Alternative and Legacy Perfluoroalkyl Substances: Differences between European and Chinese River/Estuary Systems
Abstract
The production and use of long-chain perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) must comply with national and international regulations. Driven by increasingly stringent regulations, their production has been outsourced to less regulated countries in Asia. In addition, the fluoropolymer industry started to use fluorinated alternatives, such as 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(1,1,2,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropoxy)propanoic acid (HFPO-DA). Between August 2013 and September 2014, we investigated the occurrence and distribution of HFPO-DA and legacy PFASs in surface waters of the following river/estuary systems: the Elbe and Rhine Rivers in Germany, the Rhine-Meuse delta in The Netherlands, and the Xiaoqing River in China. Distinct differences were revealed among the study areas; notably, the Chinese samples were highly polluted by an industrial point source discharging mainly perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). This particular point source resulted in concentrations more than 6000 times higher than an industrial point source observed in the Scheur River, where HFPO-DA was the dominant compound with a concentration of 73.1 ng/L. Moreover, HFPO-DA was detected in all samples along the coastline of the North Sea, indicating that the compound may be transported from the Rhine-Meuse delta into the German Bight via the water current. To the best of our knowledge, the fluorinated alternative, HFPO-DA, was detected for the first time in surface waters of Germany and China.
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Regional PFAS profiles vary across continents with distinct regulatory regimes and also vary within watersheds due to point source contributions.
“while it is apparent that regional PFAS profiles vary across continents with distinct regulatory regimes (Heydebreck et al., 2015), they also vary within watersheds due to point source contributions (Pétré et al., 2021).”
From PFAS in Iowa drinking water sources: Chemical and geospatial patterns (2025) · cites this paper as Heydebreck et al., 2015
The ΣPFASaq concentration was roughly the same order of magnitude as that reported in 2015.
“Overall, the ΣPFASaq concentration was roughly the same order of magnitude as that reported in 2015 (Heydebreck et al., 2015).”
From Partitioning behavior of short-chain legacy and novel perfluorinated substances (PFAS) between dissolved and particulate phases in a river-estuary-coast continuum (2025) · cites this paper as Heydebreck et al., 2015
With improved analytical techniques, some unknown compounds have been identified to be overlooked legacy or novel replacement PFASs.
“With improved analytical techniques, some unknown compounds have been identified to be overlooked legacy or novel replacement PFASs.36−39”
From A Never-Ending Story of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs)? (2017) · cites this paper as [38]
A previous study reported GenX in Dutch river water collected about 50 km downstream of the production plant in 2013 at 91 ng/L, 12 times the PFOA concentration.
“A previous study reported on the presence of GenX in Dutch river water collected ∼50km downstream from the production plant in 2013 at 91 ng/L (12 times higher than PFOA concentrations).12,13”
From Presence of Emerging Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in River and Drinking Water near a Fluorochemical Production Plant in the Netherlands (2017) · cites this paper as [12]
At sites close to R7 and R15, GenX was not detected in the previous study, while in the present samples R7 was 6 ng/L and R15 was below the MQL.
“while at sites close to R7 and R15 GenX was not detected (in present sample R7 it is 6 ng/L and in R15 < MQL).”
From Presence of Emerging Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in River and Drinking Water near a Fluorochemical Production Plant in the Netherlands (2017) · cites this paper as [12]
∑PFCA+PFSA concentrations in river water declined from 2008 to 2013 and were similar between 2013 and 2016.
“Earlier studies reported legacy PFAS concentrations in river water taken from similar sampling sites in 2008 and 2013,12,13,17 and ∑PFCA+PFSA concentrations have declined from 2008 to 2013, whereas the concentrations are similar between 2013 and 2016 (present study) (SI Figure S2).”
From Presence of Emerging Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in River and Drinking Water near a Fluorochemical Production Plant in the Netherlands (2017) · cites this paper as [12]
A site close to R2 had 91 ng/L GenX in 2013, slightly higher than the present concentration at that location (58 ng/L).
“A site close to R2 contained 91 ng/L, which was slightly higher than the presently found concentration at that location (58 ng/L)”
From Presence of Emerging Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in River and Drinking Water near a Fluorochemical Production Plant in the Netherlands (2017) · cites this paper as [12]
A previous study reported GenX in river water downstream of the production plant in 2013 and found a comparable distribution of GenX concentrations among similar sampling locations.
“A previous study reported on the presence of GenX in river water downstream (collected in 2013) from the production plant and among similar sampling locations, a comparable distribution of GenX concentrations was found.12,13”
From Presence of Emerging Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in River and Drinking Water near a Fluorochemical Production Plant in the Netherlands (2017) · cites this paper as [12]
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- Authors
- Heydebreck, F., Tang, J., Xie, Z., & Ebinghaus, R.
- Affiliations
- Universität Hamburg (DE)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Heydebreck, Franziska
- Tang, Jianhui
- Venue
- Environmental Science & Technology
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2015-07-07
- Volume
- 49
- Issue
- 14
- Pages
- 8386-8395
- ISSN
- 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
- 1520-5851
- OpenAlex
- W2409075100
- Cited by
- 360
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 36 · 2025: 41 · 2024: 46 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 37 · 2021: 45 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 39 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 12.76
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Knowledge Repository of Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, CAS (Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA11020402)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmaceutical Science › Fluorine in Organic Chemistry
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Keywords
- perfluorinated compounds, HFPO-DA, perfluorooctanoic acid, surface water contamination, Rhine-Meuse delta, Xiaoqing River, Elbe River, Rhine River, German Bight
- MeSH terms
- Caprylates, China, Environmental Monitoring, Fluorocarbons, Germany, Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated, Netherlands, North Sea, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Rivers, Estuaries
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