Distribution of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in aquatic plant-based systems: From soil adsorption and plant uptake to effects on microbial community

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2020-02, Vol.257, p.113575-113575, Article 113575
• Main Authors: Zhang, Dong Qing, Wang, Mo, He, Qiaochong, Niu, Xiaojun, Liang, Yanna
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Alkanesulfonic Acids - analysis; Alkanesulfonic Acids - toxicity; Bacterial community dynamic; Fluorocarbons - analysis; Fluorocarbons - toxicity; Microbiota; Perfluoroalkyl subsntances (PFASs); Plant uptake; Plants; Soil; Soil adsorption; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113575

This study systematically explored the distribution of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) through soil adsorption and plant bioaccumulation in aquatic plant-based systems, derived from a surface flow constructed wetland (CW) planted with Typha angustifolia. The water-soil-plant systems were fortified with eight perfluoroalkyl subsntances (PFASs) at different concentrations. The potential for individual PFAS adsorption onto soil substrate and bioaccumulation in the plants increased with the increasing PFAS initial concentrations. Longer-chain PFASs exhibited higher affinity to soil substrate compared to shorter-chain PFASs. The highest concentration in the soil was observed for PFOS (51.3 ng g−1), followed by PFHxS (9.39 ng g−1), and PFOA (5.53 ng g−1) at low PFAS level. The perfluoroalkyl chain length dependent trend was also seen in the roots with the highest individual PFAS concentration for PFOS (68.9 ng g−1), followed by PFOA (18.5 ng g−1) and PFHxS (13.4 ng g−1). By contrast, shorter-chain PFASs were preferentially translocated from roots to shoots in Typha angustifolia. A significant (p  0.05) in the structure and composition of bacterial community. This study helps to gain insight into a better understanding of the potential for PFASs distribution in an aquatic plant-based system and the impact on dynamic of microbial community exposed to PFASs. [Display omitted] •PFAS adsorption to soil and uptake by plants are concentration-dependent.•Long-chain PFASs exhibited high affinity to soil substrates.•Long-chain PFASs tends to be more restricted to the roots of T. angustifolia.•Soil adsorption played a major ro