Current levels of airborne polyfluorinated telomers in Japan Original Research Article

Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), a class of per- and poly-fluorochemicals (PFCs), are environmental contaminants characterized by high volatility and are therefore prone to long-range atmospheric transport. In this study, airborne FTOHs were identified in Japan using a newly developed passive air sampler containing activated carbon felts. Air sampling was conducted at 33 sites all over Japan from April to June 2007. 8:2 FTOH, the dominant analyte, ranged from <32 to 2466 pg m−3 (mean: 241 pg m−3) followed by 6:2 FTOH from n.d. to 768 pg m−3 (mean: 51.6 pg m−3), 10:2 FTOH from <17 to 113 pg m−3 (mean: 26.8 pg m−3) and 8:2 FTOAcryl from n.d. to 480 pg m−3 (mean: 25.8 pg m−3). 8:2 FTOMethacryl was not detected above detection limit (3 pg m−3) in all samples. The highest concentration of total investigated PFCs was found in Chiba (35°43′20″ N 140°39′46″ E) (2152–3181 pg m−3). On the other hand, in three locations of Higashi–Yodogawa (34°44′ N 135°32′ E), high levels of 8:2 FTOAcryl (239 pg m−3, 109–480 pg m−3) were detected, the levels of which were comparable to those of 8:2 FTOH (mean: 175 pg m−3, range: 115–292 pg m−3). This study is the first national wide-scale survey of FTOHs and 8:2 FTOAcryl across Japan, showing that 8:2 FTOH was ubiquitous in the environment in Japan.