Evaluation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Leachate, Gas Condensate, Stormwater and Groundwater at Landfills
Citation:
Chen, Y., H. Zhang, Y. Liu, J. Bowden, T. Tolaymat, T. Townsend, AND H. Solo-Gabriele. Evaluation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Leachate, Gas Condensate, Stormwater and Groundwater at Landfills. CHEMOSPHERE. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 318:137903, (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137903
Impact/Purpose:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), found in many consumer products, are disposed in landfills at the end of their service lives. To identify landfill reservoirs that should be prioritized for treatment, this study aimed to evaluate PFAS levels in different aqueous samples from landfills and identify relationships between PFAS and landfill characteristics. Twenty-six PFAS including 11 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), 7 perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs), and 8 perfluoroalkyl acid precursors (PFAA-precursors) were measured in municipal solid waste (MSW) leachate, construction and demolition debris (CDD) leachate, municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) ash leachate, gas condensate, stormwater, and groundwater from landfills. Based on the median, results show that PFAS levels in MSW leachate were highest (10,000 ng/L), CDD leachate were intermediate (6,200 ng/L), and MSWI ash leachate were lowest (1,300 ng/L) among the leachates evaluated. PFAS levels in gas condensate (7,000 ng/L) were similar to MSW leachate. PFAS in stormwater and groundwater were low (medians were less than 500 ng/L). Dominant subgroups included PFCAs and PFAA-precursors in all leachates, PFSAs also in CDD leachate, PFAA-precursors in gas condensate, and PFCAs in stormwater and groundwater. Landfill characteristics significantly correlated with ∑26PFAS included waste proportions (percentage of MSWI ash in landfill, |rs| = 0.22), operational status (active or not, |rs| = 0.27) and rainfall (30-day cumulative rainfall, |rs| = 0.39). The results from this study can be used to prioritize which landfills and which reservoir of liquids (and corresponding subgroup of PFAS) to target for PFAS management.
Description:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), found in many consumer products, are disposed in landfills at the end of their service lives. To identify landfill reservoirs that should be prioritized for treatment, this study aimed to evaluate PFAS levels in different aqueous samples from landfills and identify relationships between PFAS and landfill characteristics. Twenty-six PFAS including 11 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), 7 perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs), and 8 perfluoroalkyl acid precursors (PFAA-precursors) were measured in municipal solid waste (MSW) leachate, construction and demolition debris (CDD) leachate, municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) ash leachate, gas condensate, stormwater, and groundwater from landfills. Based on the median, results show that PFAS levels in MSW leachate were highest (10,000 ng/L), CDD leachate were intermediate (6,200 ng/L), and MSWI ash leachate were lowest (1,300 ng/L) among the leachates evaluated. PFAS levels in gas condensate (7,000 ng/L) were similar to MSW leachate. PFAS in stormwater and groundwater were low (medians were less than 500 ng/L). Dominant subgroups included PFCAs and PFAA-precursors in all leachates, PFSAs also in CDD leachate, PFAA-precursors in gas condensate, and PFCAs in stormwater and groundwater. Landfill characteristics significantly correlated with ∑26PFAS included waste proportions (percentage of MSWI ash in landfill, |rs| = 0.22), operational status (active or not, |rs| = 0.27) and rainfall (30-day cumulative rainfall, |rs| = 0.39). The results from this study can be used to prioritize which landfills and which reservoir of liquids (and corresponding subgroup of PFAS) to target for PFAS management.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Evaluation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Leachate, Gas Condensate, Stormwater and Groundwater at Landfills
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