Bioaccumulation of PFASs in cabbage collected near a landfill site in China: Laboratory and field investigations

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2024-01, Vol.906, p.167578-167578, Article 167578
• Main Authors: Che, Jilu, Xu, Chang, Song, Xin, Ding, Xiaoyan, Ali, Mukhtiar, Chen, Hong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioaccumulation; Bioconcentration factor; cabbage; Cabbage root; China; environment; Hydroponic; hydroponics; landfills; perfluorocarbons; PFASs; risk; soil
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167578

Previous studies found that the bioaccumulation of PFASs in vegetables poses potential risks to the health of residents in local areas near landfills in China. Therefore, our study investigated the uptake of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and their accumulation and distribution in cabbage roots, stems, and leaves under both field and laboratory hydroponic conditions. It was found that the sum of concentration of 15 PFASs (designated as Σ15PFASs) in roots, stems, and leaves ranged from 24.8 to 365 ng/g, 49.2 to 204 ng/g, 11.9 to 115 ng/g, respectively, in the order of roots > stems > leaves, which were generally higher than the range in soil samples (6.07–63.91 ng/g). The dominant compounds in cabbage were PFBA and PFDA in field and hydroponic samples, respectively. The hydroponic experimental results revealed that the sum concentration of 10 PFASs (designated as Σ10PFASs) was the highest in roots, and PFDA was the dominant compound in different cabbage fractions. Bioconcentration factors of short-chain PFBA, PFPeA, and PFBS in hydroponics followed the trend of leaves > stems > roots, indicating that they were readily transported from roots to stems, and then to leaves, with the majority stored in leaves at abundance levels of 53 %, 71 %, and 60 %, respectively. Additionally, the much higher concentration factor for 6:2 FTS in leaves suggested a higher potential health risk than PFOS in terms of dietary consumption of cabbage leaves. [Display omitted] •Long-chain PFASs were remained primarily in roots, while short-chain PFASs were readily being translocated.•PFASs distribution patterns in cabbage organs differed under field and hydroponic conditions.•PFBA and PFDA were the dominant compounds in field and hydroponics, respectively.•6:2 FTS, an alternative of PFOS, had higher translocation factors among cabbage organs.•Short-chain and emerging alternatives can pose greater risk to human health than legacy PFASs.