Screening the PFAS (per- and polyfluoralkyl substances) contaminant levels in natural water, drinking water and wastewater samples from Sopron, Hungary.

Moumene, Ms Manel (2026) Screening the PFAS (per- and polyfluoralkyl substances) contaminant levels in natural water, drinking water and wastewater samples from Sopron, Hungary. MA/MSc, Erdőmérnöki Kar.

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Absztrakt (kivonat)

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of synthetic chemicals widely used in industrial and consumer applications for decades. Due to their exceptional resistance to environmental degradation, they persist in water, soil, and living organisms, earning them the label of "forever chemicals." Despite growing regulatory concern and increasing research across Europe, comprehensive PFAS data for smaller Hungarian cities remain largely absent. This thesis presents the first systematic multi-matrix PFAS screening conducted in Sopron, western Hungary, covering three water matrices: Rák Creek surface water sampled across six sites, influent and effluent from the Sopron Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), and drinking water collected from 10 distribution points around the city. A panel of 41 target PFAS compounds was analysed using solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), following EPA Method 1633, at the TU Wien Water Quality Management Research Unit. Results revealed the consistent dominance of short-chain PFAS across all matrices. In the WWTP, PFPeA was the most abundant compound detected in influent samples, with concentrations reaching up to 184.4 ng/L, while PFBA showed similarly elevated levels in both influent and effluent, indicating poor removal efficiency. A clear downstream concentration gradient was observed along Rák Creek, consistent with cumulative WWTP effluent contributions to the watercourse. Long-chain legacy compounds such as PFDA, PFUdA, and PFDoA were largely absent across all sampling sites. The drinking water data from the ten distribution points provide the first local baseline for regulatory compliance assessment under the EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, which sets limits of 100 ng/L for the sum of 20 priority PFAS and 500 ng/L for total PFAS. These findings confirm that PFAS contamination is present and measurable in Sopron's water system, that conventional wastewater treatment is insufficient to address short-chain compounds, and that repeated seasonal monitoring, source water screening, and evaluation of advanced treatment technologies are urgently needed. This study contributes essential baseline data to support evidence-based water quality management in Sopron and strengthens the growing body of PFAS occurrence data in Hungary and Central Europe. Keywords: PFAS, forever chemicals, surface water, wastewater, drinking water, LC-MS/MS, SPE, Sopron, Hungary, EU Drinking Water Directive.

Magyar cím

A PFAS (per- és polifluor-alkil vegyületek) szennyezőanyag-szintjeinek vizsgálata természetes víz-, ivóvíz- és szennyvízmintákban Sopronból, Magyarország.

Angol cím

Screening the PFAS (per- and polyfluoralkyl substances) contaminant levels in natural water, drinking water and wastewater samples from Sopron, Hungary.

Intézmény

Soproni Egyetem

Kar

Erdőmérnöki Kar

Tanszékcsoport/intézet

EMK - Környezet- és Természetvédelmi Intézet

Szak

NEM RÉSZLETEZETT

Témavezető(k)

Mű típusa:	Diplomadolgozat (MA/MSc)
Felhasználói azonosító szám (ID):	l Manel Moumene
Dátum:	19 Máj 2026 13:57
Utolsó módosítás:	19 Máj 2026 13:57
URI:	http://diploma.uni-sopron.hu/id/eprint/17412

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