Persistence of PFOA pollution at a PTFE production site and occurrence of replacement PFASs in English freshwaters revealed by sentinel species, the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra)

O’Rourke, Emily; Losada, Sara; Barber, Jonathan L.; Scholey, Graham; Bain, Isobel; Pereira, M. Gloria ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3740-0019; Hailer, Frank; Chadwick, Elizabeth A.. 2024 Persistence of PFOA pollution at a PTFE production site and occurrence of replacement PFASs in English freshwaters revealed by sentinel species, the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra). Environmental Science & Technology, 58 (23). 10195-10206. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c09405

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Abstract/Summary

Concentrations of 33 PFASs were determined in 20 Eurasian otters, sampled 2015–2019, along a transect away from a factory, which used PFOA in PTFE manufacture. Despite cessation of usage in 2012, PFOA concentrations remained high near the factory (>298 μg/kg ww <20 km from factory) and declined with increasing distance (<57 μg/kg ww >150 km away). Long-chain legacy PFASs dominated the Σ33PFAS profile, particularly PFOS, PFOA, PFDA, and PFNA. Replacement compounds, PFECHS, F-53B, PFBSA, PFBS, PFHpA, and 8:2 FTS, were detected in ≥19 otters, this being the first report of PFBSA and PFECHS in the species. Concentrations of replacement PFASs were generally lower than legacy compounds (max: 70.3 μg/kg ww and 4,640 μg/kg ww, respectively). Our study underscores the utility of otters as sentinels for evaluating mitigation success and highlights the value of continued monitoring to provide insights into the longevity of spatial associations with historic sources. Lower concentrations of replacement, than legacy, PFASs likely reflect their lower bioaccumulation potential, and more recent introduction. Continued PFAS use will inevitably lead to increased environmental and human exposure if not controlled. Further research is needed on fate, toxicity, and bioaccumulation of replacement compounds.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c09405
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Pollution (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0013-936X
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs), perfluoroalkane sulfonamides (FASAs), Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), fluorotelomer sulfonates (FTSs), cyclic PFASs, ether-PFASs, sentinel species
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	03 Jun 2024 15:19 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/537511

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