Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the Western Mediterranean Sea waters.
The spatial and temporal distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the open Western Mediterranean Sea waters was investigated in this study for the first time. In addition to surface water samples, a deep water sample (1390 m depth) collected in the center of the western basin was analyzed. Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) were detected in all samples and were the dominant PFASs found. The sum of PFAS concentrations (ΣPFASs) ranged 246-515 pg/L for surface water samples. PFASs in surface water had a relatively homogeneous distribution with levels similar to those previously measured in the Atlantic near the Strait of Gibraltar, in water masses feeding the inflow to the Mediterranean Sea. Higher concentrations of PFHxA, PFHpA and PFHxS were, however, found in the present study. Inflowing Atlantic water and river/coastal discharges are likely the major sources of PFASs to the Western Mediterranean basin. Slightly lower (factor of 2) ΣPFASs was found in the deep water sample (141 pg/L). Such a relatively high contamination of deep water is likely to be linked to recurring deep water renewal fed by downwelling events in the Gulf of Lion and/or Ligurian Sea.
RECETOX - Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic. Electronic address: brumovsky@recetox.muni.cz.
Miroslav
M
Brumovský
RECETOX - Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
Pavlína
P
Karásková
CNR, Ist Sci Marine, I-19032 Pozzuolo di Lerici, La Spezia, Italy.
Mireno
M
Borghini
RECETOX - Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; NIVA - Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway.
Luca
L
Nizzetto
D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D002208:Caproates / Q000032:analysis*; D002210:Caprylates / Q000032:analysis*; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D045483:Rivers; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis*; D013451:Sulfonic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D014867:Water; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D002208:Caproates; D002210:Caprylates; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water; C471071:perfluorohexanesulfonic acid; C023036:perfluorooctanoic acid; C076994:perfluorooctane sulfonic acid; C479228:perfluorohexanoic acid
Mediterranean Sea; PFAS; Perfluoroalkyl substances; Polyfluoroalkyl substances; Surface water