Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Spatio-temporal dynamics of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and transfer to periphytic biofilm in an urban river: case-study on the River Seine

  • Spatial and temporal patterns of anthropogenic influence in a large river basin. A multidisciplinary approach
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study addresses the spatio-temporal dynamics of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in a highly urbanized freshwater hydrosystem, the Seine River (NW France). The distribution of PFASs between water, sediment, and periphytic biofilm was investigated at three sampling sites along a longitudinal gradient upstream and downstream from the Paris urban area. Seasonal variability was assessed through four sampling campaigns performed under contrasting hydrological conditions. In the dissolved phase, ∑PFASs fluctuated between 2 and 9 ng L−1 upstream and 6–105 ng L−1 downstream from Paris. Negative correlations between dissolved PFAS levels and river flow rate were generally observed, corroborating the predominance of point-source PFAS inputs at these sites. 18/19 target PFASs were detected, with a predominance of PFHxS and PFOS (20% of ∑PFASs each), except for the farthest downstream site where 6:2 FTSA was prevalent (35 ± 8% of ∑PFASs), likely reflecting industrial and urban inputs. In biofilms, ∑PFASs fell in the 4–32 ng g−1 dw range, and substantial bioconcentration factors (BCFs) were reported for PFNA, PFDA, and PFOS (log BCF 2.1–4.3), higher than those of PFHxS or PFOA. BCFs varied inversely with dissolved PFAS levels, potentially pointing to concentration-dependent bioaccumulation. Biofilm community characteristics (C/N ratio) may also be an influential determinant of PFAS bioaccumulation.

ᅟ

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahrens L (2011) Polyfluoroalkyl compounds in the aquatic environment: a review of their occurrence and fate. J Environ Monit 13:20–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ahrens L, Norström K, Viktor T, Cousins AP, Josefsson S (2015) Stockholm Arlanda Airport as a source of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances to water, sediment and fish. Chemosphere 129:33–38

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Backe WJ, Day TC, Field JA (2013) Zwitterionic, cationic, and anionic fluorinated chemicals in aqueous film forming foam formulations and groundwater from U.S. military bases by nonaqueous large-volume injection HPLC-MS/MS. Environ. Sci. Technol. 47:5226–5234

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bérard A, Dorigo U, Mercier I, Becker-van Slooten K, Grandjean D, Leboulanger C (2003) Comparison of the ecotoxicological impact of the triazines Irgarol 1051 and atrazine on microalgal cultures and natural microalgal communities in Lake Geneva. Chemosphere 53:935–944

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bertin D, Ferrari BJD, Labadie P, Sapin A, Garric J, Budzinski H, Houde M, Babut M (2014) Bioaccumulation of perfluoroalkyl compounds in midge (Chironomus riparius) larvae exposed to sediment. Environ Pollut 189:27–34

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blanck H, Wängberg SA, Molander S (1988) Pollution-induced community tolerance—a new ecotoxicological tool. In: Cairns Jr J, Pratt JR (eds) Functional testing of aquatic biota for estimating hazards of chemicals. ASTM STP 988. American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, pp. 219–230

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Buck RC, Franklin J, Berger U, Conder JM, Cousins IT, De Voogt P (2011) Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the environment: terminology, classification and origins. Integr Environ Assess Manag 7:513–541

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cailleaud K, Forget-Leray J, Souissi S, Hilde D, LeMenach K, Budzinski H (2007) Seasonal variations of hydrophobic organic contaminant concentrations in the water-column of the Seine Estuary and their transfer to a planktonic species Eurytemora affinis (Calanoïda, copepoda). Part 1: PCBs and PAHs. Chemosphere 70:270–280

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Campo J, Pérez F, Masiá A, Picó Y, Farré M, Barceló D (2015) Perfluoroalkyl substance contamination of the Llobregat River ecosystem (Mediterranean area, NE Spain). Sci. Tot. Environ. 503–504:48–57

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corcoll N, Acuña V, Barceló D, Casellas M, Guasch H, Huerta B, Petrovic M, Ponsatí L, Rodríguez-Mozaz S, Sabater S (2014) Pollution-induced community tolerance to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in fluvial biofilm communities affected by WWTP effluents. Chemosphere 112:185–193

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DeForest DK, Brix KV, Adams WJ (2007) Assessing metal bioaccumulation in aquatic environments: the inverse relationship between bioaccumulation factors, trophic transfer factors and exposure concentration. Aquat Toxicol 84:236–246

