Perfluoroalkyl acids and their precursors in floor dust of children's bedrooms - Implications for indoor exposure

We analysed floor dust samples from 65 children's bedrooms in Finland collected in 2014/2015 for 62 different per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) with a simple and highly efficient method. Validation results from the analysis of standard reference material (SRM) 2585 were in good agreement with literature data, while 24 PFASs were quantified for the first time. In the dust samples from children's bedrooms, five perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) were detected in more than half of the samples with the highest median concentration of 5.26 ng/g for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). However, the dust samples were dominated by polyfluoroalkyl phosphoric acid esters (PAPs) and fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) (highest medians: 53.9 ng/g for 6:2 diPAP and 45.7 ng/g for 8:2 FTOH). Several significant and strong correlations (up to p = 0.95) were found among different PFASs in dust as well as between PFASs in dust and air samples (previously published) from the same rooms. The logarithm of dust to air concentrations (log K-dust/air) plotted against the logarithm of the octanol-air partition coefficient (log K-oa) resulted in a significant linear regression line with R-2 > 0.88. Higher dust levels of PFOS were detected in rooms with plastic flooring material in comparison to wood (p <0.05). Total estimated daily intakes via dust (EDIdust) and air (EDIair) of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA), including biotransformation of precursors to PFAAs, were calculated for 10.5-year-old children. The total EDIdust, for PFOA and PFOS were estimated to be 0.007 ng/kg bw/day and 0.006 ng/kg bw/day, respectively, in an intermediate exposure scenario. The sum of the total EDIs for all PFAAs was slightly higher for dust than air (0.027 and 0.019 ng/kg bw/day). Precursor biotransformation was generally important for total PFOS intake, while for the PFCAs, FTOH biotransformation was estimated to be important for air, but not for dust exposure.Peer reviewe

Perfluoroalkyl acids and their precursors in indoor air sampled in children's bedrooms

The contamination levels and patterns of perfluoroallcyl acids (PFAAs) and their precursors in indoor air of children's bedrooms in Finland, Northern Europe, were investigated. Our study is among the most comprehensive indoor air monitoring studies (n = 57) and to our knowledge the first one to analyse air in children's bedrooms for PFASs (17 PFAAs and 9 precursors, including two acrylates, 6:2 FTAC and 6:2 FTMAC). The most frequently detected compound was 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (8:2 FTOH) with the highest median concentration (3570 pg/m(3)). FTOH concentrations were generally similar to previous studies, indicating that in 2014/2015 the impact of the industrial transition had been minor on FTOH levels in indoor air. However, in contrast to earlier studies (with one exception), median concentrations of 6:2 FTOH were higher than 10:2 FTOH. The C8 PFAAs are still the most abundant acids, even though they have now been phased out by major manufacturers. The mean concentrations of FOSE/As, especially MeFOSE (89.9 pg/m(3)), were at least an order of magnitude lower compared to previous studies. Collectively the comparison of FTOHs, PFAAs and FOSE/FOSAs with previous studies indicates that indoor air levels of PFASs display a time lag to changes in production of several years. This is the first indoor air study investigating 6:2 FTMAC, which was frequently detected (58%) and displayed some of the highest maximum concentrations (13 000 pg/m(3)). There were several statistically significant correlations between particular house and room characteristics and PFAS concentrations, most interestingly higher EtFOSE air concentrations in rooms with plastic floors compared to wood or laminate. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe

The Swedish National Monitoring Programme for Contaminants in marine biota (until 2017 year’s data) – Temporal trends and spatial variations

The report summarises the monitoring activities within the National Swedish Contaminant Programme in marine biota. In this report, we present time series and maps of most contaminants in various species but we only comment results that shows large differences compared to the previous year. Results show that herring from Holmöarna had elevated concentrations during the last two years of the time series for approximately half of the analysed metals, most chlorinated pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs). The last two years’ Herring is on average one year older than the previous years’, heavier and the last years’ fat percentage is ca. 2 % higher compared to the year before. These differences in biological variables may have had an influence on the elevated contaminant concentrations. Also, herring from Väderöarna shows increasing concentrations for several chlorinated pesticides, PCBs, dioxins, and BFRs during the ten most recent years. A reason for this might be that the included fish were older during the seven most recent years, although their size was similar or smaller than previous years. Additionally, the fat percentage of the tissue has also decreased over time and might influence the results. This year’s report is also the first to show PFAS concentrations in Cod, Perch and Eelpout where Perch has the highest concentrations of most PFASs within the Baltic Proper sampling sites. This report is also the first report within the Swedish National Monitoring Programme of Contaminants in marine biota presenting environmental contaminant data in eggs of Common tern and Eurasian oystercatcher. In general, many of the compounds could be detected in Common tern and Eurasian oystercatcher. Concentrations of several of the contaminants are similar in the two species, but there are exceptions among each contaminant class and even opposing time trends for some contaminants. There are clear differences in contaminant concentrations between species for PCDD/Fs and BFRs; for most PCDD/Fs, concentrations are higher in Eurasian oystercatcher compared to Common tern, while for the BFRs concentrations are higher in Common tern, with the exception of HBCDD

