NOVEL DETECTION TOOLS FOR ATMOSPHERIC PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES: EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MEASUREMENTS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR EXPOSURE

作者：Melissa Woodward · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.23860/diss-4535 · 研究领域：Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research、Atmospheric Ozone and Climate、Inorganic Fluorides and Related Compounds

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also referred to as “forever chemicals”, are classified as a group of emerging persistent organic pollutants due to their environmental ubiquity, persistence, and toxicity to life. They have a unique chemistry that gives them stain-resistant and waterproof properties, making them desirable for use in many industrial and consumer products. However, this same chemistry also makes them extremely resistant to biological and environmental degradation. Large data gaps remain surrounding the distribution, transport, and impacts of these contaminants, particularly in the atmosphere. The work in this dissertation focuses on closing some of these knowledge gaps and provides tools and insights to support future research on PFAS in the environment. A main roadblock in improving our understanding of PFAS in the environment is the lack of widely accepted tools that are reliable and easy to use. For the atmosphere specifically, currently existing tools are impractical for large scale deployments or unsuitable for capturing the full scope of PFAS present. To address this, a novel passive sampler was developed, combining a radial diffusive tube with a high-capacity sorbent to measure both volatile and ionic PFAS in the atmosphere. Calibration was performed both empirically, through simultaneous active and passive sampling in a controlled environment, and theoretically, using a model based on the diffusive path of a compound. Sampling rates determine...