Evaluation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in leachate, gas condensate, stormwater and groundwater at landfills

Yutao Chen; Hekai Zhang; Yalan Liu; John A Bowden; Thabet M Tolaymat; Timothy G Townsend; Helena M Solo-Gabriele

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137903

Evaluation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in leachate, gas condensate, stormwater and groundwater at landfills

Chemosphere. 2023 Mar:318:137903. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137903. Epub 2023 Jan 17.

Authors

Yutao Chen¹, Hekai Zhang¹, Yalan Liu², John A Bowden³, Thabet M Tolaymat⁴, Timothy G Townsend², Helena M Solo-Gabriele⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, United States.
² Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States.
³ Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States; Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology & Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States.
⁴ Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268, United States.
⁵ Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, United States. Electronic address: hmsolo@miami.edu.

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), found in many consumer products, are commonly disposed of in landfills at the end of their service lives. To identify landfill liquids that should be prioritized for treatment, this study aimed to evaluate PFAS levels in different aqueous samples from landfills and identify relationships between PFAS and landfill characteristics. Twenty-six PFAS including 11 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), 7 perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs), and 8 perfluoroalkyl acid precursors (PFAA-precursors) were measured in municipal solid waste (MSW) leachate, construction and demolition debris (CDD) leachate, municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) ash leachate, gas condensate, stormwater, and groundwater from landfills. Based on the median, results show that PFAS levels in MSW leachate were the highest (10,000 ng L^-1), CDD leachate were intermediate (6200 ng L^-1), and MSWI ash leachate were the lowest (1300 ng L^-1) among the leachates evaluated. PFAS levels in gas condensate (7000 ng L^-1) were similar to MSW leachate. PFAS in stormwater and groundwater were low (medians were less than 500 ng L^-1). Dominant subgroups included PFCAs and PFAA-precursors in all leachates. PFSAs were also found in CDD leachate, PFAA-precursors in gas condensate, and PFCAs in stormwater and groundwater. Landfill characteristics significantly correlated with ∑₂₆PFAS included waste proportions (percentage of MSWI ash in landfill, |r_s| = 0.22), operational status (active or not, |r_s| = 0.27) and rainfall (30-d cumulative rainfall, |r_s| = 0.39). The results from this study can be used to prioritize which landfills and which reservoir of liquids (and corresponding subgroup of PFAS) to target for PFAS management.

Keywords: Gas condensate; Groundwater; Landfill leachate; PFAA-Precursors; PFAS; Stormwater.

MeSH terms

Alkanesulfonates
Carboxylic Acids
Fluorocarbons* / analysis
Groundwater*
Refuse Disposal* / methods
Solid Waste / analysis
Waste Disposal Facilities
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Solid Waste
Water Pollutants, Chemical
Alkanesulfonates
Carboxylic Acids
Fluorocarbons

Grants and funding

EPA999999/ImEPA/Intramural EPA/United States