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Li M, Hu J, Cao X, Chen H, Lyu Y, Sun W. Nontarget Analysis Combined with TOP Assay Reveals a Significant Portion of Unknown PFAS Precursors in Firefighting Foams Currently Used in China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39250774 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c07879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
Firefighting foam is a significant source of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pollution, yet the PFAS profiles in foam formulations, particularly in China, remain unclear. Here, using target and nontarget analyses, we investigated 50 target PFAS in firefighting foams currently utilized in China, identified novel PFAS, and discovered new end products through a total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay. We identified a total of 54 PFAS compounds (spanning 34 classes and containing seven novel PFAS) with total PFAS concentrations of 0.03-21.21 mM. Among seven novel PFAS, four PFAS met persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity criteria, and another PFAS had the highest ToxPi score among the identified 54 PFAS. Moreover, the predominant PFAS varied significantly in the studied foams and differed markedly from those used in other countries. After the TOP assay, nontarget analysis uncovered 1.1-55.5% more PFAS precursors and 8.25-55.5% more fluorine equivalents compared to traditional target analysis combined with TOP assay. Specifically, three double-bond perfluorinated alcohols were identified for the first time as end products of the TOP assay. This study provides crucial information for pollution control and risk assessment associated with PFAS in firefighting foam applications and emphasizes the importance of combining nontarget analysis with TOP assay in uncovering unknown PFAS precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhen Li
- College of Safety and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266590, China
| | - Jingrun Hu
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Cao
- College of Safety and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266590, China
- Institute of Yellow River Delta Earth Surface Processes and Ecological Integrity, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China
| | - Huan Chen
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, United States
| | - Yitao Lyu
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Weiling Sun
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, Beijing 100871, China
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2
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Stroski KM, Sapozhnikova Y, Taylor RB, Harron A. Non-targeted analysis of per- and polyfluorinated substances in consumer food packaging. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 360:142436. [PMID: 38797214 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142436] [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: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
This study sought to develop a non-targeted workflow using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) to investigate previously unknown PFAS in consumer food packaging samples. Samples composed of various materials for different food types were subjected to methanolic extraction, controlled migration with food simulants and total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay. The developed HRMS workflow utilized many signatures unique to PFAS compounds: negative mass defect, diagnostic breakdown structures, as well as retention time prediction. Potential PFAS features were identified in all packaging studied, regardless of food and material types. Five tentatively identified compounds were confirmed with analytical standards: 6:2 fluorotelomer phosphate diester (6:2 diPAP) and one of its intermediate breakdown products 2H-perfluoro-2-octenoic acid (6:2 FTUCA), perfluoropentadecanoic acid (PFPeDA), perfluorohexadecanoic acid (PFHxDA) and perfluorooctadecanoic acid (PFOcDA). Longer perfluorocarboxylic acids including C17 and C19 to C24 were also found present within a foil sample. Concentrations of 6:2 FTUCA ranged from 0.78 to 127 ng g-1 in methanolic extracts and up to 6 ng g-1 in food simulant after 240 h migration test. These results demonstrate the prevalence of both emerging and legacy PFAS in food packaging samples and highlight the usefulness of non-targeted tools to identify PFAS not included in targeted methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M Stroski
- USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Eastern Regional Research Center, Wyndmoor, PA, USA; Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Yelena Sapozhnikova
- USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Eastern Regional Research Center, Wyndmoor, PA, USA.
| | - Raegyn B Taylor
- USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Eastern Regional Research Center, Wyndmoor, PA, USA
| | - Andrew Harron
- USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Eastern Regional Research Center, Wyndmoor, PA, USA
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3
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Richardson SD, Manasfi T. Water Analysis: Emerging Contaminants and Current Issues. Anal Chem 2024; 96:8184-8219. [PMID: 38700487 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c01423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Susan D Richardson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, JM Palms Center for GSR, 631 Sumter Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Tarek Manasfi
- Eawag, Environmental Chemistry, Uberlandstrasse 133, Dubendorf 8600, Switzerland
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4
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Schröder T, Müller V, Preihs M, Borovička J, Gonzalez de Vega R, Kindness A, Feldmann J. Fluorine mass balance analysis in wild boar organs from the Bohemian Forest National Park. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171187. [PMID: 38408678 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171187] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Wild boars have been reported as bioindicators for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a variety of studies. However, data about PFAS levels in wild boars from sites with limited industrial and general human activity is scarce. In this study, wild boar (Sus scrofa) organs from the Bohemian Forest National Park (Czech Republic) were used as bioindicators for PFAS pollution. In this work, 29 livers and 24 kidneys from 30 wild boars (0.5-5 years) were investigated using a fluorine mass balance approach. For this, the samples were measured using high performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS), targeting 30 PFAS, including legacy and replacement PFAS, direct total oxidisable precursor assay (dTOPA) and combustion ion chromatography (CIC). Perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) from C7 to C14 and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) were detected in >50 % of samples. In the livers, PFCAs dominated the profile with median concentrations of 230 μg/kg for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and 75 μg/kg perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). PFOA and PFNA concentrations in the livers were one order of magnitude higher than in livers from wild boars caught in rural NE Germany considered as background concentration. PFOS in liver contributed only 30 % to the Σc(PFASTarget) with a median concentration of 170 μg/kg. Kidneys and livers contain an average of 2460 μg F/kg and 6800 μg F/kg extractable organic fluorine (EOF) respectively. Σc(PFASTarget) add up to a maximum of 10 % of the extractable organic fluorine. After oxidisation of the samples, PFOA, PFNA and Σc(PFASdTOPA) increased in livers, but could not explain the EOF. The elevated concentration of PFOA and PFNA may indicate differences in biomagnification for different habitats or an unidentified PFAS source in proximity to the national park.
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Affiliation(s)
- Till Schröder
- TESLA-Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 1, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Viktoria Müller
- TESLA-Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 1, 8010 Graz, Austria; The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, United Kingdom
| | - Marc Preihs
- TESLA-Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 1, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Jan Borovička
- Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 269, CZ-16500 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Raquel Gonzalez de Vega
- TESLA-Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 1, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Andrew Kindness
- The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, United Kingdom; University of KwaZulu Natal, School of Chemistry & Physics, Private Bag X54001, Westville Campus, ZA-4000 Durban, South Africa
| | - Jörg Feldmann
- TESLA-Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 1, 8010 Graz, Austria.
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5
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Wang W, Cao G, Zhang J, Chang W, Sang Y, Cai Z. Fragmentation Pattern-Based Screening Strategy Combining Diagnostic Ion and Neutral Loss Uncovered Novel para-Phenylenediamine Quinone Contaminants in the Environment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:5921-5931. [PMID: 38512777 PMCID: PMC10993393 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c00027] [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: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Identifying transformed emerging contaminants in complex environmental compartments is a challenging but meaningful task. Substituted para-phenylenediamine quinones (PPD-quinones) are emerging contaminants originating from rubber antioxidants and have been proven to be toxic to the aquatic species, especially salmonids. The emergence of multiple PPD-quinones in various environmental matrices and evidence of their specific hazards underscore the need to understand their environmental occurrences. Here, we introduce a fragmentation pattern-based nontargeted screening strategy combining full MS/All ion fragmentation/neutral loss-ddMS2 scans to identify potential unknown PPD-quinones in different environmental matrices. Using diagnostic fragments of m/z 170.0600, 139.0502, and characteristic neutral losses of 199.0633, 138.0429 Da, six known and three novel PPD-quinones were recognized in air particulates, surface soil, and tire tissue. Their specific structures were confirmed, and their environmental concentration and composition profiles were clarified with self-synthesized standards. N-(1-methylheptyl)-N'-phenyl-1,4-benzenediamine quinone (8PPD-Q) and N,N'-di(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-p-phenylenediamine quinone (66PD-Q) were identified and quantified for the first time, with their median concentrations found to be 0.02-0.21 μg·g-1 in tire tissue, 0.40-2.76 pg·m-3 in air particles, and 0.23-1.02 ng·g-1 in surface soil. This work provides new evidence for the presence of unknown PPD-quinones in the environment, showcasing a potential strategy for screening emerging transformed contaminants in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental
and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Guodong Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental
and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental
and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Weixia Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental
and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Yuecheng Sang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental
and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Zongwei Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental
and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
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6
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Phelps D, Parkinson LV, Boucher JM, Muncke J, Geueke B. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Food Packaging: Migration, Toxicity, and Management Strategies. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:5670-5684. [PMID: 38501683 PMCID: PMC10993423 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03702] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
PFASs are linked to serious health and environmental concerns. Among their widespread applications, PFASs are known to be used in food packaging and directly contribute to human exposure. However, information about PFASs in food packaging is scattered. Therefore, we systematically map the evidence on PFASs detected in migrates and extracts of food contact materials and provide an overview of available hazard and biomonitoring data. Based on the FCCmigex database, 68 PFASs have been identified in various food contact materials, including paper, plastic, and coated metal, by targeted and untargeted analyses. 87% of these PFASs belong to the perfluorocarboxylic acids and fluorotelomer-based compounds. Trends in chain length demonstrate that long-chain perfluoroalkyl acids continue to be found, despite years of global efforts to reduce the use of these substances. We utilized ToxPi to illustrate that hazard data are available for only 57% of the PFASs that have been detected in food packaging. For those PFASs for which toxicity testing has been performed, many adverse outcomes have been reported. The data and knowledge gaps presented here support international proposals to restrict PFASs as a group, including their use in food contact materials, to protect human and environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drake
W. Phelps
- Independent
Consultant, Raleigh, North Carolina 27617, United States
| | | | | | - Jane Muncke
- Food
Packaging Forum Foundation, 8045 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Birgit Geueke
- Food
Packaging Forum Foundation, 8045 Zürich, Switzerland
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7
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Lee AE, Featherstone J, Martens J, McMahon TB, Hopkins WS. Fluorinated Propionic Acids Unmasked: Puzzling Fragmentation Phenomena of the Deprotonated Species. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:3029-3036. [PMID: 38466046 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c03400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Environmental contamination by per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) is an emerging concern for the public. In this study, short-chain PFAS such as deprotonated per- and polyfluorinated propionic acids are investigated using a combination of infrared multiple-photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy, collision-induced dissociation (CID), and density functional theory calculations. IRMPD and CID proceed via multiple competing pathways: (1) production of fluoroformate (FCO2-) and the associated ethylene derivative, (2) production of HF and the associated carbanion, or (3) loss of CO2 and the associated carbanion. Fluorinated propionic acids with at least one fluorine atom bound to the terminal carbon yield FCO2-, whereas loss of HF is observed in polyfluorinated species with at least one fluorine atom bound to the α-carbon. To explore the reaction pathways of the various fluorinated propionic acids, the nudged elastic band method is employed. The relative energy of the four-membered ring transition state leading to FCO2- dictates which product channel is observed in dissociation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur E Lee
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Josh Featherstone
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Jonathan Martens
- Radboud University, Institute for Molecules and Materials, FELIX Laboratory, Toernooiveld 7, 6525ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Terrance B McMahon
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - W Scott Hopkins
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
- Watermine Innovation, Waterloo, Ontario N0B 2T0, Canada
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research, Hong Kong Science Park, New Territories 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
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8
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Feng C, Lin Y, Le S, Ji J, Chen Y, Wang G, Xiao P, Zhao Y, Lu D. Suspect, Nontarget Screening, and Toxicity Prediction of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Landfill Leachate. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:4737-4750. [PMID: 38408453 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c07533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Landfills are the final stage of urban wastes containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). PFASs in the landfill leachate may contaminate the surrounding groundwater. As major environmental pollutants, emerging PFASs have raised global concern. Besides the widely reported legacy PFASs, the distribution and potential toxic effects of numerous emerging PFASs remain unclear, and unknown PFASs still need discovery and characterization. This study proposed a comprehensive method for PFAS screening in leachate samples using suspect and nontarget analysis. A total of 48 PFASs from 10 classes were identified; nine novel PFASs including eight chloroperfluoropolyether carboxylates (Cl-PFPECAs) and bistriflimide (HNTf2) were reported for the first time in the leachate, where Cl-PFPECA-3,1 and Cl-PFPECA-2,2 were first reported in environmental media. Optimized molecular docking models were established for prioritizing the PFASs with potential activity against peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and estrogen receptor α. Our results indicated that several emerging PFASs of N-methyl perfluoroalkyl sulfonamido acetic acids (N-MeFASAAs), n:3 fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (n:3 FTCA), and n:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (n:2 FTSA) have potential health risks that cannot be ignored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Feng
