PFAS River Export Analysis Highlights the Urgent Need for Catchment-Scale Mass Loading Data
Open accessAbstract
Abstract Source apportionment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) requires an understanding of the mass loading of these compounds in river basins. However, there is a lack of temporally variable and catchment-scale mass loading data, meaning identification and prioritization of sources of PFAS to rivers for management interventions can be difficult. Here, we analyze PFAS concentrations and loads in the River Mersey to provide the first temporally robust estimates of PFAS export for a European river system and the first estimates of the contribution of wastewater treatment works (WwTWs) to total river PFAS export. We estimate an annual PFAS export of 68.1 kg for the River Mersey and report that the yield of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in the catchment is among the highest recorded globally. Analysis of river and WwTW loads indicates approximately one-third of PFOA emitted from WwTWs is potentially stored in the catchment and approximately half of PFOS transported by the River Mersey may not originate from WwTWs. As governments move toward regulation of PFAS in WwTW effluents, our findings highlight the complexity of PFAS source apportionment and the need for catchment-scale mass loading data. This study indicates that strategies for reducing PFAS loading that focus solely on WwTW effluents may not achieve river water quality targets.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
There is a critical need for catchment-scale PFAS loading data.
“One study went as far as to state that there is a critical need for this type of catchment-scale PFAS loading data.16”
The observed PFBS concentration in river Ouse is similar to the 14.9 pg/mL reported for river Mersey in the UK.
“It must be noted that the observed concentration of PFBS in river Ouse are similar to that of 14.9 pg/mL reported for river Mersey in the UK (from August 2022 to July 2023; Byrne et al., 2024)).”
From Occurrence of emerging and persistent organic pollutants in the rivers Cam, Ouse and Thames, UK (2025) · cites this paper as Byrne et al., 2024
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the environment
Evich, M. G., Davis, M. J. B., McCord, J. P., Acrey, B., Awkerman, J. A., Knappe, D. R. U., Lindstrom, A. B., Speth, T. F., Tebes-Stevens, C., Strynar, M. J., et al. (2022) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.abg9065 · Cited by 2,157 · see citing works
Load estimator (LOADEST): a FORTRAN program for estimating constituent loads in streams and rivers
Runkel, R. L., Crawford, C. G., & Cohn, T. A. (2004) · Techniques and methods · doi:10.3133/tm4a5 · Cited by 936 · see citing works
Self-citationConcentration–discharge relationships reflect chemostatic characteristics of US catchments
Godsey, S. E., Kirchner, J. W., & Clow, D. W. (2009) · Hydrological Processes · doi:10.1002/hyp.7315 · Cited by 862 · see citing works
Short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids: environmental concerns and a regulatory strategy under REACH
Brendel, S., Fetter, É., Staude, C., Vierke, L., & Biegel-Engler, A. (2018) · Environmental Sciences Europe · doi:10.1186/s12302-018-0134-4 · Cited by 694 · see citing works
Cousins, I. T., Johansson, J. H., Salter, M. E., Sha, B., & Scheringer, M. (2022) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.2c02765 · Cited by 624 · see citing works
A New OECD Definition for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
Wang, Z., Buser, A. M., Cousins, I. T., Demattio, S., Drost, W., Johansson, O., Ohno, K., Patlewicz, G., Richard, A. M., Walker, G. W., et al. (2021) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.1c06896 · Cited by 581 · see citing works
Trends in the regulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): a scoping review
Brennan, N. M., Evans, A. T., Fritz, M. K., Peak, S. A., & von Holst, H. E. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph182010900 · Cited by 422 · see citing works
Sharma, B. M., Bharat, G. K., Tayal, S., Larssen, T., Bečanová, J., Karásková, P., Whitehead, P. G., Futter, M. N., Butterfield, D., & Nizzetto, L. (2016) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2015.10.050 · Cited by 353 · see citing works
