Field study on the uptake and translocation of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in biosolids-amended soils

Field experiments were performed to evaluate the uptake and translocation of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in soils amended with biosolids at different rates. Nine perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) and three perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSAs) were detected in the soils and wheat tissues. Total concentrations of PFAAs in the soils and wheat root, straw, husk and grain increased with increasing application of biosolids. PFCA concentrations in grain increased logarithmically with increasing PFCA concentrations in soils (P < 0.01) while PFSAs in grain were correlated linearly with PFSA concentrations in soils (P < 0.01), indicating that PFCAs and PFSAs may have different transport pathways from soil to grain. While no significant correlation was found between the root concentration factors (C-root/C-soil) and PFAA carbon chain length, the transfer factors from roots to straws (C-straw/C-root) and from straws to grains (C-grain/C-straw) correlated negatively with PFAA carbon chain length (P < 0.01). (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.