Target and Suspect Screening Reveal PFAS Exceeding European Union Guideline in Various Water Sources South of Lyon, France

Abstract

Lyon, a major hub for chemical industries in France, has been identified as a contamination hotspot of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Major chemical companies in the Pierre-Bénite area have used PFAS in the production of fluoropolymers and fluorotelomers, with effluents discharged into the Rhône River. This together with other contamination sources, such as firefighting foam use at a vicinal harbor oil depot, likely resulted in a complex PFAS signature. This study investigated PFAS contamination in various water sources in southern Lyon, including ponds, rivers, factory channels, wells, springs, and tap water. Out of 47 samples, 22 had a Σ₇₇PFAS above 100 ng/L (maximum: ∼700 ng/L), and 67% of the tap water samples exceeded the European guideline of 100 ng/L for Σ₂₀PFAS. Target PFAS profiles were dominated by perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (particularly C4 to C8), in agreement with their historical or current industrial usage. Suspect screening also revealed the occurrence of electrochemical fluorination precursors such as N-sulfopropyldimethylammoniopropyl perfluorohexanesulfonamido acetic acid (N-SPAmP-FHxSAA) and bistriflimide (used in the composition of ionic liquids). Certain fluorotelomers, including ESI+ (e.g., 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamidopropyl betaine (6:2 FTAB)) and ESI- (e.g., 6:2 FTS, 6:2 FTSAS-sulfone) compounds, were more prevalent in surface water than in tap or groundwater.