Survey of airborne polyfluorinated telomers in Keihan area, Japan
Sayoko Oono1, Eriko Matsubara, Kouji H Harada
1Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Yoshida Konoe, Kyoto, Sakyo 6068501, Japan.
Abstract:
Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) are environmental contaminants posing special public health concerns because of their long-term persistence and bioaccumulation in the environment. Fluorotelomer alcohols are volatile and may undergo long-range transport. Air samples were collected at five sites in the Keihan area, Japan: Sakyo, Morinomiya and three sites in Higashiyodogawa. Except for Higashiyodogawa, the highest concentrations of fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) were for 8:2 FTOH (median 447 pg m(-3)) followed by 10:2 FTOH (56 pg m(-3)) and 6:2 FTOH (22 pg m(-3)). In contrast, 8:2 FTOAcryl (median 865 pg m(-3)) and 8:2 FTOH (1,864 pg m(-3)) were both major components in Higashiyodogawa. Compared to data published for North America and Europe, 8:2 FTOH levels are significantly higher in Keihan, suggesting a possible point source.
