Quantification of PFAS fate in sludge and biosolids handling systems

由于全氟烷基和多氟烷基物质在产品中的广泛使用，在地表水、地下水、工业和城市废水、沉积物和土壤中检测到了全氟烷基和多氟烷基物质。两种最常见的全氟辛烷磺酸（PFOS）和全氟辛酸（PFOA）是新出现的地下水污染物，对饮用水资源构成风险。 随着我们对全氟辛烷磺酸、全氟辛酸和其他全氟辛烷磺酸的发生、归宿和毒性的了解不断增加，针对这些化合物的准则可能会变得越来越严格。 本研究的重点是PFAS在城市污水处理中的污泥处理和生物固体。虽然目前在加拿大，生物固体不受PFAS的管制，但鉴于最近报告的在土壤中施用受污染的生物固体后PFAS污染的案例，这种情况将来可能会改变。 关于加拿大生物固体中PFAS发生的信息是有限的，关于PFAS在污泥处理系统中的转化和命运知之甚少。该项目的总体目标是调查PFAS在污泥处理系统中的命运以及PFAS从生物固体中的潜在沥滤。该研究将考虑PFAS的独特物理和化学性质以及通过不同污泥处理技术产生的生物固体的性质，作为可能影响PFAS沥滤的因素。 该项目的结果将为参与组织提供信息，以支持有关未来污泥处理和生物固体管理做法的决策。深入了解生物固体中存在的PFAS水平以及污泥处理实践对它们的影响，将为风险分析提供信息，并可能导致未来可用于降低风险的实践和创新技术。

Owing to their widespread use in products, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been detected in surface water, groundwater, industrial and municipal wastewaters, sediments and soils. The two most common PFAS, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are emerging groundwater contaminants and pose risks to drinking water resources. As our knowledge about the occurrence, fate, and toxicity of PFOS, PFOA and other PFAS continues to grow, it is likely that the guidelines for these compounds will become increasingly more stringent. The focus of this study is PFAS in sludge handling and biosolids associated with municipal wastewater treatment. Although currently in Canada biosolids are not regulated with respect to PFAS, this situation may change in the future, in light of recently reported cases of PFAS contamination following the application of contaminated biosolids to soil. Information about the occurrence of PFAS in Canadian biosolids is limited and little is known about the transformation and fate of PFAS in sludge handling systems. The overall objective of this project is to investigate the fate of PFAS in sludge handling systems and the potential leaching of PFAS from biosolids. The study will consider the distinct physical and chemical properties of PFAS and the nature of the biosolids produced via different sludge handling technologies as factors that can affect PFAS leaching. The results of the project will provide the participating organizations with information to support decision-making with respect to future sludge handling and biosolids management practices. Insights into the levels of PFAS present in biosolids and the impact of sludge handling practices on them will inform risk analyses and may result in practices and innovative technologies that could be employed in the future to reduce risks.