Field-Based Distribution and Bioaccumulation Factors for Cyclic and Aliphatic Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in an Urban Sedentary Waterbird Population

The field-based distribution and
bioaccumulation factor (BAF) for
per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were determined in residential
Black Swans (Cygnus atratus) from an urban lake (Melbourne,
Australia). The concentrations of 46 aliphatic and cyclic PFASs were
determined by HPLC-MS/MS in serum and excrement from swans, and water,
sediment, aquatic macrophytes, soil, and grass samples in and around
the lake. Elevated concentrations of ∑46PFASs were
detected in serum (120 ng mL–1) and excrement (110
ng g–1 dw) were strongly related indicating a potential
noninvasive sampling methodology. Environmental concentrations of
PFASs were consistent with a highly impacted ecosystem and notably
high concentrations of perfluoro-4-ethylcyclohexanesulfonate (PFECHS,
67584–42–3; C8HF15SO3) were detected in water (27 ng L–1) and swan serum
(16 ng mL–1). In the absence of credible putative
alternative sources of PFECHS input to the lake, we propose that the
use of high-performance motorsport vehicles is a likely source of
contamination to this ecosystem. The BAF of perfluorocarboxylic acids
increased with each additional CF2 moiety from PFOA (15.7
L kg–1 ww) to PFDoDA (3615 L kg–1 ww). The BAF of PFECHS was estimated as 593 L kg–1 ww, which is lower compared with that of PFOS (1097 L kg–1 ww).