Abstract
ABSTRACTPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of thousands of man-made chemicals that are persistent and highly stable in the environment. The diverse structures of PFAS give them different chemical properties that influence their solubility in different environmental matrices and biological tissues. PFAS in drinking water have been extensively studied, but information on their presence in fish and other exposure routes is limited. To address this, a non-targeted analysis using liquid chromatography, ion mobility spectrometry, and mass spectrometry (LC-IMS-MS) was performed to evaluate PFAS in fish fillets from in central North Carolina and compare with PFAS data from previously published water. A total of 22 different PFAS were detected in the fillets, including only 4 of the PFAS reported in water. Both more PFAS types and higher concentrations were observed in fish caught near a known PFAS point-source compared to those from a reservoir used for drinking water and recreation. Median fillet PFOS levels were 54 ppb in fish closest to the point source and 14-20 ppb in fish from the reservoir. Thus, future PFAS monitoring should include both targeted and non-targeted analyses of both water and fish to increase understanding of human exposure risks and ecosystem impacts.SYNOPSISFish fillet samples were collected from five sites in North Carolina. PFAS were detected in all samples and differences in analytes and abundances were observed at the different sites.GRAPHICAL ABSTRACTFor use in table of contents only
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory