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This report summarises the findings of an investigation into the occurrence of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the whole blood of people living in the municipality of Ronneby. A total of 20 whole blood samples from individuals who have known to been expose to PFASs via consumption of PFAS contaminated drinking water were analysed in this study. Using both liquid and supercritical chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometers a total of 63 PFASs were analysed. These results were then compared with extractable organofluorine (EOF) levels measured with combustion ion chromatography. The data from both target PFAS analysis and EOF was used to perform fluorine mass balance analysis. In general, the PFAS profile was dominated by long-chain perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs with more than 6 fluorinated carbons), on average accounting for 97% of the total PFAS budget. The second most prominent PFAS class were long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs with more than 7 fluorinated carbons), accounting for an additional 2.6% of the PFAS exposure. The average sum PFAS concentrations was 346 ng/g (from 74.1 ng/g to 715 ng/g). The average EOF concentration was 186 ng F/g and 79% of the EOF was explained by the target analytes. Denna rapport redovisar resultaten från en studie angående förekomsten av poly- och perfluoroalkylsubstanser (PFAS) i helblodsprover hos människor som bor i Ronneby kommun. Totalt har 20 helblodsprover analyserats i studien. Totalt analyserades 63 PFAS-ämnen genom att använda både vätske- och superkritisk vätskekromatografi kopplad till masspektrometrisk detektion. Dessa resultat jämfördes sedan med de detekterade halterna av extraherbart organisk fluor (EOF) i en massbalans analys av fluor. PFAS profilen i blodproverna dominerades generellt av långkedjiga perfluoralkyl-sulfonsyror (PFSA med fler än sex fluorerade kol), vilket i genomsnitt stod för 97% av den totala PFAS-halten. Den näst mest framträdande PFAS klassen var långkedjiga perfluoroalkyl-karboxylsyror (PFCA med fler än sju fluorerade kol) som utgjorde ytterligare 2.6% av PFAS exponeringen. Den genomsnittliga summan av PFAS koncentrationerna var 346 ng/g (74.1 – 715 ng/g). Den genomsnittliga summan av EOF halten var 186 ng F/g, vilket innebar att 79% av EOF var identifierade ämnen.

This study performed by Örebro University on behalf of the Swedish Environmental Agency aims at assessing the occurrence and levels of the newly identified side-chain fluorinated polymers from an environmental perspective. The aims of present study are 1) to develop instrumental and extraction methods to measure the active ingredient of two Scotchgard products (two side-chain fluorinated polymers, hereafter referred to as Pre-2002 and Post-2002) in sludge and leachate samples from Swedish wastewater treatment plants and landfills; 2) to evaluate if Pre-2002 and Post-2002 may be responsible for the unidentified organofluorine in the sludge samples from our previous screening study reporting extractable organofluorine (EOF); and 3) to conduct a mass balance analysis on EOF and sum of 93 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) including Pre-2002 and Post-2002 in the sludge and landfill leachate samples to assess the levels of unidentified EOF that potentially are other polymeric or non-polymeric PFAS. Levels of Pre-2002 and Post-2002 and EOF are reported for sludge samples from four wastewater treatment plants (Bergkvara in Torsås, Gässlösa in Borås, Henriksdal in Stockholm, and Öhn in Umeå) collected in 2015, and leachate samples from three different landfills (Atleverket in Örebro, Hässleholm Kretsloppscenter in Hässleholm, and Flishult in Vetlanda). Sludge samples from Gässlösa wastewater treatment plant collected between 2004 and 2016 (excluding 2005 and 2006) were analyzed to assess any temporal trends of the two side-chain fluorinated