Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in river and ground/drinking water of the Ganges River basin: Emissions and implications for human exposure

Sharma, Brij Mohan; Bharat, Girija K.; Tayal, Shresth; Larssen, Thorjørn; Bečanová, Jitka; Karásková, Pavlína; Whitehead, Paul; Futter, Martyn N.; Butterfield, D.; Nizzetto, Luca

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2015.10.050

Cited by 221 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 71 publications

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“…Continuous release of these substances from various products and applications has made them ubiquitous in environments, such as air (Taniyasu et al, 2013a), water (Wang et al, 2012), sediment (Yeung et al, 2013), wildlife (Persson et al, 2013) and even the human body (Kannan et al, 2004). In addition, water has become the primary reservoir of PFAAs and the major medium for their transportation due to the relatively high polarity and solubility of ionic PFAAs (Prevedouros et al, 2006;Sharma et al, 2015). Because of these physicochemical properties, PFAAs can even be used as useful chemical tracers of global circulation of ocean waters (Yamashita et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk assessment and source identification of perfluoroalkyl acids in surface and ground water: Spatial distribution around a mega-fluorochemical industrial park, China

Liu

Lü

Wang

et al. 2016

Environment International

125

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Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) can be released to water bodies during manufacturing and application of PFAA-containing products. In this study, the contamination pattern, attenuation dynamics, sources, pathways, and risk zoning of PFAAs in surface and ground water was examined within a 10 km radius from a mega-fluorochemical industrial park (FIP). Among 12 detected PFAAs, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) dominated, followed by shorter-chained perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs). PFAA-containing waste was discharged from the FIP, with levels reaching 1.86 mg/L in the nearby rivers flowing to the Bohai sea together with up to 273 μg/L in the local groundwater in the catchment. These levels constitute a human health risks for PFOA and other shorter-chained PFCAs within this location. The concentrations of ∑PFAAs in surface water strongly correlated with the local groundwater. The dominant pollution pathways of PFAAs included (i) discharge into surface water then to groundwater through seepage, and (ii) atmospheric deposition from the FIP, followed by infiltration to groundwater. As the distance increased from the source, PFAAs levels in groundwater showed a sharp initial decrease followed by a gentle decline. The contamination signal from the FIP site on PFAAs in groundwater existed within a radius of 4 km, and at least 3 km from the polluted Dongzhulong River. The major controlling factor in PFAA attenuation processes was likely to be dilution together with dispersion and adsorption to aquifer solids. The relative abundance of PFOA (C8) declined while those of shorter-chained PFCAs (C4-C6) increased during surface water seepage and further dispersion in groundwater.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk assessment and source identification of perfluoroalkyl acids in surface and ground water: Spatial distribution around a mega-fluorochemical industrial park, China

Liu

Lü

Wang

et al. 2016

Environment International

125

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“…Taking PFOS as an example, the total historical worldwide production of "PFOS equivalent", including secondary reaction products and precursors, was estimated to be 122 500 t between 1970 and 2002 (Guerranti et al, 2013;Paul et al, 2009). However, since 2002, the emission of PFASs has shifted from North America, Europe, and Japan to emerging Asian economies, especially China and India (Li et al, 2011;Sharma et al, 2016). Passive air sampling results have found that fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOH) and fluorinated telomere olefins (FTOs) are major compound classes occurring in the urban air of China and Japan, while 4 : 2 FTOH is a predominant chemical in remote regions of China and India (Li et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occurrence and spatial distribution of neutral perfluoroalkyl substances and cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes in the atmosphere of the Tibetan Plateau

