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Description
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Recalcitrant chemicals from industrial and manufacturing processes, especially per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), have become environmentally pervasive because of their persistent occurrence, long-lasting nature, and bioaccumulative properties within ecosystems. PFASs are widely used as a result of their thermal and chemical stability, as well as their resistance to water and oil, resulting in widespread environmental contamination. The aquatic environment is especially susceptible, as water bodies function as significant transport and transformation mediums for PFASs. Despite the prohibition of perfluoro-octanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), the fate, occurrence, and toxicity of emerging PFAS congeners, specifically perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acids (PFECAs) and perfluoroalkyl ether sulfonate acids (PFESAs), remain unknown. In this study, we utilised Daphnia magna, a freshwater cladoceran, to evaluate the acute toxicity of prohibited (PFOA and PFOS-K) and emerging PFAS congeners [PFECAs – hexafluoropropylene oxide trimer acid, HFPO-TA; and perfluoro-3,6,9 trioxadecanoic acid, PFO3DA; and PFESAs – per-fluoro-3,6-dioxa-4-methyl-7-octenesulfonic acid, NBP1; and per-fluoro-3,6-dioxa-4-methyl-7-octenesulfonic acid, NBP2]. A 48-hour static, non-renewal acute toxicity test (OECD TG 202) was conducted, utilising concentrations from 0 to 100 mg/L, with immobilisation as the endpoint. The findings indicated that the 48-hour median effective concentrations (EC50) were 50 mg/L (95% confidence interval: 47.52-52.60 mg/L; R2 = 0.9669) for PFOS-K; 24.56 mg/L (95% confidence interval: 22.87-26.19 mg/L; R2 = 0.9786) for NBP1; 31.53 mg/L (95% confidence interval: 26.90-36.89 mg/L; R2 = 0.9173) for HFPO-TA; and greater than 100 mg/L for NBP2, PFOA, and PFO3DA, respectively. The order of toxicity is as follows: NBP1 > HFPO-TA > PFOS-K > NBP2 > PFOA > PFO3DA. We are currently investigating the impacts of the individual PFASs and their mixture via physiological endpoints such as growth (body length and apical spine length), bioaccumulation, and fecundity, as well as the gene expressions related to these endpoints to gain insights on the underlying mechanisms of action. (2025-01-01)
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