Perfluorinated compounds in surface waters of Shanghai, China: source analysis and risk assessment
Abstract
17 perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) were systematically investigated in the surface water from principal watersheds of Shanghai, China. 10 PFCs were above the detection limit (0.08-0.28ng/L) in 39 surface water samples. The perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorobutanesulfonate (PFBS) were the two dominant compounds with a median concentration 50.67ng/L and 29.84ng/L, respectively. Concentrations of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) were generally less than PFBS, which might result from the global phase-out of PFOS production and the use of PFBS as a substitute for PFOS-based products. There were three major polluted areas of PFOA along the Huangpu River. The PFOA concentration in groundwater samples collected from one of the three areas indicated that chemical industry might be the possible source. The perfluoroalkane sulfonates (PFSAs) level had a spatial trend that indicated northwest had higher concentrations than the southeast. The distribution of PFCs was not much affected by atmospheric deposition. Mass loading analysis in the surface water revealed that the Huangpu River exhibited relatively large mass loading of total PFCs of 1742.43kg/year to Yangtze River Estuary. The predominant of the PFC species was PFOA with 652.65kg/year. The current concentrations of PFOA and PFOS were at middle level comparing to other studies in China and worldwide. Risk assessment of 6 PFCs showed that there is no risk to the aquatic organisms in Shanghai. PFOS and PFBS had low risk to th…
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As an alternative to PFOS, the concentration of PFBS in the aquatic environment has been increasing.
“As an alternative to PFOS that has been subject to prohibition, the concentration of PFBS in the aquatic environment has been increasing.”
From Molecular characteristics of emerging perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and dissolved organic matter (DOM) in surface waters around fluorine-related industries in a Chinese Megacity (2025) · cites this paper as Sun et al., 2018
In surface waters of Shanghai, PFBS has become the most prevalent PFAS component after PFOA.
“In surface waters of Shanghai, PFBS has become the most prevalent PFAS component after PFOA”
From Molecular characteristics of emerging perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and dissolved organic matter (DOM) in surface waters around fluorine-related industries in a Chinese Megacity (2025) · cites this paper as Sun et al., 2018
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- Authors
- Sun, R., Wu, M., Tang, L., Li, J., Qian, Z., Han, T., & Xu, G.
- Affiliations
- Shanghai University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Tang, Liang
- Xu, Gang
- Venue
- Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-03
- Volume
- 149
- Pages
- 88-95
- ISSN
- 0147-6513 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2779389787
- Cited by
- 113
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 5.15
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (41373098, 41473090, 41430644, 11605111, 11675098, 41573096)
- Innovative Research Team in University (IRT13078)
- 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
- perfluorinated compounds, surface water contamination, perfluorooctanoic acid, PFBS, PFOS, source apportionment, mass loading, atmospheric deposition, Huangpu River, Yangtze River estuary, chemical industry pollution, avian exposure, Shanghai
- MeSH terms
- Caprylates, China, Environmental Monitoring, Fluorocarbons, Sulfonic Acids, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Alkanesulfonic Acids, Risk Assessment, Rivers
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