination Control and Remediation, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, 200233, China.
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Brusseau ML, Guo B. PFAS concentrations in soil versus soil porewater: Mass distributions and the impact of adsorption at air-water interfaces. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 302:134938. [PMID: 35568214 PMCID: PMC9667730 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Determining the risk posed by PFAS leaching from soil to groundwater requires quantification of the magnitude and temporal/spatial variability of PFAS mass discharge from the vadose zone, which is governed in part by the concentrations of PFAS in soil porewater. Porewater concentrations are impacted and mediated by the properties of the PFAS and soil, multiple transport and fate processes, and site conditions. The objective of this research was to delineate the relationship between soil porewater concentrations and soil concentrations, based on a comprehensive model of PFAS mass distribution within a soil sample volume. Measured parameters representing solid-phase sorption and air-water interfacial adsorption are used to illustrate the impact of soil and PFAS properties on the distribution of representative PFAS between soil and soil porewater. Literature data reported for soil and soil porewater concentrations of several PFAS obtained from outdoor lysimeter experiments are used to test the distribution model. Soil-to-porewater concentration ratios predicted with the model compared very well to the measured concentration ratios. The nondimensional distribution coefficient that describes the distribution of PFAS mass amongst all domains within a soil sample was observed to be a function of PFAS molecular size. Numerical simulations conducted for a model fire-training source area were used to illustrate the ranges in magnitude of soil versus porewater concentrations for representative field conditions. The results of the measured and simulated data sets demonstrated the importance of air-water interfacial adsorption for the distribution of the longer-chain PFAS within soil samples. PFAS soil porewater concentrations are anticipated to range from ng/L to mg/L depending upon soil concentrations, which in turn depend upon the nature of the site.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Brusseau
- Environmental Science Department, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States; Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences Department, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States.
| | - B Guo
- Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences Department, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
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50
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Developing a QSPR Model of Organic Carbon Normalized Sorption Coefficients of Perfluorinated and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27175610. [PMID: 36080379 PMCID: PMC9457706 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27175610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Perfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are known for their long-distance migration, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. The transport of PFASs in the environment has been a source of increasing concerned. The organic carbon normalized sorption coefficient (Koc) is an important parameter from which to understand the distribution behavior of organic matter between solid and liquid phases. Currently, the theoretical prediction research on log Koc of PFASs is extremely limited. The existing models have limitations such as restricted application fields and unsatisfactory prediction results for some substances. In this study, a quantitative structure–property relationship (QSPR) model was established to predict the log Koc of PFASs, and the potential mechanism affecting the distribution of PFASs between two phases from the perspective of molecular structure was analyzed. The developed model had sufficient goodness of fit and robustness, satisfying the model application requirements. The molecular weight (MW) related to the hydrophobicity of the compound; lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy (ELUMO) and maximum average local ionization energy on the molecular surface (ALIEmax), both related to electrostatic properties; and the dipole moment (μ), related to the polarity of the compound; are the key structural variables that affect the distribution behavior of PFASs. This study carried out a standardized modeling process, and the model dataset covered a comprehensive variety of PFASs. The model can be used to predict the log Koc of conventional and emerging PFASs effectively, filling the data gap of the log Koc of uncommon PFASs. The explanation of the mechanism of the model has proven to be of great value for understanding the distribution behavior and migration trends of PFASs between sediment/soil and water, and for estimating the potential environmental risks generated by PFASs.
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