TY - JOUR

T1 - Longitudinal and Latitudinal Distribution of Perfluoroalkyl Compounds in the Surface Water of the Atlantic Ocean

AU - Ahrens, Lutz

AU - Barber, Jonathan L.

AU - Xie, Zhiyong

AU - Ebinghaus, Ralf

PY - 2009/5/1

Y1 - 2009/5/1

N2 - Perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) were determined in 2 L surface water samples collected in the Atlantic Ocean onboard the research vessels Maria S. Merian along the longitudinal gradient from Las Palmas (Spain) to St. Johns (Canada) (15° W to 52° W) and Polarstern along the latitudinal gradient from the Bay of Biscay to the South Atlantic Ocean (46° N to 26° S) in spring and fall 2007, respectively. After filtration the dissolved and particulate phases were extracted separately, and PFC concentrations were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography interfaced to tandem mass spectrometry. No PFCs were detected in the particulate phase. This study provides the first concentration data of perfluorooctanesulfona-mide (FOSA), perfluorohexanoic acid, and perfluoroheptanoic acid from the Atlantic Ocean. Results indicate that trans-Atlantic Ocean currents caused the decreasing concentration gradient from the Bay of Biscay to the South Atlantic Ocean and the concentration drop-off close to the Labrador Sea. Maximum concentrations were found for FOSA, perfluorooctanesulfonate, and perfluorooctanoic acid at 302, 291, and 229 pg L -1, respectively. However, the concentration of each single compound was usually in the tens of picograms per liter range. South of the equator only FOSA and below 4° S no PFCs could be detected.

AB - Perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) were determined in 2 L surface water samples collected in the Atlantic Ocean onboard the research vessels Maria S. Merian along the longitudinal gradient from Las Palmas (Spain) to St. Johns (Canada) (15° W to 52° W) and Polarstern along the latitudinal gradient from the Bay of Biscay to the South Atlantic Ocean (46° N to 26° S) in spring and fall 2007, respectively. After filtration the dissolved and particulate phases were extracted separately, and PFC concentrations were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography interfaced to tandem mass spectrometry. No PFCs were detected in the particulate phase. This study provides the first concentration data of perfluorooctanesulfona-mide (FOSA), perfluorohexanoic acid, and perfluoroheptanoic acid from the Atlantic Ocean. Results indicate that trans-Atlantic Ocean currents caused the decreasing concentration gradient from the Bay of Biscay to the South Atlantic Ocean and the concentration drop-off close to the Labrador Sea. Maximum concentrations were found for FOSA, perfluorooctanesulfonate, and perfluorooctanoic acid at 302, 291, and 229 pg L -1, respectively. However, the concentration of each single compound was usually in the tens of picograms per liter range. South of the equator only FOSA and below 4° S no PFCs could be detected.

KW - Chemistry

KW - Atlantic Ocean

KW - Bay of Biscay

KW - Concentration data

KW - Concentration gradients

KW - Concentration of

KW - Labrador Sea

KW - Latitudinal distribution

KW - Latitudinal gradients

KW - Longitudinal gradients

KW - Particulate phasis

KW - Perfluorooctane sulfonates

KW - Perfluorooctanoic acid

KW - Research vessels

KW - Single compound

KW - South Atlantic

KW - Tandem mass spectrometry

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=66449134508&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1021/es803507p

DO - 10.1021/es803507p

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 43

SP - 3122

EP - 3127

JO - Environmental Science & Technology

JF - Environmental Science & Technology

SN - 0013-936X

IS - 9

ER -