Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in water and sediment from a temperate watershed in China: Occurrence, sources, and ecological risks

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2023-09, Vol.890, p.164207-164207, Article 164207
• Main Authors: An, Xupeng, Lei, Haojie, Lu, Yonglong, Xie, Xingwei, Wang, Pei, Liao, Jieming, Liang, Zian, Sun, Bin, Wu, Zhaoyang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkanesulfonic Acids - analysis; Animals; China; Ecological risk; Environmental Monitoring; Fluorocarbons - analysis; PFAS; Source apportionment; Spatio-temporal distribution; Water; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water-sediment partitioning; Zebrafish
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164207

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a class of synthetic organic fluorides that have been widely used in various industrial and consumer applications. However, their potential ecological risks have raised concerns. In this study, PFASs were investigated in different environmental media in the Jiulong River and Xiamen Bay regions of China, revealing widespread contamination of PFASs in the watershed. PFBA, PFPeA, PFOA, and PFOS were detected in all 56 sites, with short-chain PFASs dominating (72 % of the total). Novel PFAS alternatives, including F53B, HFPO-DA, and NaDONA, were detected in >90 % of the water samples. Seasonal and spatial variations in PFAS concentrations were observed in the Jiulong River estuary, while Xiamen Bay was not significantly affected by seasonal changes. In sediment, PFSAs were dominant with long-chains while PFCAs with short-chains, and the occurrence was influenced by water depth and salinity. PFSAs were more inclined to be adsorbed in sediments than PFCAs, and log Kd of PFCAs increased with the numbers of -CF2-. Paper packaging, machinery manufacturing, WWTP discharge, airport and dock activities were the dominant sources of PFASs. Risk quotient showed that PFOS or PFOA may pose high toxicity to Danio rerio and Chironomus riparius. Although the overall ecological risk in the catchment is still low, the hazard of bio-concentration under long-term exposure and multi-pollutant synergistic toxicity cannot be ignored. [Display omitted] •Concentrations of PFASs have increased in a subtropical catchment in China over the past 5 years.•PFASs in river estuary were more affected by seasonal variations than gulf.•Novel alternatives differ from conventional PFASs in terms of water-sediment partitioning.•Industrial emissions, WWTPs discharge, and the use of AFFFs are the main sources of PFASs in the catchment.•PFOA or PFOS may pose high risk to some species, but overall ecological risk is still low.