Spatial distribution and fate of perfluoroalkyl substances in sediments from the Pearl River Estuary, South China

In this study, 54 sediment samples were collected from the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) in Southern China to study the spatial distribution and patterns of PFASs in this region. PFAS concentrations in the sediment samples ranged from nd (below detection limit) to 2.41 ng g−1 dw (dry weight) with an average value of 0.79 ng g−1 dw. PFAS concentrations were higher at the nearshore sampling sites than in the others. Perfluorobutanesulfonate (PFBS) and perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) were the two dominant compounds among the target PFASs, which may be due to their production and use as PFOS substitutes in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) areas. Significant linear relationships were found between total PFAS concentrations and total organic carbon (TOC) (R = 0.30, p < 0.05). The preliminary environmental risk assessment indicated that PFOS and PFOA in the regional sediments posed no significant ecological risk to the benthic organisms at present levels.