title: Atmospheric fate of poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs): II. Emission source strength in summer in Zurich, Switzerland.
abstract: Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) and perfluorooctane sulfonamides (FOSAs) are present in consumer products and are semi-volatile precursors of persistent perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs). The high variability of levels of FTOHs and FOSAs in products makes it difficult to derive FTOH- and FOSA-emissions from urban areas based on emission factors. Here we used a multimedia mass balance model that describes the day-night cycle of semi-volatile organic chemicals in air to interpret measurements of 8:2 FTOH, 10:2 FTOH, MeFOSA and EtFOSA from a sampling campaign in summer 2010 in Zurich, Switzerland. The estimated emission source strength of the four substances follows the sequence: 8:2 FTOH (2.6 g/h) > 10:2 FTOH (0.75 g/h) > MeFOSA (0.08 g/h) > EtFOSA (0.05 g/h). There is no FTOHs- or FOSAs-related industry in Zurich. Accordingly, our estimates are representative of diffusive emissions during use and disposal of consumer products, and describe noticeable sources of these PFASs to the environment.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Zhanyun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scheringer
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: MacLeod
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bogdal
authors.forename: Claudia E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Andreas C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gerecke
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hungerbühler
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D002947:Cities; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated / Q000032:analysis*; D012621:Seasons; D013557:Switzerland
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated