A Pilot Study\nof Bis-perfluoroalkyl Sulfonimides in\nDust from E‑waste and Urban Regions

Following global regulations on traditional per- and\npolyfluoroalkyl\nsubstances (PFAS), alternative PFAS raise emerging concerns. Our study\nfocused on a group of bis-perfluoroalkyl sulfonimides (bis-FASIs)\nand explored whether electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling and recycling\nconstitute a potential source of bis-FASIs to the environment. The\nstudy revealed ubiquitous occurrence of bisperfluoromethane sulfonimide\n(bis-FMeSI) in dust from e-waste sites, surrounding regions (20–50\nkm distant from e-waste sites), and urban areas with the levels in\na descending order along with the distance from the e-waste sites.\nThe median level of bis-FMeSI was 12 ng/g in e-waste dust, constituting\napproximately 10% of the total PFAS levels (117 ng/g). The levels\ndropped to a median of 0.45 ng/g in indoor and outdoor dust from surrounding\nregions as well as 0.67 and 1.1 ng/g in dust from traffic roads and\nunderground parking lots, respectively, from a megacity located 100\nkm away from the e-waste sites. Our findings indicate that bis-FASIs\nappear as an emerging type of PFAS with widespread distribution in\nthe urban environment. Therefore, they should be included into PFAS\nmonitoring networks regionally or globally for a better understanding\nof their sources, distribution, and fate, as well as human exposure\nscenarios and associated health risks.