Riverine Discharge of Perfluorinated Carboxylates from the European Continent

McLachlan, Michael S.; Holmström, Katrin E.; Reth, Margot; Berger, Urs

doi:10.1021/es071471p

Cited by 258Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances researchFluorine in Organic ChemistryToxic Organic Pollutants Impact

Riverine Discharge of Perfluorinated Carboxylates from the European Continent

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McLachlan, Michael S., Holmström, Katrin E., Reth, Margot, Berger, Urs·2007·Environmental Science & Technology

DOI 10.1021/es071471p

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Abstract

The discharge of C6-C9 perfluorinated carboxylates (PFCAs) from major European rivers was studied and employed to assess European emissions of these compounds. Water samples were collected close to the mouths of 14 major rivers including the Rhine, Danube, Elbe, Oder, Seine, Loire, and Po. PFCA concentrations were determined using LC-MS/MS and used together with the mean annual water flow to estimate the riverine discharge of the PFCAs. The highest concentration measured was 200 ng/L for perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) in the Po River. The Po accounted for two-thirds of the total PFOA discharge of all the rivers studied, suggesting a major industrial source of PFOA in the Po watershed. All other nonremote rivers showed PFOA concentrations in the lower ng/L range, which indicates that widely distributed sources are also significant contributors to PFOA emissions in Europe. The total discharge of PFOA from the European rivers was estimated to be 14 tonnes/year, which is in reasonable agreement with reported emissions estimates. However, the total riverine discharge of perfluorohexanoate (PFHxA) of 2.8 tonnes/year estimated in this study was three times greater than the reported global emissions estimate, suggesting that there are significant, as yet unidentified sources of this compound.

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Historical average PFOA concentrations in the Danube are 16.4 ng/L (2007), 20 ng/L (2010), 4.9 ng/L (2017), and 2.8 ng/L (2023).
“For PFOA, historical average concentrations in the Danube are 16.4 ng/L (2007) [79], 20 ng/L (2010) [73], 4.9 ng/L (2017) [74], and 2.8 ng/L (2023) [7], whereas our study finds an average level of 2.3 ng/L.”
From Investigating the extent of PFAS contamination in the Upper Danube Basin across environmental compartments (2025) · cites this paper as [79]
Similar occurrence studies across 14 major European rivers showed that river systems are becoming increasingly polluted with PFAS.
“Similar occurrence studies across 14 major European rivers, including the Rhine, Danube, Elbe, Oder, Seine, Loire, and Po, showed that river systems are becoming increasingly polluted with PFAS.”
From Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water and wastewater: A critical review of their global occurrence and distribution (2022) · cites this paper as McLachlan et al., 2007
The highest concentration of any PFAS was 200 ng/L, measured for PFOA in the Po River; the total estimated discharge of PFOA into European rivers was 14 Mg/y.
“Overall, the highest concentration of any PFAS was 200 ng L−1, which was measured for PFOA in the Po River; and the total estimated discharge of PFOA into European rivers was 14 Mg y−1 (McLachlan et al., 2007).”
From Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water and wastewater: A critical review of their global occurrence and distribution (2022) · cites this paper as McLachlan et al., 2007

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Authors: McLachlan, M. S., Holmström, K. E., Reth, M., & Berger, U.
Affiliations: Stockholm University (SE)
Corresponding author: McLachlan, Michael S.
ORCID: McLachlan, Michael S.
Berger, Urs
Venue: Environmental Science & Technology
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Published: 2007-09-28
Volume: 41
Issue: 21
Pages: 7260-7265
ISSN: 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
1520-5851
DOI: 10.1021/es071471p
OpenAlex: W1973901538
Cited by: 258
References: 2
Citations by year: 2026: 11 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 12
FWCI: 16.85
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: hybrid
doi.org
Licence: other-oa
pubs.acs.org/page/policy/authorchoice_termsofuse.html (vor)
Locations: Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion, other-oa)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
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 carboxylic acids, perfluorooctanoic acid, river discharge, European rivers, Po River, industrial sources
MeSH terms: Carboxylic Acids, Environmental Monitoring, Europe, Fluorocarbons, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Rivers

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Riverine Discharge of Perfluorinated Carboxylates from the European Continent

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