Open dumps as a critical source of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances in agricultural soils of Pakistan: Evidence of trifluoroacetic acid dominance
By Amina Amanat, Mujtaba Baqar, Maosen Zhao, Faiqa Faryal, Mehmood Aslam, Muhammad Salman Mukhtar, Yiming Yao, and Hongwen Sun
Environ Pollut
February 14, 2026
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127829
Waste disposal has emerged as a significant source of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment. In South Asia, a notable research gap exists concerning open dumping, a prevalent waste disposal method in the region. This study investigated fifty-three targeted PFAS in agricultural soils surrounding twenty-four disposal sites across thirteen districts of Pakistan. The soils exhibited ubiquitous PFAS contamination, with forty-three PFAS being detected. Total PFAS concentrations (∑ PFAS) ranged from 29.8 to 703 ng/g (mean: 242 ng/g), with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) showing the highest contamination levels (range: not detected (ND) - 672 ng/g; median: 150 ng/g), followed by 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTSA) and perfluoroalkyl butanoic acid (PFBA), with mean concentrations of 21.7 ng/g and 5.52 ng/g, respectively. A relatively higher ∑ PFAS concentration was observed in close proximity to urban regions (urban: 182-539 ng/g; rural: 88-209 ng/g), suggesting greater contributions from the urban waste stream. To evaluate potential human health risks, the estimated daily intake (EDI) for ∑ PFAS was calculated. The EDI ranged from 0.85 to 2.61 ng/kg.bw/day for children and 0.10 to 0.30 ng/kg.bw/day for adults at median (50) and upper percentile (95), respectively, exceeding values reported in previous studies by 5 to 17 times. Notably, EDI for children at upper percentile concentrations exceeded the European tolerable daily intake value, set at 0.63 ng/kg.bw/day. By addressing a key research gap, these findings provide essential evidence for policy action to phase out open dumping of waste and mitigate PFAS risks, safeguarding public health.
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