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PFASs contamination in groundwater of a chemical industrial park and its implications for adjacent surface water:
Qi Ping1, Zhihao Zhang2, Jiqing Li3
1Environment and Geography, Qingdao University, 266071 Qingdao, China.
Abstract:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent and highly mobile contaminants that may pose long-term risks to groundwater and adjacent aquatic systems, particularly in chemical industrial parks. In this study, 15 target PFASs were analyzed in groundwater from the upper (2-3 m) and lower (4-5 m) aquifers of a typical chemical industrial park in Northeast China, together with river water samples from the adjacent watercourse, to investigate their occurrence, composition, spatial distribution, source-related patterns, and ecological risks. Total PFASs concentrations ranged from 7.84 to 5234.42 μg·L-1 in the upper aquifer and from 8.99 to 2350.17 μg·L-1 in the lower aquifer. PFBS was the dominant compound, accounting for 60.94% and 74.49% of total PFASs in the upper and lower aquifers, respectively. Short-/medium-chain PFASs predominated in both aquifers, contributing 92.52% and 92.74% of total PFASs. PFASs concentrations were generally higher in the upper aquifer than in the lower aquifer, and a pronounced hotspot was identified near sampling point XJ6, indicating strong localized PFASs inputs. Correlation analysis suggested that several dominant PFASs shared similar source-related patterns, whereas PFUnDA and 8:2 Cl-PFESA differed from the main contamination profile. A preliminary screening-level ecological risk assessment showed that PFASs-related risks in the adjacent river increased from the upstream section to the midstream and downstream sections, with PFBS, PFOS, and PFUnDA being the main contributors. Industrial parks may impact adjacent surface waters, underscoring the need for regulatory attention to migration potential. Monitoring should prioritize shallow aquifers and pollution hotspots rather than uniform depth sampling. Strong correlations exist among PFBS, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, and PFHxS; controlling fluoropolymer production and wastewater treatment discharges can effectively reduce total PFAS loads.
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