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Fluorine Mass Balance Analysis of Effluent and Sludge from Nordic Countries
Örebro University, School of Science and Technology. (Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre)ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5360-2326
Örebro University, School of Science and Technology. (Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre)ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2392-0515
Örebro University, School of Science and Technology. (Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre)ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7555-142X
Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
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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. Vol. 1, no 9, p. 2087-2096
Keywords [en]
Fluorine, mass balance analysis, per- and polyfluorinated substances, sludge, effluent, extractable organofluorine
National Category
Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-94035DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.1c00168ISI: 000696179500011Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85120567139OAI: oai:DiVA.org:oru-94035DiVA, id: diva2:1589878
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
In thesis
1. Organofluorine Mass Balance and Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Analysis of Environmental Samples and Human Blood
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Organofluorine Mass Balance and Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Analysis of Environmental Samples and Human Blood
2021 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been linked to a range of negative health and environmental effects. Regulations limiting and/or banning the use of some of the legacy compounds have been introduced. Consequently, the production and use of PFAS has diversified. The risks posed by these newly introduced PFAS to both the environment and humans may be underestimated if they are not evaluated in current monitoring programs. Organofluorine mass balance analysis has been used in previous studies to estimate the overall exposure to PFAS since naturally occurring organofluorine compounds are rare in nature.

In this thesis, the organofluorine mass balance analysis was performed on a variety of samples, from surface water to sewage and human blood. The results indicated the ubiquitous presence of unidentified organofluorines in all environmental compartments and human samples, for example, more than 50 % of extractable organofluorine (EOF) in human samples could not be accounted for by an extended list of target analytes. Until these compounds are identified, it is not possible to assess the risks they pose and it could lead to misguided policy decisions.

To tackle the increasingly complex analytical picture and ensure more comprehensive screening, a workflow using EOF as an initial metric to identify pollution hot-spots was proposed. The wider adoption of organofluorine mass balance analysis would also require a better understanding of the analytical instrumentation used for this type of work. Experiments carried out here demonstrated the robustness of combustion ion chromatography in EOF analysis and highlighted areas in need of improvement.

While organofluorine mass balance analysis has its drawbacks, the potential health and environmental risks posed by the unidentified organofluorine compounds cannot be underestimated.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Örebro: Örebro University, 2021. p. 69
Series
Örebro Studies in Chemistry, ISSN 1651-4270 ; 28
Keywords
organofluorine mass balance, PFAS, extractable organofluorine, unidentified organofluorine, whole blood, surface water, effluent, sludge
National Category
Other Chemistry Topics
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-92665 (URN)978-91-7529-397-4 (ISBN)
Public defence
2021-09-24, Örebro universitet, Långhuset, Hörsal L2, Fakultetsgatan 1, Örebro, 13:00 (English)
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Supervisors
Available from: 2021-06-24 Created: 2021-06-24 Last updated: 2024-01-16Bibliographically approved

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Aro, RudolfEriksson, UlrikaKärrman, AnnaWang, ThanhYeung, Leo W. Y.

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