Target and nontarget analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in surface water, groundwater and sediments of three typical fluorochemical industrial parks in China

Dongbao Song; Biting Qiao; Yiming Yao; Leicheng Zhao; Xin Wang; Hao Chen; Lingyan Zhu; Hongwen Sun

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132411

Target and nontarget analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in surface water, groundwater and sediments of three typical fluorochemical industrial parks in China

J Hazard Mater. 2023 Oct 15:460:132411. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132411. Epub 2023 Aug 29.

Authors

Dongbao Song¹, Biting Qiao¹, Yiming Yao¹, Leicheng Zhao¹, Xin Wang¹, Hao Chen², Lingyan Zhu¹, Hongwen Sun³

Affiliations

¹ MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
² MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China. Electronic address: chenhao@nankai.edu.cn.
³ MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China. Electronic address: sunhongwen@nankai.edu.cn.

PMID: 37666171
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132411

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to identify both legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from three typical fluoridated industrial parks (FIPs) in China, and to assess their environmental occurrence and fate. Complementary suspect target and nontarget screening were implemented, and a total of 111 emerging PFAS were identified. Based on the multi-mass scale analysis, 25 emerging PFAS were identified for the first time, including 24 per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acids (PFECAs) and 1 ultra-short chlorinated perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (Cl-PFCAs, C2), with a maximum percentage of 48.2 % in nontarget PFAS (exclude target PFAS). The composition of PFAS identified in different media was influenced by functional groups, carbon chain length, substituents and ether bond insertion, with poly-hydrogen substituted being preferably in water and a more diverse pattern of PFECAs in sediments. The patterns of PFAS homologs revealed distinct differences among the three typical FIPs in the shift of PFAS production patterns. The C4-PFAS and short-chain carboxylic acids (≤C6) were the main PFAS in the Fuxin and Changshu, respectively. In contrast, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, C8) remained dominant in Zibo, and the highest point concentrations in water and sediment were up to 706 µg/L and 553 µg/g, respectively.

Keywords: Distribution difference; Emerging PFAS; Fluoridated industrial parks; Nontarget analysis.