Publications (29) View all
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Article: Quantifying diffuse and point inputs of perfluoroalkyl acids in a nonindustrial river catchment.
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ABSTRACT: Recently, the role of diffuse inputs of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) into surface waters has been investigated. It has been observed that river loads increased during rain and that street runoff contained considerable loads of PFAAs. This study aims at quantifying these diffuse inputs and identifying the initial sources in a small nonindustrial river catchment. The river was sampled in three distinct subcatchments (rural, urban, and wastewater treatment plant) at high temporal resolution during two rain events and samples were analyzed for perfluorocarboxylates and perfluorosulfonates. Additionally, rain, stormwater runoff, wastewater effluent, and drinking water were sampled. PFAA concentrations in river water were all low (e.g., < 10 ng/L for perfluorooctanoate, PFOA), but increased during rainfall. PFAA concentrations and water discharge data were integrated into a mass balance assessment that shows that 30-60% of PFAA loads can be attributed to diffuse inputs. Rain contributed 10-50% of the overall loads, mobilization of dry deposition and outdoor release of PFAA from products with 20-60%. We estimated that within a year 2.5-5 g of PFOA originating from rain and surface runoff are emitted into this small catchment (6 km(2), 12,500 persons).Environmental Science & Technology 12/2011; 45(23):9901-9. · 4.80 Impact Factor -
Article: Identification of perfluoroalkyl acid sources in Swiss surface waters with the help of the artificial sweetener acesulfame.
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ABSTRACT: Anthropogenic perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), especially the perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are ubiquitously found in surface waters around the globe. Emissions from households, industries and also atmospheric transport/deposition are discussed as the possible sources. In this study, these sources are evaluated using Switzerland as the study area. Forty-four surface water locations in different rivers and an Alpine lake were investigated for 14 PFAAs, four precursors and acesulfame, an artificial sweetener used as a population marker. Concentrations of individual PFAAs were generally low, between 0.02 and 10 ng/L. Correlation analysis showed that some PFAAs concentrations correlated well with population and less with catchment area, indicating that emissions from population, i.e., from consumer products, is the most important source to surface waters in Switzerland. The correlation with the population marker acesulfame confirmed this observation but highlighted also a few elevated PFAA levels, some of which could be attributed to industrial emissions.Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex: 1987) 02/2011; 159(5):1419-26. · 3.43 Impact Factor -
Article: Long-chain perfluorinated chemicals in digested sewage sludges in Switzerland.
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ABSTRACT: This study focused on the occurrence of long-chain perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in anaerobically stabilized sewage sludges from 20 municipal WWTPs using current and historic samples to evaluate the levels of PFCs and to identify the relative importance of commercial and industrial sources. A quantitative analytical method was developed based on solvent extraction of the analytes and a LC-MS/MS system. For total perfluoralkyl carboxylates (PFCAs), the concentrations ranged from 14 to 50 μg/kg dry matter. Concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) ranged from 15 to 600 μg/kg dry matter. In three WWTPs, the PFOS levels were six to nine times higher than the average values measured in the other plants. These elevated PFOS concentrations did not correlate with higher levels of PFCAs, indicating specific additional local sources for PFOS at these WWTPs. Average concentrations in selected samples from the years 1993, 2002, and 2008 did not change significantly.Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex: 1987) 11/2010; 159(2):654-62. · 3.43 Impact Factor -
Article: Comparison of two extraction methods for the analysis of per- and polyfluorinated chemicals in digested sewage sludge.
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ABSTRACT: A rapid and reliable analytical method, based on ion-pair extraction, clean-up on Envicarb cartridge and detection by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), was developed for determination of 17 per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in digested sewage sludge. Envicarb cartridge and six labeled internal standards were selected for the elimination/reduction and correction of matrix effects, respectively. As a result, the matrix effect for perfluorooctane sulfonamides (FOSAs) and perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) with carbon chain length from C6 to C14 was lowered to a range of -14% to +28%. However, the matrix effect for other analytes was still great mainly due to the absence of appropriate internal standard. Mean recoveries of the target analytes based on matrix spikes, at different spike levels (10-300ng/g), ranged from 70% to 169%. Relative standard deviations (RSDs) were in the range of 2-20% at different spike levels. The limit of quantification (LOQ) ranged between 0.6 and 30ng/g. The method was successfully applied to several sewage sludge samples from wastewater treatment plants nearby Zürich, Switzerland. In addition, by comparing the accuracy and precision of ion-pair extraction method and methanol extraction method, we further demonstrated that the ion-pair extraction method can be used for the analysis of PFCs in sludge samples. To our knowledge, this is the first study to extract the PFCs in sewage sludge with ion-pair method and to find unsaturated fluorotelomer carboxylic acids (FTUCAs) in sewage sludge.Journal of chromatography. A 07/2010; 1217(31):5026-34. · 4.19 Impact Factor -
Article: [Analysis of perfluorinated compounds in sludge by liquid extraction and high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry].
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ABSTRACT: Perfluorinated compounds are emerging persistent organic pollutants. Wastewater treatment plants are reported to be one of their primary sources. However, a standard analytical method for sludge samples has not been set up. A novel and rapid analytical method based on the liquid extraction, followed by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was set up for 7 perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) and their precursors, 6:2 and 8:2 unsaturated flourotelomer carboxylic acids (FTUCAs), and 2 perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFASs) and their precursors, 5 derivates of sulfonamide in sludge. The parameters of methanol extraction, including pH, sonication temperature and time, and eluent volume were optimized. The extraction method was optimized as neutral extraction under sonication at 40 degrees C for 10 min, and it was successfully used for the analysis of perfluorinated compounds in the sludge samples. The linear calibration curves were obtained in the ranges of 0.1-20 microg/L for PFCAs and 6: 2/8: 2 FTUCA and 0.25-50 microg/L for PFASs and their precusors with linear correlation coefficients larger than 0.99. The recoveries of the target compounds ranged from 74% to 141% (except for FTUCAs) and the limits of quantification ranged from 0.6 to 30 microg/kg (dry weight). The use of internal standards can well correct the ion suppression (or enhancement) induced by co-eluting components present in the sample extracts, and improve the quantitative accuracy.Se pu = Chinese journal of chromatography / Zhongguo hua xue hui 05/2010; 28(5):498-502.
