Ecology and Environmental Sciences ›› 2025, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (7): 1064-1078.DOI: 10.16258/j.cnki.1674-5906.2025.07.007

• Papers on “Emerging Pollutants” • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Environmental Characteristics, Global levels, Sources and Risk of Emerging Pollutants Ultra-Short-Chain Poly- and Perfluorinated Substances

ZHAO Xi1,*(), WEI Si2   

  1. 1. Shenzhen Hanyu Environmental Science & Technology Co. Ltd., Shenzhen 518001, P. R. China
    2. School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
  • Received:2025-02-14 Online:2025-07-18 Published:2025-07-11

超短链PFASs类新污染物的环境特性、全球水平、来源及风险

赵曦1,*(), 韦斯2   

  1. 1.深圳市汉宇环境科技有限公司,广东 深圳 518001
    2.南京大学环境学院,江苏 南京 210023
  • 通讯作者: *通讯作者。
  • 作者简介:赵曦(1982年生),男,高级工程师,硕士,研究方向为新污染物生态环境风险评价与治理,固体废物和土壤环境污染防治。E-mail: zhaoxi5257@sina.com
  • 基金资助:
    国家自然科学基金项目(22376092);国家重点研发计划课题(2023YFC3706601);生态环境部二噁英污染控制重点实验室开放基金项目(2023)

Abstract:

Ultra-short-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (USC-PFASs) are PFASs with 1-3 perfluorinated carbon. Compared to long-chain and short-chain PFASs, USC-PFASs exhibit higher persistence and mobility, continuously accumulating in the environment and posing potential risks to ecosystems and human health. A comprehensive analysis of the environmental characteristics, global levels, sources, and risks of USC-PFASs is of significant importance for the prevention, control, and risk management of these emerging pollutants in the environment. Through a statistical analysis of the literature, seven key USC-PFASs were identified. These USC-PFASs are volatile, soluble or slightly soluble in water, and possess high persistence and mobility in the environment. Currently, seven USC-PFASs have been detected in global aquatic environments, six in soil and sediments, five in biota and four in atmospheric environments. Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), perfluoropropanoic acid (PFPrA), and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (NTf2) are commonly found in aquatic, soil, sediment, and atmospheric environments, and biota. Trifluoromethane sulfonic acid (TFMS) is present in aquatic, soil, sediment, and atmospheric environments. Perfluoroethane sulfonic acid (PFEtS) and perfluoropropane sulfonic acid (PFPrS) are mainly found in aquatic environments and biota, while 1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoropropan-2-ol (HFIP) has only been detected in surface water, soil, and atmospheric environments. USC-PFASs have at least 11 potential sources, including seven point sources: sites using fluorinated firefighting foams, fluorochemical plants, electronics factories, wastewater treatment plants, waste disposal facilities, e-waste dismantling sites, and waste lithium-ion battery processing plants, and four non-point sources: atmospheric degradation of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), transformation of fluorinated pharmaceuticals and pesticides in the environment, release of polymeric PFASs, and transformation of precursor PFASs. In recent years, NTf2 has frequently appeared in various environmental media, possibly due to the recycling and processing of waste lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The risk assessment results showed that the maximum non-carcinogenic risk values for PFPrA, NTf2, and PFPrA in drinking water via inhalation were 1.7×10−4, 3.7×10−4, and 4.2×10−3, respectively, which are lower than those of PFOA but higher than those of PFBA. It is recommended that USC-PFASs be managed using high-persistence pollutant control methods, toxicological and environmental behavior be strengthened, enterprises be guided to avoid ineffective substitutions, and the adoption of effective treatment measures be encouraged.

Key words: ultra-short-chain poly- and perfluorinated substances, emerging pollutants, environmental characteristics, environmental levels, environmental sources, risk assessment

摘要:

超短链全氟和多氟烷基化合物(USC-PFASs)是链长为1-3个全氟碳原子的PFASs,相比长链和短链PFASs具有更高的持久性和迁移性,可通过在环境中不断积累进而对生态环境和人体健康产生潜在风险。全面分析USC-PFASs的环境特性、全球水平、来源及风险,对这类新污染物的防治和风险管控具有重要意义。通过对文献的统计分析,识别出7种重点关注的USC-PFASs。这些USC-PFASs易挥发、易溶或微溶于水并具高持久性和高迁移性。目前,全球水体中检出7种USC-PFASs,土壤和底泥中检出6种USC-PFASs,生物体中检出5种USC-PFASs,大气中检出4种USC-PFASs。三氟乙酸(TFA)、全氟丙酸(PFPrA)和双(三氟甲烷)磺酰亚胺(NTf2)普遍存在于水体、土壤、底泥、大气和生物体中,三氟甲烷磺酸(TFMS)存在于水体、土壤、底泥、大气中,全氟乙烷磺酸(PFEtS)和全氟丙烷磺酸(PFPrS)主要存在于水体和生物体中,而六氟异丙醇(HFIP)仅在地表水、土壤和大气中被检出。USC-PFASs存在至少11种潜在来源,包括含氟灭火剂使用点、氟化工厂、电子工厂、污水处理厂、垃圾处理设施、电子废物拆解场和废锂离子电池处理厂等7种点源,以及大气氢氟碳化合物(HFCs)和含氢氯氟烃(HCFCs)降解、环境中含氟药品和农药转化、聚合物PFASs释放、前体PFASs转化等4种面源。近年来,NTf2频繁出现在各类环境介质中,可能与废锂离子电池回收和处理有关。风险评估结果显示,在饮水摄入PFPrA、NTf2和呼吸吸入PFPrA的非致癌风险值最大值分别为1.7×10−4、3.7×10−4和4.2×10−3,低于全氟辛酸(PFOA)但是高于全氟丁酸(PFBA)。建议对USC-PFASs按高持久性污染物管控方法进行管理,加强毒理学和环境行为研究,引导企业避免无效替代,并鼓励企业采用有效治理措施。

关键词: 超短链PFASs, 新污染物, 环境特性, 环境水平, 环境来源, 风险评估

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