Investigation of outdoor textiles and gear with respect to determine the content of ionic perfluorinated substances (PFASs). Evaluation of results.

NILU has on behalf of the Norwegian Environment Agency determined the concentration of ionic perfluorinated substances (PFASs), including PFOA, in outdoor gear. Of the investigated 18 items, no PFAS could be detected at all in nine of them. Two samples contained PFOA exceeding the limit of 1 µg/m2. The quality assurance where three replicates of one sample were extracted had a relative standard deviation (RSD) less than 10% for all detected substances except one (PFTrDA). Other quality measures such as recovery calculations and blanks shows that the method used for extraction is suitable for these types of matrices and substances. PFOS was not present in the items investigated, indicating that the textile industry manages to effectively avoid PFOS in their production processes

Arctic POPs.

Results from a four year (2001-2004) project reveal that brominated flame retardants such as polybrominateddiphenyl ethers are present in fish all over Arctic with a tendency of higher levels in European Arctic compared to American Arctic (Alaska and Canada). This science based learning educational project involved 15 GLOBE schools from 7 countries in Arctic; Alaska, Canada, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia and Sweden. Based on awritten “hands-on” fish protocol made by NILU, the involved school sampled two or three parallels during fall2001, spring 2001, fall 2002 and fall 2003. NILU analysed two samples for each school each sampling period, a total of 47 samples of Atlantic cod, Pacific cod and haddock livers, 14 samples burbot liver, 5 samples of whitefish liver, 6 whitefish fillets, and 18 samples of Arctic char, Atlantic and Pacific salmon and Brown trout fillets. Reported data of PCB153, BDE47 and BDE99 are given with a comparison to other international data. Appendix with sampling protocol and additional useful Internet links for different themes such as transport and effects of POPs, food advisories, fish species and sampling is attached

Environmental pollutants in the terrestrial and urban environment 2015

We analysed biological samples from the terrestrial and urban environment for various inorganic and organic contaminants in the Oslo area. A food chain approach was used, in order to detect bioaccumulation of the different compounds. The species analysed were earthworms, fieldfare, sparrowhawk, rats, tawny owl and red fox. Soil samples were also included in the study

Miljøgifter i terrestrisk og bynært miljø 2016

We analysed biological samples from the terrestrial and urban environment for various inorganic and organic contaminants in the Oslo area. A foodchain approach was used, in order to detect bioaccumulation of the different compounds. The species analysed were earthworms, fieldfare, sparrowhawk, brown rat, tawny owl and red fox. Air and soil samples were also included in the study to increase the understanding on sources and uptake of pollutants. (Norwegian Environment Agency, M-752/2017)Biologiske prøver fra det urbane terrestriske miljøet i Oslo-området ble analysert for flere organiske og uorganiske miljøgifter. En næringskjede ble valgt for å undersøke bioakkumulering av de forskjellige stoffene. De utvalgte artene var meitemark, gråtost, spurvehauk, rotte, kattugle og rødrev. Luft og jordprøver ble også analysert for å øke forståelsen av kilder og opptak av miljøgifter.publishedVersio

PFASs in house dust

NILU has, on behalf of the Norwegian Environment Agency, performed sampling and analysis of house dust from Norwegian households. The goal was to study concentration ranges, and variability between- and within-houses of anionic and volatile per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs), including the regulated PFOA, as well as for total extractable organic fluorine (TEOF). The sampling was done in six separate rooms in six different households. The analysis covered a suite of 20 targeted PFASs; ten of these were consistently detected in most samples while the other ten were below detection limit in the major part of the samples. A range of the targeted PFASs were detected in all rooms except in one room in one household in which all PFASs were below detection. The concentrations of individual PFASs as well as the sum of PFASs were lower than a previous study in Norway. The results show significant variability between houses for the anionic and volatile PFASs as well as for TEOF. For anionic PFASs, the results also indicate within-house variability with higher concentrations in dust from bedrooms (children and parents) and living rooms than in dust from bathroom, kitchen and entrances. For the volatile PFASs and TEOF, no significant difference between rooms were found. These results indicate that factors like building materials and consumer products (e.g., furniture, textiles etc.) affect the levels of PFASs in house dust but the reason for the findings are not further evaluated in this report. Anionic PFASs seem to contribute significantly to the TEOF (10-100%) in house dust

Per and polyfluorinated substances in the Nordic Countries:Use, occurence and toxicology

This Tema Nord report presents a study based on open information and custom market research to review the most common perfluorinated substances (PFC) with less focus on PFOS and PFOA.The study includes three major parts: 1) Identification of relevant per-and polyfluorinated substances and their use in various industrial sectors in the Nordic market by interviews with major players and database information. 2) Emissions to and occurence in the Nordic environment of the substances described in 1). 3) A summary of knowledge of the toxic effects on humans and the environment of substances prioritized in 2). There is a lack of physical chemical data, analystical reference substances, human and environmental occurrence and toxicology data, as well as market information regarding PFCs other than PFOA and PFOS and the current legislation cannot enforce disclosure of specific PFC substance information

Investigation of outdoor textiles and gear with respect to determine the content of ionic perfluorinated substances (PFASs). Evaluation of results.

NILU has on behalf of the Norwegian Environment Agency determined the concentration of ionic perfluorinated substances (PFASs), including PFOA, in outdoor gear. Of the investigated 18 items, no PFAS could be detected at all in nine of them. Two samples contained PFOA exceeding the limit of 1 µg/m2. The quality assurance where three replicates of one sample were extracted had a relative standard deviation (RSD) less than 10% for all detected substances except one (PFTrDA). Other quality measures such as recovery calculations and blanks shows that the method used for extraction is suitable for these types of matrices and substances. PFOS was not present in the items investigated, indicating that the textile industry manages to effectively avoid PFOS in their production processes

Developmental toxicity of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and its chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonate alternative F-53B in the domestic chicken

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Environmental Science & Technology, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. Final version: https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b04749acceptedVersio

New insights from an eight-year study on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in an urban terrestrial ecosystem

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were analysed in a high number of terrestrial samples of soil, earthworm, bird eggs and liver from red fox and brown rat in an urban area in Norway from 2013 to 2020. PFOS and the long chain PFCAs were the most dominating compounds in all samples, proving their ubiquitous distribution. Other less studied compounds such as 6:2 FTS were first and foremost detected in earthworm. 8:2 FTS was found in many samples of fieldfare egg, sparrowhawk egg and earthworm, where the eggs had highest concentrations. Highest concentrations for both 6:2 FTS and 8:2 FTS were detected at present and former industry areas. FOSA was detected in many samples of the species with highest concentrations in red fox liver and brown rat liver of 3.3 and 5.5 ng/g ww. PFAS concentrations from the urban area were significantly higher than from background areas indicating that some of the species can be suitable as markers for PFAS emissions in an urban environment. Fieldfare eggs had surprisingly high concentrations of PFOS and PFCA concentrations from areas known to be or have been influenced by industry. Biota-soil-accumulation factor and magnification calculations indicate accumulation and magnification potential for several PFAS. Earthworm and fieldfare egg had average concentrations above the Canadian and European thresholds in diet for avian wildlife and predators. For earthworms, 18 % of the samples exceeded the European threshold (33 ng/g ww) of PFOS in prey for predators, and for fieldfare eggs, 35 % of the samples were above the same threshold. None of the soil samples exceeded a proposed PNEC of PFOS for soil living organisms of 373 ng/g dw