Long-Term Environmental Fate of Perfluorinated Compounds after Accidental Release at Toronto Airport

Awad, Emily; Zhang, Xianming; Bhavsar, Satyendra P.; Petro, Steve; Crozier, Patrick W.; Reiner, Eric J.; Fletcher, Rachael; Tittlemier, Sheryl A.; Braekevelt, Eric

doi:10.1021/es2001985

Cited by 163Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances researchToxic Organic Pollutants ImpactPesticide and Herbicide Environmental Studies

Long-Term Environmental Fate of Perfluorinated Compounds after Accidental Release at Toronto Airport

Awad, Emily, Zhang, Xianming, Bhavsar, Satyendra P., Petro, Steve, Crozier, Patrick W., Reiner, Eric J., Fletcher, Rachael, Tittlemier, Sheryl A. +1 more·2011·Environmental Science & Technology

DOI 10.1021/es2001985

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Abstract

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS; a perfluorinated compound or PFC), its salts, and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride have recently been listed in Annex B of the Stockholm Convention due to their widespread presence, persistence, and toxicity. Because of the persistent nature of PFCs, it is generally presumed that the impact of direct discharges of these chemicals on a receiving environment would be long-lasting. However, long-term environmental fate studies based on field measurements are rare. We examined spatial and long-term (9 year) temporal trends of PFCs in water, sediment, fish, and fish liver collected in 2003, 2006, and 2009 from 10 locations spanning ∼20 km in Etobicoke and Spring Creeks, where an accidental release of fire fighting foam containing PFOS from nearby Toronto International Airport occurred in 2000. Even a decade after the spill, sediment PFOS concentrations are still elevated in Spring Creek Pond which received the foam discharge; however, the major impact is relatively localized likely due to the stormwater management nature of the pond and the diluting effect of Etobicoke Creek. Fish and fish liver PFOS concentrations at a Spring Creek location downstream of Spring Creek Pond declined by about 70 and 85%, respectively, between 2003 and 2009. PFOS in water at locations further downstream in Etobicoke Creek have declined by >99.99% since the spill; however, the 2009 water and fish levels were ∼2-10 times higher than upstream locations likely due to the…

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The average PFOS concentration (0.98 ± 1.38 ng/mL and 1.73 ± 1.77 ng/mL) detected in surface water samples at BAFB were similar to the PFOS concentration (0.69 ng/mL) detected in a water sample 3 years after an accidental spill in Toronto.
“The average PFOS concentration (0.98 ± 1.38 ng/mL and 1.73 ± 1.77 ng/mL) detected in surface water samples at BAFB were similar to the PFOS concentration (0.69 ng/mL) detected in a water sample 3 years after an accidental spill in Toronto (Awad et al., 2011).”
From Perfluoroalkyl acids in sediment and water surrounding historical fire training areas at Barksdale Air Force Base (2022) · cites this paper as Awad et al., 2011
The average PFOS concentration at BAFB was at least 3 times greater than the PFOS concentration (0.29 ng/mL) in a water sample collected 9 years after the accidental AFFF spill in Toronto.
“However, the average PFOS concentration at BAFB was at least 3 times greater than the PFOS concentration (0.29 ng/mL) in a water sample collected 9 years after the accidental AFFF spill in Toronto (Awad et al., 2011).”
From Perfluoroalkyl acids in sediment and water surrounding historical fire training areas at Barksdale Air Force Base (2022) · cites this paper as Awad et al., 2011
Many replacement PFAS degrade in the environment to legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), so PFCAs are still found in AFFF-impacted sites.
“Many replacement PFAS degrade in the environment to the legacy per-and polyfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), so although PFCAs had been phased out from AFFF formulations, they are still found in AFFF-impacted sites”
From Release of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from a waste management facility fire to an urban creek (2022) · cites this paper as Awad et al., 2011
Prior work indicates that AFFF use at modern airports releases diverse PFASs to downstream aquatic environments, including compounds in the first PCA/cluster.
“Prior work indicates uses of AFFF in modern airports release diverse PFASs to downstream aquatic environments, including the compounds identified as part of the first PCA/cluster.4,29-31”
From Source Attribution of Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Surface Waters from Rhode Island and the New York Metropolitan Area (2016) · cites this paper as [30]

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“However, the average PFOS concentration at BAFB was at least 3 times greater than the PFOS concentration (0.29 ng/mL) in a water sample collected 9 years after the accidental AFFF spill in Toronto (Awad et al., 2011).”
BackgroundInfluential

Authors: Awad, E., Zhang, X., Bhavsar, S. P., Petro, S., Crozier, P. W., Reiner, E. J., Fletcher, R., Tittlemier, S. A., & Braekevelt, E.
Affiliations: Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (CA)
University of Toronto (CA)
Health Canada (CA)
Corresponding author: Bhavsar, Satyendra P.
ORCID: Zhang, Xianming
Bhavsar, Satyendra P.
Reiner, Eric J.
Tittlemier, Sheryl A.
Venue: Environmental Science & Technology
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Published: 2011-07-20
Volume: 45
Issue: 19
Pages: 8081-8089
ISSN: 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
1520-5851
DOI: 10.1021/es2001985
OpenAlex: W2319146648
Cited by: 163
References: 8
Citations by year: 2026: 10 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 7
FWCI: 6.85
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
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 › Pollution › Pesticide and Herbicide Environmental Studies
Keywords: perfluorinated compounds, PFOS, firefighting foam, accidental release, sediment contamination, fish bioaccumulation, fish liver, bioaccumulation factor, perfluorocarboxylates, perfluoroalkyl sulfonates, Stockholm Convention, long-term trends, urbanization, persistent organic pollutants, environmental fate
MeSH terms: Animals, Canada, Environmental Monitoring, Fishes, Fluorocarbons, Geography, Liver, Time Factors, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Geologic Sediments, Biohazard Release, Airports

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Long-Term Environmental Fate of Perfluorinated Compounds after Accidental Release at Toronto Airport

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