| Abstract | This paper presents a survey on the occurrence and sources of 11 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) in the main
river basins in Italy, covering about 40% of the Italian surface area and 45% of the Italian population. Total
concentrations of PFAA ranged from < LOD to 8 lgL?1, the highest concentrations being measured in the
rivers impacted by industrial discharges. Among the rivers directly flowing into the sea, Brenta, Po and
Arno present significant concentrations, while concentrations in Tevere and Adige, which are not
impacted by relevant industrial activities, are almost all below the detection limits.
The total estimated PFAA load of the five rivers was 7.5 t y?1 with the following percentage distribu-
tion: 39% PFBS, 32% PFOA, 22% short chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCA), 6% PFOS and 1% long chain
PFCA. PFOA and PFOS loads, evaluated in the present work, represent 10% and 2% of the estimated Euro-
pean loads, respectively.
In Italy the most important sources of PFAA are two chemical plants which produce fluorinated poly-
mers and intermediates, sited in the basin of rivers Po and Brenta, respectively, whose overall emission
represents 57% of the total estimated PFAA load. Both rivers flow into the Adriatic Sea, raising concern for
the marine ecosystem also because a significant PFOS load (0.3 t y?1) is still present.
Among the remaining activities, tanneries and textile industries are relevant sources of respectively PFBS
and PFOA, together with short chain PFCA.As anexample, the total PFAAload(0.12 t y?1) fromthe textile dis-
trictofPratoisequivalent totheestimateddomesticemissionof thewholepopulationinall thestudiedbasins |
| Authors | Valsecchi, Sara M.; Rusconi, Marianna; Mazzoni, Michela; Viviano, Gaetano; Pagnotta, Romano; Zaghi, Carlo; Serrini, Giuliana; Polesello, Stefano |
| Text | 297176 2015 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.07.044 Scopus 2 s2.0 84926408010 ISI Web of Science WOS WOS 000353732600016 Emission factors Italy Perfluoroalkyl acids PFAA Perfluorocarboxylic acids PFCA Perfluorosulphonic acids PFSA River waters Occurrence and sources of perfluoroalkyl acids in Italian river basins Valsecchi, Sara M.; Rusconi, Marianna; Mazzoni, Michela; Viviano, Gaetano; Pagnotta, Romano; Zaghi, Carlo; Serrini, Giuliana; Polesello, Stefano IRSA CNR Water Research Institute, National Research Council, Via Mulino 19, 20861 Brugherio, MB, Italy; IRSA CNR Water Research Institute, National Research Council, Via Salaria km 29,300, 00015 Monterotondo St., RM, Italy; Ministry of the Environment, Land and Sea, Directorate for the Environment Assessments, Division for Environmental Certification, Chemicals and Green Public Procurements, Via Cristoforo Colombo, n. 44, 00147 Rome, Italy This paper presents a survey on the occurrence and sources of 11 perfluoroalkyl acids PFAA in the main river basins in Italy, covering about 40% of the Italian surface area and 45% of the Italian population. Total concentrations of PFAA ranged from < LOD to 8 lgL 1, the highest concentrations being measured in the rivers impacted by industrial discharges. Among the rivers directly flowing into the sea, Brenta, Po and Arno present significant concentrations, while concentrations in Tevere and Adige, which are not impacted by relevant industrial activities, are almost all below the detection limits. The total estimated PFAA load of the five rivers was 7.5 t y 1 with the following percentage distribu tion 39% PFBS, 32% PFOA, 22% short chain perfluorocarboxylic acids PFCA , 6% PFOS and 1% long chain PFCA. PFOA and PFOS loads, evaluated in the present work, represent 10% and 2% of the estimated Euro pean loads, respectively. In Italy the most important sources of PFAA are two chemical plants which produce fluorinated poly mers and intermediates, sited in the basin of rivers Po and Brenta, respectively, whose overall emission represents 57% of the total estimated PFAA load. Both rivers flow into the Adriatic Sea, raising concern for the marine ecosystem also because a significant PFOS load 0.3 t y 1 is still present. Among the remaining activities, tanneries and textile industries are relevant sources of respectively PFBS and PFOA, together with short chain PFCA.As anexample, the total PFAAload 0.12 t y 1 fromthe textile dis trictofPratoisequivalent totheestimateddomesticemissionof thewholepopulationinall thestudiedbasins 129 Published version http //www.scopus.com/record/display.url eid=2 s2.0 84905312926 origin=inward articolo 2015_Valsecchi_Chemosphere_PFAS.pdf Articolo in rivista Elsevier 0045 6535 Chemosphere Chemosphere Chemosphere Chemosphere. Chemosphere. Environmental chemistry, Chemosphere. Persistent organic pollutants and dioxins, Chemosphere. Environmental toxicology and risk assessment, Chemosphere. Science for Environmental toxicology, mariannarusconi RUSCONI MARIANNA MAZZONI MICHELA stefano.polesello POLESELLO STEFANO gaetano.viviano VIVIANO GAETANO romano.pagnotta PAGNOTTA ROMANO saramaria.valsecchi VALSECCHI SARA MARIA |
