TY - JOUR
T1 - Fate and transport of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) across the groundwater-to-estuary continuum in an aqueous film forming foam (AFFF)-impacted watershed
AU - Shaffer, Kevin W.
AU - Lee, Cheng Shiuan
AU - Ye, Xiayan
AU - Graffam, Molly
AU - Paulsen, Ronald J.
AU - McDonough, Carrie A.
AU - Venkatesan, Arjun K.
AU - Gobler, Christopher J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Authors
PY - 2026/2/1
Y1 - 2026/2/1
N2 - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a globally pervasive class of persistent and potentially toxic contaminants. This study investigates the prevalence, transport, and partitioning behavior of 19 PFAS within Georgica Pond (NY, USA), a shallow, temporarily-open estuary fed by groundwater historically impacted by aqueous film forming foam (AFFF). PFAS concentrations were measured in groundwater, groundwater seepage, sediments, and surface waters to evaluate the abundance, distribution, and the influence of environmental factors on PFAS fate and transport. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS; 32 ± 13 ng L−1) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS; 30 ± 17 ng L−1) were the dominant PFAS detected in groundwater, while short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) (9.8 ± 6.9 ng L−1) and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) (10.2 ± 5.7 ng L−1) were most abundant compounds in Georgica Pond surface waters. In sediments, PFBS (1.5 ± 0.91 μg kg–1) was most abundant in tributaries, while 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS) (1.5 ± 0.91 μg kg−1 d.w) was dominant in estuarine sediments. ∑PFAS and individual PFAS concentrations in surface waters were significantly (p < 0.001) and inversely correlated with salinity, suggesting dilution and/or enhanced sorption of PFAS in marine waters. Additionally, ∑PFAS as well as PFBS and PFHxS concentrations in sediment were strongly and significantly correlated with sediment organic matter content, indicating preferential accumulation in organic-rich substrates. These findings highlight the combined influence of salinity dynamics and in situ physical processes governing PFAS distribution and partitioning. Collectively, these results underscore the complex transformations of PFAS as they traverse the groundwater-to-sediment-to estuarine continuum that have direct implications for contaminant persistence and bioavailability.
AB - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a globally pervasive class of persistent and potentially toxic contaminants. This study investigates the prevalence, transport, and partitioning behavior of 19 PFAS within Georgica Pond (NY, USA), a shallow, temporarily-open estuary fed by groundwater historically impacted by aqueous film forming foam (AFFF). PFAS concentrations were measured in groundwater, groundwater seepage, sediments, and surface waters to evaluate the abundance, distribution, and the influence of environmental factors on PFAS fate and transport. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS; 32 ± 13 ng L−1) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS; 30 ± 17 ng L−1) were the dominant PFAS detected in groundwater, while short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) (9.8 ± 6.9 ng L−1) and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) (10.2 ± 5.7 ng L−1) were most abundant compounds in Georgica Pond surface waters. In sediments, PFBS (1.5 ± 0.91 μg kg–1) was most abundant in tributaries, while 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS) (1.5 ± 0.91 μg kg−1 d.w) was dominant in estuarine sediments. ∑PFAS and individual PFAS concentrations in surface waters were significantly (p < 0.001) and inversely correlated with salinity, suggesting dilution and/or enhanced sorption of PFAS in marine waters. Additionally, ∑PFAS as well as PFBS and PFHxS concentrations in sediment were strongly and significantly correlated with sediment organic matter content, indicating preferential accumulation in organic-rich substrates. These findings highlight the combined influence of salinity dynamics and in situ physical processes governing PFAS distribution and partitioning. Collectively, these results underscore the complex transformations of PFAS as they traverse the groundwater-to-sediment-to estuarine continuum that have direct implications for contaminant persistence and bioavailability.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105024304904
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105024304904#tab=citedBy
U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127486
DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127486
M3 - Article
C2 - 41349945
AN - SCOPUS:105024304904
SN - 0269-7491
VL - 390
JO - Environmental Pollution
JF - Environmental Pollution
M1 - 127486
ER -