Occurrence of perfluoroalkyl substances in the Bay of Marseille (NW Mediterranean Sea) and the Rhône River

Abstract

Four perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were analyzed in 62 duplicate surface water samples from the Rhône River and Marseille Bay (France; NW Mediterranean Sea). Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was detected in all samples and exceeded the European Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) values in over 80% of the cases. The most contaminated samples were from the Rhône River (up to 200 ng L-1 ∑ 4 PFAS), as well as those collected near a wastewater treatment plant outlet in Marseille Bay (up to 9 ng L −1 ∑ 4 PFAS). While PFOS was the predominant PFAS in Marseille Bay, remarkably high concentrations of perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) were measured in the Rhône River (8-193 ng L −1). The relative abundances of individual compounds differed thus significantly between the Rhône River and Marseille Bay, indicating different sources. A simulation made with the MARS3D model showed that PFOS inputs from the Rhône River can enter Marseille Bay at levels > EQS.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Transport from Groundwater to Streams near a PFAS Manufacturing Facility in North Carolina, USA

“…The PFAS discharge from groundwater in the study area is large relative to the few available points of comparison (river and landfill discharges). For example, D PFAS and E PFAS in GB normalized to the watershed area (21.9 km 2 ) are about 1 kg/km 2 yr, which is about 10× the highest estimate for the Rhone River and the Po River 45,54 (0.1 kg/km 2 yr), and much higher than the combined PFOA and PFOS export reported for the Ganges 10 (2 × 10 −4 kg/km 2 yr) or for the Rhine River 45 (6 × 10 −3 kg/km 2 yr). The PFAS output from groundwater to the five study streams (32 kg/yr) is equivalent to at least 1/20th of the PFAS output from all U.S. landfills to wastewater treatment plants 55 (563−638 kg/yr in 2013) or about 1.7× the output from all North Carolina landfills (19 kg/yr, based on North Carolina's fraction of the U.S. population).…”

PFAS Molecules: A Major Concern for the Human Health and the Environment

“…A subsequent study monitored the presence of four PFAS in the Rhone River from 2017 to 2018. Here, the authors found high levels of total PFAS (range of 13-200 ng/L), high amounts of PFHxA (range of 8-193 ng/L) and PFOS concentrations exceeding the annual average European Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) in more than 80% of the cases, concluding that the Rhone River might represent an important source of PFAS to the Mediterranean Sea [118]. In another study Codling et al analyzed the contamination status of the surface sediments and cores from the Great Lakes Erie and Ontario as well as Lake St. Clair in North America.…”

Occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water: a review

“…98,99 The total PFAS concentration in Marseille Bay was much lower than that of Rhône River in France, and the cause was speculated to be adsorption by sediment. 100…”