Publication
Title
Influence of soil physicochemical properties on the depth profiles of perfluoroalkylated acids (PFAAs) in soil along a distance gradient from a fluorochemical plant and associations with soil microbial parameters
Author
Abstract
The widespread use of perfluoroalkylated acids (PFAAs) has led to a global presence in the environment, in which they accumulate and may cause detrimental effects. Although soils are known sinks for many persistent organic pollutants, still little is known on the behaviour of PFAAs in soils. Furthermore, studies that examine the relationships between PFAA concentrations and soil microbial parameters are scarce. The 3 M fluorochemical plant near Antwerp has been characterized as a PFAAs hotspot. In the present study, we examined the vertical distribution of 15 PFAAs and their associations with multiple physicochemical soil properties along a distance gradient from this hotspot. Additionally, we tested the relationships between PFAA concentrations in the top soil with soil respiration, microbial activity and microbial biomass. Our results show that both perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) concentrations were elevated in the subsurface layer (up to 50 cm), after which concentrations decreased again, suggesting a downward migration of both analytes in the soil. This downward movement might pose a potential threat for the contamination of the groundwater and, consequently, organisms that rely on this water for consumption. The soil concentrations were influenced by multiple physicochemical properties of the soil, which suggests differences in bioavailability and sorption/desorption capacities between different soil types. We did not observe any influence of PFAA contamination in the top soil on microbial activity and biomass nor soil respiration.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Chemosphere. - Oxford, 1972, currens
Publication
Oxford : 2019
ISSN
0045-6535 [print]
1879-1298 [online]
DOI
10.1016/J.CHEMOSPHERE.2019.124407
Volume/pages
236 (2019) , 10 p.
Article Reference
124407
UNSP 124407
ISI
000491634500036
Pubmed ID
31545204
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Toxicity of Perfluoralkyl Substances (PFAAs) to terrestrial invertebrates and songbirds. Effects at different levels of biological organization including behaviour and reproduction.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 24.09.2019
Last edited 02.10.2024
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