title: Spatial distribution and sources of perfluorochemicals in the NW Mediterranean coastal waters (Catalonia, Spain).
abstract: This study provides the first evidence of the sources and loads of perfluorochemicals (PFCs) to the NW Mediterranean Sea. Five PFCs were analyzed in 45 seawater samples collected along the Catalan coast. Total PFCs ranged from 0.07 to 13.0 ng/l, being the levels higher in ports than in coastal waters. To determine the sources of PFCs, 8 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) effluents and 6 rivers discharging to the sea were also analyzed. WWTP effluents contained total PFCs levels ranging from 3.47 to 132 ng/l but due to the relatively low discharge flows, they contributed to 34.7 g/d to the sea. Total PFCs in rivers ranged from 2.24 to 21.9 ng/l and were the principal PFCs contributors to the sea. Overall, a total load of 190 g/d of PFCs are discharged to the NW Mediterranean coast. The effects and risk of PFCs discharges to the Mediterranean basin are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Avila
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lacorte
mesh_terms: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002210:Caprylates / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D018570:Risk Assessment; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction; D013030:Spain; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D002210:Caprylates; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C023036:perfluorooctanoic acid; C076994:perfluorooctane sulfonic acid; C108042:perfluorobutane