Organophosphate Flame Retardants and Perfluoroalkyl Substances in Drinking Water Treatment Plants from Korea: Occurrence and Human Exposure

In this study, the concentrations of organophosphate flame retardants (OPFR) and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were investigated in raw water and treated water samples obtained from 18 drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). The n-ary sumation 13OPFR concentrations in the treated water samples (29.5-122 ng/L; median 47.5 ng/L) were lower than those in the raw water (37.7-231 ng/L; median 98.1 ng/L), which indicated the positive removal rates (0-80%) of n-ary sumation 13OPFR in the DWTPs. The removal efficiencies of n-ary sumation (27)PFAS in the DWTPs ranged from -200% to 50%, with the n-ary sumation (27)PFAS concentrations in the raw water (4.15-154 ng/L; median 32.0 ng/L) being similar to or lower than those in the treated water (4.74-116 ng/L; median 42.2 ng/L). Among OPFR, tris(chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP) and tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) were dominant in both raw water and treated water samples obtained from the DWTPs. The dominant PFAS (perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)) in the raw water samples were slightly different from those in the treated water samples (PFOA, L-perfluorohexane sulfonate (L-PFHxS), and PFHxA). The 95-percentile daily intakes of n-ary sumation 13OPFR and n-ary sumation (27)PFAS via drinking water consumption were estimated to be up to 4.9 ng/kg/d and 0.22 ng/kg/d, respectively. The hazard index values of OPFR and PFAS were lower than 1, suggesting the risks less than known hazardous levels.

Automated summary

The study revealed that the removal rates of organophosphate flame retardants and perfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water treatment plants were relatively high, with hazard index values lower than 1, indicating risks below known hazardous levels.