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Solla SR, De Silva O, Letcher RJ (2012) Highly elevated levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate and other perfluorinated acids found in biota and surface water downstream of an international airport, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Environ Int 39:19–26

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Du B, Haddad SP, Scott WC, Chambliss CK, Brooks BW (2015) Pharmaceutical bioaccumulation by periphyton and snails in an effluent-dependent stream during an extreme drought. Chemosphere 119:927–934

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eschauzier C, Raat KJ, Stuyfzand PJ, De Voogt P (2013) Perfluorinated alkylated acids in groundwater and drinking water: identification, origin and mobility. Sci Tot Environ 477–485

  • Faburé J, Dufour M, Autret A, Uher E, Fechner LC (2015) Impact of an urban multi-metal contamination gradient: metal bioaccumulation and tolerance of river biofilms collected in different seasons. Aquat Toxicol 159:276–289

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fechner LC, Gourlay-Francé C, Tusseau-Vuillemin MH (2014) Linking community tolerance and structure with low metallic contamination: a field study on 13 biofilms sampled across the Seine river basin. Water Res 51:152–162

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gasperi J, Garnaud S, Rocher V, Moilleron R (2009) Priority pollutants in surface waters and settleable particles within a densely urbanised area: case study of Paris (France). Sci Total Environ 407:2900–2908

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gerbersdorf SU, Cimatoribus C, Class H, Engesser KH, Helbich S, Hollert H, Lange C, Kranert M, Metzger J, Nowak W, Seiler TB, Steger K, Steinmetz H, Wieprecht S (2015) Review. Anthropogenic trace compounds (ATCs) in aquatic habitats—research needs on sources, fate, detection and toxicity to ensure timely elimination strategies and risk management. Environ Int 79:85–105

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Giesy JP, Kannan K (2001) Global distribution of perfluorooctane sulfonate in wildlife. Environ Sci. Technol. 35:1339–1342

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Headley JV, Gandrass J, Kuballa J, Peru KM, Gong Y (1998) Rates of sorption and partitioning of contaminants in river biofilm. Environ. Sci. Technol. 32:3968–3973

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoke RA, Ferrell BD, Ryan T, Sloman TL, Green JW, Nabb DL, Mingoia R, Buck RC, Korzeniowski S (2015) Aquatic hazard, bioaccumulation and screening risk assessment for 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate. Chemosphere 128:258–265

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Houde M, Bujas TD, Small J, Fair P, Bossart GD, Solomon K, Muir DCG (2006) Biomagnification of perfluoroalkyl compounds in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) food web. Environ. Sci. Technol. 40:4138–4144

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Houde M, De Silva AO, Muir DCG, Letcher RJ (2011) Monitoring of perfluorinated compounds in aquatic biota: an updated review. Environ. Sci. Technol. 45:7962–7973

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jardine TD, Kidd KA, O’Driscoll N (2013) Food web analysis reveals effects of pH on mercury bioaccumulation at multiple trophic levels in streams. Aquatic Toxicol 132-133:46–52

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kannan K, Corsolini S, Falandysz J, Fillmann G, Kumar KS, Loganathan BG, Mohd MA, Olivero J, van Wouwe N, Yang JH, Aldous KM (2004) Perfluorooctanesulfonate and related fluorochemicals in human blood from several countries. Environ Sci Technol 38:4489–4495

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy P, Kennedy H, Papadimitriou S (2005) The effect of acidification on the determination of organic carbon, total nitrogen and their stable isotopic composition in algae and marine sediment. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 19:1063–1068

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kwadijk CJAF, Korytár P, Koelmans AA (2010) Distribution of perfluorinated compounds in aquatic Systems in the Netherlands. Environ. Sci. Technol. 44:3746–3751

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Labadie P, Chevreuil M (2011a) Partitioning behaviour of perfluorinated alkyl contaminants between water, sediment and fish in the Orge River (nearby Paris, France). Environ Pollut 159:391–397

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Labadie P, Chevreuil M (2011b) Biogeochemical dynamics of perfluorinated alkyl acids and sulfonates in the River Seine (Paris, France) under contrasting hydrological conditions. Environ Pollut 159:3634–3639

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lam NH, Cho CR, Lee JS, Soha HY, Lee BC, Lee JA, Tatarozako N, Sasaki K, Saitoe N, Iwabuchi K, Kannan K, Cho HS (2014) Perfluorinated alkyl substances in water, sediment, plankton and fish from Korean rivers and lakes: a nationwide survey. Sci Total Environ 154–162

