Year: 2024
Type: report
Abstract: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were ubiquitously detected in the sludge, wastewater and surface water samples. ΣPFAS concentrations in sludge ranged from 25 to 111 ng/g dry weight (dw). PFAS concentrations ranged from 17 to 337 ng/L in the wastewater influent samples, and from 16 to 407 ng/L in the wastewater effluent samples in the dissolved phase. On the other hand, in the particulate phase, PFAS concentrations ranged from not detected to 5.8 ng/g dw in the wastewater influent samples, whereas no PFAS were detected in the wastewater effluent samples. Overall, the removal of ΣPFAS was low with an average of -11% comparing wastewater influent and effluent concentrations. The negative removal indicates degradation of PFAS precursors, which had an average removal of 34%. ΣPFAS concentrations ranged from 2.2 to 72 ng/L in the samples upstream of the waste water treatment plant (WWTP) samples, and from 2.3 to 172 ng/L in the samples downstream of the WWTP. Comparing ΣPFAS concentrations upstream and downstream of the WWTP, on average the ΣPFAS concentrations increased by 17%, but there were high variations ranging from a decrease by up to 71% and increase up to 138%. The environmental quality standard (EQS) value of 0.65 ng/L for the average annual PFOS concentration in inland surface waters of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) was exceeded in all surface water. The effluent water was also screened for pesticides. Out of 26 analyzed substances 11 were detected. AMPA, diuron and imidacloprid were detected in 100% of the samples. Imidacloprid is a River Basin Specific Pollutant in Sweden and exceeded the national AA-EQS value of 5 ng/L in all samples. None of the other substances exceeded their EQS value.
Authors: Ahrens, Lutz, Jernstedt, Henrik, Gönczi, Mikaela, Skrobonja, Aleksandra, Wiberg, Karin
Language: English
Subfield: Environmental Chemistry
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7080183400