A comprehensive assessment of PFAS contamination was conducted in a full-scale drinking water system in Guangzhou, China. Using target, suspect, and non-target screening, the research identified a wide range of PFAS—including several newly reported compounds—present throughout the water treatment and distribution process. PFAS concentrations in tap water remained consistent across three seasons. Critically, the study revealed that conventional treatment methods (biological pretreatment, coagulation, sedimentation, filtration) were largely ineffective, leading to similar PFAS levels in both treated and tap water. These findings highlight the urgent need to develop and deploy more effective technologies for PFAS removal.
Author(s): Wang, Yu-Qing; Hu, Li-Xin; Liu, Ting; Zhao, Jia-Hui; Yang, Yuan-Yuan; Liu, You-Sheng; Ying, Guang-Guo
Published: 2022
Language: English
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Additional Information
The massive use and the persistence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have led to their frequent detection in aquatic environments, which may further threaten drinking water safety. So far, our knowledge about the occurrence of PFAS in drinking water system is still very limited. Here we investigated the occurrence and removal of PFAS in a drinking water system using non-target, suspect and target screening strategies. Sampling was performed in three seasons in the drinking water system including a water source, two drinking water treatment plants, and tap water in five households. The results showed detection of 17 homologous series with 51 homologues in non-target screening and 50 potential PFAS detected in suspect screening. Probable structures were proposed for 15 PFAS with high confidence levels (the first three of the five levels), with seven of them being reported for the first time in drinking water system. Semi-quantification was performed on seven homologous series based on target PFAS, the estimated total concentrations for non-target PFAS ranged between 4.10 and 17.6 ng/L. Nine out of 50 target PFAS were found and precisely quantified (