Authors
Jiaoqin Liu, Qiyu Fan, Jingjing Zhang, Jinming Zhang, Xiangyu Li, Mengye Jia, Yina Qiao, Riya Jin, Jiaxuan Zhu, Lihong Song
Published in
Journal of environmental sciences (China). Volume 170. Pages 783-793. Epub Apr 15, 2026.
Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive, multi-media assessment of 11 perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) in the Fenhe River flowing through Taiyuan, a heavily industrialized city in China. We investigated their occurrence, distribution, and potential risks across surface water, sediment, and fish (crucian carp). The results revealed distinct compartment-specific distribution patterns. In water, short-chain PFCAs were predominant, with perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) being the most abundant congener (up to 165.93 ng/L, mean 59.87 ng/L). In contrast, sediments were a significant sink for long-chain PFCAs, where perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) reached concentrations as high as 148.38 ng/g. Source apportionment, based on correlation analysis and diagnostic ratios (e.g., perfluorooctanoic acid/perfluorononanoic acid (PFOA/PFNA)), identified direct industrial discharge as the likely primary source. In fish tissues, PFOA emerged as the major contaminant, contributing 44.56 %-53.01 % of the total PFCAs burden, although overall bioaccumulation factors remained low (BAF < 2000). The human health risk assessment based on fish consumption yielded a hazard quotient (HQ) of 0.09 for PFOA, indicating no immediate significant risk. This work highlights the contrasting environmental behavior of short- and long-chain PFCAs and underscores the critical role of industrial emissions in contaminating this inland river system, providing essential data for future monitoring and source control.
PMID:
43014957
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 12 Nov 2026.
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