The impact of two fluoropolymer manufacturing facilities on downstream contamination of a river and drinking water resources with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are emerging contaminants that have been detected in the environment, biota, and humans. Drinking water is a route of exposure for populations consuming water contaminated by PFAS discharges. This research study reports environmental measurement concentrations, mass flows, and the fate of dozens of PFASs in a river receiving effluents from two fluoropolymer manufacturing facilities. In addition to quantified levels of PFASs using LC- and GC-MS analytical methods, the total amount of unidentified PFASs and precursors was assessed using two complementary analytical methods, absorbable organic fluorine (AOF) determination and oxidative conversion of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid (PFCA) precursors. Several dozen samples were collected in the river (water and sediment) during four sampling campaigns. In addition, samples were collected in two well fields and from the outlet of the drinking water treatment plants after chlorination. We estimated that 4295 kg PFHxA, 1487 kg 6:2FTSA, 965 kg PFNA, 307 kg PFUnDA, and 14 kg PFOA were discharged in the river by the two facilities in 2013. High concentrations (up to 176 ng/g dw) of odd long-chain PFASs (PFUnDA and PFTrDA) were found in sediment samples. PFASs were detected in all 15 wells, with concentrations varying based on the location of the well in the field. Additionally, the presence of previously discharged PFASs was still measurable. Significant discrepancies between PFAS concentration profiles in the wells and in the river suggest an accumulation and transformation of PFCA precursors in the aquifer. Chlorination had no removal efficiency and no unidentified PFASs were detected in the treated water with either complementary analytical method. Although the total PFAS concentrations were high in the treated water, ranging from 86 to 169 ng/L, they did not exceed the currently available guideline values.
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Environmental samples with higher percentages of PFCAs have been attributed to sources including fluoropolymer manufacturing, landfills, and WWTP effluent.
“As discussed, environmental samples with higher percentages of PFCAs have been attributed to sources including fluoropolymer manufacturing, landfills, and WWTP effluent (Ahrens et al. 2009; Arvaniti and Stasinakis 2015; Bach et al. 2017; Dauchy et al. 2012; Houtz et al. 2016; Oliaei et al. 2013; Weber et al. 2017), which all have relevance to surface water scenarios.”
From Evaluation of a national data set for insights into sources, composition, and concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in U.S. drinking water (2018) · cites this paper as Bach et al. 2017
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- Authors
- Bach, C., Dauchy, X., Boiteux, V., Colin, A., Hemard, J., Sagres, V., Rosin, C., & Munoz, J.-F.
- Affiliations
- Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l’Alimentation, de l’Environnement et du Travail (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Dauchy, Xavier
- Venue
- Environmental Science and Pollution Research
- Published
- 2016-12-17
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 4916-4925
- ISSN
- 0944-1344 (ISSN-L)
- 1614-7499
- OpenAlex
- W2561280731
- Cited by
- 66
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 3.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Environmental Science and Pollution Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Canadian Bee Research Fund
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Fluoride Effects and Removal
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Chemical Analysis and Environmental Impact
- Keywords
- per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS contamination, river pollution, drinking water, PFAS precursors, perfluorohexanoic acid, perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluoroundecanoic acid, PFNA, sediment contamination, chlorination, drinking water treatment, groundwater wells
- MeSH terms
- Manufacturing and Industrial Facilities, Fluorine, Fluorocarbons, Humans, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Water Purification, Rivers, Groundwater, Drinking Water, Water Resources
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