Temporal variations of perfluoroalkyl substances and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in alpine snow

The occurrence and temporal variation of 18 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and 8 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the European Alps was investigated in a 10 m shallow firn core from Colle Gnifetti in the Monte RosaMassif (4455mabove sea level). The firn core encompasses the years 1997e2007. Firn core sections were analyzed by liquid chromatographyetandem mass spectrometry (PFASs) and gas chromatographyemass spectrometry (PBDEs). We detected 12 PFASs and 8 PBDEs in the firn samples. Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA; 0.3e1.8 ng L1) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA; 0.2e0.6 ng L1) were the major PFASs while BDE 99 (<MQLe4.5 ng L1) and BDE 47 (n.d.e2.6 ng L1) were the major PBDEs. This study demonstrates the occurrence of PFASs and PBDEs in the European Alps and provides the first evidence that PFASs compositions may be changing to PFBA-dominated compositions