Fate and budget of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances in three common garden plants after experimental additions with contaminated river water

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2021-09, Vol.285, p.117115-117115, Article 117115
• Main Authors: McDonough, Andrew M., Bird, Adam W., Freeman, Lindsay M., Luciani, Michael A., Todd, Aaron K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Long chain; Mass balance; PFAS; Short chain; Soil; Tomato
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117115

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become ubiquitous contaminants in the environment. Contamination of the terrestrial ecosystem can occur from the release of aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) used in firefighting operations. Following soil contamination with AFFF, studies report root uptake and translocation of PFAS to other plant organs, typically favouring the short chain moiety. This body of experimental work often focuses on edible organs and generally lacks entire PFAS budgets. Here, we calculate short chain (≤6 carbons) and long chain (≥6 or ≥ 7 carbons) PFAS concentrations and respective budgets for terrestrial multimedia mesocosms (plants, soil and lysimeter) of three common agricultural plants (tomato, lettuce and beet) following irrigation with low level PFAS (4000 ng g−1) and accounted for 1.4% of PFAS additions. While smaller tomato fruits had higher concentrations of short chain PFAS, larger fruit had more total PFAS mass. This work provides a detailed description of the fate of short and long chain PFAS when added to relatively uncontaminated terrestrial agricultural systems. We show low-level PFAS concentrations from real-world irrigation sources can affect various receptors across the multimedia landscape. This is most evident in tomato flowers and fruit where biomagnification and high total masses of short chain PFAS occurred which could have implications for pollinators and consumption, respectively. [Display omitted] •Only short chain PFAS accumulated in tomato fruit.•>99% short chain translocated from roots to shoots.•PFAS budgets in the soil-plant system can be calculated for low level contamination.•Tomato flowers concentrate shot chain PFAS. Low level PFAS contamination in river water from historical firefighting activities contaminates soil and plants. Flower concentrations in tomato plants are exceptionally high.