Do concentrations of perfluoroalkylated acids (PFAAs) in isopods reflect concentrations in soil and songbirds? A study using a distance gradient from a fluorochemical plant
Abstract
Perfluoroalkylated acids (PFAAs) are persistent chemicals that have been detected globally in the environment and in wildlife. Although it is known that PFAAs sorb to solid matrices, little is known on PFAA concentrations in soils. PFAA pollution has often been studied in aquatic invertebrates. However, this has rarely been done on terrestrial species. In the present study, we examined whether the concentrations of 15 PFAAs in isopods (Oniscidae), collected at a fluorochemical plant and in four other areas, representing a gradient in distance from the pollution source (1 km to 11 km), were related to those in the soil and in eggs of a songbird, the great tit (Parus major), collected in the same areas. Additionally, we examined the effect of physicochemical properties such as total organic carbon (TOC) and clay content on the relationship between the concentrations in soil and isopods. Finally, we examined the composition profile in the soil and isopods. Mean PFOS and PFOA concentrations of 1700 ng/g dw and 24 ng/g dw were detected in the soil at the plant. PFOS and PFPeA were the dominant PFAAs in isopods and were detected at mean concentrations of 253 and 108 ng/g ww, respectively. The great tit eggs showed elevated mean PFOS concentrations of 55,970 ng/g ww. In most cases, PFAA concentrations decreased with increasing distance from the plant. As PFAA concentrations in isopods were correlated with concentrations in the soils, isopods could serve as a bioindicator for PFAA concentrations in soils. Additionally, there were indications that isopods could also serve as a bioindicator for PFAA concentrations in eggs of great tits. However, these indications were only the case at two locations, showing the need to further monitor the possibilities of using isopods as a bioindicator for PFAA concentrations in song bird eggs. CAPSULE: Elevated PFAA concentrations in isopods reflected concentrations in songbird eggs and in soil, indicating that trophic transfer of PFAAs from soil, via isopods, to songbirds might play a role in the PFAA exposure of terrestrial songbirds.
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Primary sources of soil PFAS contamination include direct releases such as AFFF during firefighting training, leaks or spills during storage/handling/cleaning, direct discharges from industries, and landfill leachate seepage.
“Primary sources include direct releases, such as the use of aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) during firefighting training exercises in designated areas (FFTAs), along with leaks or spills during the storage, handling, or cleaning of these foams [155]. Other primary sources involve direct discharges from industries that produce or use fluorinated chemicals [156] and landfill leachate seepage.”
From Industrial Applications, Environmental Fate, Human Exposure, and Health Effects of PFAS (2025) · cites this paper as [156]
The citation [155] is attached to the sentence about firefighting foams, not the later statement about industrial discharges and landfill leachate. The PFAA concentrations section describes contaminated soil at a firefighting training facility where aqueous film-forming foams were used, supporting that example. The cited paper does not address leaks or spills during foam storage, handling, or cleaning. (LLM, conf=0.87)
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PFAS concentrations in soils: Background levels versus contaminated sites
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Strong bioaccumulation of a wide variety of PFAS in a contaminated terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem
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“Other primary sources involve direct discharges from industries that produce or use fluorinated chemicals [156] and landfill leachate seepage.”
- Authors
- Groffen, T., Eens, M., & Bervoets, L.
- Affiliations
- University of Antwerp (BE)
- Corresponding author
- Groffen, Thimo
- Venue
- Science of The Total Environment
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2019-03
- Volume
- 657
- Pages
- 111-123
- ISSN
- 0048-9697 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2904549493
- Cited by
- 50
- References
- 59
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 2
- FWCI
- 2.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Science of The Total Environment (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- FWO (G038615N)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Keywords
- Isopoda, Oniscidae, soil contamination, Parus major, bioindicators, trophic transfer, PFOS, perfluorooctanoic acid, PFPeA, distance gradient, total organic carbon, clay content, persistent organic pollutants
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Environmental Exposure, Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Pollutants, Fluorocarbons, Soil, Soil Pollutants, Songbirds, Isopoda
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