title: National Estimate of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Release to U.S. Municipal Landfill Leachate.
abstract: Landfills are the final stage in the life cycle of many products containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and their presence has been reported in landfill leachate. The concentrations of 70 PFASs in 95 samples of leachate were measured in a survey of U.S. landfills of varying climates and waste ages. National release of PFASs was estimated by coupling measured concentrations for the 19 PFASs where more than 50% of samples had quantifiable concentrations, with climate-specific estimates of annual leachate volumes. For 2013, the total volume of leachate generated in the U.S. was estimated to be 61.1 million m3, with 79% of this volume coming from landfills in wet climates (>75 cm/yr precipitation) that contain 47% of U.S. solid waste. The mass of measured PFASs from U.S. landfill leachate to wastewater treatment plants was estimated to be between 563 and 638 kg for 2013. In the majority of landfill leachate samples, 5:3 fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (FTCA) was dominant and variations in concentrations with waste age affected total estimated mass. There were six PFASs that demonstrated significantly higher concentrations in leachate from younger waste compared to older waste and six PFAS demonstrated significant variation with climate.
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.identifier: 0000-0002-7030-6828
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University , 153 Gilbert Hall Corvallis, Oregon 97331-4003, United States.
authors.forename: B McKay
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Allred
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University , 1007 ALS Bldg. 2750 Campus Way, Corvallis, Oregon 97331-4003, United States.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Field
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Constructional, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University , Box 7908 Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7908, United States.
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Levis
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
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D062611:Solid Waste; D064091:Waste Disposal Facilities; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
chemical_list: D062611:Solid Waste; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical