Distribution and Preliminary Exposure Assessment of Bisphenol AF (BPAF) in Various Environmental Matrices around a Manufacturing Plant in China

Abstract

Increasing attention has been paid to bisphenol A and bisphenol (BP) analogues due to high production volumes, wide usage and potential adverse effects. Bisphenol AF (BPAF) is considered a new bisphenol analogue which is used as raw material in plastic industry, but little is known about its occurrence in the environment and the potential associated risk. In this work, BPAF levels and environmental distribution were reported in samples collected around a manufacturing plant and a preliminary exposure risk assessment to local residents was conducted. BPAF was detected in most of the samples, with levels in river ranging between <LOD to 1.53 × 10⁴ ng/L, sediments (0.520-2.00 × 10³ ng/g dry weight, dw), soils (<LOD to 331 ng/g dw) and indoor dusts (7.82-739 ng/g dw) and well water (<LOD to 300 ng/L). Exponential declining trends were observed for BPAF levels with increasing distance from the manufacturing plant. Based on the quantitative data and quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) model deduction, BPAF was predicted to mainly retain in sediment and soil after released into the ambient environment and organic carbon was the domain factor during the process. The preliminary BPAF exposure assessment based on the CSOIL model suggested that children could have higher intake of BPAF than adults through inhalation of soils, dermal exposure by soils contact and bathing with well water.