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Kuprijanov, I., Buhhalko, N., Eriksson, U., Sjöberg, V., Rotander, A., Kolesova, N., . . . Lehtonen, K. K. (2024). A case study on microlitter and chemical contaminants: Assessing biological effects in the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland (Baltic sea) using the mussel Mytilus trossulus as a bioindicator. Marine Environmental Research, 199, Article ID 106628.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>A case study on microlitter and chemical contaminants: Assessing biological effects in the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland (Baltic sea) using the mussel Mytilus trossulus as a bioindicator
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2024 (English)In: Marine Environmental Research, ISSN 0141-1136, E-ISSN 1879-0291, Vol. 199, article id 106628Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Chemical and microlitter (ML) pollution in three Estonian coastal areas (Baltic Sea) was investigated using mussels (Mytilus trossulus). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in mussel tissues were observed in moderate levels with high bioaccumulation factors for the more hydrophilic and low molecular weight PAH (LMW PAH), namely anthracene and fluorene. Tissue concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) and cadmium within mussel populations exceeded the Good Environmental Status thresholds by more than 200% and 60%, respectively. Multiple contamination at the Muuga Harbour site by tributyltin, high molecular weight PAH, including the highly toxic benzo[c]fluorene and PBDE, coincided with the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity and a lower condition index of the mussels. The metabolization and removal of bioaccumulated LMW PAH, reflected in the dominance of oxy-PAH such as anthracene-9,10-dione, is likely associated with the increased activity of glutathione S-transferase in caged mussels. Only a few microplastic particles were observed among the ML in mussel tissues, with coloured cellulose-based microfibers being the most prevalent. The average concentration of ML in mussels was significantly higher at the harbour area than at other sites. The integrated biomarker response index values allowed for the differentiation of pollution levels across studied locations representing high, intermediate, and low pollution levels within the studied area.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2024
Keywords
Anthropogenic microfibers, Biomarkers, Biomonitoring, Chemical pollution, Mussels
National Category
Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-114656 (URN)10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106628 (DOI)001265864800001 ()38968804 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85197380420 (Scopus ID)
Note

This study was funded by: the European Neighbourhood Instrument and co-financed by the European Union (project HAZLESS, grant number: ER90); the project RESPONSE, funded by JPI Oceans through support by Estonian Ministry of the Environment and the Estonian Research Council; European Biodiversity Partnership Biodiversa+(project D2P, grant number: 2021-473), and Environmental Investment Centre (grant number: KIK 17253) and by the Estonian Research Council (grant numbers PRG602, 4-8/23/4).

Available from: 2024-07-08 Created: 2024-07-08 Last updated: 2024-07-29Bibliographically approved
Roca Rubio, M. F., Folkesson, M., Kremp, C., Evertsson, N., Repsilber, D., Eriksson, U., . . . König, J. (2024). Associations between various markers of intestinal barrier and immune function after a high-intensity exercise challenge. Physiological Reports, 12(10), Article ID e16087.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Associations between various markers of intestinal barrier and immune function after a high-intensity exercise challenge
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2024 (English)In: Physiological Reports, E-ISSN 2051-817X, Vol. 12, no 10, article id e16087Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Strenuous exercise can result in disruption of intestinal barrier function and occurrence of gastrointestinal symptoms. The aim of this exploratory study was to elucidate systemic effects of increased intestinal permeability after high-intensity exercise. Forty-one endurance-trained subjects performed a 60-min treadmill run at 80% VO2max. Small intestinal permeability was measured as urinary excretion ratio of lactulose/rhamnose (L/R). Blood, saliva and feces were analyzed for gut barrier and immune-related biomarkers. The exercise challenge increased several markers of intestinal barrier disruption, immune function and oxidative stress. We found a negative correlation between L/R ratio and uric acid (r = -0.480), as well as a positive correlation between the L/R ratio and fecal chromogranin A in male participants (r = 0.555). No significant correlations were found between any of the markers and gastrointestinal symptoms, however, perceived exertion correlated with the combination of IL-6, IL-10 and salivary cortisol (r = 0.492). The lack of correlation between intestinal permeability and gastrointestinal symptoms could be due to minor symptoms experienced in lab settings compared to real-life competitions. The correlation between L/R ratio and uric acid might imply a barrier-protective effect of uric acid, and inflammatory processes due to strenuous exercise seem to play an important role regarding physical exhaustion.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
John Wiley & Sons, 2024
Keywords
Gastrointestinal symptoms, high‐intensity exercise, intestinal barrier function, intestinal permeability
National Category
Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-113825 (URN)10.14814/phy2.16087 (DOI)001229765900001 ()38783385 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85193921085 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Knowledge Foundation, 20110225
Note

