Perfluoroalkyl substances in the Maltese environment – (I) surface water and rain water

Sammut, Godwin; Sinagra, Emmanuel; Helmus, Rick; Voogt, P. de

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.02.128

Cited by 48 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…21,[35][36][37] In the vast majority of studies published on PFCAs in air and in remote environments, transformation of FTOHs is discussed as the dominant source of PFAAs to the atmosphere. 21,[38][39][40] This study sets out to test whether inuence from other sources, such as sea spray and direct industrial emissions, can be observed in atmospheric samples. Currently, knowledge on the homologue patterns emitted from different sources and whether these patterns can be altered by fate processes is lacking.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial variation in the atmospheric deposition of perfluoroalkyl acids: source elucidation through analysis of isomer patterns

Johansson

Shi

Salter

et al. 2018

Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts

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To evaluate the relevance of different proposed sources of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) to air, their isomer patterns were analyzed in deposition samples collected from five geographical locations: two urban sites in China (>360 km from known operational fluorochemical manufacturing facilities), one remote marine site in the Azores archipelago and two Swedish sites representing urban and background conditions. Despite variable contributions from linear perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in the samples, the pattern of branched PFOA isomers was similar to those of technical standards manufactured using electrochemical fluorination (ECF). This indicates that atmospheric fate processes have little influence on the isomer profiles of PFOA and that the relative contribution of PFOA manufactured using ECF (typically 20-26% branched isomers) and telomerization (typically one single linear isomer) can be determined in atmospheric deposition samples by analyzing the proportions of branched and linear isomers. In Chinese samples, branched isomers contributed 15-25% to the total loading of PFOA, indicating that the samples were dominated by ECF PFOA. Samples in the Azores had 8-10% contribution from branched PFOA isomers, indicating an approximately equal influence of ECF and telomer sources. Only three of the samples collected in Sweden displayed a quantifiable contribution from branched PFOA isomers (8-13% of overall PFOA loading in the samples). One branched PFNA isomer was observed in samples from the marine sites. Direct manufacturing discharges, transport of sea spray aerosols and degradation of precursors are all suggested to be contributing sources, albeit to different extents, to PFAAs in air at the different geographical locations where precipitation was sampled.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial variation in the atmospheric deposition of perfluoroalkyl acids: source elucidation through analysis of isomer patterns

Johansson

Shi

Salter

et al. 2018

Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts

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“…This site is located in the inflow from the Edendalespruit, which mainly drains the agricultural area on the east side of the Roodeplaat dam catchment (Bosman and Kempster, 1985). As mentioned previously, some studies have noted the contribution of agricultural activities to the detection of PFASs (Sammut et al, 2017;Nascimento et al, 2018). This suggests that at Point B in the Roodeplaat Dam, PFAS concentrations may have been due to the agricultural activities around the Edendalespruit.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

“…Other studies have detected higher concentrations of shorter chain length compounds compared to the longer chain lengths (Yu et al, 2011;Lu et al, 2015;Sharma et al, 2016;Groffen et al, 2018). Studies by Sammut et al (2017) and Groffen et al (2018), conducted in the Maltese Islands and Vaal River, respectively, have reported lower concentrations of PFHpA than those detected in the Roodeplaat Dam.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Poly- and perfluorinated substances in environmental water from the Hartbeespoort and Roodeplaat Dams, South Africa

Batayi

Okonkwo

Daso

2021

WSA

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Concentrations of poly- and perfluorinated substances (PFASs) were determined in Hartbeespoort and Roodeplaat Dams, South Africa. Water samples were collected from the dams in February–March, and May–June, representing southern hemisphere summer and winter seasons, respectively. Solid phase extraction (SPE) was used to extract the analytes from the water samples and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) used for analysis. The mean PFAS concentrations detected ranged from 1.38–346.32 ng∙L-1 and 2.31–262.29 ng∙L-1 in the Hartbeespoort Dam and Roodeplaat Dam, respectively. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) were the most dominant PFASs detected. The PFAS concentrations detected were higher in summer than in winter, but the difference between seasons was not statistically significant (p = 1). Furthermore, the concentrations of short-chain PFASs were higher than the longer chains. Overall, the PFAS concentrations in the present study are comparable to those reported in other parts of South Africa, and also Ghana, higher than the concentrations reported in Uganda, Singapore, and Vietnam, and lower than those in Germany, Japan and China. The measured concentrations of PFOA and PFOS raise concerns of human exposure to these chemicals since they are above the USEPA advisory limit. This suggests that communities living within the vicinity of the dams are most likely to be exposed to these chemicals.

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“…The requirements for collected rainwater for washing purposes can be defined using three groups of factors: proper tank size, quality and safety of accumulated rainwater and washing quality based on outcome, results and users' satisfaction ( Figure 2). The quality and pollution of harvested rainwater depends on the environment, location, collection surface and the RWH system [31][32][33][34][35]. For the purposes of this analysis three areas of rainwater contamination have been identified (Figure 3).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In urban areas, roofs are contaminated with wind-blown dirt including heavy metals and nutrias, lichens and mosses, fungus, fecal droppings from birds and other animals, insects and litter, or fallen organic matter from the surroundings trees pollute the water [36]. Metal roofs are suitable for high quality of harvested rainwater-high temperature and ultraviolet light effectively The quality and pollution of harvested rainwater depends on the environment, location, collection surface and the RWH system [31][32][33][34][35]. For the purposes of this analysis three areas of rainwater contamination have been identified (Figure 3).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Quality of Stored Rainwater for Washing Purposes

Struk-Sokołowska

Gwoździej-Mazur

Jadwiszczak

et al. 2020

Water

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The use of rainwater for washing clothes is determined by its amount, composition and quality of washing. Raw rainwater is soft and free of pollution. The collected rainwater already contains pollution present in the atmosphere and washed away from roofs and other surfaces. It can also change its quality when stored in tanks. Washing clothes does not require drinking quality water but just clean, safe water that guarantees effective removal of dirt from fabrics. The study determined the physicochemical and microbiological changes of rainwater characteristics during retention. Rainwater was collected in a standard underground tank for 30 days and water analyses were conducted every 10 days. The possibility of tap water replacement in the household with collected rainwater for ecological clothes washing has been assessed.

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Perfluoroalkyl substances in the Maltese environment – (I) surface water and rain water

Cited by 48 publications

References 82 publications

Spatial variation in the atmospheric deposition of perfluoroalkyl acids: source elucidation through analysis of isomer patterns

Spatial variation in the atmospheric deposition of perfluoroalkyl acids: source elucidation through analysis of isomer patterns

Poly- and perfluorinated substances in environmental water from the Hartbeespoort and Roodeplaat Dams, South Africa

The Quality of Stored Rainwater for Washing Purposes

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