Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in river and ground/drinking water of the Ganges River basin: Emissions and implications for human exposure

• Authors: SHARMA Brij Mohan; BHARAT Girija K.; TAYAL Shresth; LARSSEN Thoriorn; BEČANOVÁ Jitka; KARÁSKOVÁ Pavlína; WHITEHEAD Paul G.; FUTTER Martyn N.; BUTTERFIELD Dan; NIZZETTO Luca
• Year of publication: 2016
• Type: Article in Periodical
• Magazine / Source: Environmental Pollution
• MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Science
• Web: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749115301500
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2015.10.050
• Field: Water pollution and control
• Keywords: Perfluoroalkyl substances; Ganges River; Emissions; Groundwater; Human exposure
• Description: Many perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants. They have been widely used in production processes and daily-use products or may result from degradation of precursor compounds in products or the environment. India, with its developing industrialization and population moving from traditional to contemporary lifestyles, represents an interesting case study to investigate PFAS emission and exposure along steep environmental and socioeconomic gradients. This study assesses PFAS concentrations in river and groundwater (used in this region as drinking water) from several locations along the Ganges River and estimates direct emissions, specifically for PFOS and PFOA.