  • Liu C, Gin KYH, Chang VWC, Goh BPL, Reinhard M (2011) Novel perspectives on the bioaccumulation of PFCs—the concentration dependency. Environ. Sci. Technol. 45:9758–9764

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Mejia Avendaño S (2013) Microbial degradation of polyfluoroalkyl chemicals in the environment: a review. Environ Int 61:98–114

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loi EIH, Yeung LWY, Taniyasu S, Lam PKS, Kannan K, Yamashita N (2011) Trophic magnification of poly- and perfluorinated compounds in a subtropical food web. Environ. Sci. Technol. 45:5506–5513

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin JW, Mabury SA, Solomon K, Muir DCG (2003) Bioconcentration and tissue distribution of perfluorinated acids in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Environ Toxicol Chem 22:196–204

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin JW, Whittle DM, Muir DCG, Mabury SA (2004) Perfluoroalkyl contaminants in a food web from Lake Ontario. Environ. Sci. Technol. 38:5379–5385

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McMahon RF, Hunter RD, Russell-Hunter WD (1974) Variation in Aufwuchs at six freshwater habitats in terms of carbon biomass and of carbon: nitrogen ratio. Hydrobiologia 45:391–404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meybeck M, Horowitz AJ, Grosbois C (2004) The geochemistry of Seine River Basin particulate matter: distribution of an integrated metal pollution index. Sci Total Environ 328:219–236

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Möller A, Ahrens L, Surm R, Westerveld J, van der Wielen F, Ebinghaus R, de Voogt P (2010) Distribution and sources of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the River Rhine watershed. Environ Pollut 158:3243–3250

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moody CA, Field JA (2000) Perfluorinated surfactants and the environmental implications of their use in fire-fighting foams. Environ. Sci. Technol. 34:3864–3870

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muir D, Sverko E (2006) Analytical methods for PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in environmental monitoring and surveillance: a critical appraisal. Anal Bioanal Chem 386:769–789

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mukarami M, Shinohara H, Takada H (2009) Evaluation of wastewater and street runoff as sources of perfluorinated surfactants (PFSs). Chemosphere 74:487–493

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Munoz G, Giraudel JL, Botta F, Lestremau F, Dévier MH, Budzinski H, Labadie P (2015) Spatial distribution and partitioning behavior of selected poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances in freshwater ecosystems: a French nationwide survey. Sci Tot Environ 517:48–56

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Munoz G, Vo Duy S, Labadie P, Botta F, Budzinski H, Lestremau F, Liu J, Sauvé S (2016) Analysis of zwitterionic, cationic, neutral and anionic polyfluoroalkyl surfactants in sediments by liquid chromatography polarity-switching electrospray ionization coupled to Orbitrap mass spectrometry. Talanta 152:447–456

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R Core Team (2013) R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R foundation for statistical computing, Vienna, Austria

  • Renner R (2001) Growing concern over perfluorinated chemicals. Evidence of toxic effects and environmental impacts has sent researchers scrambling to obtain more data. Environ. Sci. Technol. 35:154–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ricart M, Barceló D, Geiszinger A, Guasch H, López de Alda M, Romaní AM, Vidal G, Villagrasa M, Sabater S (2009) Effects of low concentrations of the phenylurea herbicide diuron on biofilm algae and bacteria. Chemosphere 76:1392–1401

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roy S, Gaillardet J, Allègre JC (1999) Geochemistry of dissolved and suspended loads of the seine river, France: anthropogenic impact, carbonate and silicate weathering. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 63:1277–1292

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ruhí A, Acuña V, Barceló D, Huerta B, Mor JR, Rodríguez-Mozaz S, Sabater S (2016) Bioaccumulation and trophic magnification of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors in a Mediterranean river food web. Sci Total Environ 540:250–259

  • Sabater S, Guasch H, Ricart M, Romaní A, Vidal G, Klünder C, Schmitt-Jansen M (2007) Monitoring the effect of chemicals on biological communities. The biofilm as an interface. Anal Bioanal Chem 387:1425–1434

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schultz MM, Barofsky D, Field JA (2004) Quantitative determination of fluorotelomer sulfonates in groundwater by LC MS/MS. Environ. Sci. Technol. 38:1828–1835

