Worldwide drinking water occurrence and levels of newly-identified perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances
Abstract
In the last decade or so, concerns have arisen with respect to the widespread occurrence of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in the environment, food, drinking water, and humans. In this study, the occurrence and levels of a large range of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were investigated in drinking water (bottled and tap water samples) from various locations around the world. Automated off-line solid phase extraction followed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry was used to analyze PFASs of various chain lengths and functional groups. In total, 29 target and 104 suspect-target PFASs were screened in drinking water samples (n=97) from Canada and other countries (Burkina Faso, Chile, Ivory Coast, France, Japan, Mexico, Norway, and the USA) in 2015-2016. Out of the 29 PFASs quantitatively analyzed, perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs: C 4/14), perfluoroalkane sulfonates (PFSAs: C 4, C 6, C 8), and perfluoroalkyl acid precursors (e.g., 5:3 fluorotelomer carboxylate (5:3 FTCA)) were recurrently detected in drinking water samples (concentration range: <LOD to 39ngL-1). Tap water samples from Canada showed noteworthy differences depending on their source; for instance, ∑29 PFASwas significantly greater in those produced from the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence River ecosystem than those produced from other types of sources (14 versus 5.3ngL-1, respectively). A suspect-target screening approach indicated that other perfluoroalkane sulfonamides (FBSA, FHxSA), perfluoroethyl cyclohexane sulfonate (PFECHS), ultrashort chain (C 2-C 3) PFSAs (PFEtS, PFPrS), and two additional PFSAs (PFPeS (C 5) and PFHpS (C 7)) were repeatedly present in tap water samples (concentration ranges: <LOD to 4.0ngL-1). To the authors' best knowledge, this constitutes the first observation of a cyclic perfluoroalkane sulfonate (PFECHS) and C 4-C 6 perfluoroalkane sulfonamides (FBSA, FHxSA) in drinking water. According to the newly updated US EPA health advisory for PFOS and PFOA (70ngL-1), the drinking water samples collected in the present monitoring would not pose a health risk to consumers as regards PFAA levels.
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Analysis of drinking water samples from the United States, Canada, Burkina Faso, Chile, Ivory Coast, France, Japan, Mexico, and Norway found PFCAs, PFSAs, and perfluoroalkyl acid precursors frequently detected at concentrations from below detection limits to 39 ng/L.
“Analysis of drinking water samples collected from the United States, Canada, Burkina Faso, Chile, Ivory Coast, France, Japan, Mexico, and Norway indicate that three PFAS (PFCAs, PFSAs, and perfluoroalkyl acid precursors) were frequently detected with concentrations ranging from below detection limits to 39 ng L−1 (Kaboré et al., 2018).”
From Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water and wastewater: A critical review of their global occurrence and distribution (2022) · cites this paper as Kaboré et al., 2018
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in the USA reported trace levels of PFAS in 98% of human serum samples collected between 2003 and 2004.
“The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in the USA, reported trace levels of PFAS in 98% of the human serum samples collected between 2003 and 2004 (Calafat et al., 2007; Kaboré et al., 2018).”
From Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water and wastewater: A critical review of their global occurrence and distribution (2022) · cites this paper as Kaboré et al., 2018
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- Authors
- Kaboré, H. A., Vo Duy, S., Munoz, G., Méité, L., Desrosiers, M., Liu, J., Sory, T. K., & Sauvé, S.
- Affiliations
- Université de Montréal (CA)
- McGill University (CA)
- Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (CA)
- Université Nangui Abrogoua (CI)
- Corresponding author
- Sauvé, Sébastien
- Venue
- Science of The Total Environment
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-03
- Volume
- 616-617
- Pages
- 1089-1100
- ISSN
- 0048-9697 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2765352572
- Cited by
- 329
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2026: 33 · 2025: 53 · 2024: 42 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 45 · 2020: 41 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 12.06
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Science of The Total Environment (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RGPIN-2015-05729)
- Fonds de Recherche Nature et Technologies du Québec (2015-PR-183278)
- Canadian Foundation for Innovation (31090)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Fluoride Effects and Removal
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Water Treatment and Disinfection
- Keywords
- tap water, bottled water, perfluorocarboxylates, Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River
- MeSH terms
- Alkanesulfonates, Environmental Monitoring, Fluorocarbons, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Water Pollution, Chemical, Water Supply, Alkanesulfonic Acids, Drinking Water
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