A data mining-based screening and prioritization of PFAS in wastewater treatment plants across China
Qingyuan Guo1, Cheng Ding1, Zichuan Ding2
1College of Environmental Science & Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, 224051, China.
Abstract:
Numerous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) existed in effluent of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) generate potential risk to ecosystem and human health. It is imperative to evaluate the characteristic and potential risk of PFAS from WWTP comprehensively. The risk prioritization based on data mining method was established to compile the reference PFAS and corresponding concentrations in municipal WWTP (M-WWTP) and industrial WWTP (I-WWTP) across China over 17 years. The annual publication frequency of PFAS increased significantly, indicating the major concern over time. Totally, 370 PFAS compounds were identified from 960 publications, of which 107 PFAS with concentrations were detected from M-WWTP, and 55 PFAS with concentrations were identified in I-WWTP. Most PFAS categories from M-WWTP and I-WWTP were concentrated on PFCA and PFSA. It's worth noting that there existed negative removal for PFAS contaminants from WWTP, suggesting the precursors in influent could be transformed into PFAS by biodegradation in following treatment processes. The ecological and human health risk of PFAS, including PFOS, PFOA and FOSA, etc., with risk quotient (RQ) > 0.3 and exposure activity ratio (EAR) > 0.001, in effluent from WWTPs could be generated to the receiving water environment. PFAS, including PFOS, PFOA, 6:2 FESA, FOSA, PFHpA, PFTrDA, MeFBSAA, have high prioritization index based on environmental health (EHPI) scores in effluent of M-WWTP, while 6:2 Cl-PFESA, PFDA, 8:2 Cl-PFESA, FOSA, PFOS, 6:2 diPAP have high EHPI scores in effluent of I-WWTP, indicating that these PFAS should be focused on and further prioritized for removal and control. Finally, the PFAS from M-WWTP and I-WWTP in China over the past 17 years were comprehensively compiled by text mining, which provides the reference for screening and identifying PFAS in WWTP. The prioritization of PFAS also offered the foundation for following goal analysis, supervision and administration.
