Occurrence and source characterization of perfluorochemicals in an urban watershed

Nguyen, VT; Reinhard, M; Karina, GY

HERO ID

2919271

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2011

Language

English

PMID

21208640

HERO ID 2919271
In Press No
Year 2011
Title Occurrence and source characterization of perfluorochemicals in an urban watershed
Authors Nguyen, VT; Reinhard, M; Karina, GY
Journal Chemosphere
Volume 82
Issue 9
Page Numbers 1277-1285
Abstract Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) are used in numerous applications, mainly as surfactants, and occur ubiquitously in the environment as complex mixtures. This study was undertaken to characterize the occurrence and sources of commonly detected PFC compounds in surface waters of the Marina catchment, a watershed that drains an urbanized section of Singapore. Of the 19 target PFCs, 13 were detected with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (5-31 ng L(-1)) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) (1-156 ng L(-1)) being the dominant components. Other compounds detected included perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (C7-C12) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (C6 and C8). Sulfonamide compounds detected 2-(N-ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamido) acetic acid (N-EtFOSAA), 2-(N-methylperfluorooctanesulfonamido) acetic acid (N-MeFOSAA), perfluorooctanesulfonamido acetic acid (FOSAA) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (FOSA) were putative transformation products of N-EtFOSE and N-MeFOSE, the N-ethylated and N-methylated ethyl alcohol derivatives, respectively. Surface water concentrations were generally higher during dry weather than during storm water flow: the median concentrations of total PFCs in dry and wet weather were 57 and 138 ng L(-1) compared to 42 and 79 ng L(-1), respectively, at Stamford and Alexandra canal, suggesting the presence of a continuous source(s) which is subject to dilution during storm events. In rain water, median concentrations were 6.4 ng L(-1), suggesting rain contributed from 12-25% to the total PFC load for non-point source sites. The longitudinal concentration profile along one of the canals revealed a point source of sulfonated PFCs (PFOS), believed to originate from aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). Sources were characterized using principal component analysis (PCA) and by plotting PFHxS/PFOA against PFOS/PFOA. Typical surface waters exhibit PFOS/PFOA and PFHxS/PFOA ratios below 0.9 and 0.5, respectively. PCA plots reveal waters impacted by "non-typical" PFC sources in Alexandra canal.
Doi 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2010.12.030
Pmid 21208640
Wosid WOS:000287563200009
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword Perfluorochemicals; PFOA; PFOS; PFHxS; Occurrence; Urban watershed
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