The study was partially supported by the Knowledge Foundation Sweden (Grant reference number: 20110225) and Chr. Hansen A/S, Denmark.

Available from: 2024-05-24 Created: 2024-05-24 Last updated: 2025-02-11Bibliographically approved
Alijagic, A., Kotlyar, O., Larsson, M., Salihovic, S., Hedbrant, A., Eriksson, U., . . . Särndahl, E. (2024). Immunotoxic, genotoxic, and endocrine disrupting impacts of polyamide microplastic particles and chemicals. Environment International, 183, Article ID 108412.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Immunotoxic, genotoxic, and endocrine disrupting impacts of polyamide microplastic particles and chemicals
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2024 (English)In: Environment International, ISSN 0160-4120, E-ISSN 1873-6750, Vol. 183, article id 108412Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Due to their exceptional properties and cost effectiveness, polyamides or nylons have emerged as widely used materials, revolutionizing diverse industries, including industrial 3D printing or additive manufacturing (AM). Powder-based AM technologies employ tonnes of polyamide microplastics to produce complex components every year. However, the lack of comprehensive toxicity assessment of particulate polyamides and polyamide-associated chemicals, especially in the light of the global microplastics crisis, calls for urgent action. This study investigated the physicochemical properties of polyamide-12 microplastics used in AM, and assessed a number of toxicity endpoints focusing on inflammation, immunometabolism, genotoxicity, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation, endocrine disruption, and cell morphology. Specifically, microplastics examination by means of field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed that work flow reuse of material created a fraction of smaller particles with an average size of 1-5 µm, a size range readily available for uptake by human cells. Moreover, chemical analysis by means of gas chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry detected several polyamide-associated chemicals including starting material, plasticizer, thermal stabilizer/antioxidant, and migrating slip additive. Even if polyamide particles and chemicals did not induce an acute inflammatory response, repeated and prolonged exposure of human primary macrophages disclosed a steady increase in the levels of proinflammatory chemokine Interleukin-8 (IL-8/CXCL-8). Moreover, targeted metabolomics disclosed that polyamide particles modulated the kynurenine pathway and some of its key metabolites. The p53-responsive luciferase reporter gene assay showed that particles per se were able to activate p53, being indicative of a genotoxic stress. Polyamide-associated chemicals triggered moderate activation of AhR and elicited anti-androgenic activity. Finally, a high-throughput and non-targeted morphological profiling by Cell Painting assay outlined major sites of bioactivity of polyamide-associated chemicals and indicated putative mechanisms of toxicity in the cells. These findings reveal that the increasing use of polyamide microplastics may pose a potential health risk for the exposed individuals, and it merits more attention.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2024
Keywords
Additive manufacturing, GC-HRMS, High-throughput morphological profiling, Metabolomics, Nylon, Plastic additives
National Category
Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-110605 (URN)10.1016/j.envint.2023.108412 (DOI)001153657900001 ()38183898 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85183378556 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Knowledge Foundation, 20160019; 20190107; 20220122; 20200017Swedish Research Council, 2022-06725; 2018-05973
Available from: 2024-01-09 Created: 2024-01-09 Last updated: 2024-03-05Bibliographically approved
Fredriksson, F., Kärrman, A., Eriksson, U. & Yeung, L. W. Y. (2024). Occurrence and Fate of Fluoroalkyl Sulfonamide-Based Copolymers in Earthworms-Bioavailability, Transformation, and Potential Impact of Sludge Application. Environmental Science and Technology, 58(41), 18304-18312
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Occurrence and Fate of Fluoroalkyl Sulfonamide-Based Copolymers in Earthworms-Bioavailability, Transformation, and Potential Impact of Sludge Application
2024 (English)In: Environmental Science and Technology, ISSN 0013-936X, E-ISSN 1520-5851, Vol. 58, no 41, p. 18304-18312Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