Coggan, T. L., Moodie, D., Kolobaric, A., Szabo, D., Shimeta, J., Crosbie, N. D., Lee, E., Fernandes, M., & Clarke, B. O. (2019) · Heliyon · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02316 · Cited by 327 · see citing works
Blaine, A. C., Rich, C. D., Hundal, L. S., Lau, C., Mills, M. A., Harris, K. M., & Higgins, C. P. (2013) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es403094q · Cited by 325 · see citing works
Bai, X., & Son, Y. (2021) · Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141622 · Cited by 307 · see citing works
Pan, C.-G., Liu, Y.-S., & Ying, G.-G. (2016) · Water Research · doi:10.1016/j.watres.2016.10.045 · Cited by 283 · see citing works
Garg, S., Kumar, P., Mishra, V., Guijt, R., Singh, P., Dumée, L. F., & Sharma, R. S. (2020) · Journal of Water Process Engineering · doi:10.1016/j.jwpe.2020.101683 · Cited by 205 · see citing works
A Map of European Emissions and Concentrations of PFOS and PFOA
Pistocchi, A., & Loos, R. (2009) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es901246d · Cited by 194 · see citing works
Zhang, X., Lohmann, R., Dassuncao, C., Hu, X. C., Weber, A. K., Vecitis, C. D., & Sunderland, E. M. (2016) · Environmental Science & Technology Letters · doi:10.1021/acs.estlett.6b00255 · Cited by 167 · see citing works
Boisvert, G., Sonne, C., Rigét, F. F., Dietz, R., & Letcher, R. J. (2019) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2019.06.035 · Cited by 134 · see citing works
Langberg, H. A., Breedveld, G. D., Slinde, G. A., Grønning, H. M., Høisæter, Å., Jartun, M., Rundberget, T., Jenssen, B. M., & Hale, S. E. (2020) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.0c04587 · Cited by 122 · see citing works
Cookson, E. S., & Detwiler, R. L. (2022) · Water Research · doi:10.1016/j.watres.2022.118784 · Cited by 110 · see citing works
Pelch, K. E., Reade, A., Kwiatkowski, C. F., Merced‐Nieves, F. M., Cavalier, H. M., Schultz, K., Wolffe, T. A. M., & Varshavsky, J. (2022) · Environment International · doi:10.1016/j.envint.2022.107408 · Cited by 109 · see citing works
Cui, Q., Pan, Y., Zhang, H., Sheng, N., & Dai, J. (2018) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2018.05.099 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
Pétré, M.-A., Salk, K. R., Stapleton, H. M., Ferguson, P. L., Tait, G., Obenour, D. R., Knappe, D. R. U., & Genereux, D. P. (2022) · Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154763 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
Ho, S. H., Soh, S. X. H., Wang, M. X., Ong, J., Seah, A., Wong, Y., Fang, Z., Sim, S., & Lim, J. T. (2022) · The Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158036 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Breitmeyer, S. E., Williams, A. M., Duris, J. W., Eicholtz, L. W., Shull, D. R., Wertz, T. A., & Woodward, E. E. (2023) · Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164161 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Zushi, Y., Ye, F., Motegi, M., Nojiri, K., Hosono, S., Suzuki, T., Kosugi, Y., Yaguchi, K., & Masunaga, S. (2011) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es103917r · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Kolpin, D. W., Hubbard, L. E., Cwiertny, D. M., Meppelink, S. M., Thompson, D. A., & Gray, J. L. (2021) · Environmental Science & Technology Letters · doi:10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00750 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Large subglacial source of mercury from the southwestern margin of the Greenland Ice Sheet
Hawkings, J. R., Linhoff, B. S., Wadham, J. L., Stibal, M., Lamborg, C. H., Carling, G. T., Lamarche‐Gagnon, G., Kohler, T. J., Ward, R., Hendry, K., et al. (2021) · Nature Geoscience · doi:10.1038/s41561-021-00753-w · Cited by 66 · see citing works
Schmidt, N., Fauvelle, V., Castro-Jiménez, J., Lajaunie-Salla, K., Pinazo, C., Yohia, C., & Sempéré, R. (2019) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110491 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Nguyen, H. T., McLachlan, M. S., Tscharke, B. J., Thai, P. K., Bräunig, J., Kaserzon, S., O'Brien, J. W., & Mueller, J. F. (2022) · Chemosphere · doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133657 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Fagbayigbo, B. O., Opeolu, B. O., Fatoki, O. S., Olatunji, O. S., Akharame, M. O., & Human, I. S. (2022) · Environmental Technology & Innovation · doi:10.1016/j.eti.2021.102110 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
