Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been globally reported as a group of organic contaminants of emerging concern in the environment. When found in soils near known sources of atmospheric emissions, questions can arise as to whether the PFAS deposited from the specific source or are attributable to background levels from long-range transport processes. The goal of this study was to investigate background levels of PFAS in soil. The concentration distributions and compositional profiles of 17 PFAS in surface soils were investigated at 66 locations across the state of Vermont. PFAS were ubiquitously detected in surface soils of Vermont, with total concentration of PFAS (SPFAS) in the surface soils ranged from 540 to 35,000 ng/kg dw. Some spatial variations in data were observed, with relatively higher SPFAS in the northern-third of Vermont and the Hartford Vermont area. PFOS was quantitatively detected in all locations and seven other PFAS (PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUndA, and PFBS) were quantitatively observed at more than 50% of the locations. Though the PFAS composition profiles varied from one location to another, PFOA and PFOS were the two predominant PFAS found in Vermont soils, with concentrations ranging from 52 to 4,900 ng/kg dw and 110 to 9,700 ng/kg dw, respectively. Significant positive correlations (<i>p</i>&lt;0.01) were observed among PFHxA, PFNA, PFDA and PFUnDA, indicating potentially similar sources or fate behaviors. No strong correlation was found between PFAS concentrations and TOC, implying that the occurrence of PFAS may be affected by many other unknown/undefined parameters, including physicochemical characteristics of individual PFAS, soil properties, and in some cases local/nearby environmental parameters and sources. This study provides useful information for better understanding of the existence of PFAS in surface soils of Vermont and adds to the general knowledge of the levels of PFAS in surface soils.

Occurrence and distribution of selected perfluoroalkyl substances in the surface soils of Vermont

2019 Fall National Meeting

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