Perfluorinated Carbon Chain Length Drives Uptake of Diverse Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Field-Deployed Passive Samplers

Authors

Matthew Dunn, University of Rhode Island
Jitka Becanova, University of Rhode IslandFollow
Simon Vojta, University of Rhode Island
Heidi Pickard
Rainer Lohmann, University of Rhode IslandFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

2025

Department

Oceanography

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of compounds of high concern due to their ubiquity, persistence, and adverse health impacts. With a diversity of chemical structures and properties, detection tools are needed to capture as many PFAS as possible. In this study, a microporous polyethylene tube (MPT) passive sampler was calibrated for 25 target compounds, 8 suspect PFAS, and extractable organofluorine (EOF) during 1–2 week deployments in groundwater, freshwater river, and estuary contaminated by aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). Targeted analysis, suspect screening, and EOF were performed on passive and grab samples to derive sampling rates, R_s. Median measured and fluorine-normalized estimated EOF R_s in groundwater (7.1 vs 8.4 mL day^–1 respectively) and river water (55 vs 66 mL day^–1 respectively) were within 20% of each other. For suspect PFAS, R_s were similar to targeted PFAS of alike functional group chemistry and perfluorinated carbon chain length. For example, for 6:2 and 8:2 FTSAS-sulfoxide, estimated R_s values were 1.8 and 6.0 mL day^–1, respectively, similar to R_s measured for 6:2 and 8:2 FTS of 2.2 and 6.3 mL day^–1. These results suggest that targeted and suspect PFAS and EOF are predictably taken up by MPT samplers, expanding passive sampling capabilities.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

ACS ES&T Water

Volume

5

Issue

4

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Perfluorinated Carbon Chain Length Drives Uptake of Diverse Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Field-Deployed Passive Samplers. EST Water, 5(4), 1803-1813. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.4c01164

Available at: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.4c01164