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shan G, Wei M, Zhu L, Liu Z, Zhang Y (2014) Concentration profiles and spatial distribution of perfluoroalkyl substances in an industrial center with condensed fluorochemical facilities. Sci Tot Environ 490:351–359

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simcik MF, Dorweiler KJ (2005) Ratio of Perfluorochemical concentrations as a tracer of atmospheric deposition to surface waters. Environ. Sci. Technol. 39:8678–8683

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Teil MJ, Tlili K, Blanchard M, Labadie P, Alliot F, Chevreuil M (2014) Polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and phtalates in roach from the Seine River basin (France): impact of densely urbanized areas. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 66:41–57

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tlili K, Labadie P, Alliot F, Bourges C, Desportes A, Chevreuil M (2012) Influence of hydrological parameters on organohalogenated micropollutant (polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated biphenyls) behaviour in the Seine (France). Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 62:570–578

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang F, Shih K, Ma R, Li XY (2015) Influence of cations on the partition behavior of perfluoroheptanoate (PFHpA) and perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) on wastewater sludge. Chemosphere 131:178–183

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Writer JH, Barber LB, Ryan JN, Bradley PM (2011) Biodegradation and attenuation of steroidal hormones and alkylphenols by stream biofilms and sediments. Environ Sci Technol 45:4370–4376

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xia X, Rabearisoa AH, Dai Z, Jiang X, Zhao P, Wang H (2015) Inhibition effect of Na+ and Ca2+ on the bioaccumulation of perfluoroalkyl substances by Daphnia magna in the presence of protein. Environ Toxicol Chem 34:429–436

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xie S, Wang T, Liu S, Jones KC, Sweetman AJ, Lu Y (2013) Industrial source identification and emission estimation of perfluorooctane sulfonate in China. Environ Int 52:1–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu J, Guo CS, Zhang Y, Meng W (2014) Bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of perfluorinated compounds in a eutrophic freshwater food web. Environ Pollut 184:254–261

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the PIREN-Seine research programme (http://www.sisyphe.upmc.fr/piren/). This study has been carried out with financial support from the French National Research Agency (ANR) in the frame of the “Investments for the future” Program, within the Cluster of Excellence COTE (ANR-10-LABX-45). IdEx Bordeaux (ANR-10-IDEX-03-02) provided the PhD grant allocated to G. Munoz. The authors also acknowledge funding from the INTERREG ORQUE SUDOE project (SOE3/P2/F591), as well as from the Aquitaine Regional Council and the European Union (CPER A2E project). Europe is moving in Aquitaine with the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). The authors thank Michel Cremer and Nicolas Savoye, both at UMR 5805 EPOC (CNRS-Université de Bordeaux), who supplied sediment grain-size distribution data and organic nitrogen/carbon data, respectively.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Bordeaux, EPOC, UMR 5805, LPTC Research Group, 351 Cours de la Libération, F-33400, Talence, France

    Gabriel Munoz, Emmanuel Geneste & Patrick Pardon

  2. Irstea Antony, Unité de Recherche Hydrosystèmes et Bioprocédés (HBAN), 1 Rue Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, CS 10030, F-92761, Antony Cedex, France

    Lise C. Fechner

  3. AgroParisTech, F-75005, Paris, France

    Lise C. Fechner

  4. CNRS, EPOC, UMR 5805, LPTC Research Group, 351 Cours de la Libération, F-33400, Talence, France

    Hélène Budzinski & Pierre Labadie

Authors
  1. Gabriel Munoz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lise C. Fechner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Emmanuel Geneste
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Patrick Pardon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Hélène Budzinski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Pierre Labadie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pierre Labadie.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Roland Kallenborn

Highlights

• PFAS spatio-temporal dynamics in the highly urbanized Seine River (Paris, France)

• ∑PFASs in the range 2–9 ng L−1 upstream and 6–105 ng L−1 downstream from Paris

• For most PFASs, negative correlation of levels and river flow rate: point sources

• 6:2 FTSA soared downstream (35 ± 8% of ∑PFASs): specific urban/industrial sources

• PFAS uptake in biofilms (∑PFASs: 4–32 ng g−1), especially L-PFOS (log BCF 2.8–3.9)

• Biofilm bioconcentration factors negatively correlated to dissolved PFAS levels

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(PDF 796 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Munoz, G., Fechner, L.C., Geneste, E. et al. Spatio-temporal dynamics of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and transfer to periphytic biofilm in an urban river: case-study on the River Seine. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 23574–23582 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-8051-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-8051-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation