Field Validation of a Novel Passive Sampler for Dissolved PFAS in Surface Waters

Numerous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are of growing concern worldwide, due to their ubiquitous presence, bioaccumulation and adverse effects. Surface waters in the United States have displayed elevated concentrations of PFAS, but so far discrete water sampling has been the commonly applied sampling approach. Here we field-tested a novel integrative passive sampler, a microporous polyethylene (PE) tube, and derived sampling rates (Rs ) for 9 PFAS in surface waters. Three sampling campaigns were conducted, deploying PE tube passive samplers in the effluent of two wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent sites plants (WWTPs) and across Narragansett Bay (RI, US) for one month each in 2017/2018. Passive samplers exhibited linear uptake of PFAS in the WWTP effluents over 16-29 days, with in-situ Rs for nine PFASs ranging from 10 mL day-1 (PFPeA) to 29 mL day-1 (PFOS). Similar sampling rates of 19 ± 4.8 mL day-1 were observed in estuarine field deployments. Applying these Rs values in a different WWTP effluent predicted dissolved PFAS concentrations mostly within 50% of their observations in daily composite water samples, except for PFBA (where predictions from passive samplers were 3x greater than measured values), PFNA (1.9), PFDA (1.7) and PFPeS (0.1). These results highlight the potential use of passive samplers as measurement and assessment tools of PFAS in dynamic aquatic environments. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. © 2022 SETAC.