Distribution, source characterization and inventory of perfluoroalkyl substances in Taihu Lake, China

• PFOA and PFHxA were the dominant compounds in surface water in Taihu Lake.
• PFOS was dominant in the sediments, accounting for 15–85% of ΣPFAS.
• The majority of PFAS was from direct emissions from manufacturing processes.
• Risks of PFOA and PFOS in water to benthic organisms were low.
• The mass inventory of ΣPFCA and PFOS in the sediments were calculated.

The levels, distribution, possible sources, and inventory of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in the eutrophic freshwater Taihu Lake, East China were investigated in this study. Among the target 11 PFAAs, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (2.15–73.9 ng L−1) and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) (