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Alukkal CR, Lee LS, Gonzalez DJ. Understanding the impact of pre-digestion thermal hydrolysis process on PFAS in anaerobically digested biosolids. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 365:143406. [PMID: 39326709 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143406] [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: 05/26/2024] [Revised: 09/06/2024] [Accepted: 09/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024]
Abstract
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) present in biosolids are influenced by their source, treatment processes, and the dynamics of water resource recovery facilities (WRRF). Understanding these effects is vital for informed decisions in treatment process selection, however, comprehensive studies are sparse. This study examined the impact of anaerobic digestion (AD) and the addition of a thermal hydrolysis process (THP) before AD on PFAS in the solids stream at a WRRF. Targeted analysis of 58 PFAS (linear and branched) and suspect screening of the solid stream before and after AD as well as THP, with the total PFAS (ΣPFAS) concentrations ranging between 244 and 566 μg/kgdw. Precursor and intermediate PFAS, mainly di-substituted polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters (diPAPs) followed by fluorotelomer carboxylic acids (FTCAs), were the dominant contributors (62-96 mol % ΣPFAS) in all 5 sample types. AD impacts were observed both before and after deploying THP altering the relative contribution of different PFAS classes through biotransformation, with an increase in PFCAs and a decrease in diPAPs. However, we observed that THP reduced the % of precursor conversion as well as conversion of the FTCA intermediates in the AD process as evidenced by a substantial increase in FTCAs post-THP + AD and lower PFCA generation compared to AD only. Total PFAS organofluorine (∑FPFAS) decreased by 28% pre- and post-AD, which on total fluorine (TF) showed a larger reduction to 43%. Fluoride was <3% of the TF in all cases, thus, the greater reduction in TF vs ∑FPFAS could be volatile losses of PFAS and other non-PFAS F-containing molecules. After THP installation, a 32% decrease in (∑FPFAS) was observed in the combined THP-AD system whereas adjusted total organofluorine increased by ∼43%. Overall, achieving higher solids handling capacity and energy neutrality with the THP addition did not lead to a significant difference in quantifiable PFAS concentrations compared to AD-only.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Rose Alukkal
- Interdisciplinary Ecological Sciences & Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Department of Environmental & Ecological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Linda S Lee
- Interdisciplinary Ecological Sciences & Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Department of Environmental & Ecological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
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2
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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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3
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Cheng Y, Deng B, Scotland P, Eddy L, Hassan A, Wang B, Silva KJ, Li B, Wyss KM, Ucak-Astarlioglu MG, Chen J, Liu Q, Si T, Xu S, Gao X, JeBailey K, Jana D, Torres MA, Wong MS, Yakobson BI, Griggs C, McCary MA, Zhao Y, Tour JM. Electrothermal mineralization of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances for soil remediation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6117. [PMID: 39033169 PMCID: PMC11271446 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49809-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent and bioaccumulative pollutants that can easily accumulate in soil, posing a threat to environment and human health. Current PFAS degradation processes often suffer from low efficiency, high energy and water consumption, or lack of generality. Here, we develop a rapid electrothermal mineralization (REM) process to remediate PFAS-contaminated soil. With environmentally compatible biochar as the conductive additive, the soil temperature increases to >1000 °C within seconds by current pulse input, converting PFAS to calcium fluoride with inherent calcium compounds in soil. This process is applicable for remediating various PFAS contaminants in soil, with high removal efficiencies ( >99%) and mineralization ratios ( >90%). While retaining soil particle size, composition, water infiltration rate, and cation exchange capacity, REM facilitates an increase of exchangeable nutrient supply and arthropod survival in soil, rendering it superior to the time-consuming calcination approach that severely degrades soil properties. REM is scaled up to remediate soil at two kilograms per batch and promising for large-scale, on-site soil remediation. Life-cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis demonstrate REM as an environmentally friendly and economic process, with a significant reduction of energy consumption, greenhouse gas emission, water consumption, and operation cost, when compared to existing soil remediation practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Cheng
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Bing Deng
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | - Phelecia Scotland
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lucas Eddy
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Applied Physics Program, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Smalley-Curl Institute, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Arman Hassan
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Bo Wang
- Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology Enabled Water Treatment (NEWT), Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Karla J Silva
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Bowen Li
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kevin M Wyss
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Jinhang Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Qiming Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Tengda Si
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shichen Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xiaodong Gao
- Department of Earth, Environmental, & Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Carbon Hub, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Khalil JeBailey
- Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Debadrita Jana
- Department of Earth, Environmental, & Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mark Albert Torres
- Department of Earth, Environmental, & Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Michael S Wong
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology Enabled Water Treatment (NEWT), Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Boris I Yakobson
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Smalley-Curl Institute, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Yufeng Zhao
- Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Corban University, Salem, OR, USA.
