US EPA

4238287 

Journal Article 

Identification and quantification of linear and branched isomers of perfluorooctanoic and perfluorooctane sulfonic acids in contaminated groundwater in the veneto region 

Pellizzaro, A; Zaggia, A; Fant, M; Conte, L; Falletti, L 

2018 

Yes 

Journal of Chromatography A
ISSN: 0021-9673
EISSN: 1873-3778 

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV 

AMSTERDAM 

1533 

143-154 

English 

29269145 

10.1016/j.chroma.2017.12.036 

WOS:000424187500016 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021967317318150
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Perfluoroalkylated acids (PFAAs) are ubiquitous xenobiotic substances characterized by high persistency, bioaccumulation potential and toxicity. They have generated global concern because of their widespread presence both in water and biota compartments. In the past four years, alarming levels of these pollutants have been found in both surface and groundwater collected in an area covering more than 150 square kilometers in the south-western part of the province of Vicenza (Veneto region, Italy). One of the sources of the contamination recognized by local authorities is a fluorochemicals production plant that produced PFAAs since late sixties by electrochemical fluorination involving the obtainment of a complex mixture of linear and branched isomers. Branched isomers account for a significant part of total long chain homologues (22%-35%). Because of the potential threat to public health and the absence of specific limits set for these pollutants by Directive 98/83/EC, local authorities have established the following performance limits for drinking water: 90 ng L-1for PFOA + PFOS, (reduced to 40 ng L-1in the most contaminated municipalities), 30 ng L-1for PFOS and 300 ng L-1for the sum of all other PFAAs. Given the non-negligible incidence of branched isomers, it appears very important to correctly identify and quantify their contribution to total PFAAs. A liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem spectrometry LC-MS/MS method, coupled with solid phase extraction, was developed to identify and quantify 25 PFAAs including six branched isomers of PFOS and four branched isomers of PFOA. Expanded uncertainty, recovery and precision were determined and found to agree with the reference EPA method 537:2009. The quantification limit is comprised in the 1-5 ng L-1range. 

PFAAs; Mass spectrometry; Linear and branched isomers; Isomer profile