PFAS Concentrations in the South Skunk River Watershed, Iowa, 2023

Forty targeted per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were analyzed in weekly water samples collected from mid-April to the end of November 2023 at four sites along the South Skunk River–Ioway Creek system in central Iowa. The dataset, authored by Abdullahi Adeola, includes spatial, seasonal, and hydrologic analysis of PFAS concentrations, loads, and yields, with fourteen PFAS detected. Results indicate the Ames wastewater treatment plant is likely the dominant PFAS source in this mixed-use agricultural-urban watershed.

Use Cases

• Modeling PFAS transport and dilution based on discharge relationships described in the study
• Analyzing spatial contamination gradients from upstream agricultural areas to downstream urban wastewater discharge points
• Investigating seasonal and storm-event driven spikes in PFAS concentrations mentioned in the results
• Comparing relative contributions of agricultural versus urban wastewater sources to PFAS loads in a watershed

Strengths

• Weekly sampling over a 7.5-month period (mid-April to end of November 2023) provides temporal resolution for seasonal analysis
• Analysis of 40 targeted PFAS compounds at four distinct geographic sites allows for spatial comparison
• Dataset includes calculated metrics like area-normalized yields, with medians ranging from 667 to 3547 μg/day/km²

Limitations

• Row count and specific column definitions are unknown, requiring inspection after download
• The dataset's 30.2 KB size suggests a limited scope, likely containing summary or aggregated results rather than raw sample-level data
• Geographic coverage is restricted to a single watershed system in central Iowa

Provenance

Source

figshare, author Abdullahi Adeola

Collection Method

Targeted chemical analysis of weekly water samples collected at four field sites

Time Range

mid-April to end of November 2023

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-21 15:08:01

Geography

South Skunk River–Ioway Creek watershed in central Iowa, USA