Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Street Sweepings

One hundred and seventeen street sweepingsamples were collected and analyzed for per- and polyfluoroalkylsubstances (PFAS). Fifty-six samples were collected in one city(Gainesville, Florida) allowing for an in-depth city-wide character-ization. Street sweepings fromfive other urban areas, (Orlando, n= 15; Key West, n = 15; Pensacola, n = 12; Tampa, n = 13; andDaytona Beach, n = 6) were analyzed to provide a city-to-citycomparison of PFAS. Within our analytical workflow, 37 PFASwere quantified across all samples, while the maximum number ofPFAS quantified at one site was 26. Of those PFAS quantified inGainesville, 60% were perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and 33% wereprecursors to PFAA. Among the PFAAs, short-chain perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acids (PFCAs) were the dominant class representing26% of the total PFAS by concentration. In the comparison across different urban cities, the dominant compound by concentrationand frequency of detection varied; however, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and linear perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOSlin) werethe two PFAS that were detected the most frequently. This study documents thefirst-time detection of hexadecafluorosebacic acidand perfluoro-3,6,9-trioxaundecane-1,11-dioic acid within environmental samples.

Automated summary

This study analyzed 117 street sweeping samples for PFAS, with 56 samples collected from Gainesville, Florida. PFCAs were the dominant class of PFAS in Gainesville, and PFOA and PFOSlin were the most frequently detected PFAS. Additionally, this study documented the first-time detection of hexadecafluorosebacic acid and perfluoro-3,6,9-trioxaundecane-1,11-dioic acid within environmental samples.