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Cited by 52Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances researchEnvironmental Chemistry and AnalysisWater Treatment and Disinfection

Nitrifying Microorganisms Linked to Biotransformation of Perfluoroalkyl Sulfonamido Precursors from Legacy Aqueous Film-Forming Foams

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Ruyle, Bridger J., Schultes, Lara, Akob, Denise M., Harris, Cassandra R., Lorah, Michelle M., Vojta, Simon, Becanova, Jitka, McCann, Shelley +5 more·2023·Environmental Science & Technology
DOI 10.1021/acs.est.2c07178PMC PMC10100541
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Abstract

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Drinking water supplies across the United States have been contaminated by firefighting and fire-training activities that use aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Much of the AFFF is manufactured using electrochemical fluorination by 3M. Precursors with six perfluorinated carbons (C6) and non-fluorinated amine substituents make up approximately one-third of the PFAS in 3M AFFF. C6 precursors can be transformed through nitrification (microbial oxidation) of amine moieties into perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), a compound of regulatory concern. Here, we report biotransformation of the most abundant C6 sulfonamido precursors in 3M AFFF with available commercial standards (FHxSA, PFHxSAm, and PFHxSAmS) in microcosms representative of the groundwater/surface water boundary. Results show rapid (<1 day) biosorption to living cells by precursors but slow biotransformation into PFHxS (1–100 pM day –1 ). The transformation pathway includes one or two nitrification steps and is supported by the detection of key intermediates using high-resolution mass spectrometry. Increasing nitrate concentrations and total abundance of nitrifying taxa occur in parallel with precursor biotransformation. Together, these data provide multiple lines of evidence supporting microbially limited biotransformation of C6 sulfonamido precursors involving ammonia-oxidizing archaea ( Nitrososphaeria ) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria ( Nitrospina ). Further elucidation of interrelationships between precursor biotransformation and nitrogen cycling in ecosystems would help inform site remediation efforts.

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  • Slow precursor biotransformation rates help explain why previous microcosm studies have observed minimal production of terminal PFAS and have not been able to quantify rates.

    “Slow precursor biotransformation rates help explain why previous microcosm studies (conducted over weeks/months timescales) have observed minimal production of terminal PFAS and have not been able to quantify rates.24,45,46”

    From Centurial Persistence of Forever Chemicals at Military Fire Training Sites (2023) · cites this paper as [46]

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Authors
Ruyle, B. J., Schultes, L., Akob, D. M., Harris, C. R., Lorah, M. M., Vojta, S., Becanova, J., McCann, S., Pickard, H. M., Pearson, A., Lohmann, R., Vecitis, C. D., & Sunderland, E. M.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • United States Geological Survey (US)
  • Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center (US)
  • Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882, United States
  • University of Rhode Island (US)
Corresponding author
Ruyle, Bridger J.
ORCID
Venue
Environmental Science & Technology
Publisher
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Published
2023-03-27
Volume
57
Issue
14
Pages
5592-5602
ISSN
  • 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
  • 1520-5851
DOI
10.1021/acs.est.2c07178
PMC
PMC10100541
OpenAlex
W4360990253
Cited by
52
References
9
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 3
FWCI
4.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Journal of Media Literacy Education (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
  • National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (P42ES027706)
  • U.S. Department of Defense (SERDP ER18-1280)
  • U.S. Geological Survey
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 › Water Treatment and Disinfection
Keywords
aqueous film-forming foam, PFAS contamination, nitrification, PFHxS, biotransformation, biosorption, ammonia-oxidizing archaea, Nitrososphaeria, nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, Nitrospina, groundwater contamination, nitrogen cycling, firefighting foam, nitrate, remediation
MeSH terms
Alkanesulfonates, Biotransformation, Fluorocarbons, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Ecosystem, Groundwater

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