Suspect Screening of Polymer-Derived Additives in Accessible Water Compartments Nearby Brånåsen Landfill in Norway

This study investigates the occurrence, distribution, and environmental implications of polymer-derived additives, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in aquatic systems impacted by the Brånåsen legacy landfill in Norway. Water samples were collected from landfill leachate and from seven locations along the Nitelva River to evaluate both point-source contamination and downstream transport processes. UHPLC-HRMS and GC-MS/MS suspect screening analyses provided tentative evidence for dimethacrylate-related compounds, including features putatively assigned to DEGDMA and TEGDMA-related compounds, potentially associated with polymer degradation processes. Selected PFAS were instead quantified by targeted LC-MS/MS, with PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, and PFHxA exhibiting the highest concentrations at the landfill tributary, reaching maximum concentrations of up to 780 ng L^-1, and decreasing downstream consistently with dilution and hydrological mixing, while remaining detectable throughout the river reach. Temporal variation indicated short-term hydrological influences on contaminant mobility. The study highlights the role of legacy landfills as persistent sources of emerging pollutants in freshwater environments. These findings underscore the need for improved monitoring strategies and advanced treatment measures to address complex contaminant mixtures originating from historical waste disposal activities.