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200336, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Yuanjie Lin
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200336, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Sunyang Le
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200336, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Jieyun Ji
- Shanghai Changning Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200051, China
| | - Yuhang Chen
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200336, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Guoquan Wang
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200336, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Ping Xiao
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200336, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Yunfeng Zhao
- China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing 100021, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Dasheng Lu
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200336, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, Shanghai 200336, China
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9
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Chen X, Wu W, Sun H, Chen L, Wang Y, Xia B, Zhou Y. Development and Application of a Comprehensive Nontargeted Screening Strategy for Aristolochic Acid Analogues. Anal Chem 2024; 96:1922-1931. [PMID: 38264982 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c04064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Aristolochic acid analogs (AAAs) are naturally occurring carcinogenic and toxic compounds that pose a safety threat to pharmaceuticals and the environment. It is challenging to screen AAAs due to their lack of characteristic mass spectral fragmentation and their presence of structural diversity. A comprehensive nontargeted screening strategy was proposed by taking into account diverse factors and incorporating various self-developed techniques, and a Python3-based toolkit called AAAs_finder was developed for its implementation. The main procedures consist of virtual structure and ultraviolet and visible (UV) spectra database creation, exact mass and UV spectra-based suspect data extraction, tandem mass spectra (MS/MS) anthropomorphic interpretation, and multicondition retention time (RT) prediction-based candidate structures ranking. To initially assess screening feasibility, eight hypothetical unknown samples were subjected to nontargeted screening using the AAAs_finder toolkit and two other advanced tools. The results showed that the former successfully identified all, while the latter two only managed to identify two and three, respectively, indicating that our strategy was more feasible. After that, the strategy was carefully evaluated for false positives and false negatives, instrument dependence, reproducibility, and sensitivity. After the evaluation, the strategy was successfully applied to the screening of AAAs in real samples, such as herbal medicine, spiked soil, and water. Overall, this study proposed a nontargeted screening strategy and toolkit independent of characteristic mass spectral fragmentation and able to overcome challenges posed by structural diversity for the AAAs screening, which is also valuable for other classes of compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqi Chen
- Chengdu Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wenlin Wu
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Chengdu Institute of Food Inspection, Chengdu 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Metrology and Applications on Nutrition and Health for State Market Regulation, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Hongbing Sun
- Chengdu Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Sichuan Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lu Chen
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bing Xia
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
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10
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Chen YJ, Wang RD, Shih YL, Chin HY, Lin AYC. Emerging Perfluorobutane Sulfonamido Derivatives as a New Trend of Surfactants Used in the Semiconductor Industry. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:1648-1658. [PMID: 38175212 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The semiconductor industry has claimed that perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), a persistent per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), has been eliminated from semiconductor production; however, information about the use of alternative compounds remains limited. This study aimed to develop a nontarget approach to discovering diverse PFAS substitutions used in semiconductor manufacturing. A distinct fragment-based approach has been established to identify the hydrophobic and hydrophilic features of acidic and neutral fluorosurfactants through fragments and neutral losses, including those outside the homologous series. Ten sewage samples from 5 semiconductor plants were analyzed with target and nontarget analysis. Among the 20 identified PFAS spanning 12 subclasses, 15 were reported in semiconductor sewage for the first time. The dominant identified PFAS compounds were C4 sulfonamido derivatives, including perfluorobutane sulfonamido ethanol (FBSE), perfluorobutane sulfonamide (FBSA), and perfluorobutane sulfonamido diethanol (FBSEE diol), with maximum concentrations of 482 μg/L, 141 μg/L, and 83.5 μg/L in sewage, respectively. Subsequently, three ultrashort chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) were identified in all samples, ranging from 0.004 to 19.9 μg/L. Three effluent samples from the associated industrial wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were further analyzed. This finding, that the C4 sulfonamido acetic acid series constitutes a significant portion (65%-82%) of effluents from WWTP3 and WWTP4, emphasizes the conversion of fluorinated alcohols to fluorinated acids during aerobic treatment. The identification of the intermediate metabolites of FBSEE diol, further supported by our laboratory batch studies, prompts the proposal of a novel metabolic pathway for FBSEE diol. The total amount of perfluorobutane sulfonamido derivatives reached 1934 μg/L (90%), while that of PFAAs, which have typically received attention, was only 205 μg/L (10%). This suggests that perfluorobutane sulfonamido derivatives are emerging as a new trend in fluorosurfactants used in the semiconductor industry, serving as PFAS precursors and contributing to the release of their metabolites into the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ju Chen
- National Environmental Research Academy, Ministry of Environment, Taoyuan City 320, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei City 106, Taiwan
| | - Ren-De Wang
- National Environmental Research Academy, Ministry of Environment, Taoyuan City 320, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Lin Shih
- National Environmental Research Academy, Ministry of Environment, Taoyuan City 320, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Yi Chin
- National Environmental Research Academy, Ministry of Environment, Taoyuan City 320, Taiwan
| | - Angela Yu-Chen Lin
- Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei City 106, Taiwan
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11
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Zweigle J, Bugsel B, Fabregat-Palau J, Zwiener C. PFΔScreen - an open-source tool for automated PFAS feature prioritization in non-target HRMS data. Anal Bioanal Chem 2024; 416:349-362. [PMID: 38030884 PMCID: PMC10761406 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-023-05070-2] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a huge group of anthropogenic chemicals with unique properties that are used in countless products and applications. Due to the high stability of their C-F bonds, PFAS or their transformation products (TPs) are persistent in the environment, leading to ubiquitous detection in various samples worldwide. Since PFAS are industrial chemicals, the availability of authentic PFAS reference standards is limited, making non-target screening (NTS) approaches based on high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) necessary for a more comprehensive characterization. NTS usually is a time-consuming process, since only a small fraction of the detected chemicals can be identified. Therefore, efficient prioritization of relevant HRMS signals is one of the most crucial steps. We developed PFΔScreen, a Python-based open-source tool with a simple graphical user interface (GUI) to perform efficient feature prioritization using several PFAS-specific techniques such as the highly promising MD/C-m/C approach, Kendrick mass defect analysis, diagnostic fragments (MS2), fragment mass differences (MS2), and suspect screening. Feature detection from vendor-independent MS raw data (mzML, data-dependent acquisition) is performed via pyOpenMS (or custom feature lists) with subsequent calculations for prioritization and identification of PFAS in both HPLC- and GC-HRMS data. The PFΔScreen workflow is presented on four PFAS-contaminated agricultural soil samples from south-western Germany. Over 15 classes of PFAS (more than 80 single compounds with several isomers) could be identified, including four novel classes, potentially TPs of the precursors fluorotelomer mercapto alkyl phosphates (FTMAPs). PFΔScreen can be used within the Python environment and is easily automatically installable and executable on Windows. Its source code is freely available on GitHub ( https://github.com/JonZwe/PFAScreen ).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Zweigle
- Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 94-96, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Boris Bugsel
- Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 94-96, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Joel Fabregat-Palau
- Hydrogeochemistry, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 94-96, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian Zwiener
- Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 94-96, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
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Li L, Gao R, Wang X, Deng Y, Sun H, Sun H, Zhang B, Yu N, Gu C, Pan B, Yu H, Wei S. SWATH-F: A Novel Nontarget Strategy Based on the SWATH-MS Deconvolution Method Assisting in Annotating PFAS Homologues in Multisample Studies. Anal Chem 2023; 95:14551-14557. [PMID: 37723602 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c01680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
In order to identify emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and their alternatives in the environment or population, we need to perform extensive profiling of PFASs to determine their distribution in samples. The sequential window acquisition of all theoretical fragment-ion spectra (SWATH mode) is capable of obtaining a wide range of MS2 spectra but is difficult for direct identification of PFASs due to its complex MS2 spectra, and the nontarget screening method is difficult to identify due to its lack of a priori information. In this study, we demonstrated the great potential of SWATH-F, a nontarget fragment-based homologue screening method in combination with the SWATH-MS deconvolution, for detecting PFASs. We evaluated the application of SWATH-F to gradient spiked samples and real population serum samples, compared it with nontarget homologue screening in the information-dependent acquisition mode (IDA mode), and obtained better results for SWATH-F with 276% improvement (IDA:17 PFASs, SWATH-F: 64 PFASs) in identification. In addition, we automated the screening and identification process of SWATH-F to facilitate its use by researchers. SWATH-F is freely available on GitHub (https://github.com/njuIrene/SWATH-F) under an MIT license.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laihui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Rongjun Gao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1, Ookayama, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Xuebing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Yiyan Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Hong Sun