polymers (Pre-2002 and Post-2002). The present investigation reported levels of both Pre-2002 and Post-2002 in all sludge samples (158-2618 ng/g d.w.). Levels of Pre-2002 were always higher than those of Post-2002 in the same samples. A declining trend was observed for Pre-2002 in sludge samples from Gässlösa but no clear trend was noted for Post-2002. The concentrations of the Pre-2002 and Post-2002 in sludge were higher than the sum of 83 PFAS analyzed in the previous screening study. No relationship between number of people that the wastewater treatment plants served and the concentrations of EOF and Pre-2002 and Post-2002 could be observed. The concentrations of both EOF and Pre-2002 and Post-2002 seem to be more related to the types of industry located in that area. Only three of the five leachate samples showed detectable levels of Pre-2002. Post-2002 was not detected in any of the landfill leachates. The low levels could be due to that both compounds are strongly sorbed to particles, which indicates the fate and distribution of these compounds. For both the sludge and leachate samples, the quantified levels of Pre-2002 and Post-2002 only contributed to a minor part of the EOF. A high proportion of unknown EOF still remains and may be related to other polymeric or non-polar PFAS., Denna rapport innefattar en pilotstudie där två nyligen upptäckta polymerer med fluorerade sidokedjor studeras ur ett miljöperspektiv genom att undersöka deras förekomst och nivåer i svenska slam- och lakvattenprover. Syftet med denna studie var 1) att utveckla extraktions- och instrumentella metoder för analys av den aktiva ingrediensen i två Scotchgardprodukter (vilka benämns i denna rapport som Pre-2002 and Post-2002) i slam- och lakvatten från svenska reningsverk och deponier; 2) att utvärdera om Pre-2002 och Post-2002 kan förklara en del av halten oidentifierat organiskt fluor (OF) i slamprover som visats i vår tidigare screeningstudie; och 3) att genomföra en massbalansanalys av extraherbart OF (EOF) och Σ93PFAS inklusive Pre-2002 och Post-2002 i slam- och lakvattenprover för att bedöma delen av okänt EOF som potentiellt kan vara andra PFAS ämnen. I denna studie rapporteras koncentrationer av Pre-2002 och Post-2002, samt EOF för slamprover från fyra reningsverk (Bergkvara i Torås, Gässlösa i Borås, Henriksdal i Stockholm och Öhn i Umeå) insamlade under 2015, samt lakvattenprover från tre olika avfallsdeponier (Atleverket i Örebro, Hässleholm Kretsloppscenter i Hässleholm och Flishult i Vetlanda). En tidstrend av halterna Pre-2002 and Post-2002 mellan 2004 och 2016 (2005 och 2006 saknades) utfördes i slamprover från Gässlösa reningsverk. Detekterade koncentrationer av både Pre-2002 och Post-2002 hittades i alla slamprover (158-2618 ng/g d.w.). En minskning i koncentration av Pre-2002 kunde ses från 2004 till 2016 i slamprover från Gässlösa reningsverk, medan ingen trend för Post-2002 observerades. Halten av Pre-2002 and Post-2002 var högre än summan av de 83 PFAS-ämnen som analyserats i den tidigare screeningstudien. Inget tydligt samband kunde ses mellan antalet personer anslutna till reningsverket och halterna av oidentifierat EOF samt de detekterade polymererna med fluorerade sidokedjor. Nivåerna av EOF, Pre-2002, och Post-2002 visade sig vara relaterat främst till typ av industriell verksamhet i anslutning till reningsverket. Endast tre av fem lakvattenprover visade detekterbara koncentrationer av Pre-2002. Post-2002 detekterades inte alls i lakvatten. De låga nivåerna i lakvattenproverna kan förklaras av att Pre-2002 och Post-2002 starkt adsorberar till partiklar, vilket visats i andra studier. Detta ger ytterligare en inblick i hur dessa ämnen transporteras i miljön. Andelen av Pre-2002 och Post-2002 i både slam och lakvattenproverna är låg i förhållande till halten EOF, som fortfarande utgörs av en stor andel oidentifierat EOF. Den stora mängden okänt EOF kan därför ha sitt ursprung i andra icke- eller polymeriska PFAS-ämnen.

