Unveiling the hidden threat: spatiotemporal trends and source apportionments of per-and polyfluorinated alkyl substances in wastewater treatment plants in South Africa

Moloko Florence Morethe, Lizzy Mpenyana-Monyatsi, Adegbenro Peter Daso, Okechukwu Jonathan Okonkwo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

At least 11 per-and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) were more prevalent during the dry season, whereas only PFBA, L-PFBS, L-PFOS, and PFOA were prevalent during the wet season in 11 WWTPs. The ∑21 PFAS levels in the influent and the effluent ranged from 137 to 3327 ng/L and 265-7,699 ng/L in the dry season and 61-2,953 ng/L and 171-3,458 ng/L in the wet season, respectively. The highest mean concentrations were observed in the influent and effluent for PFOA (586 ng/L) and L-PFBS (552 ng/L); and FOET (1,399 ng/L) and PFNA (811 ng/L) during dry and wet seasons, respectively. During the wet season, 6:2 FTS was observed at the highest concentrations, exhibiting 4,900 ng/L (66%) and 2,351 ng/L (39%), 1,950 ng/L (53%) in SST and BNR, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical clustering (HCA), and PFHpA/PFOA, PFBA/PFOA, and PFNA/PFOA ratios revealed mixtures of PFAS sources into WWTPs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)71-88
Number of pages18
JournalWater science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research
Volume89
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2024

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Water Science and Technology

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