Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) contamination from textiles

ABSTRACT

The goals of this study were to determine the concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in textiles and to determine PFOS and PFOA contamination in textile washing water. Quantification analysis was performed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Analysis of 32 textile samples by methanol extraction revealed that the average concentrations of PFOS and PFOA were 0.18 µg m⁻² (0.02 to 0.61 µg m⁻²) and 2.74 µg m⁻² (0.31 to 14.14 µg m⁻²), respectively. Although the average concentration of PFOS found in textile samples was below European Union (EU) Commission regulations (<1 µg m⁻²), the average concentration of PFOA was 2.74 µg m⁻², and 68.75% of textile samples had PFOA concentrations exceeding 1 µg m⁻². Thus, based on these results, the concentration of PFOA in products should also be regulated. Experiments on PFOS and PFOA leaching into washing water were conducted. The maximum concentrations of PFOS and PFOA were measured after the first washing; the concentrations gradually decreased with each subsequent washing. PFOS and PFOA migrated from textiles and were released into the environment, with disappearance percentages of 29.8% for PFOS and 99% for PFOA. The data presented in this study showed that textiles could be a significant direct and indirect source of PFOS and PFOA exposure for both humans and the environment.

KEYWORDS:

• Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
• perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
• pressurized liquid extraction (PLE)
• textiles
• washing water

Funding

This study was financially supported by the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand (Fund no. EGMU-R-06, 2012).