Temporal Dataset of Emerging and Legacy PFAS Concentrations (ng/L) in 5 Major Ocean Regions Over Multiple Time Periods

Description

This dataset compiles reported concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) measured in marine surface waters from multiple regions worldwide, including the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Antarctic waters. Data were extracted from peer-reviewed publications and included sampling location (region and specific site), sampling year, PFAS compound name, measured concentration (ng L⁻¹), compound classification (legacy or emerging), and calculated summary values such as average concentrations and summed concentrations by compound type. The dataset spans studies published between 2002 and 2025 and integrates measurements from coastal environments, open-ocean regions, and polar waters. All concentration values are reported as presented in the original studies and harmonized into a consistent format to facilitate comparative analysis of PFAS occurrence and distribution across global marine environments.

Steps to reproduce

1. Conduct a literature search in scientific databases (e.g., Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar) using keywords such as PFAS, perfluoroalkyl substances, seawater, marine water, ocean, and surface water. 2. Screen publications to identify studies that report measured PFAS concentrations in marine or coastal waters. Review articles, duplicate datasets, and studies without quantitative PFAS measurements were excluded. 3. Extract relevant information from each eligible study, including sampling location (region and specific site), sampling year, PFAS compound name, and reported concentration values. 4. Convert all concentration values to a consistent unit (ng L⁻¹) where necessary to enable comparison across studies. 5. Classify PFAS compounds into legacy and emerging categories. 6. Organize the extracted information into a structured spreadsheet, including columns for location, year, compound name, concentration, compound classification, and literature reference. 7. Calculate additional summary variables such as average concentration, sum of legacy PFAS, sum of emerging PFAS, and total PFAS concentration for each sampling record where applicable. 8. Verify extracted values against the original publications to minimize transcription errors and maintain consistency across the compiled dataset.

Institutions

• University of North Carolina at Charlotte

  North Carolina, Charlotte

Categories

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