First report on the sources, vertical distribution and human health risks of legacy and novel per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in groundwater from the Loess Plateau, China

Jian Zhou; Shujian Li; Xiaoxue Liang; Xuemin Feng; Tiecheng Wang; Zhi Li; Lingyan Zhu

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124134

First report on the sources, vertical distribution and human health risks of legacy and novel per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in groundwater from the Loess Plateau, China

J Hazard Mater. 2021 Feb 15;404(Pt A):124134. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124134. Epub 2020 Sep 29.

Authors

Jian Zhou¹, Shujian Li¹, Xiaoxue Liang¹, Xuemin Feng², Tiecheng Wang³, Zhi Li⁴, Lingyan Zhu⁵

Affiliations

¹ College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China.
² Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China.
³ College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, No.3 Taicheng Road, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China.
⁴ College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, No.3 Taicheng Road, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China. Electronic address: lizhibox@nwafu.edu.cn.
⁵ College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, No.3 Taicheng Road, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China; Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China. Electronic address: zhuly@nankai.edu.cn.

PMID: 33022527
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124134

Abstract

In this study, legacy and novel per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were measured in groundwater samples collected from the Loess Plateau of China to understand their occurrence, sources and health risks. The total concentration of PFASs ranged from 2.78 to 115 ng/L, with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as the dominant compound. Many emerging PFASs, including 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonates (FTS), 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonic acid (Cl-PFESAs), ammonium 4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoate (ADONA), and hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO) homologues were frequently detected in 96.7-100% of the samples. Multiple source apportionment analyses indicated that the PFASs in the groundwater mainly originated from industrial activities, but in rural areas, agricultural activities also contributed. The total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay indicated that there were substantial unknown precursors of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in the groundwater samples. The total concentration of PFASs decreased with the well depth, while the PFAA-precursors displayed contrasting vertical profile trends, which might be due to the suppressed microbial transformation in the groundwater. The potential human health risk caused by PFAS exposure via drinking groundwater in the Loess Plateau was low, except for one site that was close to the industry bases.

Keywords: Groundwater; Human health risk; Loess plateau; PFAA-precursors; Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Alkanesulfonates
China
Environmental Monitoring
Fluorocarbons* / analysis
Groundwater*
Humans
Sulfonic Acids
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Alkanesulfonates
Fluorocarbons
Sulfonic Acids
Water Pollutants, Chemical