Cited by 57Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances researchToxic Organic Pollutants ImpactEnvironmental Chemistry and Analysis

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface sediments: Occurrence, patterns, spatial distribution and contribution of unattributed precursors in French aquatic environments

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Macorps, Nicolas, Labadie, Pierre, Lestremau, François, Assoumani, Azziz, Budzinski, Hélène·2023·Science of The Total Environment

Abstract

While perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs) and perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) are ubiquitous in aquatic environments, non-targeted methods have recently revealed the presence of numerous unidentified per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Besides those methods, the total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay has proved useful to estimate the contribution of unattributed perfluoroalkyl acids precursors (pre-PFAAs). In this study, an optimized extraction method was developed to examine the spatial distribution of 36 targeted PFAS in surface sediments collected at French nationwide scale (n = 43), including neutral, anionic and zwitterionic molecules. In addition, a TOP assay procedure was implemented to estimate the contribution of unattributed pre-PFAAs in these samples. Conversion yields of targeted pre-PFAAs were determined for the first time under realistic conditions and led to differences in oxidation profiles compared to the common spiked ultra-pure water method. PFAS were detected in 86 % of samples and ∑PFAS targeted was in the range < Limit of Detection - 23 ng g-1 dry weight (dw) (median: 1.3 ng g-1 dw), with ∑pre-PFAAs targeted representing on average 29 ± 26 % of ∑PFAS. Among pre-PFAAs, compounds of emerging interest such as the fluorotelomer sulfonamidoalkyl betaines 6:2 FTAB and 8:2 FTAB were respectively detected in 38 % and 24 % of samples, with levels similar to those of L-PFOS (<0.36-2.2, <0.50-6.8 and < 0.08-5.1 ng g-1 dw, respectively). A hierarchical cluster analysis coupled with a geographic information system-based approach revealed similarities between groups of sampling sites. For instance, elevated contribution of FTABs were associated with the proximity to airport activities where betaine-based aqueous film-forming foam (AFFFs) might have been used. In addition, unattributed pre-PFAAs were strongly correlated with ∑PFAS targeted and they accounted for 58 % of ∑PFAS (median value); they were generally found in larger quantity near industrial and urban areas where the highest ∑PFAS targeted were also observed.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162493

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Authors
Macorps, N., Labadie, P., Lestremau, F., Assoumani, A., & Budzinski, H.
Affiliations
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • Institut national de l'environnement industriel et des risques (FR)
Venue
Science of The Total Environment
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2023-05
Volume
874
Pages
162493
ISSN
0048-9697 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4322627111
Cited by
57
References
49
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 3
FWCI
4.92
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Science of The Total Environment (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Oskar-Bordeaux (Universite de Bordeaux) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR-10-LABX-0045, ANR‐10‐LABX‐45, ANR-10)
  • European Regional Development Fund
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 › Environmental Chemistry › Environmental Chemistry and Analysis
Keywords
per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS, surface sediments, spatial distribution, aquatic environment, sediment contamination

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