Perfluorooctanesulfonate and related fluorochemicals in biological samples from the north coast of Colombia

Environ Pollut. 2006 Jul;142(2):367-72. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2005.09.022. Epub 2005 Nov 21.

Abstract

Perfluorinated compounds are widespread pollutants of toxicological importance that have been detected in environmental matrices. However, little is known on their distribution in South America. In this study, distribution of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA) was determined in the bile of mullet, Mugil incilis, and in tissues of pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) collected from North Colombia. Analysis was performed by HPLC mass spectrometry after ion-pair extraction. PFOS was found in all bile samples and PFOA and PFHxS were detected at lower frequency. Average concentrations of PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS in bile of fish from Cartagena Bay, an industrialized site, and Totumo marsh, a reference site, were 3673, 370, 489 and 713, 47.4, 1.27 ng/mL, respectively. PFOS concentrations in pelican organs decreased in the order of spleen>liver>lung>kidney>brain>heart>muscle. These results suggest, for the first time, that perfluorinated compounds are also found in wildlife from Latin American countries.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alkanesulfonic Acids / analysis
  • Alkanesulfonic Acids / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Bile / chemistry
  • Birds / metabolism
  • Caprylates / analysis*
  • Caprylates / chemistry
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Colombia
  • Environmental Exposure
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods*
  • Fishes / metabolism
  • Fluorocarbons / analysis*
  • Fluorocarbons / chemistry
  • Food Chain
  • Fresh Water
  • Industrial Waste*
  • Seawater
  • Sulfonamides / analysis
  • Sulfonamides / chemistry
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*
  • Water Pollution / analysis*

Substances

  • Alkanesulfonic Acids
  • Caprylates
  • Fluorocarbons
  • Industrial Waste
  • Sulfonamides
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • perfluorooctanesulfonamide
  • perfluorooctanoic acid
  • perfluorooctane sulfonic acid