| | - James M Tour
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Smalley-Curl Institute, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- NanoCarbon Center and the Rice Advanced Materials Institute, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
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4
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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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5
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Chen P, Zhao N, Wang R, Chen G, Hu Y, Dou Z, Ban C. Hepatotoxicity and lipid metabolism disorders of 8:2 polyfluoroalkyl phosphate diester in zebrafish: In vivo and in silico evidence. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 469:133807. [PMID: 38412642 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133807] [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: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
8:2 polyfluoroalkyl phosphate diester (8:2 diPAP) has been shown to accumulate in the liver, but whether it induces hepatotoxicity and lipid metabolism disorders remains largely unknown. In this study, zebrafish embryos were exposed to 8:2 diPAP for 7 d. Hepatocellular hypertrophy and karyolysis were noted after exposure to 0.5 ng/L 8:2 diPAP, suggesting suppressed liver development. Compared to the water control, 8:2 diPAP led to significantly higher triglyceride and total cholesterol levels, but markedly lower levels of low-density lipoprotein, implying disturbed lipid homeostasis. The levels of two peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) subtypes (pparα and pparγ) involved in hepatotoxicity and lipid metabolism were significantly upregulated by 8:2 diPAP, consistent with their overexpression as determined by immunohistochemistry. In silico results showed that 8:2 diPAP formed hydrogen bonds with PPARα and PPARγ. Among seven machine learning models, Adaptive Boosting performed the best in predicting the binding affinities of PPARα and PPARγ on the test set. The predicted binding affinity of 8:2 diPAP to PPARα (7.12) was higher than that to PPARγ (6.97) by Adaptive Boosting, which matched well with the experimental results. Our results revealed PPAR - mediated adverse effects of 8:2 diPAP on the liver and lipid metabolism of zebrafish larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengyu Chen
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization, College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development of Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China.
| | - Na Zhao
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization, College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China
| | - Ruihan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Geng Chen
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yuxi Hu
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization, College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China
| | - Zhichao Dou
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization, College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China
| | - Chenglong Ban
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization, College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China
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6
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Ye B, Wang J, Zhou L, Yu X, Sui Q. Perfluoroalkyl acid precursors in agricultural soil-plant systems: Occurrence, uptake, and biotransformation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:168974. [PMID: 38036134 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168974] [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: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) precursors have been used in various consumer and industrial products due to their hydrophobic and oleophobic properties. In recent years, PFAA precursors in agricultural soil-plant systems have received increasing attention as they are susceptible to biotransformation into metabolites with high biotoxicity risks to human health. In this review, we systematically assessed the occurrence of PFAA precursors in agricultural soils, taking into account their sources and biodegradation pathways. In addition, we summarized the findings of the relevant literature on the uptake and biotransformation of PFAA precursors by agricultural plants. The applications of biosolids/composts and pesticides are the main sources of PFAA precursors in agricultural soils. The physicochemical properties of PFAA precursors, soil organic carbon (SOC) contents, and plant species are the key factors influencing plant root uptakes of PFAA precursors from soils. This review revealed, through toxicity assessment, the potential of PFAA precursors to generate metabolites with higher toxicity than the parent precursors. The results of this paper provide a reference for future research on PFAA precursors and their metabolites in soil-plant systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beibei Ye
- 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
| | - Jiaxi Wang
- 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
| | - Lei Zhou
- 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
| | - Xia Yu
- 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.
| | - Qian Sui
- 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; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China.
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7
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Ao J, Tang W, Liu X, Ao Y, Zhang Q, Zhang J. Polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters (PAPs) as PFAS substitutes and precursors: An overview. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 464:133018. [PMID: 37984148 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters (PAPs) are emerging substitutes for legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are widely applied in consumer products and closely related to people's daily lives. Increasing concern has been raised about the safety of PAPs due to their metabolism into perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and other perfluorinated carboxylates (PFCAs) in vivo. This review summarizes the current knowledge on PAPs and highlights the knowledge gaps. PAPs dominated the PFAS profiles in wastewater, sludge, household dust, food-contact materials, paper products, paints, and cosmetics. They exhibit biomagnification due to their higher levels in top predators. PAPs have been detected in human blood worldwide, with the highest mean levels being found in the United States (1.9 ng/mL) and China (0.4 ng/mL). 6:2 diPAP is the predominant PAP among all identified matrices, followed by 8:2 diPAP. Toxicokinetic studies suggest that after entering the body, most PAPs undergo biotransformation, generating phase Ⅰ (i.e., PFCAs), phase II, and intermediate products with toxicity to be verified. Several epidemiological and toxicological studies have reported the antiandrogenic effect, estrogenic effect, thyroid disruption, oxidative damage, and reproductive toxicity of PAPs. More research is urgently needed on the source and fate of PAPs, human exposure pathways, toxicity other than reproductive and endocrine systems, toxic effects of metabolites, and mixed exposure effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Ao
