Perfluorooctanoate and perfluorooctane sulfonate in South African river water

Abstract

This study examined the prevalence of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in river water samples (n = 56) and suspended solids (n = 5) from three major Western Cape rivers, in South Africa. Solid phase extraction (SPE) followed by liquid chromatography combined with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using an analytical method developed in ISO 25101 (2009), PFOS and PFOA concentration in river water and in suspended solids from the rivers was investigated and quantified. From the results, PFOA and PFOS were detected in all the river water samples and were found in concentrations up to 314 and 182 ng/L for Diep River; 390 and 47 ng/L for Salt River; and 146 and 23 ng/L for Eerste River, respectively. In suspended solids, concentrations for PFOS and PFOA were 28 and 26 ng/g for Diep River; 16 and less than limit of detection for Eerste River; and 14 and 5 ng/g for Salt River, respectively. Some of these concentrations are higher than those previously reported in similar studies in various countries, and this suggests there is a cause for concern, in the Western Cape, South Africa, particularly in catchments where river and ground water is drawn for agricultural purposes in the province.

Pathways and factors for food safety and food security at PFOS contaminated sites within a problem based learning approach

“…The proposed range of PFOS contamination in water (1-100 ng L À1 ) for this study are in line with those recently measured in surface and ground (tap) water in the North East part of Italy, under the impact of a PFAS production plant (Polesello and Valsecchi, 2013), and also in the range of European inventoried concentration in ground water (average 4 ng L À1 , max 135 ng L À1 ). Also levels in European river waters (average 39 ng L À1 ; max 1371 ng L À1 ) (Loos et al, 2009(Loos et al, , 2010 and those in a Swiss river (Huset et al, 2008) and majority of monitored rivers in South Africa (Mudumbi et al, 2013) are within the modeled range. In a few cases river waters such as one of the investigated rivers in South Africa (182 ng L À1 ) have levels above the here modeled concentrations (<100 ng).…”

“…Also if such highly polluted water has been used for irrigation of food or cattle producing areas particular concern also for food and animal products produced on these areas exist. This threat is also highlighted in the monitoring study of PFOS/PFOA levels in South African rivers (Mudumbi et al, 2013).…”

“…For other scenarios with e.g. higher levels of PFOS in drinking water (Oliaei et al, 2013) or ground water (Weber et al, 2011) or river water (Mudumbi et al, 2013) used as drinking water source, this exposure pathway can become a more relevant source of human intake. Also if such highly polluted water has been used for irrigation of food or cattle producing areas particular concern also for food and animal products produced on these areas exist.…”

Propensity of Tagetes erecta L., a Medicinal Plant Commonly Used in Diabetes Management, to Accumulate Perfluoroalkyl Substances

“…River water was randomly collected in PP containers of 25 L capacity, from a local Western Cape river (i.e., Salt River) previously known to be contaminated with PFASs [29], and the PFASs analyses were carried out based on the same source protocols, with negligible changes. Hence, from this water, a total of twenty samples ( n = 20) was randomly taken from the river water to irrigate the plants.…”

“…Furthermore, a study by Tian et al [27] determined that plant leaves are effective in taking up PFASs from the atmosphere, with previous studies by Blaine et al [28] reporting the bioaccumulation of various perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in edible crops, including lettuce ( Lactuca sativa) and strawberry ( Fragaria ananassa ), suggesting these crops are a potential route of exposure for humans. In most instances, it is contaminated river water and fertilizer, as well as aero-deposition, that results in the contamination of these plants [29,30]. Nevertheless, due to limited available evidence on the contamination of medicinal plants by PFASs [15], the possibility that these plants are a pathway through which humans are likely to be exposed to PFASs is still to be established.…”