Development of Target and Non-targeted Analysis Approaches to Characterize Emerging PFAS and Potential PFAS Metabolites from Drinking and Surface Water in Florida

Authors

Xuerong Li, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Major/Program

Chemistry

First Advisor's Name

Natalia Quinete

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee chair

Second Advisor's Name

Todd Crowl

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Third Advisor's Name

Piero Gardinali

Third Advisor's Committee Title

committee member

Fourth Advisor's Name

Kevin O’Shea

Fourth Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Fifth Advisor's Name

Yuk-Ching Tse-Dinh

Fifth Advisor's Committee Title

committee member

Keywords

PFAS, LC-MS, Non-targeted analysis, water samples, Florida

Date of Defense

10-24-2022

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of anthropogenic pollutants found ubiquitously in surface and drinking water supply. Due to their persistent nature, bioaccumulative potential, and significant adverse health effects, they pose a concern for human and environmental exposure. The first chapter of the dissertation focused on the development and validation of a target analysis method based on a semi-automated solid phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of legacy and emerging short-chain PFAS at low parts-per-trillion levels, which was applied to surface waters from Biscayne Bay canals and tap waters from different counties in South Florida (N=36). Total PFAS concentrations of up to 242 ng L-1 in tap water and 106 ng L-1 in surface water raised human health and ecological concerns due to the elevated levels. The second chapter of this dissertation expanded the PFAS monitoring study on the occurrence, composition, spatial and seasonal distribution, and potential sources encompassing tap waters from counties on the East coast of South Florida and Central Florida, and surface waters from Tampa Bay. PFAS were detected in all tap water and surface water samples (N=38), with higher concentrations associated with polluted waterways in Biscayne Bay and sites nearby military airbases and airports. The current findings on PFAS contamination levels from diverse aquatic environments provide additional information for the development of more stringent screening levels that are protective of human health and Florida’s environmental resources. The last chapter of this dissertation focused on developing a non-targeted analysis (NTA) approach based on high-resolution mass spectrometry for a more comprehensive characterization of total PFAS, including degradants and transformation products present in environmental samples that were not measured by target analysis. A total of over 500 PFAS were tentatively identified in drinking and surface waters in South Florida. A semi-quantitation method for NTA (qNTA) was also achieved for the estimation of total PFAS concentration in the samples. A full assessment combining both target and non-targeted approaches play a crucial role in the understanding the diversity of PFAS species in environmental samples, which is needed to better evaluate their toxicological and potential impacts.

Identifier

FIDC010957

Previously Published In

Li, X.; Fatowe, M.; Cui, D.; Quinete, N. Assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in Biscayne Bay surface waters and tap waters from South Florida. Science of the Total Environment, 2022, 806. 150393

Li, X.; Fatowe, M.; Lemos, L.; Quinete, N. Spatial distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in waters from Central and South Florida. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-21589-w

Recommended Citation

Li, Xuerong, "Development of Target and Non-targeted Analysis Approaches to Characterize Emerging PFAS and Potential PFAS Metabolites from Drinking and Surface Water in Florida" (2022). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 5157.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/5157