To date, considerable knowledge and data gaps regarding the occurrence, environmental levels, and fate of polymeric perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exist. In the present study availability, accumulation, and transformation of C4- and C8-fluoroalkylsulfonamide (FASA)-based copolymers were assessed in laboratory-grown earthworms (Eisenia fetida, triplicate of exposure tests and control). Further, a field study on earthworms (18 pooled samples) in sludge-amended soil was conducted to assess the environmental impact of sludge-amended soil with regard to the FASA-based copolymers, together with the applied sludge (n = 3), and the field soils during the period (n = 4). In the laboratory study, the FASA-based copolymers were taken up by the earthworms in concentrations between 19 and 33 ng/g of dw for the C8- and between 767 and 1735 ng/g of dw for the C4-FASA-based copolymer. Higher biota soil accumulation factors (BAFs) were observed for the copolymer with a longer perfluorinated side-chain length (C8, average BAF value of 0.7) compared to the copolymer with a shorter side-chain length (C4, average BAF value of 0.02). Perfluorooctane sulfonamidoacetates (FOSAAs) and perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA), including both branched and linear isomers, were detected after exposure to the C8-FASA-based copolymer. Two metabolites were detected in the earthworms exposed to the C4-FASA-based copolymer: perfluorobutanesulfonamide (FBSA) and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS). Although the presence of other monomers or impurities in the copolymer formulation cannot be ruled out, the present laboratory study suggests that the FASA-based copolymers may be an indirect source of lower molecular weight PFAS in the environment through transformation. Elevated levels of C8-FASA-based copolymer were found in the field sludge-amended soil compared to nontreated soil (32 versus 11 ng/g d.w.), and higher concentrations of PFAS in earthworms living in sludge-amended soil compared to nontreated soil (566 versus 103 ng/g d.w.) were observed. These findings imply that the application of sludge is a potential pathway of PFAS to the environment.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
American Chemical Society (ACS), 2024
Keywords
FASA-based copolymers, bioaccumulation, biotransformation, earthworms, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), sludge-amended soil
National Category
Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-116548 (URN)10.1021/acs.est.4c01844 (DOI)001329998700001 ()39363531 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85206188465 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Svensk Vatten Utveckling (SVU), 21-107Knowledge Foundation, 20160019
Available from: 2024-10-07 Created: 2024-10-07 Last updated: 2024-10-24Bibliographically approved
Fredriksson, F., Kärrman, A., Eriksson, U. & Yeung, L. W. Y. (2022). Analysis and characterization of novel fluorinated compounds used in surface treatments products. Chemosphere, 302, Article ID 134720.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Analysis and characterization of novel fluorinated compounds used in surface treatments products
2022 (English)In: Chemosphere, ISSN 0045-6535, E-ISSN 1879-1298, Vol. 302, article id 134720Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Side-chain fluorinated polymers are speculated to be potential precursors to other non-polymeric aliphatic per- and polyfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs). Limited knowledge of environmental occurrence of this compound class is partly due to lack of structural information and authentic standards. In this study, two novel fluorinated compounds, suspected to be side-chain fluorinated copolymers used in two commercial technical mixtures (Scotchgard™ Pre-2002 formulation and Scotchgard™ Post-2002 formulation) were analyzed and characterized in order to provide information to facilitate detection and quantification. The commercial mixtures were analyzed using tandem mass spectrometry and high-resolution mass spectrometry; besides already reported C4- and C8-fluoroalkylsulfonamido (FASA) side-chains, a proposed structure was determined for the perfluorooctane (C8) sulfonamide-urethane copolymer in the Pre-2002 formulation. Structural isomers were also observed for C4- and C8-FASA-based copolymers. Total fluorine analysis revealed that the Scotchgard™ Pre-2002 Formulation contained a fluorine content of 0.5% and 1.8% for the Scotchgard™ Post-2002 Formulation. The equivalent FASA side-chain content was determined to be 0.8% for Pre-2002 and 3.1% for Post-2002. Both C4- and C8-FASA-based copolymers underwent hydrolysis and oxidation and were transformed to their respective perfluoroalkyl side chain, which suggest that transformation products can be analyzed for example after total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay. Both compounds were shown to strongly sorb to sediment particles, which also gives indications about their environmental fate and transport pathways.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Pergamon Press, 2022
Keywords
Characterization, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), Side-chain fluorinated copolymers, TOP-Assay, Total fluorine
National Category
Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-98790 (URN)10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134720 (DOI)000802572200005 ()35487349 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85129497373 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Knowledge Foundation, 20160019
Available from: 2022-05-04 Created: 2022-05-04 Last updated: 2024-01-16Bibliographically approved
