Levels and distribution of perfluorinated compounds in water and biological samples from the Shenyang area, China

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) were quantified in samples collected from different surface waters, groundwaters and biota in the Shenyang area by HPLC/negative ESI/MS/MS. The human health risk of intake of PFOS (perfluoroalkylsulfonates) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) via drinking water, fish and domestic poultry were evaluated. The total PFCs in surface water samples from branches of the Liaohe River ranged from nondetectable to 6.01, averaging 5.23 ng · L^-1. PFOS and PFOA were the main PFCs, with a range of nd ~2.83 (average 1.11) ng · L^-1 and nd ~5.71 (average 2.13) ng · L^-1, respectively. The average PFOS concentration in the Xi River waters was twice that of the Hun River waters, and 3 times higher than that of the Pu River waters. There were positive correlations among several PFCs, suggesting a common source. There was no relationship between PFOS and PFOA, suggesting they were from different sources in the city of Shenyang. Concentrations of PFOS and PFOA in the Hun River increased towards Shenyang and PFOS and PFHxS (perfluorohexanesulfonate) were significantly higher in the section of the Hun River downstream of Shenyang. PFHxS also occurred in the Xi River which receives sewage from Shenyang, indicating that urban sewage was the source of PFOS and PFHxS in surface waters in this area. Concentrations of PFOS and PFOA in the rainy season showed no significant difference from the dry season in Hun River water, but more PFCs occurred in the rainy season, characterized by a substantial increase of PFHpA (perfluoroheptanoic acid). The mean concentrations of PFOS and PFOA in tap water from Shenyang were 0.39 and 0.85 ng · L^-1, with maximum levels of 1.16 and 2.55 ng · L^-1, respectively. All samples were below the US drinking water reference values for human health. PFOS and PFUnDA (perfluoroundecanoic acid) were the most abundant compounds in the biota samples. The mean concentrations of PFCs in fish were 6.59 ng · g^-1 dry weight. For chicken and duck, levels were 1.65 and 0.69 ng · mL^-1 in the serum samples and 0.41 and 1.68 ng · g^-1 dry weight in the liver samples, showing a relatively low PFC pollutant level compared with those reported in other countries.