Sammanfattning

A combination of local (i.e. firefighting training facilities) and remote sources (i.e. long-range transport) is assumed to be responsible for the occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in Svalbard (Norwegian Arctic). However, no systematic elucidation of local PFASs sources has been conducted yet. Therefore, a survey was performed aiming at identifying local PFAS pollution sources on the island of Spitsbergen (Svalbard, Norway). Soil, freshwater (lake, draining rivers), seawater, meltwater run-off, surface snow and coastal sediment samples were collected from Longyearbyen (Norwegian mining town), Ny-angstrom lesund (research facility) and the Lake Linnevatnet area (background site) during several campaigns (2014-2016) and analysed for 14 individual target PFASs. For background site (Linnevatnet area, sampling during April to June 2015), sigma PFAS levels ranged from 0.4 to 4ng/L in surface lake water (n=20). PFAS in meltwater from the contributing glaciers showed similar concentrations (similar to 4ng/L, n=2). The short-chain perfluorobutanoate (PFBA) was predominant in lake water (60-80% of the sigma PFASs), meltwater (20-30%) and run-off water (40%). Long-range transport is assumed to be the major PFAS source. In Longyearbyen, five water samples (i.e. 2 seawater, 3 run-off) were collected near the local firefighting training site (FFTS) in November 2014 and June 2015, respectively. The highest PFAS levels were found in FFTS meltwater run-off (118ng/L). Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) was the most abundant compound in the FFTS meltwater run-off (53-58% PFASs). At the research station Ny-angstrom lesund, seawater (n=6), soil (n=9) and freshwater (n=10) were collected in June 2016. Low sigma PFAS concentrations were determined for seawater (5-6ng/L), whereas high sigma PFAS concentrations were found in run-off water (113-119ng/L) and soil (211-800ng/g dry weight (dw)) collected close to the local FFTS. In addition, high sigma PFAS levels (127ng/L) were also found in freshwater from lake Solvatnet close to former sewage treatment facility. Overall, at both FFTS-affected sites (soil, water), PFOS was the most abundant compound (60-69% of sigma PFASs). FFTS and landfill locations were identified as major PFAS sources for Svalbard settlements.

Nyckelord

Arctic; Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances; PFASs; Local sources; Pollutants; Environment; Svalbard; Source elucidation

Publicerad i

Environmental Science and Pollution Research
2019, Volym: 26, nummer: 8, sidor: 7356-7363

SLU författare

• Ahrens, Lutz

  • Institutionen för vatten och miljö, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

Globala målen

SDG3 God hälsa och välbefinnande
SDG6 Rent vatten och sanitet för alla
SDG14 Hav och marina resurser


UKÄ forskningsämne

Analytisk kemi


Publikationens identifierare

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2162-4

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/98212