Legacy and Novel\nPer- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances\nin Surface Soils across China: Source Tracking and Main Drivers for\nthe Spatial Variation

China aims to actively control the contamination of globally\nconcerning\nper- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Evaluation of the current\nsituation can provide a critical reference point for tracking the\neffectiveness of ongoing progress. Herein, we present the first comprehensive\nassessment of the spatial variations of 20 legacy and 54 novel PFASs\nin Chinese background soils in 2021. Novel PFASs were extensively\ndetected in 98.4% of the samples, with 21 species being first reported,\nwhich greatly facilitated the appointment of diverse emission sources\nthat aligned with local industrial structures. However, legacy PFASs\nstill dominated the ∑<sub>74</sub>PFAS profile (median 0.51\nng/g, 0.050–8.33 ng/g). The spatial heterogeneity of soil PFASs\nwas positively driven by economic development and atmospheric deposition,\nenabling the establishment of predictive models to project the national\ndistribution and temporal trends. Elevated PFAS levels were predominantly\ndistributed in the more industrialized eastern and southern regions,\nas well as other coastal areas with greater precipitation. ∑<sub>74</sub>PFAS in surface soils was estimated to increase by 12.9 pg/(g\nyear) over 2002–2021, which would continue alongside economic\ngrowth, albeit with greater contributions from novel alternatives.\nOur work provides comprehensive baseline and predictive data to inform\npolicies toward PFAS control in China.