Screening av läkemedel, ftalater och polyaromatiska kolväten (PAH:er) i musslor insamlade längs Sveriges kust

Within the Swedish National Monitoring Programme for Contaminants in marine biota, a selection of the wide array of contaminants that can be found in the environment is analysed. Analysing the samples for all possible contaminants would hardly be feasible, however, screening for different substance groups is a way to investigate if and where new substances arise and may pose a threat to wildlife and humans. In this report, data from a spatial screening study is presented, which aimed to densify the ongoing Swedish National Monitoring Programme for Contaminants in marine biota with regard to pharmaceuticals, phthalates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The study includes 16 sampling sites along the Swedish coast, from where two different species of bivalves, Limecola balthica and Mytilus edulis, were collected. All applied sampling material in this screening study originates from the Swedish Environmental Specimen Bank of the Swedish Museum of Natural History. The screening included a total of 100 pharmaceuticals, out of which 17 were detected and quantified in at least one sampling site. Risperidone was the pharmaceutical detected at most sites (10 of 13). The only detected phthalate was di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), which was found in the samples from 3 of 13 sampling sites. Among the PAHs, Benzo(a)pyrene was the substance quantified at most sites (14 out of 16). No geographical patterns could be identified for the detected contaminants, besides for the PAHs. However, this pattern could also be due to a difference in species rather than due to location. PAHs could be detected in the Bothnian Sea and the Sea of Åland, where to date no mussel sampling sites exist within the Swedish National Monitoring Programme for Contaminants in marine biota. The Baltic clam might be a good additional monitoring species besides the Blue mussel, due to their difference in feeding strategy and the potential higher PAH uptake from contaminated sediments rather than the water phase

Early life exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs): A critical review

Due to the dynamic developmental processes during pregnancy, infancy, childhood and adolescence, exposure to PFASs is hypothesized to have the most pronounced negative effects during this period. In this review we critically evaluate the current state of the science regarding human early life exposure processes (until 18 years of age) to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Efficient placental transfer of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) results in relatively high prenatal exposure compared with many neutral organic contaminants. The few biomonitoring studies that specifically target infants, toddlers and other children suggest relatively high serum concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in early life with peak concentrations occurring sometime before the child reaches 20 months. This peak in serum concentrations is most likely explained by exposure via breastfeeding, ingestion of house dust and/or specific contact events with consumer products leading to high body weight normalized estimated daily intakes (EDIs). Although children have higher EDIs of PFASs than adults, these are not always reflected by higher serum levels of PFASs in children in cross-sectional biomonitoring studies due to the confounding effect of age and birth cohort, and different exposure histories due to production changes. Longitudinal exposure studies measuring internal and external exposure (for multiple pathways and PFASs) at several time points during early life are strongly encouraged to understand temporal changes in exposure of individual children. A better quantitative understanding of early life exposure processes would help to improve the validity of epidemiological studies and allow informed decisions regarding setting of regulatory thresholds and appropriate mitigation actions

The Swedish National Monitoring Programme for Contaminants in Freshwater Biota (until 2017 year’s data)

The report summarises the monitoring activities within the National Swedish Contaminant Programme for freshwater biota. Each monitored contaminant has been examined in pike, perch or Arctic char from 32 lakes from the north to the south in Sweden. No general trend could be seen for mercury, and all samples were above the EU threshold. Lead was generally decreasing. Cadmium concentrations showed no consistent trends over the monitored period, and cadmium concentrations in 2017 were below the suggested threshold in all lakes. Nickel showed a general upward trend in 30% of the perch lakes. Arsenic concentrations showed no general spatial pattern and were increasing in liver from Arctic char, pike and perch from approximately 50 % of the sampling sites. Tin concentrations decreased in the majority of the perch time series during the most recent ten years. For copper, no general spatial pattern existed for concentrations in perch and about one third of the monitored lakes showed an upward trend. No general trend was observed for silver and aluminum. In general, downward trends were seen for; PCBs, HCHs, DDT, DDE and PCDD/Fs in all species (with a few exceptions). The chlorinated compounds generally showed a somewhat higher concentration in the southern parts of Sweden. Most chlorinated compounds were below the suggested target levels. No general trend was seen during the monitoring period for PBDEs. However an indication of decreasing concentrations of PBDEs is seen in the most recent years. The concentration of HBCDD was under LOQ in a majority of the samples. Several of the perfluorinated carboxylic compounds showed an increase in concentration in arctic char, while PFOS and FOSA decreased. In perch PFOS has decreased since 1995. Higher concentrations of perfluorinated compounds can in general be seen in the southern part of Sweden. In all lakes, PFOS is below the target level for all species