This study performed by Örebro University on behalf of the Swedish Environmental Agency aims at assessing the occurrence and levels of the newly identified side-chain fluorinated polymers from an environmental perspective. The aims of present study are 1) to develop instrumental and extraction methods to measure the active ingredient of two Scotchgard products (two side-chain fluorinated polymers, hereafter referred to as Pre-2002 and Post-2002) in sludge and leachate samples from Swedish wastewater treatment plants and landfills; 2) to evaluate if Pre-2002 and Post-2002 may be responsible for the unidentified organofluorine in the sludge samples from our previous screening study reporting extractable organofluorine (EOF); and 3) to conduct a mass balance analysis on EOF and sum of 93 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) including Pre-2002 and Post-2002 in the sludge and landfill leachate samples to assess the levels of unidentified EOF that potentially are other polymeric or non-polymeric PFAS. Levels of Pre-2002 and Post-2002 and EOF are reported for sludge samples from four wastewater treatment plants (Bergkvara in Torsås, Gässlösa in Borås, Henriksdal in Stockholm, and Öhn in Umeå) collected in 2015, and leachate samples from three different landfills (Atleverket in Örebro, Hässleholm Kretsloppscenter in Hässleholm, and Flishult in Vetlanda). Sludge samples from Gässlösa wastewater treatment plant collected between 2004 and 2016 (excluding 2005 and 2006) were analyzed to assess any temporal trends of the two side-chain fluorinated polymers (Pre-2002 and Post-2002). The present investigation reported levels of both Pre-2002 and Post-2002 in all sludge samples (158-2618 ng/g d.w.). Levels of Pre-2002 were always higher than those of Post-2002 in the same samples. A declining trend was observed for Pre-2002 in sludge samples from Gässlösa but no clear trend was noted for Post-2002. The concentrations of the Pre-2002 and Post-2002 in sludge were higher than the sum of 83 PFAS analyzed in the previous screening study. No relationship between number of people that the wastewater treatment plants served and the concentrations of EOF and Pre-2002 and Post-2002 could be observed. The concentrations of both EOF and Pre-2002 and Post-2002 seem to be more related to the types of industry located in that area. Only three of the five leachate samples showed detectable levels of Pre-2002. Post-2002 was not detected in any of the landfill leachates. The low levels could be due to that both compounds are strongly sorbed to particles, which indicates the fate and distribution of these compounds. For both the sludge and leachate samples, the quantified levels of Pre-2002 and Post-2002 only contributed to a minor part of the EOF. A high proportion of unknown EOF still remains and may be related to other polymeric or non-polar PFAS. Denna rapport innefattar en pilotstudie där två nyligen upptäckta polymerer med fluorerade sidokedjor studeras ur ett miljöperspektiv genom att undersöka deras förekomst och nivåer i svenska slam- och lakvattenprover. Syftet med denna studie var 1) att utveckla extraktions- och instrumentella metoder för analys av den aktiva ingrediensen i två Scotchgardprodukter (vilka benämns i denna rapport som Pre-2002 and Post-2002) i slam- och lakvatten från svenska reningsverk och deponier; 2) att utvärdera om Pre-2002 och Post-2002 kan förklara en del av halten oidentifierat organiskt fluor (OF) i slamprover som visats i vår tidigare screeningstudie; och 3) att genomföra en massbalansanalys av extraherbart OF (EOF) och Σ93PFAS inklusive Pre-2002 och Post-2002 i slam- och lakvattenprover för att bedöma delen av okänt EOF som potentiellt kan vara andra PFAS ämnen. I denna studie rapporteras koncentrationer av Pre-2002 och Post-2002, samt EOF för slamprover från fyra reningsverk (Bergkvara i Torås, Gässlösa i Borås, Henriksdal i Stockholm och Öhn i Umeå) insamlade under 2015, samt lakvattenprover från tre olika avfallsdeponier (Atleverket i Örebro, Hässleholm Kretsloppscenter i Hässleholm och Flishult i Vetlanda). En tidstrend av halterna Pre-2002 and Post-2002 mellan 2004 och 2016 (2005 och 2006 saknades) utfördes i slamprover från Gässlösa reningsverk. Detekterade koncentrationer av både Pre-2002 och Post-2002 hittades i alla slamprover (158-2618 ng/g d.w.). En minskning i koncentration av Pre-2002 kunde ses från 2004 till 2016 i slamprover från Gässlösa reningsverk, medan ingen trend för Post-2002 observerades. Halten av Pre-2002 and Post-2002 var högre än summan av de 83 PFAS-ämnen som analyserats i den tidigare screeningstudien. Inget tydligt samband kunde ses mellan antalet personer anslutna till reningsverket och halterna av oidentifierat EOF samt de detekterade polymererna med fluorerade sidokedjor. Nivåerna av EOF, Pre-2002, och Post-2002 visade sig vara relaterat främst till typ av industriell verksamhet i anslutning till reningsverket. Endast tre av fem lakvattenprover visade detekterbara koncentrationer av Pre-2002. Post-2002 detekterades inte alls i lakvatten. De låga nivåerna i lakvattenproverna kan förklaras av att Pre-2002 och Post-2002 starkt adsorberar till partiklar, vilket visats i andra studier. Detta ger ytterligare en inblick i hur dessa ämnen transporteras i miljön. Andelen av Pre-2002 och Post-2002 i både slam och lakvattenproverna är låg i förhållande till halten EOF, som fortfarande utgörs av en stor andel oidentifierat EOF. Den stora mängden okänt EOF kan därför ha sitt ursprung i andra icke- eller polymeriska PFAS-ämnen.

