Polyfluorinated compounds in the atmosphere along a cruise pathway from the Japan Sea to the Arctic Ocean
Abstract
Neutral polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) were measured in high-volume air samples collected on board the research vessel Snow Dragon during the 4th Chinese National Arctic Expedition from the Japan Sea to the Arctic Ocean in 2010. Four volatile and semi-volatile PFASs (fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), fluorotelomer acids (FTAs), perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides (FASAs), and sulfonamidoethanols (FASEs)) were analyzed respectively in the gas and particle phases. FTOHs were the dominant PFASs in the gas phase (61-358pgm(-3)), followed by FTAs (5.2-47.9pgm(-3)), FASEs (1.9-15.0pgm(-3)), and FASAs (0.5-2.1pgm(-3)). In the particle phase, the dominant PFAS class was FTOHs (1.0-9.9pgm(-3)). The particle-associated fraction followed the general trend of FASEs>FASAs>FTOHs. Compared with other atmospheric PFAS measurements, the ranges of concentrations of ∑FTOH in this study were similar to those reported from Toronto, north America (urban), the northeast Atlantic Ocean, and northern Germany. Significant correlations between FASEs in the gas phase and ambient air temperature indicate that cold surfaces such as sea-ice, snowpack, and surface seawater influence atmospheric FASEs.
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In Arctic and Antarctic regions, volatilizations and long-range transport lead to PFAS contamination.
“In the Arctic and Antarctic regions, volatilizations and long-range transport lead to PFAS contamination, which is also confirmed by high PFHpA to PFOA ratios (>1) in these regions (Cai et al., 2012).”
From Per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as a contaminant of emerging concern in surface water: A transboundary review of their occurrences and toxicity effects (2021) · cites this paper as Cai et al., 2012
The Conclusions (p. 15) say that the study found airborne PFAS precursors in remote Arctic regions and supports their long-range atmospheric transport. The Introduction (p. 3) also mentions PFAS contamination in Antarctic wildlife, but this study did not establish volatilization and transport as its cause there. Our copy does not report PFHpA-to-PFOA ratios greater than 1 as evidence for the claim. (LLM, conf=0.89)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredTypically, in urbanized and industrialized areas, PFAS in the atmosphere result from direct emission rather than atmospheric decomposition.
“Typically, in urbanized and industrialized areas, PFAS in the atmosphere result from direct emission rather than atmospheric decomposition.”
From Per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as a contaminant of emerging concern in surface water: A transboundary review of their occurrences and toxicity effects (2021) · cites this paper as Cai et al., 2012
Section 3.2 (p. 12) identifies industrialized regions as potential sources of atmospheric FTOHs, supporting part of the claim. It does not establish that direct emissions typically dominate over atmospheric decomposition in urbanized and industrialized areas, or extend that conclusion to PFAS generally. The Introduction (p. 4) also discusses atmospheric degradation of PFAS precursors. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredFew studies have reported occurrences of PFAS in Africa, South America, Australia, Arctic, and Antarctic regions.
“there are few studies that reported the occurrences of PFAS in Africa, South America, Australia, Arctic, and Antarctic regions”
From Per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as a contaminant of emerging concern in surface water: A transboundary review of their occurrences and toxicity effects (2021) · cites this paper as Cai et al., 2012
The Introduction (p. 3) cites studies reporting PFAS in the Arctic and Antarctica. It does not say that studies are few, or address the number of occurrence studies in Africa, South America, or Australia. (LLM, conf=0.78)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThere is evidence of PFAS contamination in Africa, South America, Australia, Arctic, and Antarctic regions.
“although there is evidence of PFAS contamination in these regions”
From Per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as a contaminant of emerging concern in surface water: A transboundary review of their occurrences and toxicity effects (2021) · cites this paper as Cai et al., 2012
The Introduction (p. 3) reports PFAS detections in the Arctic and Antarctica, and the Conclusions (p. 15) confirm detections in remote Arctic air. The paper does not identify detections in Africa, South America, or Australia; its general statement that PFASs have been detected globally does not establish those specific locations. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe level of NOx in an urban region can be used as an indicator of PFAS source in the atmosphere.
“Therefore, the level of NOx in the urban region, can also be used as an indicator of PFAS source in the atmosphere (Cai et al., 2012).”
From Per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as a contaminant of emerging concern in surface water: A transboundary review of their occurrences and toxicity effects (2021) · cites this paper as Cai et al., 2012
The comparison section (pp. 12–13) identifies industrialized regions as potential sources of airborne PFAS compounds, and the Conclusions (p. 15) report higher PFAS concentrations in urban regions. Neither those passages nor searches for NOx, nitrogen oxides, and NO2 address whether urban NOx levels can indicate an atmospheric PFAS source. (LLM, conf=0.74)
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Cites
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PFAS on atmospheric aerosol particles: A review
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Neutral polyfluoroalkyl substances in the global Atmosphere
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- Authors
- Cai, M., Xie, Z., Möller, A., Yin, Z., Huang, P., Cai, M., Yang, H., Sturm, R., He, J., & Ebinghaus, R.
- Affiliations
- Tongji University (CN)
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon (DE)
- Xiamen University (CN)
- Polar Research Institute of China (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Cai, Minghong
- Xie, Zhiyong
- Venue
- Chemosphere
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2012-05
- Volume
- 87
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 989-997
- ISSN
- 0045-6535 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2004692697
- Cited by
- 60
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 6
- FWCI
- 2.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Chemosphere (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Zentrum für Materialforschung und kustenforschung (The Helmholtz Center Geesthacht) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (40776003)
- Ocean Public Welfare Scientific Research Project, State Oceanic Administration of the People’s Republic of China (200805095)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmaceutical Science › Fluorine in Organic Chemistry
- Keywords
- PFASs, atmospheric transport, Japan Sea, Arctic Ocean, fluorotelomer alcohols, air temperature, sea ice, snowpack, seawater, long-range transport
- MeSH terms
- Air Pollutants, Arctic Regions, Atmosphere, Environmental Monitoring, Fluorocarbons, Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated, Japan, Oceans and Seas, Temperature, Volatile Organic Compounds
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