Determination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in air samples from urban areas close to industrial complexes and human risk assessment
摘要
An analytical method based on PM10 active sampling followed by pressurized liquid extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was developed to determine 20 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). The method had good quality parameters, with method detection limits between 0.01 and 0.30 pg m−3, method quantification limits between 0.57 and 1.8 pg m−3, and recoveries above 75% for all target compounds. Analysis of air samples from two urban locations near industrial zones in Tarragona (Spain) revealed the widespread occurrence of PFASs, with perfluoro-n-butanoic acid (PFBA), perfluoro-n-pentanoic acid (PFPA), and sodium perfluoro-1-octanesulfonate (PFOS) as the most prevalent compounds at both sites. These three compounds were detected in all the samples analyzed, with the highest concentrations being 202 pg m−3 for PFBA, 178 pg m−3 for PFPA, and 109 pg m−3 for PFOS. Estimated daily intakes were calculated for infants, children, and adults under two scenarios. Risk assessment results showed individual non-carcinogenic risk values ranging from 2.4E-08 for perfluoro-n-undecanoic acid (PFUnDA) to 3.8E-01 for perfluoro-n-decanoic acid (PFDA), with the sum of all values remaining below the benchmark of 1, indicating that the risk is low. The compounds contributing most to the non-carcinogenic risk were PFDA (66.6%), PFOS (28.2%), and perfluoro-n-octanoic acid (PFOA, 5.10%). The carcinogenic risk was assessed for PFOS and PFOA, with the combined values in the range of 1.2E-06 to 3.7E-05, indicating also a low risk.