Exposure to forever chemicals through sea spray may be overblown

Coastal residents in Newfoundland and Labrador may have been concerned about exposure to forever chemicals from sea spray during the summer, but new York University research suggests this worry may be overblown. The study, published in Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, examined areas affected by sea spray from the Atlantic Ocean's waves breaking on the Newfoundland coast.

Despite the region's marine location and windy conditions, researchers found little evidence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination from marine aerosols. Principal investigator Cora Young and her team expected to find significant PFAS levels due to sea spray, but their measurements revealed otherwise. Instead, the detected PFAS were likely the result of long-range atmospheric transport from industrial and commercial centers elsewhere, such as firefighting foams, nonstick materials, and performance chemicals.

The researchers also discovered that dry deposition played a more significant role in the overall PFAS deposition than previously thought. This finding highlights the importance of considering both wet and dry deposition in future studies to better understand the environmental impact and global distribution of PFAS.