et al. 2018

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Abstract. Due to their properties of bioaccumulation, toxicity, and long-range atmospheric transport, polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes (cVMSs) are currently being considered as emerging persistent organic pollutants (POPs) for regulation. To date, there are limited data on PFASs and cVMSs in the atmosphere of the Tibetan Plateau (TP), a remote environment which can provide information on global background conditions. Sorbent-impregnated polyurethane foam (SIP) disc passive air samplers were therefore deployed for 3 months (May to July 2011 and 2013) at 16 locations across the TP. Using previously reported methods for estimating the air volume sampled by SIP discs, the derived atmospheric concentrations ranged as follows: 18-565 ng m −3 for cVMS (including D3, D4, D5, and D6); 65-223 pg m −3 for fluorotelomer alcohols ( FTOHs); 1.2-12.8 pg m −3 for fluorinated sulfonamides ( FOSA); and 0.29-1.02 pg m −3 for fluorinated sulfonamidoethanols ( FOSE). The highest cVMS occurred at Lhasa, the capital city of the TP, indicating the local contribution to the emerging pollutants. Higher levels of FTOHs were observed at sites close to the transport channel of the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, indicating possible long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT). Elevated concentrations of shorter-chain volatile PFAS precursors (4 : 2 FTOH and fluorobutane sulfonamidoethanol) were found in most air samples, reflecting the shift in production from long-to short-chain PFASs in Asia. Overall, concentrations of emerging POPs at background sites of the TP were 1-3 orders of magnitude higher than those reported for legacy POPs.

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“…Compared to other micropollutants, EDC are more dangerous and more effective in humans and other organisms (Khan & Ongerth, ). Some micropollutants like phthalates and PFAS tend to act as EDC (Philip et al, ; Sharma et al, ). Therefore, it is very important to focus on and study EDC in groundwater.…”

Section: Organic Micropollutants In Groundwater Of Indiamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…PFAS are used in a wide variety of industrial products including metal finishing and electroplating, stain repellents, electronics, food packaging, fire‐fighting foams, insecticides, adhesives, and paints, as well as coatings for textiles. Sharma et al, () studied the presence of PFAS in groundwater samples collected from the urbanized and industrialized regions in the Ganga river basin (Figure ). Around 21 compounds of PFAS were subject to study out of which 11 compounds were frequently detected, and among which, high concentrations of perfluorobutanesulfonic acid were reported (Figure , Table ).…”

Section: Organic Micropollutants In Groundwater Of Indiamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among PFAS, US EPA () issued health advisories for the combined concentration of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in drinking water (Table ) and both compounds are placed fourth on the contamination candidate list for drinking water. Infiltration of river water, wastewater effluent, and leaching are possible sources of PFAS in groundwater (Sharma et al, ). PFAS can also be transported atmospherically and enter groundwater.…”

Section: Organic Micropollutants In Groundwater Of Indiamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Organic micropollutants in groundwater of India—A review

Sackaria

Elango

2019

Water Environment Research

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Groundwater pollution due to organic micropollutants is a major cause of concern, especially in parts of the world where available water resources are on the decline. India is the largest user of groundwater where the presence of micropollutants in the subsurface environment has been the focus of many researchers. The objective of this study was to provide a detailed review of studies on micropollutants in Indian groundwater and to provide strategies for further work. It is found that the presence of pharmaceuticals, endocrine disrupting compounds, surfactants, phthalates, per‐ and poly‐fluoroalkyl substances, personal care products, artificial sweeteners, and pesticides in groundwater from different parts of India is reported. Pesticides and phthalate concentrations reported exceed the standard guideline values. This review points out the regions where the groundwater is prone to contamination due to micropollutants. An assessment of temporal variation in the concentration of micropollutants in groundwater has been done only by a few researchers. This study highlighted the need for more research on the possible presence of micropollutants in groundwater, especially in the major polluted rivers in cities where more pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and plastic industries are located. Practitioner Points Organic micropollutants were not new contaminants into the environment but the one entered even decades ago which has threatening effect. The number of studies on organic micropollutants in groundwater is lesser than surface water or wastewater. Scarcity on the studies of micropollutants was a result of definite technical lack in its analysis and complexity in sample preparation. Most of the studies done were related to contamination sites and point sources.

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Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in river and ground/drinking water of the Ganges River basin: Emissions and implications for human exposure

Cited by 221 publications

References 71 publications

Risk assessment and source identification of perfluoroalkyl acids in surface and ground water: Spatial distribution around a mega-fluorochemical industrial park, China

Risk assessment and source identification of perfluoroalkyl acids in surface and ground water: Spatial distribution around a mega-fluorochemical industrial park, China

Occurrence and spatial distribution of neutral perfluoroalkyl substances and cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes in the atmosphere of the Tibetan Plateau

Organic micropollutants in groundwater of India—A review

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