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Factors Affecting the Distribution of Perfluorinated Compounds in Sediments from Lake Shihwa, Korea
Citation:
Naile, J., H. Yoo, T. Jenkins, AND J. Washington. Factors Affecting the Distribution of Perfluorinated Compounds in Sediments from Lake Shihwa, Korea. Presented at SETAC North America 33rd Annual Meeting, Long Beach, CA, November 11 - 15, 2012.
Impact/Purpose:
This is an abstract for the annual Society of Toxicology and Chemistry Meeting. The research described here will be useful for both scientists and regulators alike.
Description:
Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are ubiquitously distributed in various environmental media including water, soil, sediment, and biota. PFCs have also been shown to biomagnify in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. Lake Shihwa is an artificial saltwater lake, located on the west coast of Korea, which has been receiving industrial wastewater discharges from the Shihwa and Banweol Industrial complexes. Previous studies have reported elevated levels of PFCs in both water and biota samples. Sediment samples were collected from inside (n=12) and outside (n=21) the lake Shihwa industrial complex, where some on the highest ever measured water concentrations have been reported. Nine perfluorocarboxylate acids (PFCAs), five perfluorosulfonate acids (PFSAs) and six precursors (amides, acetates, and fluoro telomers) of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were surveyed using UPLC-MS-MS. In addition to determining sediment contamination profiles for PFCs and their precursor, other sediment physical characteristics were also measured to understand the key factors affecting distribution dynamics of these halogenated chemicals in this semi closed- artificial sea-lake environment. Interestingly, sampling locations where high waterborne or biota contamination had been previously reported coincided with highly contaminated sediment sites, supporting the existence of local point sources. Concentrations of PFCs ranged from below the method detection limit (MDL=150 ng/g) to as high 24,6805 ng/g dry weight. Two fluorotelomer alcohols (6:2FTS, 8:2 FTS) ranged from below the MDL(=100ng/g each ) to as great as 277and 226ng/g, respectively. In addition, two sulfonsmides (sFOSA, FOSAA), and two acetates (methylated, ethylated) were found at levels as high 32,172ng/g (EtFOSAA) and 2,006ng/g (MeFOSAA). The log-transformed distribution coefficient kd, was found to be significantly associated with fluorinated carbon number (0.18 increment per a pair of C-F unit addition), but there was no
