Relating laboratory leaching methods to partitioning and transport of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in field soils is challenging, making estimation of fluxes to groundwater and surface water uncertain. Existing laboratory leaching methods have limitations when assessing field leaching. For 37 aged field soils from five sites historically contaminated with PFAS over decades, we assess PFAS leaching using new and existing laboratory leaching methods to provide alternative methods better reflecting PFAS risks posed by its leaching and movement.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this study, PAH bioavailability was assessed in creosote-contaminated soil following bioremediation in order to determine potential human health exposure to residual PAHs from incidental soil ingestion. Following 1,000 days of enhanced natural attenuation (ENA), a residual PAH concentration of 871 ± 8 mg kg(-1) (∑16 USEPA priority PAHs in the <250 μm soil particle size fraction) was present in the soil. However, when bioavailability was assessed to elucidate potential human exposure using an in vivo mouse model, the upper-bound estimates of PAH absolute bioavailability were in excess of 65% irrespective of the molecular weight of the PAH.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAcute toxicity in a municipal sewage treatment plant in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, was traced to chlorfenvinphos, an organophosphorous pesticide. Toxicity identification evaluation procedures led to the tentative identification of chlorfenvinphos as the toxic contaminant in the sample. Subsequent analytical verification revealed 0.
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