Assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Indian River Lagoon and Atlantic coast of Brevard County, FL, reveals distinct spatial clusters

Emily K Griffin; Juan Aristizabal-Henao; Alina Timshina; Heather L Ditz; Camden G Camacho; Bianca F da Silva; Eric S Coker; Katherine Y Deliz Quiñones; Joe Aufmuth; John A Bowden

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134478

Assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Indian River Lagoon and Atlantic coast of Brevard County, FL, reveals distinct spatial clusters

Chemosphere. 2022 Aug:301:134478. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134478. Epub 2022 Mar 31.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA, 32611. Electronic address: emilygriffin@ufl.edu.
² BERG LLC, 500 Old Connecticut Path Building B, Framingham, MA, USA, 01701. Electronic address: juan.henao@berghealth.com.
³ Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA, 32611. Electronic address: Atimshina@ufl.edu.
⁴ Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA, 32611. Electronic address: heatherditz@ufl.edu.
⁵ Department of Chemistry, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States. Electronic address: camden.camacho@chem.ufl.edu.
⁶ Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA, 32611. Electronic address: biancadasilva@ufl.edu.
⁷ College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA, 32611. Electronic address: eric.coker@phhp.ufl.edu.
⁸ Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA, 32611. Electronic address: Katherine.deliz@essie.ufl.edu.
⁹ George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA, 32611. Electronic address: mapper@uflib.ufl.edu.
¹⁰ Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA, 32611. Electronic address: john.bowden@ufl.edu.

PMID: 35367496
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134478

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) constitute a class of highly stable and extensively manufactured anthropogenic chemicals that have been linked to a variety of adverse health effects in humans and wildlife. These compounds are ubiquitously distributed in the environment and have been measured in aquatic systems globally. However, there are limited data on longitudinal comprehensive assessments of PFAS profiles within sensitive aquatic ecosystems. Surface water samples were collected from the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) and the Atlantic coast within Brevard County (BC), FL in December of 2019 (n = 57) and again from corresponding locations in February of 2021 (n = 40). Samples were analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) to determine the occurrence, concentration, and distribution of 92 PFAS. No significant difference in total PFAS concentrations were identified between samples collected in 2019 (87 ng/L) and those collected in 2021 (77 ng/L). However, comparisons of PFAS among four natural sub-regions within Brevard County revealed site- and regional-specific differences. The Banana River exhibited the greatest concentration of total PFAS, followed by the southern Indian River, the northern Indian River, and then the Atlantic coast. Six distinct PFAS profiles were identified with the novel application of multivariate statistical cluster analysis, which may be useful for identifying potential sources of PFAS. Elevated total PFAS and unique compound mixtures identified in the Banana River are most likely a result of industrial discharge and extensive historical use of aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF). The environmental persistence of PFAS threatens key ecosystem services and the ecological homeostasis of the Indian River Lagoon - the most biologically diverse estuary in North America. Brevard County offers a unique model site that may be used to investigate potential exposure and health implications for wildlife and adjacent coastal communities, which could be extrapolated to better understand and manage other critical coastal systems.

Keywords: AFFF; Cluster analysis; Estuary; Mass spectrometry; PFAS; Surface water.

MeSH terms

Ecosystem
Fluorocarbons* / analysis
Humans
Rivers
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Fluorocarbons
Water Pollutants, Chemical