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Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1021/acs.est.1c07949
Title (Primary) Ultra-short-chain PFASs in the sources of German drinking water: Prevalent, overlooked, difficult to remove, and unregulated
Author Neuwald, I.J.; Hübner, D.; Wiegand, H.L.; Valkov, V.; Borchers, U.; Nödler, K.; Scheurer, M.; Hale, S.E.; Arp, H.P.H.; Zahn, D. ORCID logo
Source Titel Environmental Science & Technology
Year 2022
Department ANA
Volume 56
Issue 10
Page From 6380
Page To 6390
Language englisch
Topic T9 Healthy Planet
Supplements https://ndownloader.figstatic.com/files/35001223
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Keywords monitoring; sum parameters; trifluoroacetate (TFA); trifluoromethanesulfonate (TFMS); perfluoropropanoate (PFPrA); hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP); bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (NTf2); tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate (FAP)
Abstract Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been a focal point of environmental chemistry and chemical regulation in recent years, culminating in a shift from individual PFAS regulation toward a PFAS group regulatory approach in Europe. PFASs are a highly diverse group of substances, and knowledge about this group is still scarce beyond the well-studied, legacy long-chain, and short-chain perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs) and perfluorosulfonates (PFSAs). Herein, quantitative and semiquantitative data for 43 legacy short-chain and ultra-short-chain PFASs (≤2 perfluorocarbon atoms for PFCAs, ≤3 for PFSAs and other PFASs) in 46 water samples collected from 13 different sources of German drinking water are presented. The PFASs considered include novel compounds like hexafluoroisopropanol, bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, and tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate. The ultra-short-chain PFASs trifluoroacetate, perfluoropropanoate, and trifluoromethanesulfonate were ubiquitous and present at the highest concentrations (98% of sum target PFAS concentrations). “PFAS total” parameters like the adsorbable organic fluorine (AOF) and total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay were found to provide only an incomplete picture of PFAS contamination in these water samples by not capturing these highly prevalent ultra-short-chain PFASs. These ultra-short-chain PFASs represent a major challenge for drinking water production and show that regulation in the form of preventive measures is required to manage them.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=26247
Neuwald, I.J., Hübner, D., Wiegand, H.L., Valkov, V., Borchers, U., Nödler, K., Scheurer, M., Hale, S.E., Arp, H.P.H., Zahn, D. (2022):
Ultra-short-chain PFASs in the sources of German drinking water: Prevalent, overlooked, difficult to remove, and unregulated
Environ. Sci. Technol. 56 (10), 6380 - 6390 10.1021/acs.est.1c07949