Perfluorinated Compounds in the Cape Fear Drainage Basin in North Carolina
Abstract
Concern over perfluorinated organic compounds (PFCs), e.g., perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), is due to a number of recent studies which show that the PFCs are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic in animals. Despite sustained interest in this topic, little information is available concerning the environmental distributions of the compounds. In this study, a new method was developed for the analysis of 10 target PFCs and its performance was examined in a systematic evaluation of surface water in the Cape Fear River Basin in North Carolina. One hundred samples from 80 different locations were collected during the spring of 2006. Detectable levels of the target PFCs were found in all samples, and were comparable to values reported previously, with maximum PFOS at 132 ng/L, PFOA at 287 ng/L, perfluorononanoic acid (C9) at 194 ng/L, and perfluoroheptanoic acid (C7) at 329 ng/L. In general, the lowest concentrations of the PFCs were found in the smallest tributaries while the highest levels were found in middle reaches of the Drainage Basin. Variability of PFC concentrations suggests a series of source inputs throughout the Basin. Seventeen sample sites (22%) had PFOS concentrations greater than 43 ng/L, a conservative safe water concentration estimated to be protective of avian life. In addition, a total of 26 sites (32%) had PFOA concentrations above 40 ng/L.
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In studies in Minnesota River, Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, Mississippi River basin, Missouri River basin, and Cape Fear River basin the PFHpA/PFOA ratios were all higher than 1.
“However, in the studies by Bai and Son. (2021), (Nakayama et al., 2007), Scott et al. (2006), and (Sun et al., 2016) in Minnesota River, Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, Mississippi River basin, Missouri River basin, and Cape Fear River basin the ratios were all higher than 1.”
From Per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as a contaminant of emerging concern in surface water: A transboundary review of their occurrences and toxicity effects (2021) · cites this paper as Nakayama et al., 2007
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- Authors
- Nakayama, S., Strynar, M. J., Helfant, L., Egeghy, P., Ye, X., & Lindstrom, A. B.
- Affiliations
- Environmental Protection Agency (US)
- Corresponding author
- Lindstrom, Andrew B.
- Venue
- Environmental Science & Technology
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2007-07-04
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 15
- Pages
- 5271-5276
- ISSN
- 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
- 1520-5851
- OpenAlex
- W1982093919
- Cited by
- 168
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 11.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Office of Research and Development
- 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 › Water Science and Technology › Fluoride Effects and Removal
- Keywords
- perfluorinated organic compounds, PFOS, perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorononanoic acid, PFHpA, surface water contamination, Cape Fear River Basin, persistent bioaccumulative toxic substances
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Caprylates, Environmental Exposure, Fluorocarbons, Geography, North Carolina, Reproducibility of Results, Alkanesulfonic Acids, Rivers
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