Occurrence and seasonal variations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) including fluorinated alternatives in rivers, drain outlets and the receiving Bohai Sea of China
Abstract
A simultaneous sampling campaign was undertaken to study the pollution by 21 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in rivers, drain outlets and their receiving Bohai Sea of China. Chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonic acids (Cl-PFESAs) are being used as fluorinated alternatives and they were included in this study. In comparison with other regions and countries, high concentrations of ∑21 PFASs in seawater samples from the Bohai Sea, ranging from 5.03 to 41 700 ng/L (median: 64.8 ng/L), were observed. The spatial distribution of PFAS levels in this sea area was in the ranking of Laizhou Bay > Liaodong Bay > Bohai Bay > other sea areas. By comparing the levels and composition profiles of PFASs in the seawater and their sources (rivers and drain outlets), it was concluded that rivers and drain outlets are the primary sources of PFAS contamination to the Bohai Sea. These PFAS levels varied seasonally among the rivers and drain outlets, but statistically significant changes were not observed. Levels of 6:2 and 8:2 Cl-PFESAs in rivers, drain outlets and receiving sea were firstly reported in the present study. Relatively high concentrations of 6:2 Cl-PFESA were found in drain outlets, ranging from below method limits of quantification (MLQ) to 7600 ng/L, but 8:2 Cl-PFAES detection was infrequent and all median concentration below MLQ. Mass discharges to the sea of 6:2 Cl-PFESA from rivers and drain outlets to the sea were estimated to be 37 and 17 kg/y, respectively.
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Elevated levels of PFOS (0.13-881 ng/L) and PFOA (1.28-24,700 ng/L) were detected in water samples collected in 2016 from 65 rivers and 34 coastal drain outlets around the Bohai Sea, China.
“Elevated levels of PFOS (0.13e881 ng/L) and PFOA (1.28e24,700 ng/L) were detected in water samples collected in 2016 from 65 rivers and 34 coastal drain outlets around the Bohai Sea, China [52].”
From Worldwide trends in tracing poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment (2019) · cites this paper as [52]
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- Authors
- Chen, H., Han, J., Zhang, C., Cheng, J., Sun, R., Wang, X., Han, G., Yang, W., & He, X.
- Affiliations
- Dalian University of Technology (CN)
- State Oceanic Administration (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Han, Jianbo
- Zhang, Can
- Venue
- Environmental Pollution
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-12
- Volume
- 231
- Issue
- Pt 2
- Pages
- 1223-1231
- ISSN
- 0269-7491 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2754489001
- Cited by
- 125
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 21 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 6
- FWCI
- 4.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Environmental Pollution (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (41006062, 41276098, 21207014)
- 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
- per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS, river pollution, Bohai Sea, seasonal variation, source apportionment, seawater contamination, spatial distribution
- MeSH terms
- China, Environmental Monitoring, Fluorocarbons, Seasons, Seawater, Sulfonic Acids, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Rivers
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