Distribution of perfluorooctane sulfonate isomers and predicted risk of thyroid hormonal perturbation in drinking water. (1st June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Nanyang; Wang, Xiaoxiang; Zhang, Beibei; Yang, Jingping; Li, Meiying; Li, Jun; Shi, Wei; Wei, Si; Yu, Hongxia
• Is Part Of: Water research. Volume 76(2015)
• Page Start: 171
• Page End: 180
• Publication Date: 2015-06-01
• Subjects: Perfluorooctane sulfonate -- Branched isomer -- Isomer specific method -- Health risk assessment; Water -- Pollution -- Research -- Periodicals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.02.047
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-1354

Abstract

Abstract: We documented the distribution of seven perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) isomers in drinking water in Jiangsu Province, China. Compared to the 30% proportion of branched PFOS in technical PFOS, the levels of branched PFOS in drinking water increased to 31.8%–44.6% of total PFOS. Because of previous risk assessment without considering the PFOS isomer profile and the toxicity of individual PFOS isomers, here we performed a new health risk assessment of PFOS for thyroid hormonal perturbation in drinking water with the contribution from individual PFOS isomers. The risk quotients (RQs) of individual PFOS isomers indicated that linear PFOS contributed most to the risk among all the target PFOS isomers (83.0%–90.2% of the total PFOS RQ), and that risk from 6m-PFOS (5.2%–11.9% of the total PFOS RQ) was higher than that from other branched PFOS isomers. We found that the risks associated with PFOS in drinking water would be overestimated by 10.0%–91.7% if contributions from individual PFOS isomers were not considered. The results revealed that the PFOS isomer profile and the toxicity of individual PFOS isomers were important factors in health risk assessment of PFOS and should be considered in the future risk assessments. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Seven PFOS isomers were detected in drinking water in China. Compared to Br-PFOS in technical PFOS, enrichment of Br-PFOS was found. Isomer-specific risk assessment method for PFOS was established. L-PFOS contributed most to the risk of thyroid hormonal perturbation. Without isomer-specific risk assessment, risks would be overestimated.