Analysis of Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and other Perfluorinated Compounds (PFCs) in the River Po Watershed in N-Italy

C7-C10 perfluorinated carboxylates (PFACs) and perfluorooctansulfonate (PFOS) were analysed in selected stretches of the River Po and its major tributaries. Analyses were performed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) with Oasis® HLB cartridges and methanol elution followed by LC-MS-MS detection using 13C-labelled internal standards. High concentration levels (~1.3 microg L-1) of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) were detected in the Tánaro River close to the city Alessandria. After this tributary, levels between 60-337 ng L-1 were measured in the Po River on several occasions. Considering an approximate discharge flow of 1540 m3 per second and a medium PFOA concentration of ~100 ng L-1 in the water, it has been estimated a load of ~ 0.5 kg PFOA per hour or ~ 4 tons per year discharged in the Adriatic Sea.

LOOS Robert;  LOCORO Giovanni;  HUBER Tania;  WOLLGAST Jan;  CHRISTOPH Eugen;  DE JAGER Alfred;  GAWLIK Bernd;  HANKE Georg;  UMLAUF Gunther;  ZALDIVAR COMENGES Jose'; 

2008-02-28

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

JRC37293

0045-6535,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC37293,   

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2007.09.022,