Eriksson, U., Titaley, I. A., Engwall, M. & Larsson, M. (2022). Examination of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), estrogenic and anti-androgenic activities, and levels of polyaromatic compounds (PACs) in tire granulates using in vitro bioassays and chemical analysis. Chemosphere, 298, Article ID 134362.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Examination of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), estrogenic and anti-androgenic activities, and levels of polyaromatic compounds (PACs) in tire granulates using in vitro bioassays and chemical analysis
2022 (English)In: Chemosphere, ISSN 0045-6535, E-ISSN 1879-1298, Vol. 298, article id 134362Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Tire granulates recovered from end-of-life tires contain a complex mixture of chemicals, amongst them polyaromatic compounds (PACs), of which many are recognized to be toxic and persistent in the environment. Only a few of these PACs are regularly monitored. In this study a combined approach of chemical analysis and a battery of CALUX® in vitro bioassays was used to determine PAC concentrations and estrogenic, (anti)-androgenic and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activities in tire granulates. Tire granulates from a recycling company was analyzed for PAHs, alkyl-PAHs, oxy-PAHs and heterocyclic PACs (NSO-PACs), in total 85 PACs. The concentrations of PACs were between 42 and 144 mg/kg, with major contribution from PAHs (74-88%) followed by alkyl-PAHs (6.6-20%) and NSO-PACs (1.8-7.0%). The sum of eight priority PAHs were between 2.3 and 8.6 mg/kg, contributing with 4.7-8.2% of ∑PACs. Bioassay analysis showed presence of AhR agonists, estrogen receptor (ERα) agonists, and androgen receptor (AR) antagonists in the tire granulate samples. Only 0.8-2.4% of AhR-mediated activities could be explained by the chemical analysis. Benzo[k+j]fluoranthenes, benzo[b]fluoranthene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, 2-methylchrysene, and 3-methylchrysene were the major contributors to the AhR-mediated activities. The high contribution (98-99%) of unknown bioactive compounds to the bioassay effects in this study raises concerns and urges for further investigations of toxicants identification and source apportionment.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Pergamon Press, 2022
Keywords
Alkyl-PAHs, Bioassay, Circular economy, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), Tire granulates
National Category
Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-98212 (URN)10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134362 (DOI)000793175200004 ()35307388 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85126523109 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Knowledge Foundation, 20160019
Available from: 2022-03-22 Created: 2022-03-22 Last updated: 2024-01-16Bibliographically approved
Aro, R., Eriksson, U., Kärrman, A., Jakobsson, K. & Yeung, L. W. Y. (2022). Extractable organofluorine analysis: A way to screen for elevated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance contamination in humans?. Environment International, 159, Article ID 107035.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Extractable organofluorine analysis: A way to screen for elevated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance contamination in humans?
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2022 (English)In: Environment International, ISSN 0160-4120, E-ISSN 1873-6750, Vol. 159, article id 107035Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The ubiquitous occurrence of a few per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in humans and the environment has been previously reported. However, the number of PFAS humans and the environment are potentially exposed to is much higher, making it difficult to investigate every sample in detail. More importantly, recent studies have shown an increasing fraction of potentially unknown PFAS in human samples. A screening tool for identifying samples of concern that may contain high PFAS levels, to be studied more thoroughly, is needed. This study presents a simplified workflow to detect elevated PFAS levels using extractable organofluorine (EOF) analysis. A fluorine mass balance analysis on samples with high EOF, targeting 63 PFAS, can then confirm the PFAS contamination. Whole blood samples from a cohort of individuals with historical drinking water contamination from firefighting foams (n = 20) in Ronneby (Sweden) and a control group (n = 9) with background exposure were used as a case study. The average EOF concentration in the Ronneby group was 234 ng/mLF (<107-592 ng/mLF) vs 24.8 ng/mLF (17.6-37.8 ng/mL F) in the control group. The large difference (statistically significant, p < 0.05) in the EOF levels between the exposed and control groups would have made it possible to identify samples with high PFAS exposure only using EOF data. This was confirmed by target analysis, which found an average ∑PFAS concentration of 346 ng/mL in the exposed group and 7.9 ng/mL in the control group. The limit of quantification for EOF analysis (up to 107 ng/mLF using 0.5 mL whole blood) did not allow for the detection of PFAS levels in low or sub parts per billion (ng/mL) concentrations, but the results indicate that EOF analysis is a suitable screening method sensitive enough to detect elevated/significant/exposure above background levels by known or unknown PFAS.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2022
Keywords
Combustion ion chromatography (CIC), Extractable organofluorine (EOF), Organofluorine mass balance analysis, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), Whole blood
National Category
Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-95936 (URN)10.1016/j.envint.2021.107035 (DOI)000733713000010 ()34896670 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85120736769 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Swedish Research Council Formas, 2016-01158Knowledge FoundationSwedish Environmental Protection Agency, NV-01625-19
Note

