title: Risk assessment and source identification of perfluoroalkyl acids in surface and ground water: Spatial distribution around a mega-fluorochemical industrial park, China.
abstract: Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) can be released to water bodies during manufacturing and application of PFAA-containing products. In this study, the contamination pattern, attenuation dynamics, sources, pathways, and risk zoning of PFAAs in surface and ground water was examined within a 10km radius from a mega-fluorochemical industrial park (FIP). Among 12 detected PFAAs, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) dominated, followed by shorter-chained perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs). PFAA-containing waste was discharged from the FIP, with levels reaching 1.86mg/L in the nearby rivers flowing to the Bohai sea together with up to 273μg/L in the local groundwater in the catchment. These levels constitute a human health risks for PFOA and other shorter-chained PFCAs within this location. The concentrations of ∑PFAAs in surface water strongly correlated with the local groundwater. The dominant pollution pathways of PFAAs included (i) discharge into surface water then to groundwater through seepage, and (ii) atmospheric deposition from the FIP, followed by infiltration to groundwater. As the distance increased from the source, PFAAs levels in groundwater showed a sharp initial decrease followed by a gentle decline. The contamination signal from the FIP site on PFAAs in groundwater existed within a radius of 4km, and at least 3km from the polluted Dongzhulong River. The major controlling factor in PFAA attenuation processes was likely to be dilution together with dispersion and adsorption to aquifer solids. The relative abundance of PFOA (C8) declined while those of shorter-chained PFCAs (C4-C6) increased during surface water seepage and further dispersion in groundwater.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Zhaoyang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China. Electronic address: yllu@rcees.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Yonglong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: Tieyu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Qifeng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Crowmarsh Gifford Wallingford, Oxon, OX 10 8BB, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: SCOPE (Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment) Beijing Office, P.O. Box 2871,18 Shuangqing Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: Suriyanarayanan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarvajayakesavalu
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Crowmarsh Gifford Wallingford, Oxon, OX 10 8BB, UK; Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sweetman
mesh_terms: D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D002617:Chemical Industry; D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D060587:Groundwater / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D062206:Spatial Analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Attenuation; Fluorochemical industrial park; PFAAs; Risk; Transport