Search

Solving the challenges faced during the measurement of the cross-interface transfer of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in lakes is crucial for clarifying environmental behaviours of these chemicals and their efficient governance. This study developed a multimedia fugacity model based on the quantitative water-air-sediment interaction (QWASI) covering abiotic/biotic matrices to investigate the cross-interface transfer and fate of PFAAs in Luoma Lake, a typical PFAA-contaminated shallow lake in eastern China. The accuracy and reliability of the established model were confirmed using Percent bias and Monte Carlo simulation, respectively. Using the QWASI model, the multimedia transfer of the PFAAs and their accumulation and persistence in different sub-compartments were described and measured, and the differences among individual PFAAs were explored. The simulation results showed that the sedimentation and resuspension of PFAAs were the most intense cross-interfacial transfers, and the sediments served as a chemical sink in the long term. A significant negative correlation of N C-F (the number of CF bonds) with the relative outflow flux (T W · out-ct ) but a positive correlation with the relative net transfer across the interface between water and aquatic plants (T p-ct ) was detected, indicating that the PFAA migration capacity decreased but the bioaccumulation potential increased with the CF bond number. The persistence in water (P w ) of individual PFAAs ranged from 19.65d (PFOA) to 32.22d (PFOS), with an average of 26.15d; their persistence in sediment (P s ) ranged from 432d (PFBA) to 3216d (PFOS), with an average of 1524d, increasing linearly with an increase in N C-F . The water advection flows into and out of the lake (Q W · in and Q W · out ), the PFAA concentration of water inflow (C W · in ), and bioconcentration factor of aquatic plants (BCF p ) were the primary parameters sensitive to PFAAs in all sub-compartments, which are essential indexes for exploring promising remediation pathways for lacustrine PFAA contamination based on the fugacity model simulation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The ecological risks posed by perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) to the aquatic environment have recently been of great concern. However, little information was available on the impact of PFAAs on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) profiles. In this study, the receiving river of the largest fluoropolymer production facility in China was selected to investigate the effects of PFAAs on ARGs profiles. The highest PFAAs concentration for water samples near the industrial effluent discharge point was 310.9 μg/L, which was thousands times of higher than the average concentration collected at upstream sites. Perfluorooctanoic acid accounted for more than 67.2 % of ∑PFAAs concentration in water samples collected at the downstream sites, followed by perfluorohexanoic acid (3.6 %-15.9 %). 145 ARG subtypes including high-risk ARGs were detected by metagenomic technology. The results indicated that the discharge of PFAA-containing effluents had a significant impact on the abundance and diversity of ARGs in receiving waters, and PFAAs and water quality parameters (e.g., pH, NH 3 N, COD Mn , TP) could largely affect ARG profiles. Specifically, short-chain PFAAs had similar impacts on ARG profiles compared to the restricted long-chain PFAAs. This study confirmed the potential effects of PFAAs on ARGs in aquatic environment and provided more insights into the ecological risk raised by PFAAs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Dense populations and industries in regions with developed inland waterways have caused the significant discharge of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) into surrounding waterways. Despite being the dominant energy input in the waterways, the impact of ship navigation on endogenous PFAA release is unclear. In this study, a field experiment was carried out in the Wangyu River (Taihu Basin, China) to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution processes of PFAAs in the water column after passage of ships with different tonnages, speeds, and draughts. The results showed that the PFAA contents did not decrease continuously with time but increased with a lag after the passing ship triggered a transient massive dissolution of PFAAs into the overlying water. In addition, PFAA contents in suspended particulate matter (SPM) exhibited a fluctuating downward trends after their peak at the moment of ship passage. Vertically, the PFAA concentrations among the layers of overlying water were relatively homogeneous, whereas SPM exhibited substantial heterogeneity in its distribution and adsorption of PFAAs. Moreover, the differences in jet scouring velocity (u), disturbance duration (t), and draught (h) of ships resulted in large variability in PFAA contents in the water column. Variance partitioning analysis further quantified the effects of u, t, and h on total PFAAs in the water column, with individual contributions of 53 %, 12 %, and 6 %, respectively. Furthermore, the release of endogenous PFAAs induced by ship passage involved rapid and slow processes, the former determining the overall PFAA release and the latter affecting PFAA concentration recovery in the water column. The findings provide in-situ observational data on spatiotemporal variations of PFAAs in multiphase media following ship passage, enhancing our understanding of endogenous pollution in inland waterways., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Abstract To investigate the distribution, partitioning, and inhalation exposure risks of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), gaseous and particulate samples were collected monthly between September 2013 and September 2015 in urban and rural areas near Lake Chaohu. Twelve PFAAs were determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The mean concentrations of PFAAs in the gaseous phase and the particulate phase were 40.31 ± 31.47 pg/m3 and 63.26 ± 41.87 pg/m3, respectively. Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) was the predominant contaminant in the gaseous phase (32.56% ± 9.28%), while perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was the main contaminant in the particulate phase (33.21% ± 18.69%). The ratios of gaseous to particulate distribution ranged from 0.01 to 16.75. The gaseous-particulate partitioning coefficients, ranging from 0.01 to 23.41 ± 10−2 m3/μg, were significantly correlated with PM 10 concentrations and meteorological conditions, such as temperature and air pressure. The inhalation exposures of PFOA and PFOS were 1.94–60.2 pg/(kg·d) and 0.30–4.22 pg/(kg·d), respectively. The carcinogenic risk of PFOA for urban males was the highest and that for rural females was the lowest; the risks were lower than the acceptable level (10−6) defined by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The non-carcinogenic risks of PFOA and PFOS were far below one. Graphical abstract Correlations between the gaseous-particulate partitioning coefficients (Kp) of PFOA and PFOS with the atmosphere environmental conditions such as PM10 