Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) in Surface Water From the Langat River, Peninsular Malaysia

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are not degradable and persistent compounds, bioacculumative and possess toxic characteristics. The compounds have been produced in large quantities and then applied and disposed without proper monitoring and regulation within the past half-century. Although the PFCs productions were to end today, the compounds would continue to persist in the environment for many years to come. Currently in Malaysia no studies have addressed perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and no regulations has been developed to control these compounds. The analytical method used in this study involves solid phase extraction together with liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). S# is referring to sampling station. Results from the water samples from Langat River, Malaysia, indicated that relatively high concentration of PFOS can be found in the eastern of the river, one of the most populated areas within the basin (S16–S35) with the highest concentration in station S35 (43.5 ng/mL). Reason for this concentration is that the compound was highly used in industry as well as in manufacturing processes and consumer products. Relatively high concentration of PFOA can be found in station S6 (5.94 ng/mL) because this station is the station receiving effluent from landfill site. Further studies on the PFCs compounds could provide more data set and larger view of current state of PFCs contamination in Malaysian aquatic environments.