Transport and environmental risks of perfluoroalkyl acids in a large irrigation and drainage system for agricultural production. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Meng; Wang, Pei; Lu, Yonglong; Shi, Yajuan; Wang, Cong; Sun, Bin; Li, Xiaoqian; Song, Shuai; Yu, Mingzhao; Zhao, Jixin; Du, Di; Qin, Wenyou; Wang, Ting; Han, Guoxiang; Liu, Zhaoyang; Baninla, Yvette; Zhang, Anqi
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 157(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: PFAAs -- Irrigation -- Bioaccumulation -- Ecosystem risk -- Health risk -- Yellow River; PFAAs perfluoroalkyl acids -- ΣPFAA total PFAAs -- PFCAs perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids -- PFOA perfluorooctanoic acid -- PFBS perfluorobutane sulfonic acid -- EDI estimated daily intake -- PFNA perfluorononanoic acid -- PFHxS perfluorohexane sulfonic acid -- PFOS perfluorooctane sulfonic acid -- TDI tolerant daily intake -- PFAS Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances -- PFSAs perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids -- PE polyethylene -- PFBA perfluorobutanoic acid -- PFPeA perfluoropentanoic acid -- PFHxA perfluorohexanoic acid -- PFHpA perfluoroheptanoic acid -- PFDA perfluorodecanoic acid -- PFUnDA perfluoroundecanoic acid -- PFDoDA perfluorododecanoic acid -- LOQs limits of quantification -- LODs limits of detection -- Kd sediment-water partition coefficient -- BAF Bioaccumulation factor -- Kow octanol-water partition coefficient; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106856
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: There are emissions of emerging pollutants such as PFAAs in primary agricultural areas. The mass flux of PFOA from Ulansuhai Lake to the Yellow River was 36.8 kg/y. PFAA levels increased from irrigation water to drainage and receiving lake water. Avian wildlife living in Ulansuhai Lake were threatened by the PFOA pollution. Abstract: The quality of irrigation water and drainage water is essential for local ecosystem and human health in agricultural regions. In this study, the transport analysis, source identification, and environmental risk assessment of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) were conducted in the largest irrigation area in northern China. The concentrations of the total PFAAs (ΣPFAA) ranged from 41.5 to 263 ng/L in surface water, and the short-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), were dominant with a total contribution of 94%. Generally, the ΣPFAA levels increased from irrigation waters to drainage and receiving lake waters. PFOA showed the highest increase, with potential emission sources located in the catchment of the sub main drainage ditch D5. More PFOA (36.8 kg/y) was outflowed from Ulansuhai Lake to the Yellow River than that inflowed from the Yellow River to the irrigation district (6.15 kg/y). The results of a risk assessment indicated that avian wildlife living in Ulansuhai Lake were threatened by the PFOA and perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) pollution. The estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of the sum of the PFOA, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) through aquatic food consumption for people with the different aquatic food preferences accounted for 6–42% (urban) and 4–27% (rural) of the strictest tolerant daily intake (TDI) value. The results of this study highlight the impact of local emissions of PFAS on massive irrigation and drainage systems, and ultimately, the ecosystem and human health.