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Weifeng Tang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xiaoning Liu
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yan Ao
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Qianlong Zhang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
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8
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Link GW, Reeves DM, Cassidy DP, Coffin ES. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in final treated solids (Biosolids) from 190 Michigan wastewater treatment plants. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 463:132734. [PMID: 37922581 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132734] [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: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Trends in concentration, distribution, and variability of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in biosolids are characterized using an extensive dataset of 350 samples from 190 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across Michigan. All samples are comprised of final treated solids generated at the end of the wastewater treatment process. Concentrations of both individual and Σ24 PFAS are lognormally distributed, with Σ24 PFAS concentrations ranging from 1-3200 ng/g and averaging 108 ± 277 ng/g dry wt. PFAS with carboxyl and sulfonic functional groups comprise 29% and 71% of Σ24 PFAS concentrations, respectively, on average. Primary sample variability in concentration is associated with long-chain PFAS with higher tendency for partitioning to biosolids. Short-chain carboxylic compounds, most notably PFHxA, are responsible for secondary concentration variability. Usage of FTSA and PFBS replacements to long-chain sulfonic compounds also contributes to variance in biosolids concentrations. Sulfonamide precursor compounds as a collective group are detected at a similar frequency as PFOS and often have higher concentrations. Trends in PFAS enrichment for individual PFAS vary at least 3 orders-of-magnitude and generally increase with compound hydrophobicity; however, partitioning of PFAS onto solids in WWTPs is a complex process not easily described nor constrained using experimentally-derived partitioning coefficients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garrett W Link
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Western Michigan University, 1903 W. Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5241, USA
| | - Donald M Reeves
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Western Michigan University, 1903 W. Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5241, USA.
| | - Daniel P Cassidy
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Western Michigan University, 1903 W. Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5241, USA
| | - Ethan S Coffin
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Western Michigan University, 1903 W. Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5241, USA
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Patch D, O'Connor N, Vereecken T, Murphy D, Munoz G, Ross I, Glover C, Scott J, Koch I, Sauvé S, Liu J, Weber K. Advancing PFAS characterization: Enhancing the total oxidizable precursor assay with improved sample processing and UV activation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 909:168145. [PMID: 37952659 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) encompass over 9000 chemicals utilized in various industrial and commercial applications. However, the quantification of PFAS using standard commercial analytical methods is currently limited to <50 selected compounds. To address this issue, the total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay was developed, allowing for the oxidative conversion of previously undetectable PFAS precursors into measurable PFAS. This study investigated different sample processing methods to address post-oxidation PFAS loss identified in literature. Using PFOS as a probe molecule, up to 50 % loss of PFOS was identified during sample work-up. It was determined that the use of mass-labelled PFOS and methanolic acetic acid to chemically quench the sample post-oxidation improved PFOS recovery and allowed for correction of any remaining PFOS loss. The use of ultraviolet (UV) light was then investigated as an activator in contrast to the standard thermal activation method. A comparative evaluation was conducted to assess the recovery and conversion of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), PFOS, and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS) using both the heat-activated and UV-activated TOP assays. Results demonstrated that the UV-activated TOP assay achieved complete (100 %) oxidation of 6:2 FTS within 7.5 min, resulting in a total yield of generated perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) at 108 ± 8 %. The study concluded by investigating the UV-activated TOP assay for its application on various aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) formulations and two AFFF samples drained from military aircraft rescue firefighting vehicles (ARFFVs). Analysis of these AFFF samples were supported by high resolution mass spectrometry and an expanded analytical suite, identifying several fluorotelomer precursors. The findings of this study provide compelling evidence that modifications in sample processing, work-up procedures, expansion of initial PFAS calibration standards, and UV-activation methods enhance the TOP assay, positioning it as a more reliable and quantitative analytical tool for PFAS characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Patch
- Environmental Sciences Group, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada
| | - Natalia O'Connor
- Environmental Sciences Group, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada
| | - Taylor Vereecken
- Environmental Sciences Group, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada
| | - Daniel Murphy
- Environmental Sciences Group, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada
| | - Gabriel Munoz
- Brace Water Center, Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QB H3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Ian Ross
- CDM Smith, 75 State St #701, Boston, MA 02109, United States of America
| | - Caitlin Glover
- Brace Water Center, Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QB H3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Jennifer Scott
- Environmental Sciences Group, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada
| | - Iris Koch
- Environmental Sciences Group, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada
| | - Sébastien Sauvé
- Département de chimie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H2V 0B3, Canada
| | - Jinxia Liu
- Brace Water Center, Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QB H3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Kela Weber
- Environmental Sciences Group, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada.
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10
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Bierbaum T, Hansen SK, Poudel B, Haslauer C. Investigating rate-limited sorption, sorption to air-water interfaces, and colloid-facilitated transport during PFAS leaching. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:121529-121547. [PMID: 37957494 PMCID: PMC10724089 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30811-2] [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: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Various sorption processes affect leaching of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) such as PFOA and PFOS. The objectives of this study are to (1) compare rate-limited leaching in column and lysimeter experiments, (2) investigate the relevance of sorption to air-water interfaces (AWI), and (3) examine colloid-facilitated transport as a process explaining early experimental breakthrough. A continuum model (CM) with two-domain sorption is used to simulate equilibrium and rate-limited sorption. A random walk particle tracking (PT) model was developed and applied to analyze complex leaching characteristics. Results show that sorption parameters derived from column experiments underestimate long-term PFOA leaching in lysimeter experiments due to early depletion, suggesting that transformation of precursors contributes to the observed long-term leaching in the lysimeters (approximately 0.003 µg/kg/d PFOA). Both models demonstrate that sorption to AWI is the dominant retention mechanism for PFOS in lysimeter experiments, with retardation due to AWI being 3 (CM) to 3.7 (PT) times higher than retardation due to solid phase sorption. Notably, despite a simplified conception of AWI sorption, the PT results are closer to the observations. The PT simulations demonstrate possible colloid-facilitated transport at early time; however, results using substance-specific varying transport parameters align better with the observations, which should be equal if colloid-facilitated transport without additional kinetics is the sole mechanism affecting early breakthrough. Possibly, rate-limited sorption to AWI is relevant during the early stages of the lysimeter experiment. Our findings demonstrate that rate-limited sorption is less relevant for long-term leaching under field conditions compared to transformation of precursors and that sorption to AWI can be the dominant retention mechanism on contaminated sites. Moreover, they highlight the potential of random walk particle tracking as a practical alternative to continuum models for estimating the relative contributions of various retention mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Bierbaum
- Research Facility for Subsurface Remediation (VEGAS), University of Stuttgart, Institute for Modelling Environmental Systems (IWS), Pfaffenwaldring 61, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Scott K Hansen
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, 8499000, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Bikash Poudel
- Research Facility for Subsurface Remediation (VEGAS), University of Stuttgart, Institute for Modelling Environmental Systems (IWS), Pfaffenwaldring 61, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Claus Haslauer
- Research Facility for Subsurface Remediation (VEGAS), University of Stuttgart, Institute for Modelling Environmental Systems (IWS), Pfaffenwaldring 61, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
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11
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Röhler K, Susset B, Grathwohl P. Production of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) from precursors in contaminated agricultural soils: Batch and leaching experiments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 902:166555. [PMID: 37633401 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
Contamination of soils with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) (e.g., aqueous film forming foams (AFFFs) or PFAS containing biosolids applied to agricultural soils) can lead to large scale groundwater pollution. For site management, knowledge about the extent and time scales of PFAS contamination is crucial. At such sites, often persistent perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and so-called precursors, which can be transformed into PFAAs, co-occur. In this study, the release of PFAAs from 14 soil samples from an agricultural site in southwest Germany contaminated via compost/paper sludge was investigated. Rapid leaching of C4-C8 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCA) was observed in saturated column tests, while slowing down with increasing chain-length (≥ C9 PFCAs). Two selected samples were further incubated in batch-tests after removal of existing C4-C8 PFCAs in extensive column leaching tests until a liquid-solid ratio of 10 l/kg. During 60 days of incubation, aqueous concentrations of C4-C8 PFCAs increased linearly by a factor of 29-222, indicating continuous production by transformation of precursors. The potential PFAA-precursor reservoir was estimated by the direct total oxidizable precursor (dTOP) assay. PFCA concentrations after the dTOP increased up to two orders of magnitude. Production rates determined in batch-tests combined with the results of dTOP assay were used to estimate time scales for the duration of C4-C8 PFCAs emission from the contaminated agricultural soils which likely will last for several decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaus Röhler
- Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 94-96, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Bernd Susset
- Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 94-96, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter Grathwohl
- Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 94-96, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
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12
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Jiang T, Pervez MN, Quianes MM, Zhang W, Naddeo V, Liang Y. Effective stabilization of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) precursors in wastewater treatment sludge by surfactant-modified clay. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 341:140081. [PMID: 37678594 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140081] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
The application of biosolids or treated sewage sludge containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in agricultural lands and the disposal of sludge in landfills pose high risks to humans and the environment. Although PFAS precursors have not been regulated yet, their potential transformation to highly regulated perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) may enable them to serve as a long-term source and make remediation of PFAAs a continuing task. Therefore, treating precursors in sewage sludge is even more, certainly not less, critical than treating or removing PFAAs. In this study, a green surfactant-modified clay sorbent was evaluated for its efficacy in stabilizing two representative PFAA precursors in sludge, e.g., N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid (N-EtFOSAA) and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTSA), in comparison with unmodified clay and powdered activated carbon (PAC). Results showed N-EtFOSAA and 6:2 FTSA exhibited distinct adsorption behaviors in the sludge without sorbents due to their different physicochemical properties, such as hydrophobicity and functional groups. Among the three sorbents, the modified clay reduced the water leachability of N-EtFOSAA and 6:2 FTSA by 91.5% and 95.4%, respectively, compared to controls without amendments at the end of the experiment (47 days). Within the same duration, PAC decreased the water leachability of N-EtFOSAA and 6:2 FTSA by 60.6% and 37.3%, respectively. At the same time, the unmodified clay demonstrated a poor stabilization effect and even promoted the leaching of precursors. These findings suggested that the modified clay had the potential for stabilization of precursors, while negatively charged and/or hydrophilic sorbents, such as the unmodified clay, should be avoided in the stabilization process. These results could provide valuable information for developing effective amendments for stabilizing PFAS in sludge or biosolids. Future research should evaluate the long-term effect of the stabilization approach using actual sludge from wastewater treatment facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Jiang
- Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA.
| | - Md Nahid Pervez
- Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Monica M Quianes
- Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Weilan Zhang
- Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Vincenzo Naddeo
- Sanitary Environmental Engineering Division (SEED), Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, Fisciano, 84084, Italy
| | - Yanna Liang
- Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
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13
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Gravesen CR, Lee LS, Alukkal CR, Openiyi EO, Judy JD. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water treatment residuals: Occurrence and desorption. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2023. [PMID: 37775154 DOI: 10.1002/jeq2.20520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface and ground waters supplying municipal drinking water are a growing concern. However, PFAS concentrations in water treatment residuals (WTRs)-a solid by-product of water treatment-have yet to be explored. In a first of its kind assessment, we examine PFAS occurrence in seven calcium (Ca)-, iron-, and aluminum-based drinking water treatment residuals (DWTRs) and one wastewater effluent treatment residual (WWETR) produced using aluminum chlorohydrate (ACH). Only perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) were detected, with total PFAA concentrations in the seven DWTRs produced from naturally recharged water sources ranging from 0 to ∼3.3 μg kg-1 ; no PFAS were detected in either of the Ca-DWTRs. The ACH-WWETR contained the highest number and concentration of PFAAs (34 μg kg-1 ). Desorption of resident PFAAs from the WTRs was negligible for the carboxylates (PFCAs). Some desorption of the sulfonates (PFSAs) was detected, particularly for PFOS which had the highest concentration among all resident PFAAs. The ACH-WWETR was further evaluated for its potential to attenuate additional PFAAs (3500 μg mL-1 total PFAAs) in a biosolid-derived porewater matrix. Sorption was highest for long-chain PFAAs and subsequent desorption of the adsorbed PFAAs ranged from 0% to no more than 26%, with the WWETR mass added strongly affecting both PFSA and PFCA sorption/desorption. These findings suggest that WTRs, if introduced into the environment, are unlikely to be a major source of PFAS. Also, the use of particular WTRs as amendments may provide a beneficial reduction in PFAS mobility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleb R Gravesen
- Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Linda S Lee
- Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
- Ecological Sciences & Engineering Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
- Environmental & Ecological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Caroline R Alukkal
- Ecological Sciences & Engineering Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
- Environmental & Ecological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Elijah O Openiyi
- Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
- Ecological Sciences & Engineering Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Jonathan D Judy
- Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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14
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Bierbaum T, Klaas N, Braun J, Nürenberg G, Lange FT, Haslauer C. Immobilization of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): Comparison of leaching behavior by three different leaching tests. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 876:162588. [PMID: 36871732 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The evaluation of PFAS immobilization performance in laboratory experiments, especially the long-term stability, is a challenge. To contribute to the development of adequate experimental procedures, the impact of experimental conditions on the leaching behavior was studied. Three experiments on different scales were compared: batch, saturated column, and variably saturated laboratory lysimeter experiments. The Infinite Sink (IS) test - a batch test with repeated sampling - was applied for PFAS for the first time. Soil from an agricultural field amended with paper-fiber biosolids polluted with various perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs; 655 μg/kg ∑18PFAAs) and polyfluorinated precursors (1.4 mg/kg ∑18precursors) was used as the primary material (N-1). Two types of PFAS immobilization agents were tested: treatment with activated carbon-based additives (soil mixtures: R-1 and R-2), and solidification with cement and bentonite (R-3). In all experiments, a chain-length dependent immobilization efficacy is observed. In R-3, the leaching of short-chain PFAAs was enhanced relative to N-1. In column and lysimeter experiments with R-1 and R-2, delayed breakthrough of short-chain PFAAs (C4) occurred (> 90 days; in column experiments at liquid-to-solid ratio (LS) > 30 L/kg) with similar temporal leaching rates suggesting that leaching in these cases was a kinetically controlled process. Observed differences between column and lysimeter experiments may be attributed to varying saturation conditions. In IS experiments, PFAS desorption from N-1, R-1, and R-2 is higher than in the column experiments (N-1: +44 %; R-1: +280 %; R-2: +162 %), desorption of short-chain PFAS occurred predominantly in the initial phase (< 14 days). Our findings demonstrate that sufficient operating times are essential in percolation experiments, e.g., in column experiments >100 days and LS > 30 L/kg. IS experiments may provide a faster estimate for nonpermanent immobilization. The comparison of experimental data from various experiments is beneficial to evaluate PFAS immobilization and to interpret leaching characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Bierbaum
- University of Stuttgart, Institute for Modelling Hydraulic and Environmental Systems (IWS), Research Facility for Subsurface Remediation (VEGAS), Pfaffenwaldring 61, 70597 Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Norbert Klaas
- University of Stuttgart, Institute for Modelling Hydraulic and Environmental Systems (IWS), Research Facility for Subsurface Remediation (VEGAS), Pfaffenwaldring 61, 70597 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Jürgen Braun
- University of Stuttgart, Institute for Modelling Hydraulic and Environmental Systems (IWS), Research Facility for Subsurface Remediation (VEGAS), Pfaffenwaldring 61, 70597 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Gudrun Nürenberg
- TZW: DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser (German Water Centre), Karlsruher Straße 84, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Frank Thomas Lange
- TZW: DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser (German Water Centre), Karlsruher Straße 84, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Claus Haslauer
- University of Stuttgart, Institute for Modelling Hydraulic and Environmental Systems (IWS), Research Facility for Subsurface Remediation (VEGAS), Pfaffenwaldring 61, 70597 Stuttgart, Germany
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15
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Levine AJ, Bean EZ, Hinz FO, Wilson PC, Reisinger AJ. Leaching of select per-/poly-fluoroalkyl substances, pharmaceuticals, and hormones through soils amended with composted biosolids. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 343:118185. [PMID: 37224688 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The use of organic amendments to enhance soil health is increasingly being identified as a strategy to improve residential landscapes while also reducing the need for external inputs (e.g., fertilizers, irrigation). Composted biosolids are a re-purposed waste product that can be used in organic amendments to improve the overall sustainability of a municipality by enhancing residential soil carbon content while simultaneously reducing waste materials. However, the biosolids-based feedstock of these compost products has the potential to be a source of organic contaminants. We conducted a laboratory-based soil column experiment to evaluate the potential for different commercially available compost products to act as a source of emerging organic contaminants in residential landscapes. We compared two biosolids-based compost products, a manure-based compost product, and a control (no compost) treatment by irrigating soil columns for 30 days and collecting daily leachate samples to quantify leaching rates of six hormones, eight pharmaceuticals, and seven per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Detection of hormones and pharmaceuticals was rare, suggesting that compost amendments are likely not a major source of these contaminants to groundwater resources. In contrast, we detected three of the seven PFAS compounds in leachate samples throughout the study. Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) was more likely to leach from biosolids-based compost treatments than other treatments (p < 0.05) and perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) was only detected in biosolids-based treatments (although PFBS concentrations did not significantly differ among treatments). In contrast, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was commonly detected across all treatments (including controls), suggesting potential PFOA experimental contamination. Overall, these results demonstrate that commercially available composted biosolids amendments are likely not a major source of hormone and pharmaceutical contamination. The detection of PFHxA at significantly higher concentrations in biosolids treatments suggests that biosolids-based composts may act as sources of PFHxA to the environment. However, concentrations of multiple PFAS compounds found in leachate in this study were lower than concentrations found in known PFAS hotspots. Therefore, there is potential for environmental contamination from PFAS leaching from composted biosolids, but leachate concentrations are low which should be considered in risk-benefit analyses when considering whether or not to use composted biosolids as an organic amendment to enhance residential soil health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ansley J Levine
- Department of Soil, Water, And Ecosystem Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
| | - Eban Z Bean
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Francisca O Hinz
- Department of Soil, Water, And Ecosystem Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - P Christopher Wilson
- Department of Soil, Water, And Ecosystem Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Alexander J Reisinger
- Department of Soil, Water, And Ecosystem Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
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16
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Schaefer CE, Hooper JL, Strom LE, Abusallout I, Dickenson ERV, Thompson KA, Mohan GR, Drennan D, Wu K, Guelfo JL. Occurrence of quantifiable and semi-quantifiable poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances in united states wastewater treatment plants. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 233:119724. [PMID: 36801573 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Both quantifiable and semi-quantifiable poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were evaluated in the influent, effluent, and biosolids of 38 wastewater treatment plants. PFAS were detected in all streams at all facilities. For the means of the sums of detected, quantifiable PFAS concentrations were 98 ± 28 ng/L, 80 ± 24 ng/L, and 160,000 ± 46,000 ng/kg (dry weight basis) in the influent, effluent, and biosolids (respectively). In the aqueous influent and effluent streams this quantifiable PFAS mass was typically associated with perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs). In contrast, quantifiable PFAS in the biosolids were primarily polyfluoroalkyl substances that potentially serve as precursors to the more recalcitrant PFAAs. Results of the total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay on select influent and effluent samples showed that semi-quantified (or, unidentified) precursors accounted for a substantial portion (21 to 88%) of the fluorine mass compared to that associated with quantified PFAS, and that this fluorine precursor mass was not appreciably transformed to perfluoroalkyl acids within the WWTPs, as influent and effluent precursor concentrations via the TOP assay were statistically identical. Evaluation of semi-quantified PFAS, consistent with results of the TOP assay, showed the presence of several classes of precursors in the influent, effluent, and biosolids; perfluorophosphonic acids (PFPAs) and fluorotelomer phosphate diesters (di-PAPs) occurred in 100 and 92% of biosolid samples, respectively. Analysis of mass flows showed that, for both quantified (on a fluorine mass basis) and semi-quantified PFAS, the majority of PFAS exited WWTPs through the aqueous effluent compared to the biosolids stream. Overall, these results highlight the importance of semi-quantified PFAS precursors in WWTPs, and the need to further understand the impacts of their ultimate fate in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laurel E Strom
- CDM Smith, 14432 SE Eastgate Way Suite 100, Bellevue, WA 98007, USA