concentrations and meteorological conditions (temperature and barometric pressure). Image 1 Highlights • PFBA and PFOA were predominant in the gaseous phase and the particulate phase, respectively. • The gaseous-particulate partitioning coefficients of PFOA and PFOS were correlated with meteorological conditions. • The inhalation exposures of PFOA and PFOS were 1.94–60.2 and 0.30–4.22 pg/(kg·d), respectively. • The carcinogenic risk of PFOA was lower than the acceptable level (10−6) defined by the USEPA. • The non-carcinogenic risks of PFOA and PFOS were far below one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfluoroalkyl acid substances (PFAAs), such as perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorobutanoic sulfonic acid (PFBS), perfluorooctane acid (PFOA) and perfluoroooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) are frequently detected in the global environment and can cause potential health hazards even at low levels. In this study, quantitative human health risk assessment was undertaken to derive soil generic assessment criteria (GAC) for four PFAAs under the agricultural land scenario in the evaluated Chinese regions, which considered multiple exposure pathways including vegetables consumption, dermal absorption, ingestion of soil and dust, and exposure from non-soil sources. It is showed that the calculated GAC for four PFAAs in Guangdong and Shandong Provinces were less stringent than those in Zhejiang and Jiangsu Provinces, and Shanghai City, owing to the low exposure from non-soil sources in former two provinces. In addition, GAC of PFOS were the most stringent in the range of 0.28-0.50 μg kg -1 in the studied regions, followed by PFOA (1.36-2.20 μg kg -1 ), PFBA (42.59-68.03 μg kg -1 ) and PFBS (474.59-749.60 μg kg -1 ), mainly attributable to significantly more stringent toxicological values of PFOA and PFOS. Correspondingly, the potential health hazards exist for PFOA in the studied regions except Guangdong Province, and PFOS only in Zhejiang and Jiangsu Provinces as indicated by the hazard quotients ranging from 1.04 to 19.49, but no health hazards are identified for PFBA and PFBS. The dominant exposure pathway was found to be consumption of vegetables and attached soil for PFBA and PFBS, contributing to more than 93% of the total exposure, compared to 49.91-76.69% for PFOA and PFOS due to significant exposure from non-soil sources levels. Overall, this study provides a technical reference on how to derive scientifically justifiable soil GAC for representative PFAAs for maintaining and assessing soil quality and food safety internationally under the agricultural land use., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The toxicity and persistence of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in humans have drawn growing concerns, particularly for children. However, data regarding the concentrations of PFAAs in children are limited. In this study, we measured the concentrations of 14 PFAAs in plasma samples collected from 1192 children aged 0–7 years from 7 cities in Guangdong Province: Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhaoqing, Zhongshan and Zhanjiang. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were detected in > 99.5% of the analysed samples. PFOS had the highest median concentration (23.6 ng/mL) in the total samples, followed by PFOA (2.8 ng/mL). The median concentrations of the other PFAAs were lower than 0.4 ng/mL. The concentrations of perfluorohexanoic acid, perfluorononanoic acid, perfluorodecanoic acid, perfluorododecanoic acid, perfluorohexane sulfonate, PFOA and PFOS in children from Foshan were significantly higher than those found in other cities ( p < 0.001). Negative correlations between most of the PFAA concentrations and age ( r = − 0.06–− 0.45) were found in all children. Weak to moderate correlations ( r = 0.080–0.698) were observed between all PFAA concentrations. Our findings indicated a high exposure of children to PFAAs in the early life-stage. The exposure sources and pathways of PFAAs in different regions are different. Considering a lack of information on the exposure pathways and health status, more studies are needed to evaluate the exposure resources and assess the health risk of PFAA exposure in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) in gas and particles were analyzed in southeast coastal and mountainous cities, including Fuzhou, Xiamen, Zhangzhou and Nanping, to study the pollution characteristics, particle size distribution, phase partitioning and atmospheric transport. PFAA ranged from 7.8 to 290 pg m -3 in gaseous phase, 27 - 1200 pg m -3 in particulate phase, and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were main compounds. PFAA had the highest concentration in Nanping with perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) dominant, which could be related to the emission of PFAS from local industrial plants. Perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs) exhibited different particle size distribution characteristics, with PFSAs preferring to distribute on coarse particles, which could be affected by the salt, minerals and organic matter in different particle sizes. The gas - particle partitioning coefficient (K PA ) had a line relationship with the fluorinated carbon chain length of PFAA, suggesting that long-chain PFAA tended to exist in particulate phase. The Winter Monsoon could transport to the study area and drive atmospheric PFAS to southern cities. HIGHLIGHTS: • Industrial plants contributed high concentrations of PFAA. • PFSAs tended to present in coarse particles. • Log K PA increased linearly with increasing carbon chain length of PFAA. • Winter Monsoon drove atmospheric PFAA to southern cities., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

It is extremely important to analyze the contaminative behaviors of Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) due to their serious threats to urban environments which are closely related to humans. Current study aimed to explore the distribution, source apportionment and ecological risk assessment of PFAAs in surface water from Shijiazhuang, China. The concentrations of ∑PFAAs ranged from 19.5 to 125.9 ng/L in the investigation area. Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) and perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) were the predominant contaminants (mean value: 14.3 ng/L and 16.6 ng/L, respectively). The distribution of PFAAs according to geospatial analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) showed that higher levels of ∑PFAAs were detected in the southern surface water of Shijiazhuang and there was a stepwise decrease from the wet season to the dry season. Furthermore, based on source apportionment, the dominant potential sources were found to be wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents and industrial discharge. The risk quotients (RQs) revealed low ecological risks of all PFAAs for aquatic organisms in Shijiazhuang surface water. Collectively, this study provided basic data for regulatory strategies for controlling PFAA pollutions in urban surface water., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The present study investigated the temporal and spatial distributions, partition behaviors, sources, and risks of 14 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in the aquatic environment of a fluorine industry-impacted region. The total concentrations of 14 PFAAs (ΣPFAAs) were 118.10-2235.4 ng/L, 40.00-2316.1 ng/g dw, and 6.90-180.5 ng/g dw in dissolved, suspended particle matter (SPM), and sedimentary phases, respectively. The predominant pollutants in the dissolved and SPM phases were perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) with carbon chain lengths <9, whereas C13 and C14 PFCAs accounted for a large proportion in the sedimentary phase. The dry season exhibited the highest concentration of ΣPFAAs in the dissolved phase (500.9 ± 350.2 ng/L), while the wet season showed the highest concentrations of ΣPFAAs in the SPM and sedimentary phases (591.6 ± 469.1 ng/g dw and 59.7 ± 35.5 ng/g dw, respectively). Significantly higher concentrations of PFAAs have been found in sewage plant and industrial areas. The concentration of PFAAs in the Xupu water source area (XPS) was slightly higher than that in other water source areas of the Yangtze River, which were either not affected or were less affected by the fluorine industry. The log K D-SPM (distribution coefficient between SPM and water), log K D-SED (distribution coefficient between sediment and water), and log K OC-SED (the organic carbon normalized distribution coefficient) of PFAAs showed significant differences between the wet season and dry season, which may also be affected by carbon chain length. Source identification results showed that industries, wastewater discharge, and nonpoint sources were the main sources of PFAAs in this region. The ecological risk posed by long-chain PFAAs in aquatic organisms cannot be ignored, especially in areas with intensive industrial and agricultural activities. Health risks may exist for local toddlers with long-term exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) through drinking water intake and dermal contact., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Raw and treated landfill leachate samples were collected from 5 municipal landfill sites in China to measure the concentrations and contamination profile of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in leachate during different steps of treatment. The total concentration of PFAAs (∑ PFAAs) ranged from 7280 to 292,000 ng L − 1 in raw leachate and from 98.4 to 282,000 ng L − 1 in treated leachate. The dominant compounds measured were PFOA (mean contribution 28.8% and 36.8% in raw and treated leachate, respectively) and PFBS (26.1% and 40.8% in raw and treated leachate, respectively). A calculation of mass flows during the leachate treatment processes showed that the fate of individual PFAAs was substance and treatment-specific. The Chinese national leakage of ∑ PFAAs to groundwater from landfill leachate was estimated to be 3110 kg year − 1 , which is a significant environmental release that is potentially threatening the sustainable use of groundwater as a drinking water source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After global commercialization of short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) as substitutes to conventional long-chain PFAAs by the major manufacturers, two fluorine industry parks for production of short-chain PFAAs located in the Daling River Basin of northern China have developed rapidly in the last few years. This study provides a systematic assessment of sources, emissions, transportation, and potential risks of the PFAAs in this area. The C4 perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) were the predominant short-chain PFAAs in river water, with maximum concentrations of 2.90 and 1.35 μg/L, respectively. Park 1 equipped with a telomerization process was identified to be the source of linear and branched mixtures of PFBS, PFBA, and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), while park 2 with an electrochemical fluorination process (ECF) was identified to be the source of linear and branched mixtures of PFBS and PFOA. Partition coefficients between water and sediment were consistent for C4-C8 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) but directly proportional to C9-C11 PFCAs and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs). Analysis on the health risk of PFBS and PFBA suggested that they were not without risk since short chain PFAAs are known to be recalcitrant during water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the residues, compositions, distributions and potential ecological risks of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), water samples were collected seasonally between August 2011 and November 2012 from 20 sites in Lake Chaohu and its tributary rivers. The mean concentration of total PFAAs (TPFAAs) was 14.46 ± 6.84 ng/L. PFOA was the predominant contaminant (8.62 ± 4.40 ng/L), followed by PFBA (2.04 ± 1.16 ng/L) and PFHxA (1.23 ± 1.50 ng/L). The TPFAAs concentrations peaked in August 2012 in each area, except for the western river. The opposite spatial trends were found for PFOA and PFOS in both the lake and river areas. Except for PFOS and PFUdA, the levels of TPFAAs and PFAAs were significantly related to the composition of fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) but not related to total DOM expressed by dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The risk of PFOS determined by a species sensitivity distribution model was notably above that of PFOA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Interactions between DOM and PFAAs were explored by field and laboratory experiments. • DOM and PFAA characteristics in the northwest of taihu lake basin were assessed. • Fulvic-like substances were identified as key factors affecting PFAA variability. • PFAAs, DOM peaks, and typical metals were effectively removed in DOM self-assembly. • The affinity of PFAAs binding in DOM depended largely on their chain length. Understanding the interactions between dissolved organic matter (DOM) and perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) is essential for predicting the distribution, transport, and fate of PFAAs in aquatic environments. Based on field investigations in the northwest of Taihu Lake Basin combined with laboratory experiments, we obtained DOM and PFAA concentrations as well as compositions and investigated key factors of DOM affecting PFAA variability and capture of PFAAs by DOM. Results indicated that the total concentrations of PFAAs were 73.4–689 ng/L in surface water and that PFAAs were dominated by C3–7 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid. The main components of DOM included tyrosine-, fulvic-, and tryptophan-like substances. The Mantel test revealed a significant positive correlation between DOM and PFAAs (P = 0.0001). Fulvic-like substances were identified as the most crucial factors affecting PFAA variability. The laboratory experiments revealed that DOM can spontaneously aggregate into a microgel. Furthermore, 19.1–50.9% of PFAAs, DOM characteristic peaks, and several metals (Ca, Mg, Cu, and Fe) can be removed during aggregation, indicating the capacity of DOM binding organic/inorganic substances. The fulvic-like substances were more effectively removed than the protein-like substances. The distribution coefficients of all PFAAs except perfluorohexanoic acid significantly correlated with their perfluorinated carbon numbers (r = 0.975, p <0.001). Our results provided insights into the interactions between DOM and PFAAs, improving the understanding of the distribution, transport, and fate of PFAAs in aquatic environments. