Discovery of 35 novel classes of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in representative commercial fluorinated products in China

Yuanyuan Zheng; Mian Bao; Yiming Yao; Maosen Zhao; Hao Chen; Hongwen Sun; Cuirong Sun; Hongzhi Zhao; Yuanjiang Pan

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131780

Discovery of 35 novel classes of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in representative commercial fluorinated products in China

J Hazard Mater. 2023 Sep 5:457:131780. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131780. Epub 2023 Jun 5.

Authors

Yuanyuan Zheng¹, Mian Bao², Yiming Yao³, Maosen Zhao³, Hao Chen³, Hongwen Sun³, Cuirong Sun², Hongzhi Zhao⁴, Yuanjiang Pan⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang, China.
² College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China.
³ MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
⁴ MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China. Electronic address: hongzhizhao@nankai.edu.cn.
⁵ Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang, China. Electronic address: panyuanjiang@zju.edu.cn.

PMID: 37290352
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131780

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have received increasing scientific and regulatory attention due to their global distribution and health hazards. However, little is known about the PFAS composition of fluorinated products commercially available in China. In this study, a sensitive and robust analytical method was proposed for the comprehensive characterization of PFAS in aqueous film-forming foam and fluorocarbon surfactants in the domestic market based on liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry in full scan acquisition mode followed by parallel reaction monitoring mode. Consequently, a total of 102 PFAS from 59 classes were elucidated, of which 35 classes are reported for the first time, including 27 classes of anionic, seven classes of zwitterionic, and one class of cationic PFAS. The anionic-type products are mainly C6 ﬂuorotelomerization-based (FT-based) PFAS. Perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate are negligible, while some known electrochemical fluorination-based long-chain precursors in zwitterionic products are worthy of concern because of their high abundance and potential degradation. New precursors detected in zwitterionic products are FT-based PFAS, for example, 6:2 FTSAPr-AHOE and 6:2 FTSAPr-diMeAmPrC. The structural elucidation of PFAS in commercial products facilitates a better assessment of human exposure and environmental release.

Keywords: Commercial fluorinated products; Comprehensive characterization; Diagnostic product ions; Full scan/PRM; Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

China
Chromatography, Liquid
Fluorocarbons* / analysis
Humans
Water / analysis
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Water Pollutants, Chemical
Fluorocarbons
Water