| | | | - Eric R V Dickenson
- Water Quality Research and Development, Southern Nevada Water Authority, 1299 Burkholder Blvd., Henderson, NV, 89015, USA
| | - Kyle A Thompson
- Water Quality Research and Development, Southern Nevada Water Authority, 1299 Burkholder Blvd., Henderson, NV, 89015, USA; Carollo Engineers, 8911N Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX 78759, USA
| | - Gayathri Ram Mohan
- Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources, Lawrenceville, GA 30045, USA
| | - Dina Drennan
- CDM Smith, 14432 SE Eastgate Way Suite 100, Bellevue, WA 98007, USA
| | - Ke Wu
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Construction Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - Jennifer L Guelfo
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Construction Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
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17
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Gravesen CR, Lee LS, Choi YJ, Silveira ML, Judy JD. PFAS release from wastewater residuals as a function of composition and production practices. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 322:121167. [PMID: 36731742 PMCID: PMC10597385 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121167] [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: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of highly persistent contaminants that have been linked to human health effects at low exposure concentrations. Public concerns exist that land-application of biosolids may result in the release of PFAS into terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The relative importance of inorganic constituents such as Fe and Al, which are known to impact PFAS retention/release behavior in soils, on PFAS release from wastewater residuals (WWRs, i.e., biosolids and sewage sludges) is not well understood. Here, we examine native concentrations and WWR-water partition coefficients of a range of PFAS in the context of WWRs characteristics including oxalate-extractable Fe and Al, organic matter (OM), dissolved organic carbon, and total protein content. Total PFAS concentrations, which included perfluoroalkyl carboxylates, perfluoroalkyl sulfonates, fluorotelomer sulfonates and some sulfonamides, ranged from ∼480 to 3500 μg PFAS kg-1 dry weight. PFAS WWR-water partition coefficients ranged from ∼10 to 20,000 L kg-1, consistent with the literature. PFAS partitioning was significantly correlated to oxalate extractable Al and Fe as well as bulk OM and protein content. These results have important implications for wastewater treatment facilities that recycle Al- and Fe-based drinking water treatment residuals in terms of both PFAS retention and loading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleb R Gravesen
- University of Florida, Department of Soil and Water Sciences, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Linda S Lee
- Purdue University, Department of Agronomy, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Purdue University, Ecological Sciences & Engineering Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Purdue University, Environmental & Ecological Engineering, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Youn Jeong Choi
- Purdue University, Department of Agronomy, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Maria L Silveira
- University of Florida, Range Cattle Research and Education Center, Ona, FL, USA
| | - Jonathan D Judy
- University of Florida, Department of Soil and Water Sciences, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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18
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Lewis AJ, Ebrahimi F, McKenzie ER, Suri R, Sales CM. Influence of microbial weathering on the partitioning of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in biosolids. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2023; 25:415-431. [PMID: 36637091 DOI: 10.1039/d2em00350c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of man-made fluorinated organic chemicals that can accumulate in the environment. In water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs), some commonly detected PFAS tend to partition to and concentrate in biosolids where they can act as a source to ecological receptors and may leach to groundwater when land-applied. Although biosolids undergo some stabilization to reduce pathogens before land application, they still contain many microorganisms, contributing to the eventual decomposition of different components of the biosolids. This work demonstrates ways in which microbial weathering can influence biosolids decomposition, degrade PFAS, and impact PFAS partitioning in small-scale, controlled laboratory experiments. In the microbial weathering experiments, compound-specific PFAS biosolids-water partitioning coefficients (Kd) were demonstrated to decrease, on average, 0.4 logs over the course of the 91 day study, with the most rapid changes occurring during the first 10 days. Additionally, the highest rates of lipid, protein, and organic matter removal occurred during the same time. Among the evaluated independent variables, statistical analyses demonstrated that the most significant solids characteristics that impacted PFAS partitioning were organic matter, proteins, lipids, and molecular weight of organics. A multiple linear regression model was built to predict PFAS partitioning behavior in biosolids based on solid characteristics of the biosolids and PFAS characteristics with a R2 value of 0.7391 when plotting predicted and measured log Kd. The findings from this work reveal that microbial weathering can play a significant role in the eventual fate and transport of PFAS and their precursors from biosolids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asa J Lewis
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Drexel University, 3100 Market St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Farshad Ebrahimi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Temple University, 1947 N 12th St., Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
| | - Erica R McKenzie
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Temple University, 1947 N 12th St., Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
| | - Rominder Suri
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Temple University, 1947 N 12th St., Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
| | - Christopher M Sales
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Drexel University, 3100 Market St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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19
