Presentation Abstract
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a group of man-made chemicals used in many industrial and consumer products, such as water-, stain-, and oil-repelling coatings, and fire-fighting foams. In 2008, the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) found low levels, but widespread occurrence, of PFASs in Washington State freshwater systems. To determine whether the concentrations and/or compound make up has changed following shifts in manufacturing, Ecology conducted a follow-up study in 2016 to characterize current environmental levels of PFAS contaminants. Across the state, Ecology collected surface water from 15 waterbodies, effluent from 5 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), freshwater fish from 11 sites, and osprey eggs from 3 sites for analysis of a suite of PFAS compounds. PFAS concentrations were highest in surface water collected from waterbodies impacted by WWTP effluent in eastern Washington and urban lakes located within the Salish Sea watershed (Angle Lake, Meridian Lake, and Lake Washington). Surface water samples from the two waterbody types (WWTP-impacted waterbodies and urban lakes) displayed distinct compound profiles, with the urban lakes containing higher relative percent contributions of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Fillet and liver tissue from freshwater fish species collected from the urban lakes were also highest in total PFAS concentrations statewide and PFOS was the dominant compound in biota samples. PFASs were generally not detected in surface water of rivers draining to the Salish Sea (Nooksack River, Puyallup River, and Snohomish River).
Session Title
Persistent Organic Pollutants and PAHs in Freshwater & Marine Fish
Keywords
PFAS, Perfluoroalkyl substances, Toxics, Freshwater fish
Conference Track
SSE3: Fate, Transport, and Toxicity of Chemicals
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE3-438
Start Date
4-4-2018 3:30 PM
End Date
4-4-2018 3:45 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Water--Pollution--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Perfluorinated chemicals--Bioaccumulation--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Subjects – Names (LCNAF)
Washington (State). Department of Ecology
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Survey of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in Washington State rivers and lakes
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a group of man-made chemicals used in many industrial and consumer products, such as water-, stain-, and oil-repelling coatings, and fire-fighting foams. In 2008, the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) found low levels, but widespread occurrence, of PFASs in Washington State freshwater systems. To determine whether the concentrations and/or compound make up has changed following shifts in manufacturing, Ecology conducted a follow-up study in 2016 to characterize current environmental levels of PFAS contaminants. Across the state, Ecology collected surface water from 15 waterbodies, effluent from 5 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), freshwater fish from 11 sites, and osprey eggs from 3 sites for analysis of a suite of PFAS compounds. PFAS concentrations were highest in surface water collected from waterbodies impacted by WWTP effluent in eastern Washington and urban lakes located within the Salish Sea watershed (Angle Lake, Meridian Lake, and Lake Washington). Surface water samples from the two waterbody types (WWTP-impacted waterbodies and urban lakes) displayed distinct compound profiles, with the urban lakes containing higher relative percent contributions of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Fillet and liver tissue from freshwater fish species collected from the urban lakes were also highest in total PFAS concentrations statewide and PFOS was the dominant compound in biota samples. PFASs were generally not detected in surface water of rivers draining to the Salish Sea (Nooksack River, Puyallup River, and Snohomish River).
