Occurrence and source apportionment of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in the atmosphere in China
<p>Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are a form of toxic pollutant that can be transported across the globe and accumulated in the bodies of wildlife and humans. A nationwide geographical investigation considering atmospheric PFAAs via a passive air sampler (PAS) based on XAD (a styrene–divinylbenz...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2019-11-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/19/14107/2019/acp-19-14107-2019.pdf |
| Summary: | <p>Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are a form of toxic pollutant that can be
transported across the globe and accumulated in the bodies of wildlife and
humans. A nationwide geographical investigation considering atmospheric PFAAs
via a passive air sampler (PAS) based on XAD (a styrene–divinylbenzene
copolymer) was conducted in 23 different provinces/municipalities/autonomous
regions in China, which provides an excellent chance to investigate their
occurrences, spatial trends, and potential sources. The total atmospheric
concentrations of 13 PFAAs (<span class="inline-formula"><i>n</i>=268</span>) were
6.19–292.57 pg m<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−3</sup></span>, with an average value of
<span class="inline-formula">39.84±28.08</span> pg m<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−3</sup></span>, which were higher than other urban levels but
lower than point source measurements. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was the
dominant PFAA (20.6 %), followed by perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA),
perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFPeA). An
increasing seasonal trend of PFAA concentrations was shown as
summer <span class="inline-formula"><</span> autumn <span class="inline-formula"><</span> spring <span class="inline-formula"><</span> winter, which may be initiated by
stagnant meteorological conditions. Spatially, the content of PFAAs displayed
a declining gradient trend of central China <span class="inline-formula">></span> northern
China <span class="inline-formula">></span> eastern China <span class="inline-formula">></span> north-eastern China <span class="inline-formula">></span> south-western
China <span class="inline-formula">></span> north-western China <span class="inline-formula">></span> southern China, and Henan contributed
the largest proportion of PFAAs. Four sources of PFAAs were identified using
a positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, including PFOS-based products
(26.1 %), products based on PFOA and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA;
36.6 %), degradation products of fluorotelomer-based products
(15.5 %), and an unknown source (21.8 %).</p> |
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| ISSN: | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |