title: Physical and Biological Release of Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) from Municipal Solid Waste in Anaerobic Model Landfill Reactors.
abstract: A wide variety of consumer products that are treated with poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and related formulations are disposed of in landfills. Landfill leachate has significant concentrations of PFASs and acts as secondary point sources to surface water. This study models how PFASs enter leachate using four laboratory-scale anaerobic bioreactors filled with municipal solid waste (MSW) and operated over 273 days. Duplicate reactors were monitored under live and abiotic conditions to evaluate influences attributable to biological activity. The biologically active reactors simulated the methanogenic conditions that develop in all landfills, producing ∼140 mL CH4/dry g refuse. The average total PFAS leaching measured in live reactors (16.7 nmol/kg dry refuse) was greater than the average for abiotic reactors (2.83 nmol/kg dry refuse), indicating biological processes were primarily responsible for leaching. The low-level leaching in the abiotic reactors was primarily due to PFCAs ≤C8 (2.48 nmol/kg dry refuse). Concentrations of known biodegradation intermediates, including methylperfluorobutane sulfonamide acetic acid and the n:2 and n:3 fluorotelomer carboxylates, increased steadily after the onset of methanogenesis, with the 5:3 fluorotelomer carboxylate becoming the single most concentrated PFAS observed in live reactors (9.53 nmol/kg dry refuse).
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry, 153 Gilbert Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331-4003, United States.
authors.forename: B McKay
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Allred
authors.affiliation: ‡Department of Civil, Constructional, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Box 7908, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7908, United States.
authors.forename: Johnsie R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: ‡Department of Civil, Constructional, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Box 7908, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7908, United States.
authors.forename: Morton A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Barlaz
authors.affiliation: §Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, 1007 ALS Building, Oregon State University, 2750 Campus Way Corvallis, Oregon 97331-4003, United States.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Field
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors; D005735:Garbage; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D062611:Solid Waste; D064091:Waste Disposal Facilities; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; D062611:Solid Waste; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008697:Methane