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are a group of chemicals used for many applications and widely present in the environment and humans. In this study, serum levels of PFAAs and isomers of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) were analyzed in 141 Chinese pregnant women. Among all the samples, total PFOS (∑PFOS, mean concentration 7.32ng/mL) was predominant, followed by ∑PFOA (mean 4.78ng/mL) and perfluorodecanoate (PFDA, mean 1.45ng/mL). On average, the proportion of linear PFOS (n-PFOS) was 66.7% of ∑PFOS, which was higher than the general population, implying that maternal women could excrete branched PFOS isomers to the fetus by transplacental transfer. Moreover, the proportion of n-PFOS decreased significantly with the increasing concentration of ∑PFOS in the serum samples (r=−0.342, p <0.001). The mean proportion of n-PFOA in the serum samples was 99.0%, which was much higher than the technical ECF (electrochemical fluorination) products (ca. 70%). The small proportion of branched isomers of PFOA suggests that there is still a source of ECF PFOA in China. Significant correlations (p <0.005) were observed between the concentrations of some PFAAs with certain medical parameters in the pregnant women. For example, the levels of most perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) were found to correlate with albumin significantly, which might be a sign of immunotoxicity of these chemicals. The adverse effects of PFAA exposure to pregnant women may increase the health risk of the fetus. Interestingly, not only the PFAA concentrations but also the percentages of PFOS and PFOA isomers were correlated with certain medical parameters. This implies that the compositions of PFOS or PFOA should be considered in human health risk assessment in the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The impact of sluice operations on the distribution and fate of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) remains poorly understood. In this study, the distribution of PFAAs was investigated in water, suspended particles, sediment, and pore water from the upstream and downstream sections of six sluice gates along the Wangyu River, China. The target PFAAs were widely distributed in the dissolved phase (∑PFAAs: 447.61 ± 180.26 ng/L), particle phase (∑PFAAs: 2040.95 ± 1870.88 ng/g dw), sedimentary phase (∑PFAAs: 39.42 ± 35.38 ng/g dw), and pore water phase (∑PFAAs: 8172.54 ± 4278.60 ng/L). Our data suggest predominant detections of short-chain PFAAs such as perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) in the four environmental media. Sediment pore water appeared as an essential repository and potential source for PFAA re-release to the river environment. The levels of PFAAs in the dissolved and suspended particle phase upstream of the sluices were significantly lower than those downstream, while the situation in the sediment and pore water phase was the opposite. Sluice operation caused PFAA redistribution among the multi-environment media but did not change the PFAA composition, which had the significant effect on the partition behavior of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) between particles and water, as well as changed the migration pattern of PFOA, PFNA and PFOS from equilibrium to the migration state. Quantitative prediction models were developed for simulating fate of PFAAs in gate-controlled river, and the major factors affecting the distribution and fate of PFAAs were identified. Our findings provide insights into the redistribution mechanisms of PFAAs and an understanding of their environmental fate. [Display omitted] • PFBA and PFHxA (short chains) are now among the dominant PFAS congeners in the Wangyu River area. • Sluice operation shifted distribution but not the composition of PFAAs in the river. • The operation had significant effect on migration of PFCAs, especially PFBA. • Quantitative models were used to simulate the fate of PFAS in gate-controlled rivers. • Major factors affecting the distribution and fate of PFAAs were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bioaccumulation and biomagnification of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in temperate urban lacustrine ecosystems is poorly understood. We investigated the occurrence and trophic transfer of and probabilistic health risk from 15 PFAAs in the food web of Luoma Lake, a temperate urban lake in East China. The target PFAAs were widely distributed in the water (∑PFAA: 77.09 ± 9.07 ng/L), suspended particulate matter (SPM) (∑PFAA: 284.07 ± 118.05 ng/g dw), and sediment samples (∑PFAA: 67.77 ± 17.96 ng/g dw) and occurred in all biotic samples (∑PFAA: 443.27 ± 124.89 ng/g dw for aquatic plants; 294.99 ± 90.82 for aquatic animals). PFBA was predominant in water and SPM, with 40.11% and 21.35% of the total PFAAs, respectively, while PFOS was the most abundant in sediments (14.11% of the total PFAAs) and organisms (14.33% of the total PFAAs). Sediment exposure may be the major route of biological uptake of PFAAs. The PFAA accumulation capacity was the highest in submerged plants, followed by emergent plants > bivalves > crustaceans > fish > floating plants. Long-chain PFAAs were biomagnified, and short-chain PFAAs were biodiluted across the entire lacustrine food web. PFOS exhibited the greatest bioaccumulation and biomagnification potential among the target PFAAs. However, biomagnification of short-chain PFAAs was also observed within the low trophic-level part of the food web. Human health risk assessment indicated that perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) posed health risks to all age groups, while the other PFAAs were unlikely to cause immediate harm to consumers in the region. This study fills a gap in the knowledge of the transfer of PFAAs in the food webs of temperate urban lakes. [Display omitted] • We studied the biotransfer of PFAAs in the food web of a temperate urban lake. • Sediment exposure was the major source of ingested PFAAs for organisms. • Long-chain PFAAs were biomagnified; short-chain PFAAs were diluted in the food web. • PFOS exhibited the greatest bioaccumulation and biomagnification potential. • PFOS and PFOA in aquatic products posed health risks to 2–6-year-old children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The sources and pathways of human exposure to perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are not well characterized, particularly in China where many perfluorinated substances are now manufactured. Here, isomer-specific PFAA analysis was used for the first time to evaluate exposure sources for Chinese people, by applying the method to 129 serum samples collected in two typical cities (Shijiazhuang and Handan) in North China. Among all samples, total perfluorooctanesulfonate (∑PFOS, mean 33.3ng/ml) was the predominant PFAA followed by perfluorohexanesulfonate (2.95ng/ml), total perfluorooctanoate (∑PFOA, 2.38ng/ml), and perfluorononanoate (0.51ng/ml). The level of ∑PFOS was higher than in people from North America in recent years. The mean concentrations of ΣPFAAs in the participants living in urban Shijiazhuang (59.0ng/ml) and urban Handan (35.6ng/ml) were significantly higher (p<0.001 and p=0.041, respectively) than those living in the rural district of Shijiazhuang (24.3ng/ml). The young female sub-population had the lowest ΣPFAA concentrations compared with older females and all males. On average, the proportion of linear PFOS (n-PFOS) was only 48.1% of ∑PFOS, which is much lower than what was present in technical PFOS from the major historical manufacturer (ca. 70% linear), and which is also lower than data reported from any other countries. Moreover, the proportion of n-PFOS decreased significantly with increasing ∑PFOS concentration in the serum samples (r=−0.694, p<0.001). Taken together, the data lend weight to previous suggestions that i) high branched PFOS content in serum is a biomarker of exposure to PFOS-precursors, and ii) that people with the highest ∑PFOS concentrations are exposed disproportionately to high concentrations of PFOS-precursors. On average, linear PFOA (n-PFOA) contributed 96.1% of ∑PFOA, significantly higher than in technical PFOA (ca. 75–80% linear), but lower than in Americans, suggesting higher exposure to electrochemically fluorinated PFOA than in other countries, including the United States. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To study the contamination levels of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in Chinese eggs and the effects of persistent organic pollutant (POP) amendments to the Stockholm Convention blacklist, 3200 eggs from 10 major producing areas were collected from June 2013 to May 2017. Seventeen PFAAs in eggs were analysed. Perfluorooctane sulphonic acid (PFOS), perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were the main PFAAs in eggs. Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and short-chain PFAAs levels in eggs decreased after the amendment was implemented in China (p < .05), but no significant difference was observed in PFOS. The average ΣPFAAs of eggs from 10 major producing areas was 0.23 ng/g (

Ten perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) were measured in seafood collected from Bohai Bay, China in 2010. The summed concentrations of the PFAAs were in the ranges of not detected to 194 ng/g dry weight and 4.0 to 304 ng/g dry weight for invertebrates and fish, respectively. The levels of perflurooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in the seafood were lower than those from North America, the Mediterranean Sea, and South Korea. Living habitat, trophic level, and feeding habits had important impacts on the bioaccumulation and distribution of PFAAs in the seafood. The species at higher trophic levels had the potential to accumulate more PFAAs than benthic invertebrates. Tidal-flat organisms tended to accumulate more PFOA than PFOS, whereas the opposite was seen for shallow-water species. For all the species, PFOS and PFOA were partitioned preferentially in the liver or viscera. Risk assessment indicated that the current level of PFAAs in the seafood of Bohai Bay does not represent an immediate source of harm to public health. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012; 31: 1972-1979. © 2012 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) have been ubiquitously detected in water bodies and are a cause of great public concern due to their adverse effects. This study investigated the long-term temporal-spatial trends of PFAAs in the water bodies of the entire Taihu Lake, and predicted PFAA concentrations for 2024. A field investigation conducted in 2021 and previous data allowed to derive trends over a broad temporal-spatial scale, which is often not feasible in short-term studies. In the 2009–2021 period, the most quantifiable PFAAs increased, among which perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorohexanoic acid were predominant. As of 2021, the mean total concentration of ten PFAAs (∑ 10 PFAA) showed a distinct spatial decreasing trend, moving from north to south within the lake, and similar spatial distribution patterns were also noted in other years. The main PFAA input and most serious contamination were concentrated in the northern region, due to the riverine inputs and clustering of PFAA-related industries. The ∑ 10 PFAA concentration in the wet season was greater and presented a more uniform distribution pattern than that in the dry season, possibly due to the combined effects of the degradation of PFAA precursors, water inflow, rainfall, shipping activities, and a shallow water column. From 2009 to 2021 the ∑ 10 PFAA concentration of the entire lake showed an increasing trend, but the rate of increase was significantly reduced. In addition, a grey model predicted that the mean ∑ 10 PFAA concentration in the entire Taihu Lake will reach 431 ng/L in 2024, and the northern region will be affected by a more serious PFAA pollution in the future because it exhibited a high mean ∑ 10 PFAA concentration of 426 ng/L in 2021. These findings provide novel insights into the temporal-spatial distribution of PFAAs in Taihu Lake, and could help regulators to formulate policy decisions in response to PFAA pollution. [Display omitted] • The temporal-spatial variations of PFAAs in Taihu Lake were investigated. • High PFAA concentrations were founded in northern region of Taihu Lake. • PFAA level in wet season was greater, presenting uniform distribution pattern. • Though PFAAs were increasing in the lake the rate is significantly decreasing. • PFAA concentration in 2024 was predicted to reach 431 ng/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of the distribution and dietetic-related health risks of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in industrial-agricultural interaction regions (IAIRs) is of significant importance, due to the transfer of many PFAA-related factories to developing countries with intensive agricultural activities. In the present study, based on the local diet, edible parts of rice, vegetables, fish, and their corresponding soils and irrigation/aquaculture water were investigated in a typical Chinese city (Changshu). The concentrations of total perfluoroalkyl acids (ΣPFAAs) in the edible parts of rice /vegetables and fish tissues ranged from 26.69 to 37.09 ng/g dw, 12.93 to 40.77 ng/g dw, and 13.27 to 29.82 ng/g ww, with perfluorohexanoic acid (PFPeA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) as the most dominant compounds. The PFAA concentrations in the corresponding rice soils, vegetable soils, irrigation water, and aquaculture water ranged from 11.99 to 26.33 ng/g dw, 14.06 to 36.19 ng/g dw, 141.36 to 297.00 ng/L, and 179.23 to 235.82 ng/L, respectively. Biota-sediment accumulation factor (BSAF) values for the plant-soil system were far greater than those for bioaccumulation factor (BAF) values for the plant-irrigation water system. PFAAs were more inclined to accumulate