Tracing perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in soils along the urbanizing coastal area of Bohai and Yellow Seas, China

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2018-07, Vol.238, p.404-412
• Main Authors: Meng, Jing, Wang, Tieyu, Song, Shuai, Wang, Pei, Li, Qifeng, Zhou, Yunqiao, Lu, Yonglong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coastal area; Life cycle analysis; PFASs; Soil; Sources
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.03.056

With the shift of fluorine chemical industry from developed countries to China and increasing demand for fluorine chemical products, occurrence of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in production and application areas has attracted more attention. In this study, 153 soil samples were collected from 21 cities along the urbanizing coastal area of the Bohai and Yellow Seas. PFASs in this area were relatively higher, compared with other study areas. The concentrations ranged from 2.76 to 64.0 ng g−1, and those in most sites were between 2.76 and 13.9 ng g−1, with a predominance of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Among the 21 coastal cities, contaminations of PFASs in Zibo, Nantong and Binzhou were elevated, which was likely affected by local fluorine chemical plants, equipment manufacturing and chemical industry, respectively. The total emissions of PFOA and PFOS were similar, with amount of 4431 kg and 4335 kg, respectively. Atmospheric deposition was the largest source, accounting for 93.2% of total PFOA and 69.6% of PFOS, respectively. In addition, due to application of aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) and sulfluramid, disposal of sewage sludge and stacking of solid waste, emission of PFOA and PFOS to soil was 1617 kg, accounting for 9.29% of the whole China. In general, pollution in Jiangsu, Shandong and Tianjin was more serious than those in Liaoning and Hebei, which was consistent with industrialization level and size of industrial sectors emitting PFASs. [Display omitted] •Direct and indirect sources for PFASs in soils along coastal area were quantified.•Relationship from emission of PFASs to actual detection was established.•Concentrations of PFASs in soils along coastal area ranged from 2.76 to 64.0 ng g−1.•Atmospheric deposition of PFOA and PFOS were 4431 and 4335 kg, respectively.•Direct emission of PFOA and PFOS was 1617 kg, contributing 9.3% in whole China. Atmospheric deposition contributed 8766 kg PFOA and PFOS for coastal areas along the Bohai and Yellow Seas, which accounted for 70.8% of the total sources.