Short- and long-chain perfluorinated acids in sewage sludge from Shanghai, China

Perfluorinated acids (PFAs) are the subject of increasingly intense environmental research. In this study, sewage sludge samples were collected from 25 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Shanghai, China to evaluate the levels and profile of C3-C14 PFAs. The results showed a ubiquitous PFAs contamination of sewage sludge in Shanghai with the total PFAs (∑PFAs) range of 126-809 ng g−1 dw. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was found to be the dominant PFA pollutant and its concentration ranged from 23.2 to 298 ng g−1 dw, much higher than the levels in other countries. Moreover, concentrations of short-chain PFAs (

► We determined C3-C14 PFAs in sewage sludge from 25 WWTPs in Shanghai, China. ► PFAs pollutants were ubiquitous in sludge with the ∑PFAs range of 126-809 ng g−1. ► Unlike previous studies, PFOA was dominant and much higher than those reported. ► Concentrations of short-chain PFAs (