Distribution And Ecological Risk Assessment Of Perfluorinated Compounds And Volatile Organic Compounds In Multimedia Samples From Shenyang

Shenyang is an important heavy industry base in northeast of China. Organic contaminants were carried into the surrounding environment with the development of economy, and these chemicals may pose immediate or potential harm to human health through air, water, soil or food chain.The present study focused on the accumulation and distribution patterns of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) and volatile oraganic compounds (VOCs) in water, soil and some biota samples from the Hunhe River, Xihe River, Puhe River and Shenfu Irrigation Channel in the Shenyang area. Potential ecological risk was assessed based on the distribution of contaminants in multimedia. The major results were following:1. PFOS and PFOA were ubiquitous in water body in the Shenyang area. The mean concentration of PFOS and PFOA in surface water samples from Shenyang area is 1.28 ng/L and 3.67 ng/L, much lower compared with that in water samples from the Yangtze river delta.2. PFASs occurred at considerably lower levels than those of PFCAs in water samples from upstream of Hunhe River (PFASs/PFCAs: 0.05-0.20), and the ratio of PFASs became higher after flowing through Shenyang city (PFASs/PFCAs: 0.24-0.53). Ratio of PFASs/PFCAs was 0.73-1.44 in the Xihe River. The different contributions of PFASs and PFCAs to the total PFCs indicated that sources of PFCs were different among rivers.3. No significant difference of PFOS and PFOA concentrations was found between water samples collected in high flow period and drought period, except that PFOS concentration in water collected in Huanglatuo in high flow period was lower than that collected in drought period.4. Aquatic ecological risk assessment of PFOS in water bodies was performed using hazard quotient method. The result showed that the ecological risk of PFOS in water from Shenyang, Hangzhou and Shanghai is in relatively low level, suggesting no immediate harm to fish, zooplankton, and algae.5. Public health risk through consumption of fish, poultry meat and drinking water was assessed by estimating the hazard ratio (HR). The HRs of non-cancer risk based on PFOS and PFOA concentrations were less than unity. These findings suggest that the prevalent concentrations of PFCs are unlikely to cause immediate harm to local population.6. Detection rates of volatile organic compounds in the Xihe River were higher than that in other surface water from the Shenyang area. Both river water and ground water samples collected in the adjacent area of Shuangshutuo were polluted by VOCs and exhibit appreciable cancer risk and non-cancer risk to local residents.