Field-Based Distribution and Bioaccumulation Factors for Cyclic and Aliphatic Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in an Urban Sedentary Waterbird Population
Drew Szabo, Damien Moodie, Mark P. Green, Raoul A. Mulder, Bradley O. Clarke
Abstract
The field-based distribution and bioaccumulation factor (BAF) for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were determined in residential Black Swans (Cygnus atratus) from an urban lake (Melbourne, Australia). The concentrations of 46 aliphatic and cyclic PFASs were determined by HPLC-MS/MS in serum and excrement from swans, and water, sediment, aquatic macrophytes, soil, and grass samples in and around the lake. Elevated concentrations of ∑46PFASs were detected in serum (120 ng mL–1) and excrement (110 ng g–1 dw) were strongly related indicating a potential noninvasive sampling methodology. Environmental concentrations of PFASs were consistent with a highly impacted ecosystem and notably high concentrations of perfluoro-4-ethylcyclohexanesulfonate (PFECHS, 67584–42–3; C8HF15SO3) were detected in water (27 ng L–1) and swan serum (16 ng mL–1). In the absence of credible putative alternative sources of PFECHS input to the lake, we propose that the use of high-performance motorsport vehicles is a likely source of contamination to this ecosystem. The BAF of perfluorocarboxylic acids increased with each additional CF2 moiety from PFOA (15.7 L kg–1 ww) to PFDoDA (3615 L kg–1 ww). The BAF of PFECHS was estimated as 593 L kg–1 ww, which is lower compared with that of PFOS (1097 L kg–1 ww).