What the study found
The study found that many per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS, persistent synthetic chemicals) formed aerosols mainly in fine particles, with a peak around 0.3 micrometers. The authors also report that a model bacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens, did not noticeably increase PFAS aerosol formation or shift particle sizes under the conditions tested.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that their findings have implications for airborne transport and inhalation exposure from contaminated aqueous sources. The study suggests that understanding how PFAS behave in air may help assess how these chemicals move through the atmosphere and where they may deposit in the lungs.
What the researchers tested
The researchers studied aerosolisation and size-resolved behaviour of 25 PFAS, including short-, medium-, and long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids, perfluoroalkane sulfonates, fluorotelomer sulfonates, and emerging alternatives. They ran controlled chamber experiments in a water–organic solvent system, both without and with Pseudomonas fluorescens seed, and used Multiple-Path Particle Dosimetry (MPPD) modelling to estimate inhalation deposition.
What worked and what didn't
Most PFAS showed unimodal mass–size distributions peaking at 0.3 micrometers, indicating dominant association with the fine mode. Sulfonated PFAS had broadly similar aerosol-phase concentrations across chain lengths, while perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids showed increasing aerosolisation with longer chains. PFOS showed additional ultrafine enrichment, 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate and NaDONA had broader size profiles, and the bacterium did not enhance PFAS aerosol concentrations or show enrichment at the bacterial size mode.
What to keep in mind
The findings come from controlled chamber experiments in a specific water–organic solvent system, so they apply to the tested conditions rather than all real-world environments. The abstract does not describe other limitations beyond the tested conditions.
Key points
- Most of the 25 tested PFAS aerosolised mainly in fine particles, peaking at about 0.3 micrometers.
- Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids aerosolised more as chain length increased, while sulfonated PFAS were broadly similar across chain lengths.
- PFOS showed extra enrichment in ultrafine particles, and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate and NaDONA had broader size distributions.
- Pseudomonas fluorescens did not increase PFAS aerosol concentrations or shift modal particle diameters under the tested conditions.
- MPPD modelling predicted substantial deposition of aerosol-bound PFAS in the pulmonary region, especially for ultrafine-enriched compounds.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- PFAS aerosols favored fine particles and pulmonary deposition
- Authors:
- Ivan Kourtchev, Steve Coupe, Alison Buckley, Jishnu Pandamkulangara Kizhakkethil, Elena Gatta, Dario Massabò, P. Prati, Virginia Vernocchi, Federico Mazzei
- Institutions:
- Coventry (United Kingdom), Coventry University, Coventry University, Coventry University, Environment Agency, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Genova, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Genova, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Genova, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Genova, University of Genoa, University of Genoa, University of Genoa, University of Genoa
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-03
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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