Funding agency:

Enforce Research Profile 20160019 

Available from: 2021-12-14 Created: 2021-12-14 Last updated: 2024-01-16Bibliographically approved
Fredriksson, F., Eriksson, U., Kärrman, A. & Yeung, L. W. Y. (2022). Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in sludge from wastewater treatment plants in Sweden: First findings of novel fluorinated copolymers in Europe including temporal analysis. Science of the Total Environment, 846, Article ID 157406.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in sludge from wastewater treatment plants in Sweden: First findings of novel fluorinated copolymers in Europe including temporal analysis
2022 (English)In: Science of the Total Environment, ISSN 0048-9697, E-ISSN 1879-1026, Vol. 846, article id 157406Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Thousands of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are on the global market, while only a minor proportion is monitored regularly in the environment. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been suggested to be a point source for PFAS to the environment due to emission of effluent and sludge. In this study, 81 PFAS including two rarely studied perfluoroalkyl sulfonamide-based (FASA) copolymers were analyzed in sludge samples to understand the usage of PFAS in the society. Sludge samples (n = 28) were collected at four WWTPs in Sweden between 2004 and 2017. The total levels of 79 measured PFAS were between 50 and 1124 ng/g d.w. All sludge samples showed detectable levels of both C8- and C4-FASA-based copolymers. The concentrations of the FASA-based copolymers were proposed to be reported in fluorinated side-chain equivalents (FSC eq.), in order to compare the levels of the copolymers with the other neutral and anionic PFAS, as no authentic standards were available. The concentrations of the FASA-based copolymers in sludge were between 1.4 and 22 ng FSC eq./g d.w. A general predomination of precursor and intermediate compounds was observed. A lower contribution of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids was noted for the WWTPs more influenced by domestic emission when compared with more influenced by industrial emission. An overall declining trend in the total PFAS concentration was seen between the years 2004 and 2017. The present study observed a shift from the C8-based chemistry toward shorter chain lengths, included a declining trend for C8-FASA-based copolymer over the entire study period. These findings further demonstrate the occurrence of side-chain fluorinated copolymers in Sweden and that sludge is a useful matrix to reflect the usage of PFAS in society and the potential for environmental exposure.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2022
Keywords
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), Side-chain fluorinated copolymers, Wastewater treatment plants
National Category
Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-100606 (URN)10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157406 (DOI)000852634700010 ()35850346 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85134598595 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Knowledge Foundation, 20160019Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, NV-03051-18 NV-07893-16 NV-04689-16
Available from: 2022-08-15 Created: 2022-08-15 Last updated: 2024-01-16Bibliographically approved
Aro, R., Eriksson, U., Kärrman, A., Reber, I. & Yeung, L. W. Y. (2021). Combustion ion chromatography for extractable organofluorine analysis. iScience, 24(9), Article ID 102968.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Combustion ion chromatography for extractable organofluorine analysis
