Occurrence and source apportionment of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in the atmosphere in China
By Deming Han, Yingge Ma, Cheng Huang, Xufeng Zhang, Hao Xu, Yong Zhou, Shan Liang,
Xiaojia Chen, Xiqian Huang, Haoxiang Liao, Shuang Fu, Xue Hu, and Jinping Cheng
Atmos. Chem. and Phy.
November 12, 2019
DOI: 10.5194/acp-2019-676
Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are a form of toxic pollutant that can be transported across the globe and accumulated in the bodies of wildlife and humans. A nationwide geographical investigation considering atmospheric PFAAs was conducted in China, which provides an excellent chance to investigate their occurences, spatial trends, and potential sources. The total concentrations of thirteen PFAAs were 6.19–292.6 pg/m³, with an average value of 39.8 ± 28.1 pg/m³, which were higher than other urban levels but lower than point source measurements. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was the dominant PFAAs (20.6 %), followed by perfluoro–hexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and perfluoro–heptanoic acid (PFPeA). An increasing seasonal trend of PFAAs concentrations was shown as summer eastern areas > western areas, and Henan contributed as the largest proportion of PFAAs. Four sources of PFAAs were identified using a positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, including PFOS–based products (26.1 %), PFOA–based, and PFNA–based products (36.6 %), degradation products of fluoro–telomere–based products (15.5 %), and an unknown source (21.8 %).
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