in the gills of fish as determined by their highest BAF values. Correlation analysis showed that PFAAs in root vegetables had a stronger correlation with those in soil compared with those in irrigation water. Source analysis showed that emissions from fluoride industries, textiles, and food industries may be the dominant sources of PFAAs in agricultural environments. The estimated dietary intake (EDI) for the selected diet was lower than that for rice/vegetables but was higher than that found in fish. Toddlers (2-5 years) had the highest exposure risk, and rural residents were more exposed to PFAAs than urban residents under the selected diet., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The occurrence, spatial distribution, potential sources, and risk assessment of 14 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), including 11 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and 3 perfluoroalkyl sulfonates acids, were investigated in 21 drinking water sources from the lower Yangtze River in November 2019. The total PFAAs (∑PFAAs) concentrations ranged from 39.3 to 220.3 ng/L, and perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctanesulfonate were predominant with average concentrations of 19.4 and 15.4 ng/L, respectively. The higher ∑PFAAs concentrations in the southern shore and downstream could be attributed to industrial development and surface runoff/tide currents, respectively. Principal component analysis-multiple linear regression revealed that the primary sources of PFAAs were fluororesin coatings/metal plating, surface runoff/textile, effluent discharge/food packaging, and leather/fabrics. Human intake risks of PFAAs were assessed by target hazard quotient (THQ), which showed that human health risks of PFAAs decreased with increasing age, excluding 13-17 years age group. Moreover, the total exposure risks of PFOA/PFOS in all sampling sites to people aged over 18 years calculated based on contribution from drinking water were noted to be at safe level. The results obtained were helpful for improving our understanding of human health risks of PFAAs, and expanding our knowledge on PFAAs in drinking water., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Exposure to perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) is known to be associated with metabolic disorders. However, whether PFAAs isomers are associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) still remains unknown. To explore the associations between serum PFAAs isomers and MetS. We recruited 1,501 adults from a cross-sectional study, the "Isomers of C8 Health Project in China" to investigate the associations between PFAAs isomers and MetS. A total of 20 PFAAs including the isomers of PFOS and PFOA were detected. Logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline models were used to evaluate the relationship of serum PFAAs isomers exposure with MetS and its components as well after adjusting for covariates. The MetS prevalence in our study was 43.0%. The serum levels of both PFOS and PFOA isomers were higher in participants with MetS than that with non-MetS (p < 0.05). We found positive associations for per natural log-transformed ng/mL of branched perfluorooctane sulfonate (br-PFOS) (odds ratio (OR) = 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.38)) linear perfluoronanoic acid (n-PFOA) (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.58) and perfluoro-6-methylpheptanoic acid (6 m-PFOA) (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.57) with higher odds of MetS after covariates adjustment, while null association was observed for linear isomers of PFOS (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.94, 1.25). We found a nonlinear dose-response relationship with a "threshold" effect in serum br-PFOS isomers with MetS, in which the odds of MetS increased quickly with increasing serum br-PFOS isomers under low exposure (p for nonlinearity = 0.030). We report new evidence of associations between PFAAs isomers and MetS and the nonlinearity of dose-response relationship with br-PFOS isomers. Our findings indicate that more attention is needed to pay on the nonlinearity of dose-response relationship when investigate the association of PFAAs isomers with human health. • We provided evidence on isomeric-specific associations between serum PFAAs and metabolic syndrome in adults. • Branched PFOS isomers were associated with metabolic syndrome with an apparent "threshold" effect. • Both serum PFOS and PFOA were associated with elevated fasting blood glucose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are ubiquitous in various environments. This has caused great public concern, particularly in the shallow freshwater lake region, where the lake, rivers, and estuaries form a highly interconnected continuum. However, little is known about the environmental behaviors of PFAAs in the continuum. For the first time, a high-resolution monitoring framework covering the river-estuary-lake continuum of Luoma Lake was built, and the concentrations, sources, and environmental fates of PFAAs were identified and analyzed. The results revealed that the total concentration of PFAAs was at a moderate level in the water and at a high level in the sediment compared to global levels respectively. Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) was the most abundant PFAA in the continuum. In particular, the ∑PFAA concentration in the particle phase was much higher than that in the sediment phase. Distinct spatial heterogeneities were observed in the behaviors of distribution and the multiphase fate of PFAAs in the continuum, mainly driven by the turbulent mixing during transport, dilution of lake water, and spatial differences of hydrodynamic features and sedimentary properties among the sub-regions. Interestingly, the pH of the sediment and water had significant effects on the water-sediment portioning of PFAAs in contrasting ways. Furthermore, based on the composition of the sediments, four possible migration paths for PFAAs were deduced and the main sources of PFAAs were identified as sewage, domestic, and industrial effluents using the positive matrix factorization model. During the human health assessment, no risk was found under the median exposure scenario; however, under the high exposure scenario, PFAAs posed uncertain risks to human health, which cannot be ignored. This study provides basic information for simulating the fate and transport of PFAAs in the continuum and is significant for developing cost-effective control and remediation strategies in the near future. Image 1 • PFAAs were measured in multiple environmental media of Luoma Lake for the first time. • PFAAs showed significant spatial heterogeneity, and four possible migration paths were deduced. • Carbon chain length and pH were the key factors influencing the partitioning behaviors in this region. • Sewage, domestic, and industrial effluents were major sources of PFAAs. • PFAAs posed a greater risk to females and children aged 3 y to 6 y. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• High levels of PFAAs were observed in river/tap water, soil and leaves near to a FMP. • PFOA concentrations in most tap water samples exceeded the US EPA Health Advisory. • Isomer profiles demonstrated that emitted PFOA was manufactured by electrochemical fluorination. • Health risks would be underestimated if branched isomers are not analyzed. Despite China being the largest global manufacturer of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), few studies have been carried out on the environmental occurrence and associated human health risks of PFAAs emitted from manufacturing sites in China. Here, river water, tap water, soil and leaf samples were collected around a major fluorochemical manufacturing park (FMP) in the southwest of China in 2019. High ΣPFAA concentrations (sum of 12 PFAAs) of 3817 ng/L, 3254 ng/L, 322−476 ng/g dw and 23401–33749 ng/g dw were measured near the FMP in river water, tap water, soil and leaves, respectively, indicating that the FMP is a point source of PFAAs. PFOA was the predominant PFAA in all samples (58.5–98.6 %) indicating the production or use of PFOA at the FMP. PFOA concentrations in most tap water samples (> 300 ng/L in 31 of 38 samples) exceeded the U.S. EPA health advisory. Proportions of branched PFOA isomers in all samples were in 5.9–47.4 %, suggesting the production or use of PFOA manufactured by electrochemical fluorination at the FMP. It is recommended to focus more attention on branched PFOA isomers in the future because otherwise health risks may be underestimated due to their relatively high proportions in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous epidemiological and experimental studies have shown that legacy perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are immunotoxic. However, whether the immunosuppressive effects in PFAA alternatives which recently have been widely detected in the environment are unknown. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated the relationship of serum legacy PFAAs and PFAA alternatives with the antibody of hepatitis B virus in adults. We recruited 605 participants from a cross-sectional study, the Isomer of C8 Health Project in China. We measured two representative legacy PFAAs (perfluorooctane sulfonate, PFOS and perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOA), and three PFAA alternatives (two chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonic acids, Cl-PFESAs and perfluorobutanoic acid, PFBA) in serum using ultra-performance liquid chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). We applied linear and logistic regression models to analyze associations between serum PFAAs and hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) with multivariable adjustments. We found negative associations between serum PFAAs concentrations and HBsAb. Lower serum HBsAb levels (log mIU/mL) were observed for each log-unit increase in linear PFOS (β = −0.31, 95% confidential interval: 0.84, −0.18), 6:2 PFESA (β = −0.81, 95% CI: 1.20, −0.42), 8:2 PFESA (β = −0.29, 95% CI: 0.43, −0.14) and PFBA (β = −0.18, 95% CI: 0.28, −0.08). The association between PFAAs and HBsAb seronegative seemed to be higher for 6:2 PFESA (odds ratio = 3.32, 95% CI: 2.16, 5.10) than its predecessors, linear PFOS (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.37, 2.81) and branched PFOS isomers (OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.56). We report new evidence that exposure to PFAA alternatives are associated with lower HBsAb in adults. This association seems to be stronger in 6:2 PFESA than PFOS. Our results suggest that more studies are needed to clarify the potential toxicity of PFAA alternatives in human which will facilitate better chemical regulations for PFAAs. Image 1 • Legacy perfluoroalkyl acids and PFAA alternatives were widely detected in serum. • Higher serum PFAAs were associated with lower hepatitis B virus antibody levels. • The observed association was stronger for a chlorinated PFAA alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PFAA can be found in all the vegetables from the largest vegetable production base. • PFBA was the predominant PFAA in vegetables from the largest vegetable production base. • Cabbage had higher bioaccumulation of PFBA (log BAF 1.24) than other vegetables. • Daily exposure to PFOA was highly likely to exceed health guideline value. • Consumption of cabbage contributed most to EDIs of PFBA, PFOA and PFOS. This study investigated perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in edible parts of vegetables, soils, and irrigation water in greenhouse and open filed, for the first time, in Shouguang city, the largest vegetable production base in China, which is located nearby a fluorochemical industrial park (FIP). The bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) were calculated, and the human exposures of PFAAs via consumption of the vegetables for different age groups assuming the maximum levels detected in each vegetable and average consumption rates were also estimated. The ΣPFAA levels ranged from 1.67 to 33.5 ng/g dry weight (dw) in the edible parts of all the vegetables, with perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) being the dominant compound with an average contribution of 49% to the ΣPFAA level. The leafy vegetables showed higher ΣPFAA levels (average 8.76 ng/g dw) than the fruit and root vegetables. For all the vegetables, the log 10 BAF values of perfluorinated carboxylic acids showed a decreasing trend with increasing chain length, with PFBA having the highest log 10 BAF values (average 0.98). Cabbage had higher bioaccumulation of PFBA (log 10 BAF 1.24) than other vegetables. For the greenhouse soils and vegetables, the average contribution of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) to ΣPFAA was lower than that in the open field samples, while the contributions of PFBA, PFHxA, PFPeA to ΣPFAA were higher. Irrigation water may be an important source of PFAAs in greenhouse, while for open field vegetables and soils, atmospheric deposition may be an additional contamination pathway. The estimated maximum exposure to PFOA through vegetable consumption for urban preschool children (aged 2–5 years) was 63% of the reference dose set by the European Food Safety Authority. Suggestions are also provided for mitigating the health risks of human exposure to PFAAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) have emerged as global concerning contaminants because of their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicological effects. The transport and fate of PFAAs on dimension of plain river networks (PRNs) are difficult to model due to the unique regional characteristics (i.e., undirectional flows, low slope, complicated structure and connectivity) and the lack of data on PFAAs concentrations and compositions. A typical PRN (Taihu Basin, China) was selected to elucidate the spatial patterns of PFAAs in multi-matrices, including colloidal phase, soluble phase, suspended particles, and sediment. PFAAs were ubiquitously detected in plain rivers with total concentrations of 18.48-1220 ng/L in colloids, 139.07-721.37 ng/L in soluble phase, 97.69-2247 ng/g dw in suspended particles, and <72.04-178.12 ng/g dw in sediment. PFAAs were more likely to transport via dissolved phase and accumulate into sediment. Colloids carried 