Spatial and Temporal Trends of Perfluoroalkyl Substances in Global Ocean and Coastal Waters

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been widely detected in global surface waters since the early 2000s. Here, we have compiled and analyzed the published data for perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs) and perfluorosulfonates (PFSAs) in surface waters of coastal seas, the Great Lakes, and open oceans to examine temporal and geospatial trends. Mass discharges from major rivers were also estimated. A large number of measurements of individual PFAS have been made in these surface waters (29 500 values), with seven C4-C10 PFSAs and nine C4-C12 PFCAs accounting for 83% of all data. However, most results (85% for PFSAs; 80% for PFCAs) were for the coastal seas of Western Europe, China, Korea, and Japan, while results were limited for coastal North America and lacking for South America and Africa. Highest median concentrations of PFCAs and PFSAs were reported in the Bohai and Yellow Seas region of China as well as in the North and Baltic seas in Europe. Significant declines in median PFSAs and C7-C12 PFCAs were also observed for the period 2012-2018 in these same regions, and for 2004-2017 in the Great Lakes. Mass discharge estimates indicated continued substantial riverine emissions of long chain (C7-C12) PFCAs in the period 2015-2019 for the coastal seas of China and reductions in emissions for Western European rivers compared to earlier time periods.

Automated summary

PFAS, specifically PFCAs and PFSAs, have been widely detected in global surface waters since the early 2000s. The majority of measurements come from coastal seas in Western Europe, China, Korea, and Japan, with highest median concentrations reported in China's Bohai and Yellow Seas region as well as Europe's North and Baltic seas. Significant declines in median PFSAs and C7-C12 PFCAs were observed in the period 2012-2018 in these regions, and for 2004-2017 in the Great Lakes. Mass discharge estimates indicate continued substantial riverine emissions of long chain PFCAs in the coastal seas of China and reductions in emissions for Western European rivers compared to earlier time periods.