Environmental analytical techniques and fate of perfluorooctane surfactants

Widespread use of perfluorooctane surfactants has led to their ubiquitous presence in biological tissues. While perfluorooctane surfactants have been measured in blood and liver samples of fish, birds, and mammals, concentration data for these compounds in other environmental matrices are lacking. This research addresses this gap in knowledge by developing standardized analytical techniques and reliable extraction procedures used to elucidate the concentrations and sources of perfluorooctane surfactants in the environment.; Sixteen Great Lakes water samples and nine Great Lakes air samples were analyzed for eight perfluorooctane surfactants, including PFOA, PFOS, and six PFOS precursors. PFOA, PFOS, and two PFOS precursors (N-EtFOSAA and FOSA) were detected in all Lake Erie and Ontario water samples above their limit of quantification. PFOSulfinate, another PFOS precursor, was identified in 75% of the samples. For gaseous phase air samples, N-EtFOSA and N-EtFOSE were detected. For particulate phase air samples, PFOS was detected.; A mass budget of perfluorooctane surfactants for Lake Ontario was created using Lake Ontario hydrologic flow data, Great Lakes air and water concentration data, and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent concentration data reported by 3M. The budget was used to identify the primary sources of perfluorooctane surfactants to the lake and to estimate steady-state concentrations of these compounds in the lake. Findings from this effort indicate WWTP effluent discharge as the primary source of these compounds to the Great Lakes.; To evaluate the contribution of WWTP systems on the environmental release of perfluorooctane surfactants, influent, effluent, and river water at the point of effluent discharge were sampled at a local treatment plant. Aerobic and anaerobic sludge systems from the sampled plant were also evaluated for their ability to transform N-EtFOSE, the most highly substituted perfluorooctane sulfonamide, to lesser substituted metabolites.; This body of work presents the first reports of: concentrations of perfluorooctane surfactants in Great Lakes water; concentrations of PFOS precursors in any water body; over water gaseous phase air concentrations for this compound class; concentrations of PFOS in particulate phase air samples; concentrations of these compounds in WWTP influent; and a mass budget model for these compounds in a natural system.