Occurrence of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in leachate, surface water and sediment collected from Tay Mo landfill and surrounding areas

Abstract

The municipal landfill is considered to be a potential source of different environmental contaminants derived from consumer goods, including perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs). Twenty-four leachate, surface water samples and twenty-four sediment samples collected at Tay Mo landfill (Hanoi, Vietnam) and surrounding areas were analysed for sixteen PFCs. Total concentrations of PFCs in leachate and surface water ranged from 103 to 328 ng/L (mean: 161 ng/L) at Tay Mo landfill, 19.1-22.4 ng/L (mean: 20.7 ng/L) in ponds nearby the landfill, 5.19-6.96 ng/L (mean: 5.96 ng/L) in Nhue River around the landfill, 5.57-12.7 ng/L (mean: 9.00 ng/L) in the upstream and 3.81-11.5 ng/L (mean: 7.14 ng/L) in the downstream. The total concentrations of PFCs in landfill sediment which ranged from 3.52 to 6.70 ng/g (mean: 5 ng/g) was 3-4 times higher than those in sediment taken from Nhue River and the ponds around the landfill. The dominating detected compounds were short-chain perfluorinated alkyl substances like PFOA, PFHxA, PFHpA in water, and PFOS, PFBS in sediment.