PFAS surveillance in abiotic matrices within vital aquatic habitats throughout Florida

Emily K Griffin; Lauren M Hall; Melynda A Brown; Arielle Taylor-Manges; Trisha Green; Katherine Suchanec; Bradley T Furman; Victoria M Congdon; Sara S Wilson; Todd Z Osborne; Shawn Martin; Emma A Schultz; Dylan T Lukacsa; Justin A Greenberg; John A Bowden

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115011

PFAS surveillance in abiotic matrices within vital aquatic habitats throughout Florida

Mar Pollut Bull. 2023 Jul:192:115011. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115011. Epub 2023 May 24.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. Electronic address: emilygriffin@ufl.edu.
² St. Johns River Water Management District, Palm Bay, FL 32909, USA. Electronic address: lhall@sjrwmd.com.
³ Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves, Punta Gorda, FL 33955, USA. Electronic address: melynda.a.brown@floridadep.gov.
⁴ Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves, Punta Gorda, FL 33955, USA. Electronic address: arielle.taylormanges@floridadep.gov.
⁵ Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserves, Crystal River, FL 34429, USA. Electronic address: trisha.green@floridadep.gov.
⁶ Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserves, Crystal River, FL 34429, USA. Electronic address: Katherine.suchanec@floridadep.gov.
⁷ Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA. Electronic address: bradley.furman@myfwc.com.
⁸ Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA. Electronic address: victoria.congdon@myfwc.com.
⁹ Division of Coastlines and Oceans, Institute of Environment, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33199, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystems, Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL 32080, USA. Electronic address: osbornet@ufl.edu.
¹¹ Department of Marine and Environmental Technology, College of the Florida Keys, Key West, FL 33040, USA. Electronic address: shawn.martin@cfk.edu.
¹² Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA. Electronic address: eas761@msstate.edu.
¹³ Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. Electronic address: dlanlukacsa@ufl.edu.
¹⁴ Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. Electronic address: greenbergjustin@ufl.edu.
¹⁵ Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. Electronic address: john.bowden@ufl.edu.

PMID: 37236089
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115011

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of manufactured chemicals that are resistant to degradation and thus persistent in the environment. The presence, uptake, and accumulation of PFAS is dependent upon the physiochemical properties of the PFAS and matrix, as well as the environmental conditions since the time of release. The objective of this study was to measure the extent of PFAS contamination in surface water and sediment from nine vulnerable aquatic systems throughout Florida. PFAS were detected at all sampling locations with sediment exhibiting greater PFAS concentrations when compared to surface water. At most locations, elevated concentrations of PFAS were identified around areas of increased human activity, such as airports, military bases, and wastewater effluents. The results from the present study highlight the ubiquitous presence of PFAS in vital Florida waterways and filled an important gap in understanding the distribution of PFAS in dynamic, yet vulnerable, aquatic environments.

Keywords: Aquatic habitat; Florida; PFAS; Sediment; Surface water; Targeted mass spectrometry.

MeSH terms

Florida
Fluorocarbons* / analysis
Humans
Wastewater
Water
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Fluorocarbons
Water Pollutants, Chemical
Water
Wastewater