US EPA

2589191 

Journal Article 

Distribution of perfluoroalkyl compounds in seawater from northern Europe, Atlantic Ocean, and Southern Ocean 

Ahrens, L; Xie, Z; Ebinghaus, R 

2010 

Yes 

Chemosphere
ISSN: 0045-6535
EISSN: 1879-1298 

78 

8 

1011-1016 

English 

20015534 

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2009.11.038 

WOS:000275522900011 

The global distribution of perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) were investigated in surface water samples collected onboard the Polarstern in Northern Europe, Atlantic and Southern Ocean (52 degrees N-69 degrees S) in 2008. The water samples were solid-phase extracted with Oasis WAX cartridges and analysed using the high-performance liquid chromatography interfaced to tandem mass spectrometry. Concentrations of various PFCs, including C(4), C(6), C(8) perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs), perfluorooctane sulfinate (PFOSi), C(5)-C(12) perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCA) and perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA) were quantified. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were the predominant compounds with a maximum concentration of 232 and 223pgL(-1), respectively. Results indicate that industrial areas like the European Continent act as source of PFCs, while ocean water is an important as a sink as well as the transport medium of these compounds. Interestingly, in the equator area the summation operatorPFC concentration increased, which indicates that there exists an atmospheric or other unknown input source of PFCs. In the Southern Ocean only PFOS was detected which could be caused by atmospheric transport of its precursors. 

PFCs; PFOA; PFOS; Surface water; Southern Ocean; Atlantic Ocean