Distribution of perfluoroalkyl compounds in seawater from Northern Europe, Atlantic Ocean, and Southern Ocean

Abstract

The global distribution of perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) were investigated in surface water samples collected onboard the Polarstem in Northern Europe, Atlantic and Southern Ocean (52 degrees N-69 degrees S) in 2008. The water samples were solid-phase extracted with Oasis WAX cartridges and analysed using the high-performance liquid chromatography interfaced to tandem mass spectrometry. Concentrations of various PFCs, including C-4, C-6, C-8 perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs), perfluorooctane sulfinate (PFOSi), C-5-C-12 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCA) and perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA) were quantified. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were the predominant compounds with a maximum concentration of 232 and 223 pg L-1, respectively. Results indicate that industrial areas like the European Continent act as source of PFCs, while ocean water is an important as a sink as well as the transport medium of these compounds. Interestingly, in the equator area the Sigma PFC concentration increased, which indicates that there exists an atmospheric or other unknown input source of PFCs. In the Southern Ocean only PFOS was detected which could be caused by atmospheric transport of its precursors. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

PFCs; PFOA; PFOS; Surface water; Southern Ocean; Atlantic Ocean

Published in

Chemosphere
2010, Volume: 78, number: 8, pages: 1011-1016
Publisher: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

UKÄ Subject classification

Organic Chemistry
Analytical Chemistry
Environmental Sciences


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2009.11.038

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/53655