Field study on the uptake and translocation of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in biosolids-amended soils

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 184; pp. 547 - 554
• Main Authors: Wen, Bei, Li, Longfei, Zhang, Hongna, Ma, Yibing, Shan, Xiao-Quan, Zhang, Shuzhen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agriculture; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Biosolid; Carbon; Correlation; Field study; Fluorocarbons - analysis; Fluorocarbons - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Grains; Other nutrients. Amendments. Solid and liquid wastes. Sludges and slurries; Perfluoroalkyl acids; Plant Roots - metabolism; Roots; Soil - chemistry; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - metabolism; Soil science; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Soils; Straw; Translocation; Triticum - chemistry; Triticum - metabolism; Triticum aestivum; Uptake; Uptakes; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Wheat; Translocation; Biosolid; Wheat; Perfluoroalkyl acids; Uptake; Field study; Monocotyledones; Pollutant behavior; Sewage sludge; Cereal crop; Organic acids; Soils; Absorption; Gramineae; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Triticum aestivum; Organic amendment
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.09.040

Field experiments were performed to evaluate the uptake and translocation of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in soils amended with biosolids at different rates. Nine perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) and three perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSAs) were detected in the soils and wheat tissues. Total concentrations of PFAAs in the soils and wheat root, straw, husk and grain increased with increasing application of biosolids. PFCA concentrations in grain increased logarithmically with increasing PFCA concentrations in soils (P < 0.01) while PFSAs in grain were correlated linearly with PFSA concentrations in soils (P < 0.01), indicating that PFCAs and PFSAs may have different transport pathways from soil to grain. While no significant correlation was found between the root concentration factors (Croot/Csoil) and PFAA carbon chain length, the transfer factors from roots to straws (Cstraw/Croot) and from straws to grains (Cgrain/Cstraw) correlated negatively with PFAA carbon chain length (P < 0.01). [Display omitted] •The uptake and translocation of PFAAs by wheat was conducted under field study.•PFAAs in soils and wheat increased with increasing application of biosolids.•The transfer factors from roots to straws of PFCAs were higher than that of PFSAs.•The transfer factors from straws to grains of PFSAs were higher than that of PFCAs.•The transfer factors correlated negatively with PFAA carbon chain length. Land application of biosolids results in the accumulation of PFAAs in agricultural soils and wheat tissues.