Simultaneous analysis of neutral and ionizable per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in air

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2021-10, Vol.280, p.130607-130607, Article 130607
• Main Authors: Wu, Rongben, Lin, Huiju, Yamazaki, Eriko, Taniyasu, Sachi, Sörengård, Mattias, Ahrens, Lutz, Lam, Paul K.S., Eun, Heesoo, Yamashita, Nobuyoshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activated charcoal fiber; Analytical Chemistry; Analytisk kemi; Environmental Sciences; Gas and particle; Miljövetenskap; Neutral and ionizable; PFASs; Simultaneous air analysis
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130607

A new method is preliminarily validated for the simultaneous analysis of ionic and neutral per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in both particulate and gaseous phases in air using a nanosampler-20 air sampler (NS20) composed of quartz fiber filters (QFFs), polyurethane foam (PUF) and artificial activated charcoal (GAIAC™). Perfluoroalkane sulfonamido ethanols (FOSEs) mainly remained in PUF, whereas the other neutral analytes were mainly found in GAIAC. Satisfactory recoveries were obtained for FOSEs, fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), fluorotelomer iodides (FTIs), ranging fron 70%–120%, moderate recoveries were achieved for perfluorinated iodine alkanes (FIAs) and diiodofluoroalkanes (FDIAs), ranging from 50%–70%, while poor recoveries were found for perfluoroalkane sulfonamides (FOSAs). Breakthrough experiments revealed that almost all the target analytes were well trapped in GAIAC™, including the very volatile 4:2 FTOH. Applying to real sampling, our results showed that 6:2 and 8:2 FTOH were the most abundant species, with levels detected at 190 pg/m3 and 160 pg/m3. To the best of our knowledge, FDIAs were detected in ambient air for the first time at an average level of 8.3 pg/m3. Overall, the profiles observed from the real air samples reflected current industrial transition from longer chain to shorter chain in PFAS production. Our results revealed that the current method is promising for a more comprehensive understanding on the fates of PFASs in air. [Display omitted] •New research tool enables simultaneous analysis of neutral and ionizable per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in air were developed.•New air sampler satisfactory recoveries for not only most PFAS but also for some emerging PFAS (fluorotelomer iodides, perfluorinated iodine alkanes and diiodofluoroalkanes.•Validation experiment shown that there was environmental alteration of original PFAS in air during traditional sampling procedure.