Distribution of perfluorinated compounds in water, sediment, biota and floating plants in Baiyangdian Lake, China

Abstract

The distribution of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in Baiyangdian Lake, China, was determined in this study. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was the dominant PFC in lake water (1.70–73.5 ng L⁻¹, median 9.72 ng L⁻¹), while perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was the dominant PFC in sediments (0.06–0.64 ng g⁻¹ dry wt, median 0.19 ng g⁻¹ dry wt) and in aquatic animals (0.57–13.7 ng g⁻¹ wet wt, median 2.56 ng g⁻¹ wet wt). Significant differences in PFC levels were observed among various aquatic animals. We also determined, for the first time, the PFC levels in floating plants, including Ceratophyllum demersum L., Hydrocharis dubia (Bl.) Backer and Salvinia natans (L.), and we found that PFOA and PFNA were the dominant PFCs in these plants. Furthermore, floating plants were observed to have different composition profiles compared to aquatic animals. Geographical differences in PFC levels were also observed, with higher PFC levels in samples from the north part of Baiyangdian Lake than those in the south. The differences in human and industrial activities in different parts of the lake and the discharged wastewater from the Fuhe River may be the major contributors for these geographical differences.