Multi-compartment distribution of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in an urban catchment system
Abstract
Ecotoxicological risks of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in surface waters are difficult to model because data on PFASs distribution in multiple compartments (sediments, suspended particles and aqueous phase) are difficult to predict. This study quantified the distribution of 21 PFASs including PFCAs: C6-C13 perfluoroalkyl carboxylates, C4, C6, C8 and C10 perfluoroalkane sulfonates, 5 perfluorooctane sulfonamide substances (FOSAMs, including EtFOSA, FOSA, MeFOSAA, EtFOSAA, FOSAA), 2 N-alkyl perfluoroalkane sulfonamidoethanols (MeFOSE and EtFOSE), bis (perfluorooctyl) phosphinic acid (C8/C8 PFPIA), and 5:3 fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (5:3 acid) between bulk water and suspended particles in water column, and pore water and benthic sediments from a tropical urban water body. The distribution of PFASs between sorbed and dissolved phase was largely dependent on the perfluoroalkyl chain length (N CF2). PFCAs with N CF2 > 11 and perfluorodecane sulfonate (PFDS, N CF2 = 10) were found predominantly in the suspended particles and sediments. By contrast, short-chain PFASs (N CF2 ≤ 7) were detected predominantly in the dissolved phase. Sediment acts as a sink for long-chain PFASs while short-chain PFASs are more easily transported via the aqueous phase. Compared with benthic sediments, suspended particles, especially those in the top water layer, carried much higher concentrations of PFASs (by a factor of >100), indicating the stronger sorption capability of suspended particles. The wide variation in PFAS concentrations in suspended particles (∑PFASs concentrations: < 26.8-1,284 ng/g d.w.) suggests that some suspended particles were preloaded with different concentrations of PFASs in the water column which could highly affect the distribution of PFASs in the aquatic environment. Pore water contained 1-2 times higher concentrations of PFASs (∑PFASs: <20.25-159.34 ng/L) than overlying bulk water (∑PFASs: <14.2-79.98 ng/L), indicating the accumulation of PFASs in pore water. Distribution coefficients (K D) were calculated using paired solids concentration and dissolved concentration in both water and sediment column (K D-SP and K D-SED respectively) and were compared with values derived from a laboratory batch experiment. The averaged Log K D-SP/Log K D-SED showed significant positive correlation with N CF2, except for short-chain PFASs (N CF2 <5) which presented higher Log K D values than estimated. The discrepancies found between K D (Log K D-SP > Log K D -desorption > Log K D -sorption > Log K D-SED) suggest that the distribution of PFASs in the field, especially between suspended particles and bulk water could not be well represented by lab results and that using the water concentrations in the bottom layer for estimation of pore water concentrations could lead to bias results.
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Suspended particles may be precontaminated by PFAA before being carried by runoff into surface water sources.
“Suspended particles may also be precontaminated by PFAA before being carried by runoff into surface water sources (Chen et al., 2019;Xiao et al., 2012).”
From Perfluoroalkyl acids on suspended particles: Significant transport pathways in surface runoff, surface waters, and subsurface soils (2021) · cites this paper as Chen et al., 2019
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- Authors
- Chen, H., Reinhard, M., Yin, T., Nguyen, T. V., Tran, N. H., & Yew-Hoong Gin, K.
- Affiliations
- National University of Singapore (SG)
- Stanford University (US)
- Public Utilities Board (SG)
- Venue
- Water Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2019-05
- Volume
- 154
- Pages
- 227-237
- ISSN
- 0043-1354 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2913712840
- Cited by
- 122
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 4
- FWCI
- 5.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Water Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Singapore National Research Foundation
- Ministry of Education (R-302-000-088-750)
- Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) program
- 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 › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Keywords
- PER
- MeSH terms
- Carboxylic Acids, Environmental Monitoring, Fluorocarbons, Water, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Ecotoxicology
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