Distribution of perfluoroalkyl compounds and mercury in fish liver from high-mountain lakes in France originating from atmospheric deposition

Abstract

International audiencePerfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) and total mercury (THg) were investigated in fish liver collected from four high-mountain lakes in the French alps in which the water was fed only by atmospheric deposition. Concentrations of various PFCs, including C9-C15 perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were quantified. The PFOS concentration was similar in all high-mountain lakes with mean concentrations ranging from 3.61- 4.24 ng g1 wet weight (ww) indicating homogeneous atmospheric deposition. Conversely, the spatial distribution of PFCAs and THg was strongly influenced from a different emission source, which is probably the city of Grenoble, which resulted in significantly higher concentration levels of PPFCAs in three lakes (Po0.001) and of THg in two lakes (Po0.05) located easterly from Grenoble. Furthermore, the positive correlation between PFCAs and THg suggest similar transport and bioaccumulation pathways. The contribution of the longer chain PFCAs decreased with increasing distance from the local source area of Grenoble, which could be attributed to their less pronounced transport potential. Results from this study demonstrate that the contamination of PFCs and THg in the fish of the high-mountain lakes originated from atmospheric deposition and subsequent bioaccumulation

Temporal variations of perfluoroalkyl substances and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in alpine snow

“…The voluntary phase-out and replacement of PFOS may explain the low concentrations (<MQL) observed in Colle Gnifetti firn. Ahrens et al (2010) suggested that in contrast to PFCAs, PFOS deposition in high altitude European Alpine lakes (1649e2448 m a.s.l.) is mainly related to the atmospheric degradation of low concentration volatile precursors and not from direct emissions of PFOS to the atmosphere.…”

Trends of polyfluoroalkyl compounds in marine biota and in humans

“…[130] In contrast, in Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) PFTriDA was the most abundant PFCA in all tissues analysed except for muscle. [125] Even in remote mountain lakes (n ¼ 6) of the QinghaiTibetan Plateau of China (average altitude exceed 4000 m) [132] as well as in remote mountain lakes (n ¼ 4) of the French Alpes (altitude 1600-2000 m) [133] PFOS and PFCAs could be detected in fish samples. In both locations PFOS and PFCAs concentrations in fish were in the range of a few ng per g ww.…”

Metals in Some Ready-to-Eat Foods on Some Highways of Lagos and Ota South-West Nigeria

“…Pollutant emission in urban environment can travel far in the atmosphere because of temperature inversion [25]. High concentration of Lead, Chromium, Cadmium, Mercury and Arsenic are linked to airborne transport of pollutant from industrial, highway road and urbanization [23][24][25][26].…”

“…High concentration of Lead, Chromium, Cadmium, Mercury and Arsenic are linked to airborne transport of pollutant from industrial, highway road and urbanization [23][24][25][26]. Automobiles emit several hundred of different compounds [27] hence the vehicular contribution to atmospheric pollutant of an environment cannot be underestimated as they contribute significantly to the level of trace metals in the environment.…”

“…Automobiles emit several hundred of different compounds [27] hence the vehicular contribution to atmospheric pollutant of an environment cannot be underestimated as they contribute significantly to the level of trace metals in the environment. Vehicular contribution may be as a result of dust and exhaust obtained from burning of fossil fuel [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]. …”