Perfluoroalkyl acids in rapidly developing coastal areas of China and South Korea: Spatiotemporal variation and source apportionment

Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are recognized as emerging contaminants that have captured worldwide attention. They are primarily transported in environments and spread around the globe due to their persistent and bioaccumulative characteristics. In this study, 15 PFASs were detected in major rivers of the rapidly developing coastal areas of China and South Korea. The concentrations and compositions of these PFASs varied greatly between different regions along the coastline. The total concentrations ranged from 14.9 to 16,500 ng L-1, and the mean concentrations of Sigma(15)PFASs in Liaodong Bay, Bohai Bay, Laizhou Bay, and the west coast of South Korea were 124 ng L-1, 81.4 ng L-1, 1550 ng L-1, and 36.2 ng L-1, respectively. In Laizhou Bay, the relatively high perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was due to the high usage and manufacturing of PFOA-containing products and contributed 59% of the total compounds. In Liaodong Bay and Bohai Bay, PFBA and PFOA were the most abundant compounds, accounting for >55% of the total compounds. Along the west coast of South Korea, PFBA and PFPeA were the most prevalent compounds, contributing 28% and 24% of the total compounds, respectively. The data collected in the last decade were analyzed to investigate the temporal trends of selected PFASs. The total concentration of Sigma(10) PFASs decreased in both China and South Korea, while the proportion of short-chain PFASs increased. The proportion of C-4-C-7 PFCAs in South Korea rapidly increased from 46% to 79% but decreased from 49% to 43% in China. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) model successfully addressed the site-specific source apportionment, which showed that 53% of the PFASs in Laizhou Bay were due to fluorine manufacturing. The results of this study provide novel insights into elucidating the spatiotemporal distribution and complicated sources of PFASs over a large area and provide a clear message for all stakeholders, water and coastal managers, and scientists. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are recognized as emerging contaminants that have captured worldwide attention due to their persistent and bioaccumulative characteristics. This study detected 15 PFASs in major rivers of rapidly developing coastal areas of China and South Korea, showing significant variations in concentrations and compositions among different regions. Time-trend analysis revealed a decrease in total PFASs concentrations in both China and South Korea, while the proportion of short-chain PFASs increased.