ASSESSMENT OF PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS) IN DRINKING WATER SOURCES IN ABAKALIKI, NIGERIA

Abstract

The drinking water sources in Abakaliki, Nigeria were investigated for PFAS concentration. PFAS has been known for its bioaccumulation in the food chain, causing a detrimental health effect to humans when contaminated food is ingested. 13 targeted PFAS were analyzed using a Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. This method allowed for the identification and quantification of specific PFAS compounds present in the sample. Perfluorohexanoate (PFHX1), N-methylperfluorooctanesulfonamide (MeFOSA), and N-ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamides (ETFOSA) were the only perfluoroakyl substances found others were fluorotelomers which are polyfluoroalkyl substance and there were the predominant PFAS obtained in this study. The mean sum of the targeted PFAS (⅀PFAS) across all the samples analyzed ranged from 0.22±0.06 mg/L (sample A3) to 7.20±1.82 mg/L (sample C4). The mean value of the PFAS obtained in samples A1 to A5 ranged from 0.22±0.06 mg/L (samples A3) to 0.59±0.12 mg/L (sample A1) while the mean values of samples B1-B5, C1-C5, and D1-D5 ranged from 0.35±0.08 mg/L (B1) to 1.14±0.21 mg/L (B5), 0.64±0.04 mg/L (C3) to7.20±1.82 mg/L (C4) and 0.63±0.04 mg/L (D1) to 3.61±1.08 mg/L (D4) respectively. PFAS are contaminants of emerging concern whose toxicity is of environmental and health concern. However, the detection of PFAS in water is gradually decreasing because of the restriction of PFAS and its industrial applications, which result from environmental and health-associated problems.