Bioaccumulation of Fluorotelomer Sulfonates and Perfluoroalkyl Acids in Marine Organisms Living in Aqueous Film-Forming Foam Impacted Waters

Abstract

The use of aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) has resulted in hot spots polluted with poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs). The phase out of long-chained perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) from AFFFs resulted in the necessity for alternatives, and short-chained PFAAs and fluorotelomer-based surfactants have been used. Here, the distribution of PFAS contamination in the marine environment surrounding a military site in Norway was investigated. Up to 30 PFASs were analyzed in storm, leachate, and fjord water; marine sediments; marine invertebrates (snails, green shore crab, great spider crab, and edible crab); and teleost fish (Atlantic cod, European place, and Lemon sole). Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) was the most abundantly detected PFAS. Differences in PFAS accumulation levels were observed among species, likely reflecting different exposure routes among trophic levels and different capabilities for depuration and/or enzymatic degradation. In agreement with previous literature, almost no 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS) was detected in teleost fish. However, this study is one of the first to report considerable concentrations of 6:2 FTS in marine invertebrates, suggesting bioaccumulation. Biota monitoring and risk assessments of sites contaminated with fluorotelomer sulfonates (FTSs) and related compounds should not be limited to fish, but should also include invertebrates.

The fate of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances in a marine food web influenced by land-based sources in the Norwegian Arctic

“…63 PFOS at relatively high levels (38-82 mg kg À1 dry weight) were measured in swimming crab collected from a river located in an industrial area of Tianjin, China. 64 PFBS was detected at higher whole body concentrations (up to 8.5 mg kg À1 ww at St 2) than reported by Langberg et al 25 and was detected in 1 to 3 individuals at all impacted stations (St1-3). This indicates that PFBS has a bioaccumulation potential in crabs.…”

“…3 The occurrence of 6:2 FTS in nine of the twelve zooplankton samples conrms its bioaccumulation potential which has been reported recently for invertebrates near a military airport. 25 Although neither PFHxA, nor PFHpA, were detected in any zooplankton samples, the short chain PFAS, PFBS was detected in four of the twelve zooplankton samples investigated at a maximum concentration of 0.735 mg kg À1 ww, conrming that PFSA are more bioaccumulative than PFCA. 52 Studies reporting PFAS concentrations in zooplankton in the Arctic are sparse in the scientic literature.…”

“…9,24 The use of aqueous lm forming foams (AFFF) for reghting training activities at airports has previously been noted to be a signicant point source of PFAS to a variety of environmental media. 4,25 The disposal of PFAS containing consumer products (food wrappings, non-stick cook ware, stain-resistant coatings, cleaning products, etc.) has also resulted in elevated PFAS levels in landll leachate.…”

“…In general, levels of PFAS determined here were in the lower range compared to previously reported levels for a military airport in Norway. 25 Langberg et al 25 reported average levels of 5.50 AE 0.80 and 3.92 AE 0.79 mg kg À1 ww for PFOS in green shore crab (Carcinus maenas) and great spider crab respectively, collected at a military airport in Norway. These levels are higher than PFOS levels found in the current study (average 0.28 AE 0.04 mg kg À1 ww).…”

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in contaminated coastal marine waters of the Saudi Arabian Red Sea: a baseline study

“…In addition, precursor compounds which can be transformed into PFCAs and PFSAs during environmental processes continue to be produced and released into the environment (Benskin et al 2012 ). While the bioaccumulation of some precursors has recently been observed (Asher et al 2012 ; Langberg et al 2019 ; Reiner et al 2011 ), exposure to some precursors has also resulted in metabolic conversion and accumulation of PFCAs and/or PFSAs (D’eon et al 2011; Fu et al 2015 ; McDonough et al 2020 ; Rhoads et al 2008 ; Xie et al 2009 ).…”