Watershed scale PFAS fate and transport model for source identification and management implications
Rafiei, V., & Nejadhashemi, A. P. (2023) · Water Research · doi:10.1016/j.watres.2023.120073 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Felizeter, S., Jürling, H., Kotthoff, M., de Voogt, P., & McLachlan, M. S. (2020) · Chemosphere · doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127608 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Garnett, J., Halsall, C., Thomas, M., Crabeck, O., France, J., Joerss, H., Ebinghaus, R., Kaiser, J., Leeson, A., & Wynn, P. (2021) · Environmental Science and Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.1c01645 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Nguyen, M. A., Norström, K., Wiberg, K., Gustavsson, J., Josefsson, S., & Ahrens, L. (2022) · Chemosphere · doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136467 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Earnshaw, M. R., Paul, A. G., Loos, R., Tavazzi, S., Paracchini, B., Scheringer, M., Hungerbühler, K., Jones, K. C., & Sweetman, A. J. (2014) · Environment International · doi:10.1016/j.envint.2014.05.004 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Novak, P. A., Hoeksema, S. D., Thompson, S. N., & Trayler, K. M. (2023) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115215 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Beggs, C., Mackie, R., Vrana, B., Prokeš, R., Gorji, S. G., Schulze, B., Thomas, K. V., Mueller, J. F., & Kaserzon, S. L. (2023) · Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164458 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Desgens-Martin, V., Li, W., Medina, T., & Keller, A. A. (2023) · ACS ES&T Water · doi:10.1021/acsestwater.3c00022 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Perfluorinated alkyl substances: Sewage treatment and implications for receiving waters
Comber, S. D. W., Gardner, M., & Ellor, B. (2021) · The Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148391 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Self-citationQuezada Davalos, J. C., Michaud, M. A., Lowe, L. E., Hanson, E. N., & Owens, J. E. (2023) · ACS ES&T Water · doi:10.1021/acsestwater.2c00440 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
OECD (2015) · OECD series on risk management of chemicals. · doi:10.1787/f97f34b1-en · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Rossi, C., Oyarzún, J., Pastén, P., Runkel, R. L., Núñez, J., Duhalde, D., Maturana, H., Rojas, E., Arumí, J. L., Castillo, D., et al. (2021) · River Research and Applications · doi:10.1002/rra.3823 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- ■ NOTE ADDED AFTER ASAP PUBLICATION The version of this paper that was published ASAP February 19, 2024, was missing a Supporting Information file (excel file with supporting tables). This was added, and the revised version was reposted February 23, 2014. Environmental Science & Technology Letters pubs.acs.org/journal/estlcu Letter https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.4c00017 Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. 2024, 11, 266-272
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Barber, L. B., Miller, S. A., Blaney, L. M., Bradley, P. M., Faunce, K. E., Fleck, J. A., Frick, M., He, K. F., Hollins, R. D., Lewellyn, C., et al. (2025) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.4c12167 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Woodward, E. E., Senior, L. A., Fleck, J. A., Barber, L. B., Hansen, A. M., & Duris, J. W. (2024) · ACS ES&T Water · doi:10.1021/acsestwater.4c00288 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Cai, Y.-Y., Zhang, Q.-Q., & Ying, G. (2025) · ACS ES&T Water · doi:10.1021/acsestwater.4c00933 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Occurrence of emerging and persistent organic pollutants in the rivers Cam, Ouse and Thames, UK
