Perfluorinated compounds in a coastal industrial area of Tianjin, China

Perfluorinated compounds (PFC) in water, sediment, soil, and biota from the coastal industrial area of Tianjin, China, were measured to provide baseline information and to determine possible sources and potential risk to wildlife. Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) was the predominant PFC with maximum concentrations of 10 ng/L in water, and 4.3, 9.4, and 240 ng/g dw in sediment, soil, and fish, respectively. Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) concentration in water ranged from 3.0 to 12 ng/L. Perfluoroundecanoate (PFUnA) and Perfluorododecanoate (PFDoA) were detected in solid matrices, respectively, at concentrations of <LOQ to 1.2 ng/g dw and 0.27–0.81 ng/g dw in sediments, and <LOQ to 1.0 ng/g dw and 0.26–0.61 ng/g dw in soils. Concentrations of PFOS, PFUnA, and PFDoA in sediment and soil from this industrialized and urbanized area were greater than those previously reported, while PFOS and PFOA in water and biota were both less than reported threshold concentrations for adverse effects in wildlife.