Spatiotemporal distribution and risk assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in soil from e-waste dismantling parks: A multi-year study.

Authors

Qiubing Ma, Zhengquan Ji, Jingmin Zheng, Hao Ding, Yali Shi, Yaqi Cai

Published in

Journal of environmental sciences (China). Volume 170. Pages 79-85. Epub Mar 01, 2026.

Abstract

This study quantified the spatiotemporal distribution, sources and risks of 31 representative per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soil collected from two electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling parks (Parks A and B) in Taizhou City, China, based on longitudinal monitoring data spanning four years (2020-2023). Contrasting temporal trends were observed: Park A exhibited a steady increasing trend of ΣPFAS concentration, while Park B demonstrated an initial increase followed by a decrease. Overall, Park B showed slightly higher levels (0.28-66.48 ng/g, median: 2.53 ng/g) than Park A (0.45-28.76 ng/g, median: 2.14 ng/g) in concentration of ΣPFAS, while exceeding background values, both parks remained below levels reported for severely contaminated sites. The two parks exhibited divergent PFAS profiles. While perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were the dominant pollutants, the proportions of emerging PFAS such as perfluorous nonenoxybenzenesulfonate (in Park A) and perfluorobutane sulfonate (in Park B) showed marked increases. Statistical analysis confirmed significant positive correlations among perfluorocarboxylic acids (r = 0.29-0.91, P < 0.01), indicating shared emission sources or transport pathways. Principal component analysis indicated two key drivers: principal component 1 reflected the mixed signature of long- and short-chain PFAS contamination, and principal component 2 was potentially associated with usage of mist suppressants (6:2 and 8:2 chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonic acids) in electrolytic processes. The risk assessment result indicates a low ecological risk for PFOA and PFOS (risk quotient < 0.1). This study provides crucial data on PFAS dynamics in e-waste dismantling, underscoring the critical need for effective environmental management strategies.

PMID:
43014958
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 12 Nov 2026.

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