Concentration profiles of perfluorinated organic compounds in groundwater bodies influenced by rainwater or infiltrated river water in The Netherlands

Perfluorinated compounds were determined, using SPE and LC-MS/MS, in groundwater samples collected in a dune area from aquifers consisting of rainwater and infiltrated river water, respectively. Concentrations of the most dominant PFCs amount to 1-10 ng/L in the rainwater aquifer and 2-26 ng/L in the river water aquifer. Abundance profiles of PFCs were significantly different in the two aquifers. While PFBS was the dominant PFC in the infiltrated water aquifer, PFOA and PFHxS were dominating in the rainwater aquifer. In a transect sampled in the infiltrated water aquifer trends were observed that probably reflect past and recent emissions of PFCs. The results show that depending on the source of the groundwater in the aquifer - atmospheric or riverine - different abundance profiles of PFCs in groundwaters can be observed. Concentrations of total PFCs in rainwater dominated aquifers are significantly lower than those in aquifers that are influenced by river water.