Extraction, analysis, and occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater and after municipal biosolids land application to determine agricultural loading

Given the ubiquitous detection of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) within numerous soil water environmental compartments, there is a need for global understanding current methodologies extracting water, solids, polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS), plant tissue these substances. This study provides details several extraction methods, demonstrates use POCIS in monitoring compounds wastewater environment, evidence detectable levels certain PFAS Midwestern municipalities agroecosystems. Validated procedures help characterize occurrence release 18 midwestern treatment (WWTP), surface runoff after land application biosolids to agricultural test plots, infiltration into topsoil, uptake by grain sorghum. Of measured, 14 were detected at least one sampling site or type. The average total (Σ PFAS) dissolved phase time-weighted (TWA) concentration influent, effluent upstream downstream mixing zone (EMZ) sites receiving stream, respectively, 27.9, 132, 37.7, 71.4 ng L −1 . Long-chain dominated most aqueous perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) occurred WWTP waters. Total Σ measured municipal applied soils 22.9 g dw with long-chain comprising 77.5% cumulative mass. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) was abundant compound highest (9.40 dw). Accumulation estimated occur rate 72.8 day based on difference between influent time weighted concentrations. both biosolids, but also control plots consistent background contamination. concentrations decreased over from treated biosolids. These results provide introduction agroecosystems Midwest.