title: Transport of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from an arctic glacier to downstream locations: implications for sources.
abstract: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been globally detected in various environmental matrices, yet their fate and transport to the Arctic is still unclear, especially for the European Arctic. In this study, concentrations of 17 PFAS were quantified in two ice cores (n=26), surface snow (n=9) and surface water samples (n=14) collected along a spatial gradient in Svalbard, Norway. Concentrations of selected ions (Na(+), SO4(2-), etc.) were also determined for tracing the origins and sources of PFAS. Perfluorobutanoate (PFBA), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorononanoate (PFNA) were the dominant compounds found in ice core samples. Taking PFOA, PFNA and perfluorooctane-sulfonate (PFOS) as examples, higher concentrations were detected in the middle layers of the ice cores representing the period of 1997-2000. Lower concentrations of C8-C12 perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs) were detected in comparison with concentrations measured previously in an ice core from the Canadian Arctic, indicating that contamination levels in the European Arctic are lower. Average PFAS concentrations were found to be lower in surface snow and melted glacier water samples, while increased concentrations were observed in river water downstream near the coastal area. Perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) was detected in the downstream locations, but not in the glacier, suggesting existence of local sources of this compound. Long-range atmospheric transport of PFAS was the major deposition pathway for the glaciers, while local sources (e.g., skiing activities) were identified in the downstream locations.
authors: State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors: Karen Y
authors: KY
authors: Kwok
authors: Eriko
authors: E
authors: Yamazaki
authors: Nobuyoshi
authors: N
authors: Yamashita
authors: Sachi
authors: S
authors: Taniyasu
authors: Margaret B
authors: MB
authors: Murphy
authors: Yuichi
authors: Y
authors: Horii
authors: Gert
authors: G
authors: Petrick
authors: Roland
authors: R
authors: Kallerborn
authors: Kurunthachalam
authors: K
authors: Kannan
authors: Kentaro
authors: K
authors: Murano
authors: Paul K S
authors: PK
authors: Lam
mesh_terms: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D001110:Arctic Regions; D002170:Canada; D002210:Caprylates / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated / Q000032:analysis*; D046448:Ice Cover / Q000737:chemistry*; D012914:Snow; D013451:Sulfonic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D013538:Svalbard; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D002210:Caprylates; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C471071:perfluorohexanesulfonic acid; C018959:hexadecafluoro-nonanoic acid; C023036:perfluorooctanoic acid; C076994:perfluorooctane sulfonic acid