Vertical Profiles, Sources, and Transport of PFASs in the Arctic Ocean
Open accessAbstract
The relative importance of atmospheric versus oceanic transport for poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) reaching the Arctic Ocean is not well understood. Vertical profiles from the Central Arctic Ocean and shelf water, snow and meltwater samples were collected in 2012; 13 PFASs (C6-C12 PFCAs; C6, 8, 10 PFSAs; MeFOSAA and EtFOSAA; and FOSA) were routinely detected (range: <5-343 pg/L). PFASs were only detectable above 150 m depth in the polar mixed layer (PML) and halocline. Enhanced concentrations were observed in snow and meltpond samples, implying atmospheric deposition as an important source of PFASs. Model results suggested atmospheric inputs to account for 34-59% (∼11-19 pg/L) of measured PFOA concentrations in the PML (mean 32 ± 15 pg/L). Modeled surface and halocline measurements for PFOS based on North Atlantic inflow (11-36 pg/L) agreed with measurements (mean, 17, range <5-41 pg/L). Modeled deep water concentrations below 200 m (5-15 pg/L) were slightly higher than measurements (<5 pg/L), suggesting the lower bound of PFAS emissions estimates from wastewater and rivers may provide the best estimate of inputs to the Arctic. Despite low concentrations in deep water, this reservoir is expected to contain most of the PFOS mass in the Arctic (63-180 Mg) and is projected to continue increasing to 2038.
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Yeung and colleagues detected 13 PFAS compounds in the Arctic Ocean at concentrations ranging from 5 to 343 pg/L, showing that PFASs have reached even remote and pristine environments.
“In the Arctic Ocean, Yeung and colleagues detected 13 PFAS compounds in concentrations ranging from 5 to 343 picograms per liter (pg/L), showing that PFASs have reached even the most remote and pristine environments [134].”
From Industrial Applications, Environmental Fate, Human Exposure, and Health Effects of PFAS (2025) · cites this paper as [134]
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“In the Arctic Ocean, Yeung and colleagues detected 13 PFAS compounds in concentrations ranging from 5 to 343 picograms per liter (pg/L), showing that PFASs have reached even the most remote and pristine environments [134].”
- Authors
- Yeung, L. W. Y., Dassuncao, C., Mabury, S., Sunderland, E. M., Zhang, X., & Lohmann, R.
- Affiliations
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Harvard University (US)
- University of Rhode Island (US)
- Corresponding author
- Yeung, Leo W.Y.
- Lohmann, Rainer
- ORCID
- Venue
- Environmental Science & Technology
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2017-06-05
- Volume
- 51
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 6735-6744
- ISSN
- 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
- 1520-5851
- OpenAlex
- W2615740415
- Cited by
- 157
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 6
- FWCI
- 9.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Journal of Media Literacy Education (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Office of Polar Programs (1203486, 1203496)
- Canada Foundation for Innovation
- 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 › Ecology › Polar Research and Ecology
- Keywords
- PFASs, perfluorinated carboxylic acids, perfluorinated sulfonic acids, atmospheric deposition, Arctic Ocean, vertical profiles, halocline, North Atlantic inflow, PFAS transport
- MeSH terms
- Arctic Regions, Environmental Monitoring, Fluorocarbons, Oceans and Seas, Snow, Water Pollutants, Chemical
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