A review of sources, multimedia distribution and health risks of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in China
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Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) have been recognized as emerging pollutants because of their ubiquitous occurrence in the environment, biota and humans. In order to investigate their sources, fate and environmental effects, a great number of surveys have been carried out over the past several years. In the present review, we summarized the status of sources and emission, concentration, distribution and risks of PFAAs in China. Concentrations of PFAAs, especially perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in various environmental media including water, sediment, soil, rain, snow and organisms, as well as human tissues are summarized based on the available data. Concentrations of PFAAs in aquatic systems are higher in relatively more industrialized and urbanized areas than those from the less populated and remote regions in China, indicating that their emission and distribution are closely related to regional urbanization and industrialization. PFAAs and related products have been widely used over the past several decades, which have brought about high concentrations detected in environmental matrixes, biota and even local residents. Ecological risk assessment of PFAAs is still less developed in China. Most existing studies compared concentrations of PFAAs to guideline values derived for single species to evaluate the risk. In order to reveal the transport, partitioning and degradation of PFAAs in the environment, further studies on their behavior, fate, bioaccumulation and adverse effects in different trophic levels should be conducted.
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The release of PFAS into the environment occurs through two major sources: point sources and nonpoint sources.
“The release of PFAS into the environment occurs through two major sources.”
From Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water and wastewater: A critical review of their global occurrence and distribution (2022) · cites this paper as Wang et al., 2015
In 2003, PFOA and PFOS were detected in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River at concentrations ranging from 0.2-297.5 and 0.1-37.8 ng/L, respectively.
“In 2003, PFOA and PFOS were detected in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River at concentrations ranging from 0.2–297.5 and 0.1–37.8 ng L−1, respectively (Wang et al., 2015).”
From Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water and wastewater: A critical review of their global occurrence and distribution (2022) · cites this paper as Wang et al., 2015
Between 1980 and 2000, concentrations of PFAS in blood samples of Chinese citizens increased due to the ingestion of PFAS-contaminated drinking water.
“Between 1980 and 2000, the concentrations of PFAS in blood samples of Chinese citizens increased due to the ingestion of PFAS-contaminated drinking water (Chen et al., 2009; Wang et al., 2015).”
From Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water and wastewater: A critical review of their global occurrence and distribution (2022) · cites this paper as Wang et al., 2015
Between 2003 and 2006, the annual production of PFAS-related chemicals increased significantly, leading to the frequent detection of these compounds in the aquatic environment.
“Between 2003 and 2006, the annual production of PFAS-related chemicals increased significantly leading to the frequent detection of these compounds in the aquatic environment (Wang et al., 2015), and PFAS have been detected in seven major river systems and their main tributaries in China.”
From Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water and wastewater: A critical review of their global occurrence and distribution (2022) · cites this paper as Wang et al., 2015
PFAS have been detected in seven major river systems and their main tributaries in China.
“Between 2003 and 2006, the annual production of PFAS-related chemicals increased significantly leading to the frequent detection of these compounds in the aquatic environment (Wang et al., 2015), and PFAS have been detected in seven major river systems and their main tributaries in China.”
From Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water and wastewater: A critical review of their global occurrence and distribution (2022) · cites this paper as Wang et al., 2015
High concentrations of PFOA and PFOS have been measured in the Haihe River, located in Northern China, especially in areas near the Bohai Economic Rim.
“Similarly, high concentrations of PFOA and PFOS have also been measured in the Haihe River, located in Northern China, especially in the areas near to the Bohai Economic Rim (Wang et al., 2015).”
From Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water and wastewater: A critical review of their global occurrence and distribution (2022) · cites this paper as Wang et al., 2015
The reduction in PFOA and PFOS concentrations in the Pearl River has been attributed to a decline in production and release from industrial sources due to the requirements of the Stockholm Convention.
“This reduction in PFOA and PFOS concentrations has been attributed to a decline in production and release from industrial sources due to the requirements of the Stockholm Convention (Wang et al., 2015).”
From Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water and wastewater: A critical review of their global occurrence and distribution (2022) · cites this paper as Wang et al., 2015
PFAS concentrations detected near industrialized or urban areas in China were similar to those found in surface waters in the USA, Canada, Japan, and Europe.
“Interestingly, the PFAS concentrations detected near industrialized or urban areas in China were similar to those found in surface waters in the USA, Canada, Japan, and Europe (Wang et al., 2015).”
From Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water and wastewater: A critical review of their global occurrence and distribution (2022) · cites this paper as Wang et al., 2015
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- Authors
- Wang, T., Wang, P., Meng, J., Liu, S., Lu, Y., Khim, J. S., & Giesy, J. P.
- Affiliations
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Seoul National University (KR)
- University of Saskatchewan (CA)
- Venue
- Chemosphere
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2015-06
- Volume
- 129
- Pages
- 87-99
- ISSN
- 0045-6535 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2157024108
- Cited by
- 276
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 8
- FWCI
- 1.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- ir.rcees.ac.cn
- Licence
- cc-by-nc-sa
- www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
- Locations
- Chemosphere (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences OpenIR (Chinese Academy of Sciences) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmaceutical Science › Fluorine in Organic Chemistry
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Keywords
- perfluoroalkyl acids, PFOS, perfluorooctanoic acid, emerging contaminants, environmental sources, emissions, environmental concentrations, aquatic ecosystems, sediment, soil, human tissue, environmental risk assessment, bioaccumulation, industrialization, urbanization, China
- MeSH terms
- Animals, China, Environmental Pollutants, Fluorocarbons, Humans, Alkanesulfonic Acids, Risk Assessment
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