title: Occurrence and distribution of conventional and new classes of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the South China Sea.
abstract: Concentrations of 23 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), including new classes of PFASs, in seawater samples were investigated for their occurrence and the interaction of the ocean currents with the distribution of PFASs in the South China Sea. This study revealed that socio-economic development was associated with the PFAS contamination in coastal regions of South China. Significant correlations between concentration of total PFASs with gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and population density were found in the areas, suggesting that the influence of intense human activities in these areas may have resulted in higher PFAS contamination to the adjacent environment. Di-substituted polyfluoroalkyl phosphate (diPAP), one of the potential replacements for PFASs, was only detected in the heavily developed region, namely Pearl River Delta (PRD). Total PFAS concentrations, ranging from 195 to 4925 pg/L, were detected at 51 sampling stations of the South China Sea. The results also confirmed that PFAS contamination in the South China Sea is strongly affected by the ocean currents. In comparison to perfluoroactane sulfonate (PFOS) concentrations measured nine years ago at the same locations, the concentrations in this study were found to be two times higher. This indicated that the use and production of perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs) has been continuing in the region.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, PR China; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute Building, Shenzhen 518057, PR China.
authors.forename: Karen Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Environmental Science Research Center, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Environmental Science Research Center, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
authors.forename: Miaolei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ya
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Environmental Science Research Center, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
authors.forename: Yongyu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, PR China; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute Building, Shenzhen 518057, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 16-1, Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8569, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuyoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, PR China; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute Building, Shenzhen 518057, PR China. Electronic address: james.lam@cityu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: James C W
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, PR China; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute Building, Shenzhen 518057, PR China; Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, PR China. Electronic address: bhpksl@cityu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Paul K S
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D059066:Gross Domestic Product; D006802:Human Activities; D006801:Humans; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010710:Phosphates / Q000032:analysis; D011156:Population Density; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis; D014872:Water Movements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D010710:Phosphates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Di-substituted polyfluoroalkyl phosphate (diPAP); Human activities; Pearl River Delta (PRD); Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs); South China Sea