HA12 Environmental Risk Assessment: Global Perspectives
B115 & B116
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Thursday
() Fate and distribution of Perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS) in the Nordic environment.
Kallenborn, R1, Berger, U1, Jaernberg, U2, 1 Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), Kjeller and Tromsų, Norway2 Institute for Applied Environmental Research (ITM), Stockholm, Sweden
ABSTRACT- Perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS) have been industrially produced for several decades and are applied as stain and water repellents for surface treatment of textiles, carpets, leather and paper products. During the past years PFAS related chemicals have been identified in international studies as relevant environmental contaminants in virtually all environmental compartments. Due to the already documented ubiquitous distribution in the environment, a first screening project on fate and distribution of PFAS related compounds has been initiated as a co-operative study between six Nordic countries (Danmark, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland). 6 PFAS compounds PFOS, PFOA, PFOSA, PFHxA, PFNA, PFHxS) were analysed in 119 environmental samples covering seawater, rain water, fresh water, sewage sludge, sewage effluent, landfill effluent, seabird eggs (Fulmar) and liver samples from 15 species of marine and freshwater fish as well as marine mammals. PFAS residues were found in all environmental matrices analysed. Specific matrix- dependent distribution patterns were found. PFOS and PFOA were usually dominating in abiotic samples whereas PFOS and PFOSA were the predominant PFAS residues in biota. The PFAS levels found were usually in the same order of magnitude or even higher than reported for conventional (legacy) persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Based on the here presented results, PFAS compounds were identified as chemicals with considerable potential environmental impact on the European Nordic environment.
Key words: Nordic environment, Perfluorinated chemicals, Screening