Ultra-short-chain perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the Swedish environment - an unknown environmental threat?

The project aims at determining the occurrence of ultra-short-chain perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the Swedish environment by utilizing a novel analytical approach for their analysis. This class of man-made chemicals has received much attention due to contamination of ground and drinking water across Sweden with potential adverse effects on both humans and the environment. Supercritical fluid chromatography will be used to investigate the environmental occurrence of these previously not detected compounds in Sweden. Sampling sites include contaminated areas, surface water, groundwater, sediment and biota samples, and sources of contamination will be evaluated. In addition, an assessment on the contamination of Lake Vättern will be performed looking at transport pathways of both ultra-short and longer chain PFAS from water and sediment through biota with potential of human exposure from water and fish. The results from this project will give additional knowledge of the environmental contamination of new PFASs and the environmental status of Lake Vättern.