Legacy and emerging poly- and perfluorochemicals in seawater and sediment from East China Sea

Hongmei Hu; Yingying Zhang; Nan Zhao; Jiahui Xie; Yanqiu Zhou; Meirong Zhao; Hangbiao Jin

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149052

Legacy and emerging poly- and perfluorochemicals in seawater and sediment from East China Sea

Sci Total Environ. 2021 Nov 25:797:149052. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149052. Epub 2021 Jul 19.

Authors

Hongmei Hu¹, Yingying Zhang², Nan Zhao², Jiahui Xie², Yanqiu Zhou³, Meirong Zhao², Hangbiao Jin⁴

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, PR China; Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Technology Research for Fisheries Resources of Zhejiang Province, Marine Fishery Institute of Zhejiang Province, Zhoushan 316021, PR China.
² Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, PR China.
³ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, PR China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, PR China. Electronic address: hangbiao@zjut.edu.cn.

PMID: 34311366
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149052

Abstract

Following the global phase out of perfluorooctane sulfate (PFOS), chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonates (Cl-PFAESs) and p-perfluorous nonenoxybenzenesulfonate (PFNOBS) have emerged as novel PFOS substitutes. However, until now, limited data is available on their occurrence and environmental behaviors in the marine environment. Here, seawater and sediment samples were collected from East China Sea and analyzed for Cl-PFAESs, PFNOBS, and perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs; including their branched isomers) to investigate their concentrations, potential sources, and sediment-seawater partitioning behaviors. Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and PFOS were consistently the predominant PFAAs in seawaters and sediments. Branched PFOA and PFOS isomers were consistently much less frequently detected in sediments than that in seawaters. Linear PFOA contributed 92-95% of total PFOA in seawaters, suggesting the great contribution of telomerization PFOA. 6:2 Cl-PFAES was detected in all seawaters (concentration, 0.58-47 pg/L) and in the majority of sediments (<LOD-28 pg/g). PFNOBS was observed in 46% of seawater samples (concentration, <LOD-5.2 pg/L) and 66% of sediment samples (<LOD-1.7 pg/g). Spatial distribution trend suggested the riverine input as an important source of PFAAs and 6:2 Cl-PFAES in this sampling area. 6:2 Cl-PFAES (log K_oc, 2.6 ± 0.36) and PFNOBS (2.7 ± 0.33) had comparable mean log-transformed sediment-seawater partitioning coefficients (log K_oc) to PFOA (2.5 ± 0.32) or PFOS (2.8 ± 0.49), indicating their long-range transport potential in global oceans with ocean currents. Overall, this study provides the first data on occurrence and partitioning behaviors of 6:2 Cl-PFAES and PFNOBS in the marine environment.

Keywords: 6:2 Cl-PFAES; PFNOBS; PFOA; Seawater; Sediment.

MeSH terms

Alkanesulfonates
Alkanesulfonic Acids* / analysis
Caprylates
China
Environmental Monitoring
Fluorocarbons* / analysis
Seawater
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Alkanesulfonates
Alkanesulfonic Acids
Caprylates
Fluorocarbons
Water Pollutants, Chemical