ArticleEnvironmental science & technology letters2025
Elevated PFAS Precursors in Septage and Residential Pump Stations.
Article in Environmental science & technology letters, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Presence of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Domestic Wastewater from Community Septic Systems in New Hampshire.ACS ES&T water · 2026Article
- PFAS in Peri-Urban Agricultural Water: Assessing the Hazard Index in an Organic Farming Environment in Maryland, USA.Toxics · 2026Article
- Non-targeted screening of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances: Advanced methods, challenges, and environmental health.Eco-Environment & Health · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Residential wastewater, with no industrial inputs, is an underrecognized source of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This study provides the first direct comparison of PFAS in septage and pump stations, targeting 70 PFAS compounds and employing the total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay. Septage exhibited markedly higher PFAS and precursors concentrations than pump stations, with median post-TOP levels of 687.5 ng/L vs 84.2 ng/L, respectively. FTCAs were fully oxidized, while diPAPs showed incomplete oxidation due to high organic loads. Septic systems function as PFAS reservoirs, increasing risks of groundwater contamination, particularly in areas with shallow aquifers. Pump stations contributed to episodic PFAS spikes, likely affecting downstream wastewater treatment. The detection of 27 PFAS compounds, including short-chain alternatives, highlights shifting contamination patterns. Findings emphasize the need for tailored analytical frameworks and pretreatment technologies to mitigate PFAS risks across decentralized and centralized wastewater systems. Integrating precursor analysis is critical for accurate risk assessment, as targeted PFAS measurements underestimate contamination. These results provide new insights into PFAS behavior in residential wastewater, guiding future mitigation efforts.
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Registered trials
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