Spatio-temporal dynamics of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and transfer to periphytic biofilm in an urban river: case-study on the River Seine

This study addresses the spatio-temporal dynamics of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in a highly urbanized freshwater hydrosystem, the Seine River (NW France). The distribution of PFASs between water, sediment, and periphytic biofilm was investigated at three sampling sites along a longitudinal gradient upstream and downstream from the Paris urban area. Seasonal variability was assessed through four sampling campaigns performed under contrasting hydrological conditions. In the dissolved phase, ∑PFASs fluctuated between 2 and 9 ng L −1 upstream and 6–105 ng L −1 downstream from Paris. Negative correlations between dissolved PFAS levels and river flow rate were generally observed, corroborating the predominance of point-source PFAS inputs at these sites. 18/19 target PFASs were detected, with a predominance of PFHxS and PFOS (20% of ∑PFASs each), except for the farthest downstream site where 6:2 FTSA was prevalent (35 ± 8% of ∑PFASs), likely reflecting industrial and urban inputs. In biofilms, ∑PFASs fell in the 4–32 ng g −1 dw range, and substantial bioconcentration factors (BCFs) were reported for PFNA, PFDA, and PFOS (log BCF 2.1–4.3), higher than those of PFHxS or PFOA. BCFs varied inversely with dissolved PFAS levels, potentially pointing to concentration-dependent bioaccumulation. Biofilm community characteristics (C/N ratio) may also be an influential determinant of PFAS bioaccumulation. Graphical abstract ᅟ