title: Novel Polyfluorinated Compounds Identified Using High Resolution Mass Spectrometry Downstream of Manufacturing Facilities near Decatur, Alabama.
abstract: Concern over persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity has led to international regulation and phase-outs of certain perfluorinated compounds and little is known about their replacement products. High resolution mass spectrometry was used to investigate the occurrence and identity of replacement fluorinated compounds in surface water and sediment of the Tennessee River near Decatur, Alabama. Analysis of legacy Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) revealed a marked increase in concentrations downstream of manufacturing facilities, with the most abundant compounds being perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorobutanesulfonate (PFBS), and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as high as 220 ng L-1, 160 ng L-1, and 120 ng L-1, respectively. A series of nine polyfluorinated carboxylic acids was discovered, each differing by CF2CH2. These acids are likely products or byproducts of a manufacturing process that uses 1,1-difluoroethene, which is registered to a manufacturing facility in the area. Two other predominant compounds discovered have structures consistent with perfluorobutanesulfonate and perfluoroheptanoic acid but have a single hydrogen substituted for a fluorine someplace in their structure. A polyfluoroalkyl sulfate with differing mixes of hydrogen and fluorine substitution was also observed. N-methyl perfluorobutane sulfonamidoacetic acid (MeFBSAA) was observed at high concentrations and several other perfluorobutane sulfonamido substances were present as well.
authors.affiliation: National Exposure Research Laboratory , U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States.
authors.forename: Seth
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3388-0107
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.affiliation: Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831 United States.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McMahen
authors.affiliation: School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Science, Auburn University , Auburn, Alabama United States.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Stoeckel
authors.affiliation: School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Science, Auburn University , Auburn, Alabama United States.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chislock
authors.affiliation: National Exposure Research Laboratory , U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindstrom
authors.affiliation: National Exposure Research Laboratory , U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3472-7921
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strynar
mesh_terms: D000407:Alabama; D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D002210:Caprylates; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D000072499:Manufacturing and Industrial Facilities; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
chemical_list: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D002210:Caprylates; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical