Sulfluramid use in Brazilian agriculture: A source of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) to the environment.

N-Ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamide (EtFOSA) is a perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) precursor and the active ingredient in sulfluramid, a pesticide which is used extensively in Brazil for management of leaf cutting ants. Here we investigate the occurrence of EtFOSA, PFOS, and other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in soil, eucalyptus leaves, water (ground, riverine, and coastal (estuarine/marine)) and coastal sediment from an agricultural region of Bahia State, Brazil. This area contains a larger number of eucalyptus plantations where sulfluramid is suspected to be applied.

Biodegradation and Uptake of the Pesticide Sulfluramid in a Soil-Carrot Mesocosm.

N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamide (EtFOSA) is the active ingredient of Sulfluramid, a pesticide which is used extensively in South America for control of leaf-cutting ants. Despite being a known precursor to perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), the importance of EtFOSA as a source of environmental PFOS remains unclear. In the present work, uptake, leaching, and biodegradation of EtFOSA and its transformation products were assessed over 81 days in soil-carrot ( Daucus carota ssp sativus) mesocosms for the first time.

Biotransformation of 8:2 polyfluoroalkyl phosphate diester in gilthead bream (Sparus aurata).

Polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters (PAPs) are high production volume surfactants used in the food contact paper and packaging industry. PAPs may transform to persistent perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) under biotic conditions, but little is known about their fate and behavior in aquatic organisms. Here we report for the first time on the uptake, tissue distribution, and biotransformation of 8:2 polyfluoroalkyl phosphate diester (8:2 diPAP) in fish.

Screening and identification of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in microwave popcorn bags.

Liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QToF-MS) was used for the accurate identification (<10ppm) of different polyfluoroalkylphosphates (PAPs) and their intermediate and end degradation products in popcorn bags. Up to 46 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and precursors were identified. Moreover, an accurate method based on focused ultrasonic solid-liquid extraction (FUSLE) and a clean-up step with Envi-Carb sorbent was validated and applied to the quantification of 24 PFASs in popcorn bags from over twelve European countries, three American countries and two Asian countries.

Uptake of perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctane sulfonamide by carrot and lettuce from compost amended soil.

Sewage sludge, which acts like a sink for many pollutants, including metals, pathogens and organic pollutants, that are not completely removed in waste water treatment plants (WWTPs), is applied as a nutrient rich organic fertilizer in many agricultural applications. In the present work, carrot and lettuce crops were grown in two different compost amended soils fortified with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorosulfonate acid (PFOS) and perfluorosulfonamide (FOSA) and cultivated in a greenhouse. The plants were harvested and divided into root core, root peel and leaves in the case of carrots and into heart and leaves for lettuces.