Temporal monitoring of perfluorooctane sulfonate accumulation in aquatic biota downstream of historical aqueous film forming foam use areas

Abstract

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have recently received increased research attention, particularly concerning aquatic organisms and in regions of exposure to aqueous film forming foams (AFFFs). Air Force bases historically applied AFFFs in the interest of fire training exercises and have since expressed concern for PFAS contamination in biota from water bodies surrounding former fire training areas. Six PFAS were monitored, including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), in aquatic species from 8 bayou locations at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana (USA) over the course of 1 yr. The focus was to evaluate temporal and spatial variability in PFAS concentrations from historic use of AFFF. The PFOS concentrations in fish peaked in early summer, and also increased significantly downstream of former fire training areas. Benthic organisms had lower PFOS concentrations than pelagic species, contrary to previous literature observations. Bioconcentration factors varied with time but were reduced compared with previously reported literature values. The highest concentration of PFOS in whole fish was 9349 ng/g dry weight, with 15% of samples exceeding what is believed to be the maximum whole fish concentration reported to date of 1500 ng/g wet weight. Further studies are ongoing, to measure PFAS in larger fish and tissue-specific partitioning data to compare with the current whole fish values. The high concentrations presently observed could have effects on higher trophic level organisms in this system or pose a potential risk to humans consuming contaminated fish. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2022-2029. © 2016 SETAC.

Ecological risk assessment of perfluooroctane sulfonate to aquatic fauna from a bayou adjacent to former fire training areas at a US Air Force installation

“…Lanza et al () and Lanza () report whole‐organism and tissue‐specific residue concentrations for PFASs in fish collected from Barksdale Air Force Base. These data were compared to tissue‐residue NOECs and LOECs from Wang et al (; whole organism) and Ankley et al (; liver tissue).…”

“…Like many others, we used the lone standard USEPA method (537; Shoemaker et al ) available as the basis for analysis of surface water and sediment extracts, despite the method being limited to finished drinking water. For tissue samples, additional methods were developed, primarily quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe–(QuEChERS) based tissue extractions (Lanza et al ; Karnjanapiboonwong et al ) prior to liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. We followed many of the quality assurance/control criteria described in USEPA Method 537 (for example, analytes within 70–130% of their true value for each calibration standard, initial calibration verification, continuing calibration verification ± 30% of true value, surrogates, internal standards, laboratory control samples, matrix spikes) in an effort to ensure data of the highest quality attainable.…”

Ambient levels of PFOS and PFOA in multiple environmental media

“…As shown in Exhibit , three studies were identified (Awad et al., ; De Silva et al., ; Kannan et al., ) that contained whole body freshwater fish results for PFOS and PFOA, one additional site with results for just PFOA (DuPont, ), and two sites with results for just PFOS (although some other PFAS were also detected) (Lanza et al., ; OECD, ). Five results reported from the Great Lakes exhibited mean concentrations of PFOS ranging from 2.3 to 96 μg/kg ww, while two results from Canada exhibited concentrations ranging from 13.6 to 58 μg/kg ww.…”

“…Five results reported from the Great Lakes exhibited mean concentrations of PFOS ranging from 2.3 to 96 μg/kg ww, while two results from Canada exhibited concentrations ranging from 13.6 to 58 μg/kg ww. A recent study from Air Force Base (AFB; Bossier City, Louisiana) reports geometric mean whole fish homogenate PFOS background concentrations at 113 μg/kg dw (Lanza et al., ; ww whole fish homogenate data may reflect lower PFAS levels). Five results reported from the Great Lakes, plus one additional U.S. result, exhibited mean concentrations of PFOA ranging from <0.42 to 1.83 μg/kg ww, while the two results from Canada exhibited concentrations ranging from <0.1 to 0.4 μg/kg ww.…”

Per‐ and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Anglers May Be Exposed to Harmful Chemicals in Their Catch

“…; Lanza et al. ). In the United States, most Department of Defense facilities with aircraft runways are still required to keep and annually test PFAS‐containing AFFF foam for use on aircraft crashes (Kempisty et al.…”