Cited by 53Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances researchPharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental ImpactsFluoride Effects and Removal

Identification of perfluoroalkyl acid sources in Swiss surface waters with the help of the artificial sweetener acesulfame

Müller, Claudia E., Gerecke, Andreas C., Alder, Alfredo C., Scheringer, Martin, Hungerbühler, Konrad·2011·Environmental Pollution

Abstract

Anthropogenic perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), especially the perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are ubiquitously found in surface waters around the globe. Emissions from households, industries and also atmospheric transport/deposition are discussed as the possible sources. In this study, these sources are evaluated using Switzerland as the study area. Forty-four surface water locations in different rivers and an Alpine lake were investigated for 14 PFAAs, four precursors and acesulfame, an artificial sweetener used as a population marker. Concentrations of individual PFAAs were generally low, between 0.02 and 10 ng/L. Correlation analysis showed that some PFAAs concentrations correlated well with population and less with catchment area, indicating that emissions from population, i.e., from consumer products, is the most important source to surface waters in Switzerland. The correlation with the population marker acesulfame confirmed this observation but highlighted also a few elevated PFAA levels, some of which could be attributed to industrial emissions.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.envpol.2010.12.035

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  • Acesulfame concentrations have previously been correlated with concentrations of PFASs in Swiss rivers, three pharmaceuticals in a wastewater-impacted river in Canada, two pharmaceuticals in groundwater impacted by septic systems, and two pharmaceuticals and a nicotine metabolite in groundwater impacted by a municipal wastewater plume.

    “Acesulfame concentrations have previously been correlated with concentrations of: PFASs in Swiss rivers (Müller et al., 2011); three pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine, gemfibrozil, naproxen) in a wastewater-impacted river in Canada (Liu et al., 2014); two pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine, sulfamethoxazole) in groundwater impacted by septic systems; and two pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine, primidone) and”

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Authors
Müller, C. E., Gerecke, A. C., Alder, A. C., Scheringer, M., & Hungerbühler, K.
Affiliations
  • ETH Zurich (CH)
  • Empa (CH)
  • Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (CH)
Corresponding author
Müller, Claudia E.
Venue
Environmental Pollution
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2011-05
Volume
159
Issue
5
Pages
1419-1426
ISSN
0269-7491 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2023896309
Cited by
53
References
49
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 10
FWCI
4.91
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Environmental Pollution (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Multilingual Matters (Channel View Publications) (publishedVersion)
  • DORA Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)) (submittedVersion)
  • DORA Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa)) (submittedVersion)
Funders
FOEN
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Fluoride Effects and Removal
Keywords
perfluoroalkyl acids, acesulfame, artificial sweeteners, population markers, surface water contamination, industrial emissions, residential emissions, consumer goods, Swiss rivers, alpine lakes, precursors
MeSH terms
Carboxylic Acids, Fresh Water, Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated, Population Density, Switzerland, Thiazines, Water Pollutants, Chemical

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