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Updated: Jan 12, 2026

Laboratory-determined Phosphorus Flux from Lake Sediments as a Measure of Internal Phosphorus Loading
Published on: March 6, 2014
The role of DOM on the allocation of PFASs between water and sediment within a river system
Yuchu Xie1, Longfei Jiang1, Weiping Mei2
1State Key Laboratory of Advanced Environmental Technology, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources and Utilization, Guangzhou, 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
Abstract:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are well known for their persistence, mobility, and toxicity in aquatic environments. However, the mechanisms by which dissolved organic matter (DOM) modulates the partitioning of PFASs between water and sediments remain insufficiently understood. In this study, the distribution characteristics of PFASs and the influence of DOM composition were investigated in the Xiaoqing River, a region significantly affected by fluoropolymer manufacturing. The results showed that ΣPFASs (n = 9) concentrations ranged from 76.7 to 30,900 ng/L in water and from 0.368 to 47.2 ng/g dw in sediments. Short-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs, ≤ C7) were mainly enriched in the aqueous phase, whereas long-chain PFCAs (≥C8) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs) were predominantly associated with sediments (96-98%). This study further elucidates the role of DOM in controlling PFASs distribution by linking its molecular composition with PFASs environmental behavior. A significant positive correlation between DOM and PFCAs concentrations in water indicated that DOM enhanced PFASs solubility. Fluorescence and optical analyses revealed that highly aromatic, humic-like, and low molecular weight DOM fractions dominated in the river water. These components likely promoted PFASs migration into the aqueous phase through electrostatic and hydrogen-bond interactions. Overall, this work provides a more detailed understanding of how DOM characteristics govern PFASs partitioning and migration under natural riverine conditions, thereby improving the scientific basis for assessing PFASs behavior in aquatic systems.
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