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Download Hi-Res ImageDownload to MS-PowerPointCite This:Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. 2020, 7, 3, 164-170
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    Release of Volatile Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Aqueous Film-Forming Foam
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    • Julia Roth
      Julia Roth
      Clean Vapor LLC, Charlotte, North Carolina 28271, United States
      More by Julia Roth
    • Ibrahim Abusallout
      Ibrahim Abusallout
      Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557-0258, United States
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    • Tiffany Hill
      Tiffany Hill
      Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., Dallas, Texas 75201, United States
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    • Chase Holton
      Chase Holton
      Geosyntec Consultants Inc., Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111, United States
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      Orcidhttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-5589-656X
    • Utsav Thapa
      Utsav Thapa
      Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557-0258, United States
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    • David Hanigan*
      David Hanigan
      Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557-0258, United States
      *Email: [email protected]. Phone: 775-682-7517.
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      Orcidhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-6947-7611
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    Environmental Science & Technology Letters

    Cite this: Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. 2020, 7, 3, 164–170
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    https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00052
    Published February 20, 2020
    Copyright © 2020 American Chemical Society
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    Abstract

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    Research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) released from aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) has primarily focused on soil and groundwater contamination, or atmospheric transport. However, gas-phase PFAS release from AFFF has not been well examined. We investigated the presence of volatile PFASs in the headspace above agitated AFFF concentrate produced within the past two years using two analytical techniques. One method utilized polyurethane foam and XAD resin with liquid chromatography mass spectrometry to quantify 30 PFASs and is similar to methods used by others to measure PFASs in air. A second, more exploratory approach used a thermal desorption sampler and gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to measure 22 PFASs. Sixteen PFASs were detected in the headspace, including five fluorotelomer alcohols (0.5–38.1 μg/m3), 10 perfluorinated carboxylic acids (0.4–13670 μg/m3), and one fluorotelomer sulfonate (72.1 μg/m3). The most abundant PFAS detected in the headspace was perfluorooctanoic acid (13670 μg/m3), although it was detected only by GC-MS. Five additional fully fluorinated, iodinated, and ethenyl fluorocarbons were identified but not quantified. It is likely that firefighters are exposed to these compounds, but the risk is not yet known.

    Copyright © 2020 American Chemical Society

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    • Chemicals and AFFF details (Tables S1–S6), analytical approach (Figures S1–S3), PFAS concentrations in TD and XAD/PUF samplers (Tables S7–S12 and Figures S4–S13), and GC-MS mass spectra and retention times (Figures S3 and S15–S35) (PDF)

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    Environmental Science & Technology Letters

    Cite this: Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. 2020, 7, 3, 164–170
    Click to copy citationCitation copied!
    https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00052
    Published February 20, 2020
    Copyright © 2020 American Chemical Society
    Request reuse permissions

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