A New Fluorinated Surfactant Contaminant in Biota: Perfluorobutane Sulfonamide in Several Fish Species
Abstract
Environmental contamination and regulation of longer-chain perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) such as perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) has given rise to the increased use of shorter-chain PFASs as alternatives in new products, although confirmation of their presence in the environment remains limited. In this study, the PFAS alternative, perfluoro-1-butane-sulfonamide (FBSA), was identified for the first time in biota in homogenate samples of fish by liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-ToF-MS) and quantified by ultra high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QQQ-MS/MS). In one flounder (Platichthys flesus) muscle sample from the Western Scheldt, The Netherlands, FBSA concentration was at 80.12 ng/g wet weight (w.w.) and was exceeded only by PFOS. FBSA was also detected in 32 out of 33 samples of freshwater fish collected (2009-2010) from water bodies across Canada. In lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) from northern Canada (e.g., Lake Kusawa (Yukon Territory), Great Bear Lake (Northwest Territories and in the Arctic), and Lake Athabasca (northern Alberta)), the concentrations of FBSA ranged from below method detection limit (<0.01 ng/g w.w) to 0.44 ng/g w.w. and were much lower than those reported for lake trout from the more urbanized and industrialized Laurentian Great Lakes sites (3.17 ± 1.53 ng/g w.w.). In three species of fish purchased from a supermarket in Ottawa (ON, Canada), FBSA concentrations were the lowest of all fish and ranged from < MLOD to 0.29 ng/g w.w. and 0.03 to 0.76 ng/g w.w. in muscle and liver, respectively. FBSA is a bioaccumulative contaminant in fish in Canada and possibly in The Netherlands. It is likely sourced from new alternative perfluorobutane-based products, as well as other shorter chain perfluoroalkyl-based products.
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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 [36]
The widespread occurrence of FBSA is a big concern to creatures on the freshwater as there is a potential for bioaccumulation and biotransformation of this compound by fish.
“The widespread occurrence of FBSA is a big concern to the creatures on the freshwater as there is a potential for bioaccumulation and biotransformation of this compound by fish”
From Release of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from a waste management facility fire to an urban creek (2022) · cites this paper as Chu et al., 2016
Sulfonamido precursors are present in remote environments, strongly bioaccumulate, and are increasingly accumulating in wildlife.
“Sulfonamido precursors are present in remote environments, strongly bioaccumulate, and are increasingly accumulating in wildlife.51−53”
From Centurial Persistence of Forever Chemicals at Military Fire Training Sites (2023) · cites this paper as [51]
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- Authors
- Chu, S., Letcher, R. J., McGoldrick, D. J., & Backus, S. M.
- Affiliations
- Environment and Climate Change Canada (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Letcher, Robert J.
- Venue
- Environmental Science & Technology
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2015-12-28
- Volume
- 50
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 669-675
- ISSN
- 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
- 1520-5851
- OpenAlex
- W2191381332
- Cited by
- 133
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 3
- FWCI
- 5.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Environment Canada
- 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 › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Keywords
- perfluorinated compounds, PFAS alternatives, fish contamination, bioaccumulation, lake trout, flounder, freshwater fish, seafood contamination, Western Scheldt, Great Bear Lake, Lake Athabasca, Arctic lakes
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Chromatography, Liquid, Fishes, Fluorocarbons, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Species Specificity, Sulfonamides, Surface-Active Agents, Water Pollutants, Chemical
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