Occurrence and Risk Assessment of Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) in Surface Water, Groundwater and Sediments of the Jin River Basin, Southeastern China

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2022 Jun;108(6):1026-1032. doi: 10.1007/s00128-021-03435-w. Epub 2022 Jan 23.

Abstract

Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) levels were determined in surface water, groundwater and sediments of the Jin River Basin, southeastern China. PFOA was detected in most of the samples, and its concentrations ranged from 0.53 to 8.77 ng/L, 0.26 to 15.1 ng/L and not detected (ND) to 23.9 ng/g in surface water, groundwater and sediments, respectively. Unlike PFOA, the detection frequency of PFOS was lower than 32%, and its concentrations ranged from ND to 2.56 ng/L, ND to 7.01 ng/L, ND to 11.1 ng/g in surface water, groundwater and sediments, respectively. The environmental risk assessment showed that PFOA could pose a high risk to surface water and groundwater, and both PFOA and PFOS posed a high risk to sediments. Moreover, the adults living in the Jin River Basin were at insignificant health risk to exposure to PFOA and PFOS through water consumption.

Keywords: PFOA; PFOS; Risk assessment; Southeastern China; Spatial distribution.

MeSH terms

  • Alkanesulfonic Acids* / analysis
  • Caprylates
  • China
  • Fluorocarbons* / analysis
  • Groundwater*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Rivers
  • Water
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

  • Alkanesulfonic Acids
  • Caprylates
  • Fluorocarbons
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Water
  • perfluorooctanoic acid
  • perfluorooctane sulfonic acid