Legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in tissue and toilet paper from China

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been found in toilet paper in Europe, the United States, and Africa; however, their presence in Chinese household paper has not been investigated. In this study, 21 legacy and 30 emerging PFASs were analyzed in tissue and toilet paper from China, including 48 samples of different origins and materials. Median concentrations of chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonates (Cl-PFESAs), hexafluoropropylene oxide homologs (HFPOs), and p-perfluorous nonenoxybenzenesulfonate (OBS) were 0.32, 0.19, and 0.10 ng/g dry weight (dw), respectively. The detection frequencies (DFs) of Cl-PFESAs and OBS both were greater than 96%, followed by hexafluoropropylene oxide trimer acid (HFPO-TrA, DF: 85%). Notably, the level of HFPO-TrA in one sample was as high as 540 ng/g dw, indicating a potential environmental risk to humans. In addition, the concentrations of Cl-PFESAs in toilet paper were significantly higher than that in tissue (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in the concentrations of PFASs in tissue and toilet paper from different materials and origins. This suggests that PFASs, particularly emerging PFASs, are widely detected in tissue and toilet paper products across China, and their presence is a potential source of landfill contamination and human exposure.