Pollution characteristics and health risk assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in a typical electrochemical fluorination site

YI Chuan; XU Chunyan; GAO Pan; ZHANG Lei; ZHANG Ruowen; YANG Yijing; QUAN Sen; HOU Song

doi:10.13205/j.hjgc.202505024

Volume 43 Issue 5

May 2025

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Article Navigation > ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING > 2025 > 43(5): 221-232

YI Chuan, XU Chunyan, GAO Pan, ZHANG Lei, ZHANG Ruowen, YANG Yijing, QUAN Sen, HOU Song. Pollution characteristics and health risk assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in a typical electrochemical fluorination site[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2025, 43(5): 221-232. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202505024

Citation:

YI Chuan, XU Chunyan, GAO Pan, ZHANG Lei, ZHANG Ruowen, YANG Yijing, QUAN Sen, HOU Song. Pollution characteristics and health risk assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in a typical electrochemical fluorination site[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2025, 43(5): 221-232. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202505024

Citation:

YI Chuan, XU Chunyan, GAO Pan, ZHANG Lei, ZHANG Ruowen, YANG Yijing, QUAN Sen, HOU Song. Pollution characteristics and health risk assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in a typical electrochemical fluorination site[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2025, 43(5): 221-232. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202505024

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Pollution characteristics and health risk assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in a typical electrochemical fluorination site

doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202505024

Hubei Provincial Academy of Eco-Environmental Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China

Received Date: 2024-06-13
Accepted Date: 2024-09-12
Rev Recd Date: 2024-07-18

Available Online: 2025-09-11

Abstract

Abstract

The production and emission activities of a fluorochemical manufacturing facility have been identified as significant direct sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances （PFAS） in the surrounding environment， which have attracted attention due to their persistence， bioaccumulation， and potential toxicity. PFAS contamination poses potential risks to ecological health and human well-being. This study focused on a typical electrochemical fluorination site in Hubei Province， China， investigating the concentration levels and spatial distribution of 17 PFAS in soil， interior building surfaces， and groundwater. The CSOIL model was also utilized to evaluate the potential human health risks associated with exposure to these chemicals. In this study， 13 types of PFAS were detected in soil， 17 on interior building surfaces， and 9 in groundwater. The total concentrations ranged from 882 to 282000 μg/kg （average： 54300 μg/kg） in soil， 45200 to 270000 μg/kg （average： 122000 μg/kg） on interior building surfaces， and 2060 to 3510 μg/L （average： 2550 μg/L） in groundwater. Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid（PFBS） was the predominant PFAS in soil， with an average concentration of 28200 μg/kg， accounting for 52.06% of the total， followed by perfluorooctanesulfonic acid（PFOS） at 16900 μg/kg （31.13%） and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid（PFHxS） at 5680 μg/kg （10.49%）. On building surfaces， PFOS was the most abundant at 38300 μg/kg （31.47%）， followed by perfluorohexanoic acid（PFHxA） at 24900 μg/kg （20.43%） and perfluorooctanoic acid（PFOA） at 21800 μg/kg （17.87%）. In groundwater， PFBS was the primary type at 14000 μg/kg （54.72%）， followed by PFHxS at 500 μg/kg （19.59%） and perfluorobutanoic acid（PFBA） at 239 μg/kg （9.36%）. These data revealed the distribution characteristics of PFAS in different environmental media， with PFBS and PFOS being the most significant pollutants. The human health risk assessment indicated that the intake of PFOS， PFBS， PFHxS， and PFOA by children and adults all exceeded the health guidance values， requiring significant attention. PFAS exposure routes are diverse， including food intake， drinking water， indoor air， and dust. Particularly， occupational exposure poses a significant health risk as workers come into direct contact with PFAS. In addition， PFAS can expose infants and young children through breast milk and indoor dust. These findings underscore the potential public health risks associated with PFAS contamination at the fluorochemical plant site， particularly for local residents who may be exposed through soil， water， and indoor environments. Consequently， further investigation and remediation are imperative to address the detrimental impacts on both the ecosystem and human health.
- PFAS,
- fluorochemical plant,
- soil,
- groundwater,
- interior building surface,
- health risk

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References(50)

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