Cited by 140Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances researchToxic Organic Pollutants ImpactFluorine in Organic Chemistry

Occurrence and sources of perfluoroalkyl acids in Italian river basins

Valsecchi, Sara, Rusconi, Marianna, Mazzoni, Michela, Viviano, Gaetano, Pagnotta, Romano, Zaghi, Carlo, Serrini, Giuliana, Polesello, Stefano·2015·Chemosphere

Abstract

This paper presents a survey on the occurrence and sources of 11 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) in the main river basins in Italy, covering about 40% of the Italian surface area and 45% of the Italian population. Total concentrations of PFAA ranged from<LOD to 8μgL(-1), the highest concentrations being measured in the rivers impacted by industrial discharges. Among the rivers directly flowing into the sea, Brenta, Po and Arno present significant concentrations, while concentrations in Tevere and Adige, which are not impacted by relevant industrial activities, are almost all below the detection limits. The total estimated PFAA load of the five rivers was 7.5ty(-1) with the following percentage distribution: 39% PFBS, 32% PFOA, 22% short chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCA), 6% PFOS and 1% long chain PFCA. PFOA and PFOS loads, evaluated in the present work, represent 10% and 2% of the estimated European loads, respectively. In Italy the most important sources of PFAA are two chemical plants which produce fluorinated polymers and intermediates, sited in the basin of rivers Po and Brenta, respectively, whose overall emission represents 57% of the total estimated PFAA load. Both rivers flow into the Adriatic Sea, raising concern for the marine ecosystem also because a significant PFOS load (0.3ty(-1)) is still present. Among the remaining activities, tanneries and textile industries are relevant sources of respectively PFBS and PFOA, together with short chain PFCA. As an example, the total PFAA load (0.12ty(-1)) from the textile district of Prato is equivalent to the estimated domestic emission of the whole population in all the studied basins.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.07.044

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Authors
Valsecchi, S., Rusconi, M., Mazzoni, M., Viviano, G., Pagnotta, R., Zaghi, C., Serrini, G., & Polesello, S.
Affiliations
  • Water Research Institute (IT)
  • Ministry of the Environment and Protection of Land and Sea (IT)
Corresponding author
Polesello, Stefano
Venue
Chemosphere
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2015-06
Volume
129
Pages
126-134
ISSN
0045-6535 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2089787898
Cited by
139
References
28
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 7
FWCI
7.35
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Chemosphere (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Eye Institute
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
perfluoroalkyl acids, perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOS, PFBS, perfluorocarboxylic acids, river pollution, industrial discharge, tanneries, textile industry, source apportionment, Adriatic Sea
MeSH terms
Environmental Monitoring, Fluorocarbons, Italy, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Alkanesulfonic Acids, Rivers

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