Analysis of perfluorinated acids at parts-per-quadrillion levels in seawater using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
Perfluorinated acids (PFAs) and their salts have emerged as an important class of global environmental contaminants. Determination of sub-parts-per-trillion or parts-per-quadrillion concentrations of perfluorinated acids in aqueous media has been impeded by relatively high background levels arising from procedural or instrumental blanks. To understand the role of the oceans in the transport and fate of perfluorinated acids, methods to determine ultratrace levels of these compounds in seawater are needed. In this study, sources of procedural and instrumental blank contamination by perfluorinated acids have been identified and eliminated, to reduce background levels in blanks and thereby improve limits of quantitation. The method developed in this study is capable of detecting perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHS), perfluorobutanesulfonate (PFBS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA) at low pg/L levels in oceanic waters. PFOA is the major perfluorinated compound detected in oceanic waters, followed by PFOS. Further studies are being conducted to elucidate the distribution and fate of perfluorinated acids in oceans.
Yamashita
Nobuyoshi
N
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 16-1 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8569, Japan.
Kannan
Kurunthachalam
K
Taniyasu
Sachi
S
Horii
Yuichi
Y
Okazawa
Tsuyoshi
T
Petrick
Gert
G
Gamo
Toshitaka
T
D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D005466:Fluorocarbons; C076994:perfluorooctane sulfonic acid