Footprints of Urban Micro-Pollution in Protected Areas: Investigating the Longitudinal Distribution of Perfluoroalkyl Acids in Wildlife Preserves

Current approaches to protect biodiversity by establishing protected areas usually gloss over water pollution as a threat. Our objective was to determine the longitudinal and seasonal distribution of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in water column and sediments from a wastewater dominated stream that e...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2016-02, Vol.11 (2), p.e0148654
Main Authors: Rodriguez-Jorquera, Ignacio A, Silva-Sanchez, Cecilia, Strynar, Mark, Denslow, Nancy D, Toor, Gurpal S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acids
Annual variations
Atomic properties
Biodiversity
Biodiversity conservation
Biology and Life Sciences
Chromatography
Cities - statistics & numerical data
Conservation biology
Conservation of Natural Resources
Creeks & streams
Demographic aspects
Dilution
Earth Sciences
Ecological and Environmental Phenomena
Ecology
Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Engineering and Technology
Environmental aspects
Environmental monitoring
Environmental Pollution - analysis
Environmental science
Fluorocarbons - analysis
Geologic Sediments - chemistry
Gloss
High performance liquid chromatography
Humans
Influence
Interdisciplinary aspects
Laboratories
Liquid chromatography
Mass spectrometry
Mass spectroscopy
Methods
Mitigation
National parks
Natural resources
Organic matter
Parks & recreation areas
Perfluorooctanoic acid
Physical Sciences
Physiology
Pollution
Pollution control
Pollution monitoring
Pollution research
Protected areas
Rainy season
Runoff
Seasonal distribution
Seasonal variations
Seasons
Sediments
Storm runoff
Storm sewers
Stormwater
Stormwater management
Stream pollution
Studies
Surface water
Surfactants
Time Factors
Toxicology
United States
Wastewater
Wastewater - chemistry
Wastewater analysis
Water - chemistry
Water analysis
Water column
Water pollution
Water sampling
Water Supply
Water treatment
Wilderness preserves
Wildlife
Wildlife conservation
Wildlife refuges
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Summary:Current approaches to protect biodiversity by establishing protected areas usually gloss over water pollution as a threat. Our objective was to determine the longitudinal and seasonal distribution of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in water column and sediments from a wastewater dominated stream that enters preservation areas. Water samples were collected along the longitudinal section (six sites, 1000 m away from each other) of the stream during the dry and wet seasons. Sediments were collected from three sites along the stream from three depths. Water and sediments were analyzed for PFAAs using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Eleven PFAAs with 5 to 14 carbon atoms were detected in the water column at all sampling points, with a minor reduction at the last point suggesting a dilution effect. The most detected PFAAs was PFOS, followed by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA). Seasonal differences in PFAAs concentrations suggested contribution of stormwater runoff during the wet season. All analyzed PFAAs in sediments were under the limit of quantification, likely due to the high proportion of sand and low organic matter. However, high concentrations of PFAAs were detected in the water column inside the protected areas, which includes PFOS in concentrations considered not safe for avian wildlife. Water samples appear to be more relevant than sediments to determine PFAAs micro-pollution in water bodies with sandy sediments. Inclusion of a management plans on micro-pollution research, monitoring, and mitigation is recommended for protected areas.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0148654