National Screening Study on 10 Perfluorinated Compounds in Raw and Treated Tap Water in France

Abstract

The occurrence of seven perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) and three perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFASs) was studied in raw- and treated-water samples from public water systems. Two sampling campaigns were performed during the summer of 2009 and in June 2010. Sampling was equally distributed across the 100 French departments. In total, 331 raw-water samples and 110 treated-water samples were analyzed during this study, representing approximately 20% of the national water supply flow. Concentrations of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) were determined using automated solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In raw-water samples, the highest individual PFC concentration was 139 ng/L for perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA). The sum of all of the determined components was >100 ng/L at three sampling points (199, 117, and 115 ng/L). Of the investigated PFCs, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and PFHxA predominated (detected in 27%, 13%, 11%, and 7% of samples, respectively). Geographical variability was observed, with departments crossed by major rivers or with high population densities being more affected by PFC contamination. Compared with raw water, short-chain PFCAs, but not PFASs, were found in higher abundance in treated water. This difference suggests a relative effectiveness of certain water treatments for the elimination of PFASs but also a possible degradation of PFCA precursors by water-treatment processes. Our investigations did not show any heavily contaminated sites. In treated-water samples, the highest individual PFC concentration was 125 ng/L for PFHxA. The sum of all of the determined components was >100 ng/L at one sampling point (156 ng/L). The values observed for PFOS and PFOA in drinking water were not greater than the health-based drinking-water concentration protectives for lifetime exposure that have been defined for other countries.

Safe Drinking Water? Effect of Wastewater Inputs and Source Water Impairment and Implications for Water Reuse

“…In a French drinking water study conducted by Boiteux et al [55], 331 source water and 110 finished drinking water samples were collected from several regions in France, representing 20% of the national water supply. Of the ten PFCs measured, PFOS, perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), PFOA, and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) predominated in the source waters (detected in 27%, 13%, 11%, and 7% of the samples, respectively).…”

Impact of certain household micropollutants on bacterial behavior. Toxicity tests/study of extracellular polymeric substances in sludge

“…The micropollutants present in the liquid and solid phases were extracted and analyzed as previously described (Boiteux et al, 2012;Pasquini et al, 2013). The target compounds were extracted from the liquid phase by Solid Phase Extraction (SPE).…”

Spatial distribution and partitioning behavior of selected poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances in freshwater ecosystems: A French nationwide survey

“…Clara et al (2009) evaluated the occurrence of perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs), carboxylates (PFCAs) and sulfonamides at national level, including sediments from 7 Austrian lakes and the river Danube, while Kwadijk et al (2010) investigated the spatial distribution, sediment-water distribution coefficient, and bioaccumulation factor of 15 selected PFASs across 21 locations in The Netherlands. Boiteux et al (2012) provided a first nationwide review of PFAS contamination in French raw and treated water for human consumption. In France, PFASs have been reported at relatively high levels in urban hydrosystems such as the River Seine and the River Orge (mean ∑ PFASs = 55 ng L − 1 and 73 ng L − 1 , respectively) (Labadie and Chevreuil, 2011a,b), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) and PFOS being the dominant congeners at these sites, and perfluorohexanoate (PFHxA) and PFOA the main PFCAs, as was also observed near the mouth of the river Seine (McLachlan et al, 2007).…”