TY - JOUR

T1 - Atmospheric fate of poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs)

T2 - II. Emission source strength in summer in Zurich, Switzerland

AU - Wang, Zhanyun

AU - Scheringer, Martin

AU - MacLeod, Matthew

AU - Bogdal, Christian

AU - Müller, Claudia

AU - Gerecke, Andreas

AU - Hungerbuehler, Konrad

PY - 2012/10

Y1 - 2012/10

N2 - Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) and perfluorooctane sulfonamides (FOSAs) are present in consumer products and are semi-volatile precursors of persistent perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs). The high variability of levels of FTOHs and FOSAs in products makes it difficult to derive FTOH- and FOSA-emissions from urban areas based on emission factors. Here we used a multimedia mass balance model that describes the day–night cycle of semi-volatile organic chemicals in air to interpret measurements of 8:2 FTOH, 10:2 FTOH, MeFOSA and EtFOSA from a sampling campaign in summer 2010 in Zurich, Switzerland. The estimated emission source strength of the four substances follows the sequence: 8:2 FTOH (2.6 g/h) > 10:2 FTOH (0.75 g/h) > MeFOSA (0.08 g/h) > EtFOSA (0.05 g/h). There is no FTOHs- or FOSAs-related industry in Zurich. Accordingly, our estimates are representative of diffusive emissions during use and disposal of consumer products, and describe noticeable sources of these PFASs to the environment.

AB - Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) and perfluorooctane sulfonamides (FOSAs) are present in consumer products and are semi-volatile precursors of persistent perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs). The high variability of levels of FTOHs and FOSAs in products makes it difficult to derive FTOH- and FOSA-emissions from urban areas based on emission factors. Here we used a multimedia mass balance model that describes the day–night cycle of semi-volatile organic chemicals in air to interpret measurements of 8:2 FTOH, 10:2 FTOH, MeFOSA and EtFOSA from a sampling campaign in summer 2010 in Zurich, Switzerland. The estimated emission source strength of the four substances follows the sequence: 8:2 FTOH (2.6 g/h) > 10:2 FTOH (0.75 g/h) > MeFOSA (0.08 g/h) > EtFOSA (0.05 g/h). There is no FTOHs- or FOSAs-related industry in Zurich. Accordingly, our estimates are representative of diffusive emissions during use and disposal of consumer products, and describe noticeable sources of these PFASs to the environment.

KW - Chemistry

KW - Fluorotelomer alcohols

KW - FTOHs

KW - Perfluorooctane sulfonamides

KW - FOSAs

KW - Emission source strength

KW - Nocturnal boundary layer

KW - Diel pattern

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84863793574&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2012.03.037

DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2012.03.037

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 22621939

VL - 169

SP - 204

EP - 209

JO - Environmental Pollution

JF - Environmental Pollution

SN - 0269-7491

ER -