Application of WWTP Biosolids and Resulting Perfluorinated Compound Contamination of Surface and Well Water in Decatur, Alabama, USA

Lindstrom, Andrew B.; Strynar, Mark J.; Delinsky, Amy D.; Nakayama, Shoji F.; McMillan, Larry; Libelo, E. Laurence; Neill, Michael; Thomas, Lee

doi:10.1021/es1039425

Cited by 227Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances researchFluoride Effects and RemovalPharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts

Application of WWTP Biosolids and Resulting Perfluorinated Compound Contamination of Surface and Well Water in Decatur, Alabama, USA

Lindstrom, Andrew B., Strynar, Mark J., Delinsky, Amy D., Nakayama, Shoji F., McMillan, Larry, Libelo, E. Laurence, Neill, Michael, Thomas, Lee·2011·Environmental Science & Technology

DOI 10.1021/es1039425

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Abstract

Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) have been produced and used in a wide range of industrial and consumer products for many decades. Their resistance to degradation has led to their widespread distribution in the environment, but little is known about how humans become exposed. Recent studies have demonstrated that the application of PFC contaminated biosolids can have important effects on local environments, ultimately leading to demonstrable human exposures. This manuscript describes a situation in Decatur, Alabama where PFC contaminated biosolids from a local municipal wastewater treatment facility that had received waste from local fluorochemical facilities were used as a soil amendment in local agricultural fields for as many as twelve years. Ten target PFCs were measured in surface and groundwater samples. Results show that surface and well water in the vicinity of these fields had elevated PFC concentrations, with 22% of the samples exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Provisional Health Advisory level for PFOA in drinking water of 400 ng/L. Water/soil concentration ratios as high as 0.34 for perfluorohexanoic acid, 0.17 for perfluoroheptanoic acid, and 0.04 for PFOA verify decreasing mobility from soils with increasing chain length while indicating that relatively high transport from soils to surface and well water is possible.

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Generation of data for such characterizations typically involves studies which often target specific sources or receiving waters.
“However, generation of data for such characterizations typically involves studies which often target specific sources or receiving waters (Lindstrom et al., 2011).”
From PFAS in Iowa drinking water sources: Chemical and geospatial patterns (2025) · cites this paper as Lindstrom et al., 2011
Lindstrom et al. reported total concentrations of up to 30,000 ng/L in surface water associated with land application of industrial-impacted biosolids.
“Lindstrom et al.40 reported total concentrations of up to 30,000 ng/L in surface water associated with land application of industrial-impacted biosolids.”
From Sources and Pathways of PFAS Occurrence in Water Sources: Relative Contribution of Land-Applied Biosolids in an Agricultural Dominated Watershed (2025) · cites this paper as [40]

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“412 413 The higher mobility of the shorter chain materials is consistent with a previous study which found 414 that the sediment/water partition coefficient for the PFCs increase with chain length [21].”
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Authors: Lindstrom, A. B., Strynar, M. J., Delinsky, A. D., Nakayama, S. F., McMillan, L., Libelo, E. L., Neill, M., & Thomas, L.
Affiliations: Environmental Protection Agency (US)
National Caucus & Center on Black Aged, Inc., Durham, North Carolina, United States
Corresponding author: Lindstrom, Andrew B.
ORCID: Lindstrom, Andrew B.
Strynar, Mark J.
Nakayama, Shoji F.
Venue: Environmental Science & Technology
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Published: 2011-04-22
Volume: 45
Issue: 19
Pages: 8015-8021
ISSN: 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
1520-5851
DOI: 10.1021/es1039425
OpenAlex: W2029916104
Cited by: 227
References: 2
Citations by year: 2026: 17 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 7
FWCI: 7.36
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Topics: Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Fluoride Effects and Removal
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
Keywords: perfluorinated compounds, biosolids, sewage sludge, perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOS, soil amendment, agricultural land application, groundwater contamination, surface water contamination, well water, human exposure, perfluorohexanoic acid, PFHpA
MeSH terms: Agriculture, Alabama, Environmental Monitoring, Fluorocarbons, Humans, Quality Control, Surface Properties, Waste Disposal, Fluid, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Water Pollution, Water Purification, Water Wells

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Application of WWTP Biosolids and Resulting Perfluorinated Compound Contamination of Surface and Well Water in Decatur, Alabama, USA

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