Folorunsho, O., Bogush, A., & Kourtchev, I. (2025) · Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178436 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Teymoorian, T., Munoz, G., Duy, S. V., Vaudreuil, M.-A., Liu, M., Liu, J., & Sauvé, S. (2025) · The Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180429 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Li, M., Wu, K., Zhu, J., Pang, Z., Wu, H., Qiu, G., & Wei, C. (2025) · Water Research · doi:10.1016/j.watres.2025.125032 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Understanding the scale and potential contributions of background PFAS in the environment
Adamson, D. T., Gamlin, J. D., Jin, Y., Casteel, W., Schaefer, C. E., & Higgins, C. P. (2026) · Journal of Hazardous Materials · doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141121 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Röhrig, A., Grasse, N., Krauss, M., Bücher, D., Brack, W., Kamjunke, N., Matousu, A., Sanders, T., Bussmann, I., Achterberg, E. P., et al. (2026) · ACS Environmental Au · doi:10.1021/acsenvironau.5c00219 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Urban surface water flows contribute more PFAS to marine environments than treated wastewater
Lewis, P. J., Odell, E. H., Johnstone, C. P., Chaston, T. B., MacMahon, D., Paige, T., Sharp, S. M., Taylor, M. P., Pettigrove, V. J., & Saaristo, M. (2025) · Environmental Research · doi:10.1016/j.envres.2025.122751 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Stroski, K. M., Sims, J. L., Wronski, A. R., Bain, F. L., Snow, C. C., Henke, A. N., Langan, L. M., & Brooks, B. W. (2025) · ACS ES&T Water · doi:10.1021/acsestwater.4c01072 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Byrne, P., Mayes, W. M., James, A., Comber, S. D. W., Biles, E., Riley, A. L., Verplanck, P. L., & Bradley, L. (2025) · The Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180502 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Self-citationOccurrence, Risk Assessment, and Removal of Emerging Contaminants in Aquatic Environment
Lin, X., Shao, B., & Xu, J. (2025) · Water · doi:10.3390/w17111657 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Lin, D.-Y., Hu, L.-X., Liu, Y., Zhang, J., & Ying, G. (2026) · Water Research · doi:10.1016/j.watres.2026.125350 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Park, J.-H., Choi, S., Kim, T., Kim, M.-K., & Zoh, K. (2026) · Water Research · doi:10.1016/j.watres.2026.125884 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Lee, C., Kim, S., Kim, L., Lee, H., Kim, T.-J., & Yang, M. (2025) · Journal of Analytical Science & Technology · doi:10.1186/s40543-025-00519-8 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Antibiotic transport requires a renewed focus on baseflow as a critical non-point source pathway
Xie, H., Shang, M., Dong, J., Li, Y., Wan, N., Xiong, Z., & Lai, X. (2025) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126355 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
An Ecosystem-Scale Model of PFAS Dynamics in Stream-to-Riparian Food Webs
Campbell, K. S., Wesner, J., Walters, D. M., Helton, A. M., Baranovic, A., Agrawal, A., Stricker, C. A., Provatas, A. A., Kraus, J. M., Briggs, M., et al. (2026) · Environmental Science and Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.5c16942 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Asare, P. T., Kharel, G., Nice, M. S., Lavy, B. L., Birmingham, M., & Harvey, O. R. (2026) · PLOS Water · doi:10.1371/journal.pwat.0000554 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Byrne, P., Biles, E., Cui, L. E., Williams, R. D., Faustino-Eslava, D. V., Quick, L. A., Casa, M., Gonzalvo, F. I., Regalado, M. R. V., Cabrera, K. B. N., et al. (2025) · River · doi:10.1002/rvr2.70002 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Self-citationGurfield, K. M., Molzahn, M. G., Welchert, J., Karanikola, V., & Ingram, J. C. (2025) · Environments · doi:10.3390/environments12040108 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Duru, C. I., Gardeur, T. L., Ryen, I. N., Galler, J. A., & Sherchan, S. P. (2026) · Water · doi:10.3390/w18020137 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Akhtar, N., Iqbal, A., Javid, A., & Tayyab, M. (2025) · International Journal of Environmental Research · doi:10.1007/s41742-025-00843-2
Advances and Research Gaps for PFAS Modeling in Watersheds and Receiving Waters
Zhang, H. X., Babbar‐Sebens, M., Ahmadisharaf, E., Camacho, R. A., & Imen, S. (2025) · Journal of Environmental Engineering · doi:10.1061/joeedu.eeeng-8137
How Important Is Solid Phase PFAS Release from Legacy Coastal Landfills to the Water Environment?
Mayes, W. M., Pitman, S. J., Riley, A. L., Byrne, P., Lily, A., Jarvis, A. P., Hudson-Edwards, K. A., & Burke, I. T. (2026) · Water · doi:10.3390/w18030383
Self-citationYang, H.-W., He, W.-Y., Li, D.-W., Pan, X., Li, X., Zhu, Q., Xiang, H., & Ouyang, E.-M. (2026) · Water environment research · doi:10.1002/wer.70299
Tolentino, P. L. M., Hurst, M. D., Williams, R. D., Hoey, T., & Boothroyd, R. J. (2026) · Hydrological Sciences Journal · doi:10.1080/02626667.2025.2608147
Riverine PFAS Dynamics in an Agricultural-Urban Watershed
Adeola, A., Green, D. I. S., Crumpton, W. G., & Charbonnet, J. A. (2026) · ACS ES&T Water · doi:10.1021/acsestwater.6c00171
PFAS ‘forever’ chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are widespread in UK fisheries
Castle, A., Machidon, M., Yan, C., Hollywood, K. A., Shiels, H. A., & Shultz, S. (2026) · The Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.182035
PFAS exposure suppresses leaf litter decomposition in a stream ecosystem
Zachritz, A. M., Pruitt, A. N., Reisch, T. M., Miranda, D. A., Perrotta, B. G., Hubbard, L. E., Kotalik, C. J., Kolpin, D. W., Walters, D., Tank, J. L., et al. (2026) · Aquatic Toxicology · doi:10.1016/j.aquatox.2026.107966
Ichihara, M., Asakawa, D., Tojo, T., Takakura, K., Taniyasu, S., & Yamashita, N. (2026) · Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances · doi:10.1016/j.hazadv.2026.101456
Serum PFAS levels in UK firefighters
Stec, A. A., Snelgrove, T., Riley, K., Handlovicova, K., Everett, C. C., & Gittins, M. (2026) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-026-58059-z
Fresne, M., Jordan, P., Wilson, R., & Cassidy, R. (2026) · Journal of Hydrology · doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.136270
Shin, M. S., & Choo, G. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-10597616/v1
Tao, Y., Wang, J., Yin, J., Chen, P., Guo, F., & Guo, H. (2026) · Water Research · doi:10.1016/j.watres.2026.126859
- Authors
- Byrne, P., Mayes, W. M., James, A. L., Comber, S., Biles, E., Riley, A. L., & Runkel, R. L.
- Affiliations
- Liverpool John Moores University (GB)
- University of Hull (GB)
- Environment Agency (GB)
- University of Plymouth (GB)
- United States Geological Survey (US)
- Corresponding author
- Byrne, Patrick
- ORCID
- Venue
- Environmental Science & Technology Letters
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2024-02-19
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 266-272
- ISSN
- 2328-8930 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4391942481
- Cited by
- 34
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 1
- FWCI
- 4.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Environmental Science & Technology Letters (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Repository@Hull (Worktribe) (University of Hull) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Repository@Hull (Worktribe) (University of Hull) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Liverpool John Moores University (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Liverpool John Moores University
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Urban Stormwater Management Solutions
- Keywords
- per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, source apportionment, wastewater treatment plants, PFOS, perfluorooctanoic acid, Mersey River, river water quality, PFAS regulation
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review