Coexistence of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and iron particles in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) threatens water quality by mediating disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation. This study systematically investigated the regulatory effects and intrinsic mechanisms of PFOA on microbial-derived DBP precursors in aged iron pipes under hydraulic stagnation, with a specific focus on in situ formed and preformed Fe-PFOA complexes under simulated drinking water conditions. Comparative analysis revealed that in situ-formed Fe-PFOA complexes induced by 100 ng/L PFOA (denoted as FP1) exhibited significantly larger particle sizes and higher turbidity compared to the PFOA-free pure iron particle control (Ctr). After a 20-day hydraulic stagnation period, FP1 enhanced microbial abundance, elevated extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) protein proportions, and promoted trihalomethane (THM) and haloacetic acid (HAA) formation after chlorination (DBPs formed from the extracted EPS accounted for ∼19.4% of total THMs, approximately three times the corresponding contribution to HAAs). Spearman analysis identified Phreatobacter as a key mediator linking EPS proteins and THM formation. Mechanistically, under hydraulic stagnation conditions, iron particles associated with PFOA triggered genus-level shifts in community structure such as an increased abundance of Phreatobacter and a decreased abundance of Nevskia, accompanied by elevated levels of protein-based EPS.
Zhang et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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