PFAS Occurrence in U.S. River Fish: Considerations for Monitoring and Fish Consumption Advisories

Wathen , John

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/121773 Copy

Description

Title

PFAS Occurrence in U.S. River Fish: Considerations for Monitoring and Fish Consumption Advisories

Author(s)

Wathen , John

Contributor(s)

• Healey, John
• Contreras Balbuena, Andrea

Issue Date

2023-04-18

Keyword(s)

• PFAS
• forever chemical
• river fish
• United States rivers and streams

Geographic Coverage

United States rivers and streams

Abstract

PFAS are often referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment. Many states are monitoring PFAS in surface waters and fish, and several states have issued fish consumption advisories for PFOS, one of the most studied PFAS. The purpose of this analysis is to identify combinations of PFAS that have been detected in fish, together with PFOS. Fish fillet tissue samples (n=639) collected during the 2013-14 and 2018-19 National Rivers and Streams Assessments were analyzed for up to 33 PFAS using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-MS/MS). Nine long-chain PFAS were frequently detected in the fish fillet samples (i.e., more than 20 percent frequency). These nine substances include six carboxylic acids (PFNA, PFDA, PFUnA, PFDoA, PFTrDA, PFTeDA), two sulfonic acids (PFOS, PFDS) and one sulfonamide (PFOSA).We examined patterns of PFAS detections among commonly collected fish species (Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass, and Largemouth Bass) and we mapped the distribution of PFAS mixtures detected in fish fillet tissue samples throughout the contiguous U.S. The goals of this work are to inform future fish tissue monitoring strategies and fish consumption advisory programs about the distribution of PFAS found in river fish and to prompt further research into the combined toxicity of PFAS.

Has Part

https://youtu.be/EgkDuNik9Q8

Series/Report Name or Number

2023 Emerging Contaminants in the Environment Conference

Type of Resource

• text
• moving image

Language

eng

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