Cited by 78Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances researchFluoride Effects and RemovalPharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts

Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in Pennsylvania surface waters: A statewide assessment, associated sources, and land-use relations

Open access
Breitmeyer, Sara E., Williams, Amy M., Duris, Joseph W., Eicholtz, Lee W., Shull, Dustin R., Wertz, Timothy A., Woodward, Emily E.·2023·Science of The Total Environment

Abstract

The objectives of this study are to identify per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Pennsylvania surface waters, corresponding associations with potential sources of PFAS contamination (PSOC) and other parameters, and compare raw surface water concentrations to human and ecological benchmarks. Surface water samples from 161 streams were collected in September 2019 and were analyzed for 33 target PFAS and water chemistry. Land use and physical attributes in upstream catchments and geospatial counts of PSOC in local catchments are summarized. The hydrologic yield of the sum of 33 PFAS (∑PFAS) for each stream was computed by normalizing each site's load by the drainage area of the upstream catchment. Utilizing conditional inference tree analysis, the percentage of development (>7.58 %) was identified as a primary driver of the ∑PFAS hydrologic yields. When percentage of development was removed from analysis, ∑PFAS yields were closely related to surface water chemistry associated with landscape alteration (e.g., development or agricultural cropland), such as concentrations of total nitrogen, chloride, and ammonia, but also to count of water pollution control facilities (agricultural, industrial, stormwater, and/or municipal waste pollution abatement facilities). In oil and gas development regions, ∑PFAS yields were associated with combined sewage outfalls. Sites surrounded by ≥2 electronic manufacturing facilities had elevated ∑PFAS yields (median = 241 ng/s/km2). Study results are critical to guide future research, regulatory policy, best practices that will mitigate PFAS contamination, and the communication of human health and ecological risks associated with PFAS exposure from surface waters.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164161

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Mueller, 1996, vol. 1136
  2. USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), 2022, (b). Federal Register Notice on Lifetime Drinking Water Health Advisories for Four Perfluoroalkyl Substances, Federal Register, Vol. 97, 36848
  3. USGS (U.S. Geological Survey), 2021, Karst Aquifers, Water Resour., 2021

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Authors
Breitmeyer, S. E., Williams, A. M., Duris, J. W., Eicholtz, L. W., Shull, D. R., Wertz, T. A., & Woodward, E. E.
Affiliations
  • New Jersey Water Science Center (US)
  • Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (US)
  • Pennsylvania Water Science Center (US)
Corresponding author
Breitmeyer, Sara E.
Venue
Science of The Total Environment
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2023-08
Volume
888
Pages
164161
ISSN
0048-9697 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4376620306
Cited by
78
References
56
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 36 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 1
FWCI
6.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Science of The Total Environment (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
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 › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
Keywords
per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS contamination, surface water, Pennsylvania streams, land use, development, oil and gas development, agricultural land use, water chemistry, PFAS sources

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