title: The impact of two fluoropolymer manufacturing facilities on downstream contamination of a river and drinking water resources with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
abstract: Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are emerging contaminants that have been detected in the environment, biota, and humans. Drinking water is a route of exposure for populations consuming water contaminated by PFAS discharges. This research study reports environmental measurement concentrations, mass flows, and the fate of dozens of PFASs in a river receiving effluents from two fluoropolymer manufacturing facilities. In addition to quantified levels of PFASs using LC- and GC-MS analytical methods, the total amount of unidentified PFASs and precursors was assessed using two complementary analytical methods, absorbable organic fluorine (AOF) determination and oxidative conversion of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid (PFCA) precursors. Several dozen samples were collected in the river (water and sediment) during four sampling campaigns. In addition, samples were collected in two well fields and from the outlet of the drinking water treatment plants after chlorination. We estimated that 4295 kg PFHxA, 1487 kg 6:2FTSA, 965 kg PFNA, 307 kg PFUnDA, and 14 kg PFOA were discharged in the river by the two facilities in 2013. High concentrations (up to 176 ng/g dw) of odd long-chain PFASs (PFUnDA and PFTrDA) were found in sediment samples. PFASs were detected in all 15 wells, with concentrations varying based on the location of the well in the field. Additionally, the presence of previously discharged PFASs was still measurable. Significant discrepancies between PFAS concentration profiles in the wells and in the river suggest an accumulation and transformation of PFCA precursors in the aquifer. Chlorination had no removal efficiency and no unidentified PFASs were detected in the treated water with either complementary analytical method. Although the total PFAS concentrations were high in the treated water, ranging from 86 to 169 ng/L, they did not exceed the currently available guideline values.
authors.affiliation: Nancy Laboratory for Hydrology, Water Chemistry Department, ANSES, 40 rue Lionnois, 54000, Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.affiliation: Nancy Laboratory for Hydrology, Water Chemistry Department, ANSES, 40 rue Lionnois, 54000, Nancy, France. xavier.dauchy@anses.fr.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Dauchy
authors.affiliation: Nancy Laboratory for Hydrology, Water Chemistry Department, ANSES, 40 rue Lionnois, 54000, Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Boiteux
authors.affiliation: Nancy Laboratory for Hydrology, Water Chemistry Department, ANSES, 40 rue Lionnois, 54000, Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Adeline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colin
authors.affiliation: Nancy Laboratory for Hydrology, Water Chemistry Department, ANSES, 40 rue Lionnois, 54000, Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hemard
authors.affiliation: Nancy Laboratory for Hydrology, Water Chemistry Department, ANSES, 40 rue Lionnois, 54000, Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sagres
authors.affiliation: Nancy Laboratory for Hydrology, Water Chemistry Department, ANSES, 40 rue Lionnois, 54000, Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rosin
authors.affiliation: Nancy Laboratory for Hydrology, Water Chemistry Department, ANSES, 40 rue Lionnois, 54000, Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Munoz
mesh_terms: D060766:Drinking Water; D005461:Fluorine; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D060587:Groundwater; D006801:Humans; D000072499:Manufacturing and Industrial Facilities; D045483:Rivers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D018508:Water Purification; D062066:Water Resources
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D005461:Fluorine
keywords: Drinking water treatment; Fluorine industry; Industrial releases; Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs); Sediment; Water contamination