Major point sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) cause ubiquitous spread of PFASs in the environment. In this study, surface water and aquatic invertebrates at three Swedish sites impacted by PFAS point sources were characterized, using homologue, isomer and extractable organofluorine (EOF) profiling as well as estimation of bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) and mass discharge. Two sites were impacted by fire training (sites A and R) and the third by industrial runoff (site K). Mean Σ25PFASs concentration in water was 1920 ng L−1 at site R (n = 3), which was more than 20- and 10-fold higher than those from sites A and K, respectively. PFOS was the most predominant PFAS in all waters samples, constituting 29–79% of Σ25PFAS concentrations. Several branched isomers were detected and they substantially contributed to concentrations in surface water (e.g. 49–78% of ΣPFOS) and aquatic invertebrates (e.g. 15–28% of ΣPFOS). BAFs in the aquatic invertebrates indicated higher bioaccumulation for long chain PFASs and lower bioaccumulation for branched PFOS isomers compared to linear PFOS. EOF mass balance showed that Σ25target PFASs in water could explain up to 55% of EOF at site R. However, larger proportions of EOF (>92%) remained unknown in water from sites A and K. Mass discharges were for the first time estimated for EOF and revealed that high amounts of EOF (e.g. 8.2 g F day−1 at site A) could be transported by water to recipient water bodies relative to Σ25PFASs (e.g. 0.15 g day−1 at site A). Overall, we showed that composition profiling, BAFs and EOF mass balance can improve the characterization of PFASs around point sources.

This report describes a screening study of in all ninety-nine conventional and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the Nordic environment. In addition, extractable organic fluorine (EOF) was analysed. The latter can provide the amount, but not identity, of organofluorine in the samples, which in turn can be used to assess the mass balance between known and unknown PFASs. The study was initiated by the Nordic Screening Group and funded by these and the Nordic Council of Ministers through the Chemicals Group. A total of 102 samples were analyzed in this study, including bird eggs, fish, marine mammals, terrestrial mammals, surface water, WWTP effluents and sludge, and air. Samples were collected by institutes from the participating countries and self-governing areas; Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden., The study was conducted on behalf of the Nordic Screening group (www.nor-dicscreening.org) which commissioned and funded the work with financial support gra-ciously provided by the Nordic Council of Ministers Chemicals Group, and the partici-pating agencies and institutes.

This screening project has focused on the occurrence of conventional and emerging PFASs in terrestrial and marine environments, including the Arctic. Conventional PFASs were found to be wide-spread in the environment and for the first time in Norway reported in wolf, a top predator from the terrestrial environment. Otters living in close proximity to human settlements and preying on the marine food chain, are heavily contaminated with PFASs. Areas where ski-testing activities are common are a potential “hotspot” where PFASs can enter the food chain. The difference in PFAS-profile between the samples indicates that the diversity in samples are necessary to reveal the complete picture of PFASs in the environment. I dette screeningprosjektet ble det fokusert på forekomsten av vanlige og nye PFAS-eri terrestrisk og marint miljø, inkludert arktisk.De vanlige PFAS-ene blefunneti alle typer prøver, og ble for første gang rapportert i norsk ulv, en toppredator i det terrestriske miljøet. Oter som lever tett på menneskelige aktiviteter og er en del av den marine næringskjeden,har de høyeste mengdene av vanlige PFAS-er i denne screeningen. Resultatene viser også at områder hvor det foregår skitestinger potensielle punktkilder. Forskjellen i PFAS-profil mellom prøvene viser at forskjellige typer prøver er viktig for å få et fullstendig bilde av PFAS-er i miljøet.