To Örebro University

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of anthropogenic compounds that are ubiquitous in the environment. They have been produced and used in industrial and consumer applications for over 70 years. However, numerous studies over the past few decades have shown the adverse effects, bioaccumulating and biomagnifying properties of PFAS. Due to their different structures, some PFAS can undergo long-range transport both via the oceans and reach terrestrial environments through sea spray aerosols (SSA), and via the atmosphere (long-range atmospheric transport) which then can be scavenged by precipitation. Some PFAS have also been shown to degrade into other, more stable, PFAS (e.g. fluorotelomer alcohols into perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids, PFCAs, and perfluorooctane sulfonamido ethanols into perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids). This study aimed to investigate the presence of PFAS on the Arctic island of Jan Mayen and its potential sources and environmental processes, which previously never have been studied. This was achieved by targeted analysis of surface snow samples using ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLCMS/ MS) and supercritical fluid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (SFC-MS/MS). Snow samples were collected from around the island, in vicinity to the operating station and along the transect up the Beerenberg volcano (2 277 m a.s.l.). The sodium concentration [Na], a tracer for SSA, and elevation analysis indicated that SSA could have an impact on the PFAS input on elevations around and below 500 m on Jan Mayen. åPFAS concentrations, number of quantifiable PFAS and increase in PFCA chain-length showed positive correlations with increased elevation along the volcanic transect. In general, the detection frequencies of PFAS on Jan Mayen matched those from previous studies done on Arctic Svalbard, with the exceptions of HFPO-DA and some precursor compounds such as perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides, which were not detected on Jan Mayen. However, 5:3 FTCA, 7:3 FTCA, N-MeFOSAA and NEtFOSAA were detected for the first time in Arctic snow samples. Overall PFAS concentrations on Jan Mayen were comparable to previous studies. PFCAs with chain-length of C2 to C11 were widely detected around the island and up the transect, while PFCAs with chain-length C12 and C13 were only detected along the transect above 1300 m a.s.l.. TFA displayed the highest concentrations out of all the analysed PFAS, with concentrations up to 34 000 pg/L. Both PFOA and PFOS were detected on Jan Mayen. Based on [Na], elevation, PFAS concentration profiles and PFAS mass ratios, three different sources could be appointed for contributing PFAS on Jan Mayen: (I) a local source at the operating station, (II) SSA and (III) atmospheric degradation products of precursors (e.g. of fluorotelomer alcohols and perfluorooctane sulfonamido ethanols) from long-range atmospheric transport. The results of this study also showed that snowmelt influenced PFAS concentrations in the surface snow samples. Lastly, a larger sample set with different matrices (e.g. air, glacier runoff, sea water, fresh snow, soil) from more locations around the island, in varying proximity to the station and at different elevations is required for a broader understanding of PFAS and their processes on Jan Mayen.