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Abstract

Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) are environmental contaminants posing special public health concerns because of their long-term persistence and bioaccumulation in the environment. Fluorotelomer alcohols are volatile and may undergo long-range transport. Air samples were collected at five sites in the Keihan area, Japan: Sakyo, Morinomiya and three sites in Higashiyodogawa. Except for Higashiyodogawa, the highest concentrations of fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) were for 8:2 FTOH (median 447 pg m−3) followed by 10:2 FTOH (56 pg m−3) and 6:2 FTOH (22 pg m−3). In contrast, 8:2 FTOAcryl (median 865 pg m−3) and 8:2 FTOH (1,864 pg m−3) were both major components in Higashiyodogawa. Compared to data published for North America and Europe, 8:2 FTOH levels are significantly higher in Keihan, suggesting a possible point source.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Drs. Andrew B. Lindstrom, Mark J. Strynar and Shoji Nakayama (NERL, USEPA) for donating the isotope-labeled internal standard. This study was mainly supported by Grants-in-Aid from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan (H15-Chemistry-004), the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (17-1910) and the River Fund of the Foundation of River and Watershed Environment Management, Japan.

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Correspondence to Akio Koizumi.

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Sayoko Ohno and Eriko Matsubara contributed equally to this study.

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Oono, S., Matsubara, E., Harada, K.H. et al. Survey of Airborne Polyfluorinated Telomers in Keihan Area, Japan. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 80, 102–106 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-007-9324-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-007-9324-2

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