US EPA

4238385 

Journal Article 

Occurrence and phase distribution of neutral and ionizable per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the atmosphere and plant leaves around landfills: A case study in Tianjin, China 

Tian, Y; Yao, Y; Chang, S; Zhao, Z; Zhao, Y; Yuan, X; Wu, F; Sun, H 

2018 

1 

Environmental Science & Technology
ISSN: 0013-936X
EISSN: 1520-5851 

52 

3 

1301-1310 

English 

29309135 

10.1021/acs.est.7b05385 

WOS:000424851700042 

A total of 23 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were investigated in the air, dry deposition, and plant leaves at two different landfills and one suburban reference site in Tianjin, China. The potential of landfills as sources of PFASs to the atmosphere and the phase distribution therein were evaluated. The maximum concentrations of ∑PFASs in the two landfills were up to 9.5 ng/m3in the air, 4.1 μg/g in dry deposition, and 48 μg/g lipid in leaves with trifluoroacetic acid and perfluoropropionic acid being dominant (71%-94%). Spatially, the distribution trend of ionizable and neutral PFASs in all three kinds of media consistently showed the central landfill > the downwind > the upwind > the reference sites, indicating that landfills are important sources to PFASs in the environment. Plant leaves were found effective in uptake of a variety of airborne PFASs including polyfluoroalkyl phosphoric acid diesters, thus capable of acting as a passive air sampling approach for air monitoring. 

Atmosphere; Environmental Monitoring; Fluorocarbons; Plant Leaves; Waste Disposal Facilities