Shift from legacy to emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances for watershed management along the coast of China

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and their short-chain alternatives have attracted world-wide attention due to their widespread presence and persistence in the environment. However, the sources, environmental fate, and driving forces of PFAS in coastal ecosystems remain poorly understood. In this study, the spatial distribution, source apportionment, and driving mechanisms of PFAS were investigated through a comprehensive analysis of water samples collected along the China's coastline. The concentrations of Σ