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Thompson JT, Robey NM, Tolaymat TM, Bowden JA, Solo-Gabriele HM, Townsend TG. Underestimation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Biosolids: Precursor Transformation During Conventional Treatment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:3825-3832. [PMID: 36749308 PMCID: PMC10500628 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c06189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants generate a solid waste known as biosolids. The most common management option for biosolids is to beneficially reuse them as an agricultural amendment, but because of the risk of pathogen exposure, many regulatory bodies require pathogen reduction before biosolids reuse. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are well documented in biosolids, but limited information is available on how biosolids treatment processes impact PFAS. Furthermore, quantification of PFAS has focused on perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) which are a small fraction of thousands of PFAS known to exist. The objective of this study was to quantify 92 PFAS in biosolids collected from eight biosolids treatment facilities before and after four pathogen treatment applications: composting, heat treatment, lime treatment, and anaerobic digestion. Overall, total PFAS concentrations before and after treatment were dominated by PFAA precursor species, in particular, diPAPs which accounted for a majority of the mass of the Σ92PFAS. This differs from historic data that found PFAAs, primarily PFOS, to dominate total PFAS concentrations. Treatment options such as heat treatment and composting changed the ratio of PFAA precursors to PFAAs indicating a transformation of PFAS during treatment. This study finds that PFAA precursors are likely underrepresented by other studies and make up a larger percentage of the total PFAS concentration in biosolids than previously estimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jake T Thompson
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, P.O. Box 116450, Gainesville, Florida 32611-6450, United States
| | - Nicole M Robey
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, P.O. Box 116450, Gainesville, Florida 32611-6450, United States
| | - Thabet M Tolaymat
- Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 26 Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268, United States
| | - John A Bowden
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100144, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Helena M Solo-Gabriele
- Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, University of Miami, 1251 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida 33124, United States
| | - Timothy G Townsend
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, P.O. Box 116450, Gainesville, Florida 32611-6450, United States
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Liao Q, Tang P, Pan D, Song Y, Lei L, Liang J, Liu B, Lin M, Huang H, Mo M, Huang C, Wei M, Liu S, Huang D, Qiu X. Association of serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and gestational anemia during different trimesters in Zhuang ethnic pregnancy women of Guangxi, China. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 309:136798. [PMID: 36220436 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gestational anemia is a complication of pregnancy, and a low level of hemoglobin (Hb) has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Previous studies reported that PFASs were more strongly associated with Hb than red blood cells, indicating that Hb is more susceptible to the effect of PFASs. However, the evidences regarding the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) on gestational anemia are currently limited. Therefore, it is important to explore the effects of PFASs on anemia in Chinese pregnant women. METHODS A total of 821 pregnant women were recruited between June 2015 and April 2019 in the Guangxi Zhuang Birth Cohort. The concentrations of PFASs were assessed in maternal serum before 12 gestational weeks. To determine both individual and combined associations of PFASs exposure with anemia in the three stages of pregnancy, binary logistic regression, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models were employed. RESULTS In single-pollutant analysis, maternal exposure to perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) were associated with anemia in the first trimester, exposure to PFHpA and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) were associated with anemia in the second trimester, and exposure to perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) were associated with anemia in the third trimester. Notably, perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) had a nonlinear association with anemia in the third trimester. In multiple-pollutant analysis, a positive association of PFDoA with anemia in the first trimester and a negative association of PFBS with anemia in the second trimester were confirmed by BKMR. Exposure to PFASs mixture was not associated with anemia in all three trimesters. In WQS, there was a significantly negative association between the PFAS mixture and anemia in the second trimester. CONCLUSION Maternal exposure to PFASs is associated with gestational anemia in different trimesters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Liao
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Peng Tang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Dongxiang Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Yanye Song
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530031, Guangxi, China
| | - Lei Lei
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Jun Liang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Bihu Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Mengrui Lin
- Department of Sanitary Chemistry, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Huishen Huang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Meile Mo
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Chengtuo Huang
- Department of Physical Examination, Guangxi Tiandong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tiandong, 531500, Guangxi, China
| | - Ming Wei
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Child Hygiene, Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Tianyang District, Baise City, 542899, Guangxi, China
| | - Shun Liu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China.
| | - Dongping Huang
- Department of Sanitary Chemistry, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China.
| | - Xiaoqiang Qiu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China.
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