Side-chain fluorinated polymer surfactants in biosolids from wastewater treatment plants
Abstract
High concentrations of the main components in Scotchgard™ fabric protector products (pre-2002 and post-2002; side-chain fluorinated polymer surfactants, S1 and S2, respectively) were detected in biosolids samples from twenty pan-Canadian wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Based on mass spectrometric analysis, S1 and S2 can be named as side-chain perfluorooctane sulfonamide-urethane polymer and side-chain perfluorobutane sulfonamide-urethane polymer, respectively. S1 (with C 8 F 17 side-chain) concentrations ranged from 1.08-105 ng/g d.w. and S2 (with C 4 F 9 side-chain) concentrations ranged from 37.5-2051 ng/g d.w., which were much higher than that of other commonly monitored perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). S1 and S2 concentrations were significantly correlated (p < 0.001; r 2 = 0.6142) indicating similar source origins. A negative linear correlation was observed (p < 0.05) between concentrations of S1 (or S2) with the volume of WWTP treated wastewater per day per person (m 3/person/day). The total concentration of 22 other PFAS ranged from 4.93 to 92.6 ng/g d.w., and approximately thirty times lower than S1 and S2 concentrations. The calculated elemental fluorine concentrations of ƩF S1&S2 were generally much higher than the sum of the other PFAS. PFAS concentrations in biosolids are likely underestimated without consideration of S1 and S2.
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Some PFASs, like FTOH and perfluorooctane sulfonamidoethanol, are present in indoor air, while PFOA and PFOS accumulate in dust.
“Some PFASs, like FTOH and perfluorooctane sulfonamidoethanol, are present in indoor air, while PFOA and PFOS accumulate in dust.”
From Industrial Applications, Environmental Fate, Human Exposure, and Health Effects of PFAS (2025) · cites this paper as [175]
WWTP effluent typically comprises a suite of PFASs including sulfonamido derivatives such as FBSA.
“The WTTP effluent typically comprises a suite of PFASs including sulfonamido derivatives such as FBSA49,50”
From Sources and Pathways of PFAS Occurrence in Water Sources: Relative Contribution of Land-Applied Biosolids in an Agricultural Dominated Watershed (2025) · cites this paper as [49]
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- Authors
- Letcher, R. J., Chu, S., & Smyth, S.-A.
- Affiliations
- Environment and Climate Change Canada (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Letcher, Robert J.
- Venue
- Journal of Hazardous Materials
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2020-04
- Volume
- 388
- Pages
- 122044
- ISSN
- 0304-3894 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2999485676
- Cited by
- 121
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 31 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 7
- FWCI
- 4.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Hazardous Materials (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division (Environment and Climate Change Canada
- ECCC’s Chemicals Management Plan
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Environmental Chemistry and Analysis
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Keywords
- biosolids, wastewater treatment plants, perfluorinated compounds, PFAS contamination, elemental fluorine, source apportionment
- MeSH terms
- Biosolids, Canada, Environmental Monitoring, Fluorocarbon Polymers, Surface-Active Agents, Waste Disposal, Fluid, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Water Purification, Wastewater
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