Ecological risk assessment of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in marine environment using Isochrysis galbana, Paracentrotus lividus, Siriella armata and Psetta maxima

Abstract

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) are anthropogenic substances classified as persistent bioaccumulative compounds and are found in various environmental compartments throughout the world, from industrialized regions to remote zones far from areas of production. In this study, we assessed the effects of PFOA and PFOS on early life stages of marine test species belonging to three different trophic levels: one microalga (Isochrysis galbana), a primary consumer (Paracentrotus lividus) and two secondary consumers (Siriella armata and Psetta maxima). Acute EC(50) values for PFOS were 0.11 mg L(-1) in P. maxima, 6.9 mg L(-1) in S. armata, 20 mg L(-1) in P. lividus and 37.5 mg L(-1) in I. galbana. In the case of PFOA, the toxicity was lower but the ranking was the same; 11.9 mg L(-1) in P. maxima, 15.5 mg L(-1) in S. armata, 110 mg L(-1) in P. lividus and 163.6 mg L(-1) in I. galbana. The Predicted No Effect Concentration (PNEC) for PFOS and PFOA in marine water derived from these acute toxicity values are 1.1 μg L(-1) for PFOS and 119 μg L(-1) for PFOA. This study established a baseline dataset of toxicity of PFOS and PFOA on saltwater organisms. The data obtained suggest that PFOA pose a minor risk to these organisms through direct exposure. In the perspective of risk assessment, early life stage (ELS) endpoints provide rapid, cost-effective and ecologically relevant information, and links should be sought between these short-term tests and effects of long-term exposures in more realistic scenarios.

Cloning retinoid and peroxisome proliferator-activated nuclear receptors of the Pacific oyster and in silico binding to environmental chemicals

“…The higher concentration (50 mg/L) prevents embryos from developing a full size D-shaped shell or reaching the D-shaped larval stage. This concurs with measured effective concentrations of PFOA in microalgae, marine invertebrates and fish (EC 50 : 12–164 mg/L) [66]. …”

“…Our data of PFOA, a perfluoralkyl carboxylate used as synthetic salt, confirms the minor risk by a direct exposure from PFOA as previously reported for marine species [66] and it displays toxicity at what would be high levels of milligrams per litre. Although the environmental concentrations of PFOA are low (oceanic/coastal waters: 15 pg/L– 190 ng/L) [81], this chemical has been classified as a substance of a very high concern due to its high persistence (non-degradable) and ubiquitous existence in terrestrial and aquatic habitats, atmosphere, food, drinking water, plants, animals including humans [66, 81–84].…”

“…Although the environmental concentrations of PFOA are low (oceanic/coastal waters: 15 pg/L– 190 ng/L) [81], this chemical has been classified as a substance of a very high concern due to its high persistence (non-degradable) and ubiquitous existence in terrestrial and aquatic habitats, atmosphere, food, drinking water, plants, animals including humans [66, 81–84]. The concern regarding its persistence and bioaccumulation abilities raises questions to its mode of action.…”

Developmental retardation, reduced fecundity, and modulated expression of the defensome in the intertidal copepod Tigriopus japonicus exposed to BDE-47 and PFOS

“…As a result, PFOS has been detected in diverse environments (e.g., air, soil, sediment, sludge, marine environments, and humans) (Giesy and Kannan, 2002;Higgins et al, 2005;Yamashita et al, 2005). The adverse effects of PFOS on turbot (Psetta maxima) embryos and larvae were reported to include decreased hatchability and survival with increased malformation (Mhadhbi et al, 2012b). In addition, harmful effects of PFOS were reported in marine piscivorous birds.…”

Mass Balance of Perfluoroalkyl Acids in the Baltic Sea

“…5,6 Of these, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) have been associated with a wide range of adverse effects on both mammalian 7 and aquatic organisms. 8 …”