PNNL

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of industrial and commercial chemicals that are widely used throughout the world due to their beneficial chemical properties. The term PFAS refers to thousands of chemical compounds that are comprised of a group of fluorine atoms attached to an alkyl chain. PFAS compounds can be found in everyday objects, from toilet paper and dental floss to fast food wrappers. Produced since the 1940’s, PFAS were originally thought to be inert compounds that would have little to no environmental impacts or health effects. However, by the 1990’s, toxicological studies demonstrated that PFAS were associated with negative health effects. Because of their widespread use, their chemical stability, and their ability to be transported over long distances through atmospheric deposition and movement through waterways, PFAS are found throughout most aquatic ecosystems’ environments. Yet there are large sampling gaps among aquatic ecosystems in the desert southwest of the United States. In this study, we examine PFAS concentrations in the tissue of fish collected in northern New Mexico, including examining PFAS composition and concentration in relation to trophic level distribution. Fish were collected from two man-made reservoirs and from the Rio Grande river. Muscle and liver tissues were collected from fish specimens and screened for 39 PFAS compounds. We detected PFAS compounds in most fish tissue sampled, including the biomagnification of PFAS compounds within liver samples. The findings suggest the need to identify sources of PFAS entering New Mexico’s waterways.