Investigation of Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Sediments from the Urban Lakes of Anqing City, Anhui Province, China

Abstract

Fifteen individual perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were analyzed in 22 sediment samples collected from Anqing urban lakes (Anhui province, China) by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Total PFAS concentration was between 0.61 and 26 ng g(- 1) dry weight. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was the dominant PFAS contaminant, with a concentration range of < 0.040-13 ng g(- 1). Results indicated higher total PFAS concentrations in lakes located to the northwest of Anqing City than in other regions. Adjacent chemical and industrial factories were hypothesized to be responsible for these higher PFAS levels in those lakes. In comparison to other measurements obtained from other lakes, PFAS concentrations in the urban lakes of Anqing City were relatively high