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2021 (English)In: iScience, E-ISSN 2589-0042 , Vol. 24, no 9, article id 102968Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Combustion ion chromatography (CIC) has found a role in environmental analytical chemistry for fluorine content analysis. It is used for extractable organofluorine (EOF) analysis to evaluate perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and other organofluorine burden. The prevailing assumption has been that all PFASs are incinerated in CIC and matrix components have no impact on this process, but this has not been experimentally evaluated. In this work, the combustion efficiencies of 13 different PFASs were determined (66-110%). A notable difference was observed between calibrating the CIC with inorganic fluorine or organofluorine. Potential interferences from cations and coextracted matrix components from whole blood and surface water samples were evaluated. These observations should be acknowledged when performing EOF analysis using CIC, overlooking either non-100% combustion efficiencies or the differences in calibrating the CIC with inorganic fluorine or organofluorine could lead to underestimating EOF content and through that to misguide policy decisions.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Cell Press, 2021
Keywords
Analytical chemistry, Environmental chemistry, Environmental monitoring, Geochemistry methods
National Category
Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-94052 (URN)10.1016/j.isci.2021.102968 (DOI)000698069100034 ()34466791 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85116096384 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Swedish Research Council Formas, 201601158Knowledge Foundation, 20160019
Available from: 2021-09-02 Created: 2021-09-02 Last updated: 2024-01-16Bibliographically approved
Aro, R., Eriksson, U., Kärrman, A., Chen, F., Wang, T. & Yeung, L. W. Y. (2021). Fluorine Mass Balance Analysis of Effluent and Sludge from Nordic Countries. ACS - ES & T Water, 1(9), 2087-2096
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Fluorine Mass Balance Analysis of Effluent and Sludge from Nordic Countries
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2021 (English)In: ACS - ES & T Water, E-ISSN 2690-0637, Vol. 1, no 9, p. 2087-2096Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Recent publications have highlighted the ubiquitous presence of unidentified organofluorine compounds, whose environmental occurrence is poorly understood. In this study, wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent and sludge samples from seven countries were analyzed for extractable organofluorine (EOF) and target PFAS, to evaluate which compounds are released back into the environment. Fluorine mass balance analysis of effluent samples (n = 14) revealed that on average 90% of the EOF could not be explained by the 73 PFAS monitored in this investigation. The levels of EOF in effluent (324–1460 ng of F/L) and sludge (39–210 ng of F/g of dry weight) indicate that a substantial amount of organofluorine compounds is released back into nature. A commonly overlooked PFAS class, ultra-short-chain PFCAs, accounted for 4% of EOF on average, while the remaining 71 compounds explained only a further 6% of EOF on average. The highest number of PFAS was detected in the effluent dissolved phase (37), compared to 29 and 23 PFAS in sludge and effluent particulate phase, respectively. The increased concentrations of EOF in both WWTP effluent and sludge are of concern, as the chemical species contained therein remain largely unknown, and thus, their potential health and environmental risks cannot be assessed.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
American Chemical Society (ACS), 2021
Keywords
Fluorine, mass balance analysis, per- and polyfluorinated substances, sludge, effluent, extractable organofluorine
National Category
Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-94035 (URN)10.1021/acsestwater.1c00168 (DOI)000696179500011 ()2-s2.0-85120567139 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Swedish Research Council Formas, 2016-01158Knowledge Foundation
Note

Funding agencies:

Nordic Chemical Group

Enforce Research Profile, Sweden 20160019

Available from: 2021-09-01 Created: 2021-09-01 Last updated: 2024-02-05Bibliographically approved
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