Characterization of the distribution, source, and potential ecological risk of perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) in the inland river basin of Longgang District, South China

Previous studies of perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) in receiving water bodies of typical industrial parks under the low-carbon development mode are scarce. In the present study, 18 PFASs were analyzed in surface water and sediment samples of the inland river basin in Longgang District in 2017. The ΣPFAS concentrations in surface water (drought and rainy periods) and sediment ranged from 15.17 to 948.50 ng/L, 11.56–561.14 ng/L, and 1.07–28.94 ng/g dw, respectively. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) were the dominant pollutants in surface water, with maximum concentrations of 867.68 ng/L, 288.28 ng/L, and 245.09 ng/L, respectively. Meanwhile, PFOS, perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUdA), PFBS, and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) were the major PFASs in the sediment samples, with maximum concentrations of 9.83 ng/g dw, 11.86 ng/g dw, 5.30 ng/g dw, and 5.23 ng/g dw, respectively. In addition, PFOA and PFOS resulted from similar sources in sediment and surface water samples ( P < 0.05). The risk quotient value (RQ) results showed that the control of PFOS in the treatment of pollutants in the inland river basin of Longgang District deserves more attention. • Little is known about PFAS pollution in the aquatic environment of urban rivers under the low-carbon development mode. • PFAS concentrations were high compared to literature. • Long-chain PFASs pose more significant enrichment characteristics in sediment than surface water. • The control of PFOS in the treatment of pollutants in the inland river basin of survey region deserves more attention.