Perfluorinated phosphonic acids in Canadian surface waters and wastewater treatment plant effluent: Discovery of a new class of perfluorinated acids
Abstract
The environmental prevalence of a new class of perfluorinated acids, the perfluorinated phosphonic acids (PFPAs), was determined in Canadian surface waters and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent. For quality control and comparison, the C8- to C11-perfluorinated carboxylic acids and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid were included in the analysis. Water samples were extracted using weak anion-exchange solid-phase extraction cartridges. Perfluorinated phosphonic acids were observed in 80% of surface water samples and in six of the seven WWTP effluent samples. The C8-PFPA was observed at concentrations ranging from 88 +/- 33 to 3400 +/- 900 pg/L in surface waters and from 760 +/- 270 to 2500 +/- 320 pg/L in WWTP effluent. To our knowledge, this is the first observation of PFPAs in the environment. Given their structural similarities with perfluorinated carboxylic and sulfonic acids, PFPAs are expected to be persistent. The observation of PFPAs in the majority of samples analyzed here suggests they are prevalent environmental contaminants and should be considered in future environmental monitoring campaigns to better understand the total burden of fluorinated materials in the environment.
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PFPAs have been used as leveling and wetting agents and as defoamers in pesticide formulations.
“PFPAs have been used as leveling and wetting agents and as defoamers in pesticide formulations.37”
From Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Street Sweepings (2022) · cites this paper as [37]
PFPAs were first reported by D'eon et al. (2010) in Canadian surface waters and wastewater treatment plant effluent.
“PFPAs, analogues of the PFSAs and PFCAs, were first reported by D'eon et al. (2010) in Canadian surface waters and wastewater treatment plant effluent.37”
From Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Street Sweepings (2022) · cites this paper as [37]
Whole method recovery was 70-120% for all but four PFASs, which ranged from 60-70%, comparable to recoveries reported by previous studies.
“Whole method recovery tested using the positive controls was 70-120% for all but 4 PFASs that ranged from 60-70%, which is comparable to recoveries reported by previous studies.3,14,15.”
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 [15]
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- Authors
- D'eon, J. C., Crozier, P. W., Furdui, V. I., Reiner, E. J., Libelo, E. L., & Mabury, S. A.
- Affiliations
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
- Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (CA)
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Environmental Protection Agency (US)
- Corresponding author
- Mabury, Scott A.
- Venue
- Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2009-10-01
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 2101-2107
- ISSN
- 0730-7268 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-8618
- OpenAlex
- W2104476381
- Cited by
- 117
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 9.87
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (publishedVersion)
- 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 › Water Science and Technology › Fluoride Effects and Removal
- Keywords
- perfluoroalkyl acids, surface water contamination, wastewater treatment plant effluent, perfluorinated carboxylic acids, PFOS, environmental persistence, environmental monitoring
- MeSH terms
- Canada, Carboxylic Acids, Environmental Monitoring, Quality Control, Sulfonic Acids, Time Factors, Waste Disposal, Fluid, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Reproducibility of Results, Solid Phase Extraction, Organophosphonates
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