Perfluorooctanoate (PFO) in Forest Soils near a Fluoropolymer Manufacturing Facility

Abstract

After elevated concentrations of perfluorooctanoate (PFO) were found in river and groundwater in the vicinity of a fluoropolymer manufacturing facility, numerous soils at adjacent sites were sampled in 2007. Within a 5-km northeast-oriented sector around a probable point source, 20 forest sites were investigated and compared to deposition and groundwater data. PFO concentrations up to 600 μg/kg were detected in the soils, and PFO concentrations typically decreased toward deeper soil depths. In mixed or deciduous forests, maximum concentrations of PFO occurred in the topsoil, pointing to the favorable decomposition and incorporation of deciduous litter. PFO concentrations of the organic layer over the 20 sampling sites were interpolated using ordinary kriging. Highest PFO content in the organic layer was located about 500 m away from the point source in the regional wind direction, decreasing asymptotically outwards. Long-term monitoring data pointed to an accumulation of PFO over time in the organic layer. The data suggest that PFO might be released in the course of litter decomposition and transported toward deeper soil regions only gradually. The soils' PFO concentrations reflect the deposition data. The transport link toward groundwater is currently established in lysimeter studies.

Analysis of emerging organic contaminants in water, fish and suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the Joint Danube Survey using solid-phase extraction followed by UHPLC-MS-MS and GC–MS analysis

“…Note that 4- and 5-methyl-1H-benzotriazole cannot be separated chromatographically and, therefore, only the total concentration of methylbenzotriazoles is given in the results. In addition, several perfluoroalkyl substances were analysed because PFOA was one of the most important contaminants in JDS2, originating mostly from a fluoropolymer production plant located in Germany on the Inn River tributary ( Hangen et al, 2010 ). Carbamazepine, diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole, 2, 4-D, PFOS and PFOA were analysed in JDS2.…”