45.46-62.59% of ∑PFAAs in overlying water, while suspended particles contained <36.63% of ∑PFAAs, suggesting the important role of colloids in preloading PFAAs. Moreover, PFAAs variability was correlated with indicators of the structure and connectivity of river network by gray relational analysis. The mean gray relational degrees can be sorted as edge-node ratio (0.7609) > network connectivity (0.7191) > river density (0.7012) > water surface ratio (0.6887) > river development coefficient (0.6504) > functional connectivity (0.4780). These results suggested that the effects of catchment characteristics should be taken into account in understanding PFAAs fate in the PRNs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The airborne occurrence, isomer profiles, and phase distribution of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), including perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) and sulfonates (PFSAs), have received little scientific attention to date. Here we collected gaseous and particulate phase (PM 2.5 ) samples in China, between June and November 2013, using alkalized annular denuders and downstream filters toavoid sampling artefacts associated with traditional air sampling. We analysed the concentrations of 18 linear PFAAs and the branched isomers of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Concentrations of total PFAAs were dominated by PFCAs, with a range of 6.6-610 pg/m 3 in the gaseous phase and 2.3-290 pg/m 3 in the particulate phase. Concentrations of total PFCAs were higher in summer than winter in both phases. Branched PFOA isomers accounted for 10-22% of total PFOA in the gaseous phase and 13-24% in the particulate phase, which is close to, but slightly lower than, their abundance in the commercial PFOA mixtures manufactured using the electrochemical fluorination (ECF) process. In contract, branched PFOS isomers accounted for 26-63% of total PFOS in the gaseous phase and 39-77% in the particulate phase, which is much higher than their abundance in commercial PFOS mixtures manufactured by ECF. Most PFCAs had mean particle-associated fractions (Φ) higher than 0.5. PFHxS had a much higher mean Φ (0.65) than linear PFOS (0.31). We hypothesise that PFAAs observed in Beijing air may originate from the local water bodies through processes such as aerosol generation, although transformation of precursors also contribute., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Contamination of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) is ubiquitously detected in various environments. However, their potential effects on microbial communities remain largely unknown. In this study, surface seawater of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) is sampled to measure PFAA concentrations and profile the structure of free-living microbial community. Total PFAAs concentrations range from 131 to 1563 pg L -1 in surface seawater. PFOS (16-470 pg L -1 ), PFOA (27-272 pg L -1 ), PFHpA (18-201 pg L -1 ) and PFBA (25-152 pg L -1 ) are the major homologues, indicating continued industrial application or release of PFOS and a gradual shift towards using shorter-chain PFAAs. Concentrations of PFAAs from this recent cruise are much lower than previous reports, which may be due to the effective management of PFAA usage around PRD region. In addition, the microbial community in PRD surface seawater is predominantly colonized by the Proteobacteria phylum (27.2 to 61.5%) and the Synechococcus genus (5.6 to 38.6%). The structure of the microbial communities varies among stations, mainly resulting from different abundances of Synechococcus, Prochlorococcus and Nitrosopumilus. Geochemical parameters (e.g., nutrients and salinity) and phytoplankton are significantly associated with the microbial community dynamics in surface seawater. In the interactive network of microbiota, a subset of bacteria (i.e., Fluviicola, Nitrosopumilus, Limnohabitans, Sediminibacterium, C39 and Polynucleobacter) shows significantly positive correlations with PFAAs (R > 0.6; P < 0.001). Overall, this study gives a timely monitoring of PFAA pollution around PRD area. Shift in environmental microbiota by geochemical factors and phytoplankton is also observed, which may affect biogeochemical cycling., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The presence of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in animal foods is worldwide, and their fate and spatial distribution in Xinjiang are not well understood. In this study, beef muscle and liver collected from five major cities in southern Xinjiang were analyzed (n = 70) for 13 PFAAs using an ion-pairing method combined with HPLC-MS/MS. Overall, PFAA contamination was widespread, exceeding 50% of samples with concentrations ranged from below the limits of detection to 6.118 ng/g. Perfluorooctane sulfonate, perfluorooctanoic acid, and perfluoroundecanoic acid were the predominant PFAAs of ten detected compounds, with maximum concentrations in Korla liver samples of 2.543, 0.856, and 1.386 ng/g, respectively. When comparing the five cities, the highest levels and detection frequencies were observed in samples from Korla (muscle, 0.013 ng/g; liver, 3.336 ng/g), followed by Yanqi, Akesu, Kashgar, and Hotan. The different pollution patterns and distribution profiles of PFAAs among cities were significantly related to local economy and geographical conditions. In addition, the dietary intake assessments for PFAAs showed that samples originating from Korla had the greatest impact on human health, but the total hazard ratio was 0.814 × 10 -3 , which is far less than 1, indicating that consumption of beef muscle and liver poses no immediate harm to local residents.

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) have been suspected to act as endocrine disruptors and adversely affect human reproductive health. We aimed to investigate the association between PFAAs in blood and semen, explore a potential link between PFAAs exposure and semen quality in the population of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region in China, one of the "world factories". The monitoring results demonstrated that the population (103 male participants) from the PRD region in this study had higher PFAAs levels in blood and semen than some other areas in China. PFOS was found at the highest mean concentrations of 118.16 ng/mL in blood and 5.31 ng/mL in semen among the nine PFAAs. Significant associations were found between concentrations of several analytes in blood and semen, including Σ 9 PFAAs (r = 0.475, P < .01), PFOA (r = 0.215, P = .029), PFHS (r = 0.458, P < .01) and PFOS (r = 0.981, P < .01). BMI was the most important factor to PFAAs, but there was no significant difference in PFAAs concentrations in blood and semen collected from participants with different smoking and drinking habits, education background and occupations. Negative correlations were significantly observed between sperm motility and PFBA, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFBS, PFOA, PFHS, PFOS and Σ 9 PFAAs in semen. Therefore, exposure to PFAAs may result in a decline in semen mobility in participants from the PRD region., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)