Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) concentrations in the South Korean agricultural environment: A national survey
Open accessAbstract
Research on the occurrence of perfluorochemicals (PFCs) such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in the agricultural environment is lacking, in spite of their potential risk via food chain transfer from aquatic and soil-plant systems to animals and/or humans. In the present study, for the first time, soil and water samples collected from 243 different agricultural sites adjacent to waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) belonging to 81 cities and 5 provinces with different levels of industrialization in South Korea were monitored for concentrations of PFOS and PFOA by use of solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS). Significant mean concentrations of PFOA (0.001–0.007 µg L−1 water and <0.05–1.573 µg kg−1 soil) and PFOS (0.001–0.22 µg L−1 water and <0.05–0.741 µg kg−1 soil) were found in all samples. Concentrations of PFCs in soils were high, highlighting that soil is an important sink for PFCs in the agricultural environment. Samples from near WWTPs in Gyeongsang Province contained the highest concentrations of PFOS and PFOA, reflecting the concentration of heavy industry in the province. The concentrations of PFCs in agricultural water (most samples <0.05 µg L−1) and soils (most samples <1 µg kg−1) from South Korea were less than acceptable guideline values, indicating that South Korea is not a hotspot of PFOS and PFOA contamination and that there is negligible risk to human and ecological health from these chemicals. However, further studies investigating the seasonal variation in PFOA, PFOS and other perfluorochemical concentrations in the agricultural environment are needed.
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The detection of PFOA and PFOS in all samples indicates widespread contamination of PFOA/PFOS in waters used for agriculture in South Korea.
“Choi et al. (2017) surveyed the soils and waters near agricultural areas in South Korea and detected PFOA and PFOS in all samples, indicating the widespread contamination of PFOA/PFOS in waters used for agriculture in South Korea.”
From Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water and wastewater: A critical review of their global occurrence and distribution (2022) · cites this paper as Choi et al., 2017
Higher concentrations of PFOA and PFOS in South Korean agricultural waters were caused by WWTPs located upstream of the sample locations.
“They observed significant spatial variation in the concentrations of both pollutants, and their higher concentrations were caused by the WWTPs located upstream of the sample locations.”
From Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water and wastewater: A critical review of their global occurrence and distribution (2022) · cites this paper as Choi et al., 2017
In Choi et al.'s South Korean samples, 92.3% had PFOA and PFOS concentrations ≤50 ng L−1.
“Although PFAS were frequently detected, a large number of samples (92.3%) had PFOA and PFOS concentrations ≤50 ng L−1 (Choi et al., 2017).”
From Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water and wastewater: A critical review of their global occurrence and distribution (2022) · cites this paper as Choi et al., 2017
Choi et al. (2017) detected PFOA and PFOS in all soil and water samples near agricultural areas in South Korea.
“Choi et al. (2017) surveyed the soils and waters near agricultural areas in South Korea and detected PFOA and PFOS in all samples, indicating the widespread contamination of PFOA/PFOS in waters used for agriculture in South Korea.”
From Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water and wastewater: A critical review of their global occurrence and distribution (2022) · cites this paper as Choi et al., 2017
Choi et al. (2017) observed significant spatial variation in concentrations of PFOA and PFOS.
“They observed significant spatial variation in the concentrations of both pollutants, and their higher concentrations were caused by the WWTPs located upstream of the sample locations.”
From Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water and wastewater: A critical review of their global occurrence and distribution (2022) · cites this paper as Choi et al., 2017
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Kurwadkar, S., Dane, J., Kanel, S. R., Nadagouda, M. N., Cawdrey, R. W., Ambade, B., Struckhoff, G. C., & Wilkin, R. (2022) · Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151003 · Cited by 937 · see citing works
PFAS concentrations in soils: Background levels versus contaminated sites
Brusseau, M. L., Anderson, R. H., & Guo, B. (2020) · Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140017 · Cited by 817 · see citing works
Bolan, N., Sarkar, B., Vithanage, M., Singh, G., Tsang, D. C. W., Mukhopadhyay, R., Ramadass, K., Vinu, A., Sun, Y., Ramanayaka, S., et al. (2021) · Environment International · doi:10.1016/j.envint.2021.106600 · Cited by 185 · see citing works
- Authors
- Choi, G.-H., Lee, D.-Y., Jeong, D.-K., Kuppusamy, S., Lee, Y. B., Park, B.-J., & Kim, J.-H.
- Affiliations
- Rural Development Administration (KR)
- Gyeongsang National University (KR)
- Corresponding author
- Kim, Jin-Hyo
- Venue
- Journal of Integrative Agriculture
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-08
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 1841-1851
- ISSN
- 2095-3119 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2742732765
- Cited by
- 50
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2025: 8 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 2.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Integrative Agriculture (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Rural Development Administration (PJ010896)
- 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 › Pollution › Pesticide and Herbicide Environmental Studies
- Keywords
- perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOS, perfluorochemicals, agricultural environment, soil contamination, agricultural water, wastewater treatment plants, trophic transfer, human health risk, South Korea
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