Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Air-conditioner Filter Dust of Indoor Microenvironments in Greece: Implications for Exposure

The occurrence of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) was for the first time investigated in various working microenvironments (internet cafes, electronics shops, coffee shops, restaurants, etc.) in Thessaloniki, Greece, using the dust trapped by central air conditioner (A/C) filters. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) was found in the range from 16 to 227 ng g, however it was detectable in only 30% of samples. On the contrary, perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) was found in 85% of samples in the range from 3.6 to 72.5 ng g, while 90-95% of samples exhibited perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDcA) and perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoDA) in the range from 10-653 ng g, 3.2-7.4 ng g and 3.8-13.1 ng g, respectively. The PFAS profile varied largely among the different microenvironment categories suggesting different sources. Estimated daily intakes through dust ingestion were calculated.