- Department of Environment and Health, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Huijing Sun
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Analysis for Organic Pollutants in Surface Water, Jiangsu Provincial Environmental Monitoring Center, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210019, China
| | - Beibei Zhang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Analysis for Organic Pollutants in Surface Water, Jiangsu Provincial Environmental Monitoring Center, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210019, China
| | - Nanyang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Cheng Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Bingcai Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Hongxia Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Si Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
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Strynar M, McCord J, Newton S, Washington J, Barzen-Hanson K, Trier X, Liu Y, Dimzon IK, Bugsel B, Zwiener C, Munoz G. Practical application guide for the discovery of novel PFAS in environmental samples using high resolution mass spectrometry. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2023; 33:575-588. [PMID: 37516787 PMCID: PMC10561087 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-023-00578-2] [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: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The intersection of the topics of high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) bring together two disparate and complex subjects. Recently non-targeted analysis (NTA) for the discovery of novel PFAS in environmental and biological media has been shown to be valuable in multiple applications. Classical targeted analysis for PFAS using LC-MS/MS, though growing in compound coverage, is still unable to inform a holistic understanding of the PFAS burden in most samples. NTA fills at least a portion of this data gap. OBJECTIVES Entrance into the study of novel PFAS discovery requires identification techniques such as HRMS (e.g., QTOF and Orbitrap) instrumentation. This requires practical knowledge of best approaches depending on the purpose of the analyses. The utility of HRMS applications for PFAS discovery is unquestioned and will likely play a significant role in many future environmental and human exposure studies. METHODS/RESULTS PFAS have some characteristics that make them standout from most other chemicals present in samples. Through a series of tell-tale PFAS characteristics (e.g., characteristic mass defect range, homologous series and characteristic fragmentation patterns), and case studies different approaches and remaining challenges are demonstrated. IMPACT STATEMENT The identification of novel PFAS via non-targeted analysis using high resolution mass spectrometry is an important and difficult endeavor. This synopsis document will hopefully make current and future efforts on this topic easier to perform for novice and experienced alike. The typical time devoted to NTA PFAS investigations (weeks to months or more) may benefit from these practical steps employed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Strynar
- USEPA Office of Research and Development Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Durham, NC and Athens, GA, USA.
| | - James McCord
- USEPA Office of Research and Development Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Durham, NC and Athens, GA, USA
| | - Seth Newton
- USEPA Office of Research and Development Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Durham, NC and Athens, GA, USA
| | - John Washington
- USEPA Office of Research and Development Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Durham, NC and Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - Xenia Trier
- Section of Environmental Chemistry and Physics, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences (PLEN), University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Yanna Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085, Beijing, China
| | - Ian Ken Dimzon
- Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Philippines
| | - Boris Bugsel
- Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstr. 94-96, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian Zwiener
- Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstr. 94-96, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gabriel Munoz
- Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada
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Zweigle J, Bugsel B, Röhler K, Haluska AA, Zwiener C. PFAS-Contaminated Soil Site in Germany: Nontarget Screening before and after Direct TOP Assay by Kendrick Mass Defect and FindPFΔS. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:6647-6655. [PMID: 37058300 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07969] [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: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Soil contaminations with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are of great concern due to their persistence, leading to continuous, long-term groundwater contamination. A composite sample from contaminated agricultural soil from northwestern Germany (Brilon-Scharfenberg, North Rhine-Westphalia) was investigated in depth with nontarget screening (NTS) (Kendrick mass defect and MS2 fragment mass differences with FindPFΔS). Several years ago, selected PFCAs and PFSAs were identified on this site by detection in nearby surface and drinking water. We identified 10 further PFAS classes and 7 C8-based PFAS (73 single PFAS) previously unknown in this soil including some novel PFAS. All PFAS classes except for one class comprised sulfonic acid groups and were semi-quantified with PFSA standards from which ∼97% were perfluorinated and are not expected to be degradable. New identifications made up >75% of the prior known PFAS concentration, which was estimated to >30 μg/g. Pentafluorosulfanyl (-SF5) PFSAs are the dominant class (∼40%). Finally, the soil was oxidized with the direct TOP (dTOP) assay, revealing PFAA precursors that were covered to a large extent by identified H-containing PFAS and additional TPs (perfluoroalkyl diacids) were detected after dTOP. In this soil, however, dTOP + target analysis covers <23% of the occurring PFAS, highlighting the importance of NTS to characterize PFAS contaminations more comprehensively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Zweigle
- Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 94-96, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Boris Bugsel
- Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 94-96, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Klaus Röhler
- Hydrogeochemistry, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 94-96, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alexander Arthur Haluska
- Hydrogeochemistry, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 94-96, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian Zwiener
- Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 94-96, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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Efficient PFAS prioritization in non-target HRMS data: systematic evaluation of the novel MD/C-m/C approach. Anal Bioanal Chem 2023; 415:1791-1801. [PMID: 36826506 PMCID: PMC10049945 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-023-04601-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Non-target screening (NTS) based on high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) is necessary to comprehensively characterize per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in environmental, biological, and technical samples due to the very limited availability of authentic PFAS reference standards. Since in trace analysis, MS/MS information is not always achievable and only selected PFAS are present in homologous series, further techniques to prioritize measured HRMS data (features) according to their likelihood of being PFAS are highly desired due to the importance of efficient data reduction during NTS. Kaufmann et al. (J AOAC Int, 2022) presented a very promising approach to separate selected PFAS from sample matrix features by plotting the mass defect (MD) normalized to the number of carbons (MD/C) vs. mass normalized to the number of C (m/C). We systematically evaluated the advantages and limitations of this approach by using ~ 490,000 chemical formulas of organic chemicals (~ 210,000 PFAS, ~ 160,000 organic contaminants, and 125,000 natural organic matter compounds) and calculating how efficiently, and especially which, PFAS can be prioritized. While PFAS with high fluorine content (approximately: F/C > 0.8, H/F < 0.8, mass percent of fluorine > 55%) can be separated well, partially fluorinated PFAS with a high hydrogen content are more difficult to prioritize, which we discuss for selected PFAS. In the MD/C-m/C approach, even compounds with highly positive MDs above 0.5 Da and hence incorrectly assigned to negative MDs can still be separated from true negative mass defect features by the normalized mass (m/C). Furthermore, based on the position in the MD/C-m/C plot, we propose the estimation of the fluorine fraction in molecules for selected PFAS classes. The promising MD/C-m/C approach can be widely used in PFAS research and routine analysis. The concept is also applicable to other compound classes like iodinated compounds.
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Zweigle J, Bugsel B, Capitain C, Zwiener C. PhotoTOP: PFAS Precursor Characterization by UV/TiO 2 Photocatalysis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:15728-15736. [PMID: 36305720 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c05652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
To unravel the complexity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in products and environmental samples, sum parameters that provide relevant information on chemical characteristics are necessary since not all PFAS can be captured by target analysis in case of missing reference standards or if they are not extractable or amenable to the analytical method. Therefore, we evaluated photocatalysis (UV/TiO2) as a further total oxidizable precursor approach (PhotoTOP) to characterize perfluoroalkyl acid precursors via their conversion to perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs). Photocatalysis has the advantage that no salts are needed, allowing direct injection with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry without time-consuming and potentially discriminating sample cleanup. OH radicals were monitored with OH probes to determine the reactivity. For eight different precursors (diPAPs, FTSAs, FTCAs, N-EtFOSAA, PFOSA), mass balance was achieved within 4 h of oxidation, and also, in the presence of matrix, complete conversion was possible. The PhotoTOP was able to predict the precursor chain length of known and here newly identified precursors qualitatively when applied to two PFAS-coated paper samples and technical PFAS mixtures. The length of the perfluorinated carbon chain (n) was mostly conserved in the form of PFCAs (n-1) with only minor fractions of shorter-chain PFCAs. Finally, an unknown fabric sample and a polymer mixture (no PFAS detectable in extracts) were oxidized, and the generated PFCAs indicated the occurrence of side-chain fluorinated polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Zweigle
- Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Center for Applied Geoscience, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 94-96, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Boris Bugsel
- Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Center for Applied Geoscience, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 94-96, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Catharina Capitain
- Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Center for Applied Geoscience, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 94-96, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian Zwiener
- Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Center for Applied Geoscience, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 94-96, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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