Perfluoroalkyl substances are man-made chemicals that have been widely used in industrial processes and military operations since World War II. While the exact toxicology of these substances has not been deciphered, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) have been linked to liver, kidney, and testicular cancer, as well as hypertension and low birth weight in children. Additionally, PFOA and PFOS are persistent in the environment and are transported globally, as they are enriched in sea spray aerosol (SSA) particles over the Arctic Ocean. We aim to characterize the surface activity of PFOA and PFOS at SSA proxy surfaces to better understand the pollutant enrichment in SSA particles. Surface tensiometry and infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy are used to determine the surface adsorption constants via fitting to the Langmuir-Szyswkoski equation. PFOA and PFOS exhibit higher surface activity in the presence of divalent seawater cations. However, PFOA and PFOS surface activity is reduced when mixed with palmitic acid, a highly surface-active lipid found in SSA. Further study is underway to determine the impacts of other dissolved organic compounds on the interfacial activity of PFOA and PFOS at SSA proxy surfaces.<br/>

Investigation of PFOA and PFOS enrichment mechanisms in sea spray aerosol proxy systems

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.