Root Uptake and Translocation of Perfluorinated Alkyl Acids by Three Hydroponically Grown Crops

Abstract

Tomato, cabbage, and zucchini plants were grown hydroponically in a greenhouse. They were exposed to 14 perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs) at four different concentrations via the nutrient solution. At maturity the plants were harvested, and the roots, stems, leaves, twigs (where applicable), and edible parts (tomatoes, cabbage head, zucchinis) were analyzed separately. Uptake and transfer factors were calculated for all plant parts to assess PFAA translocation and distribution within the plants. Root concentration factors were highest for long-chain PFAAs (>C11) in all three plant species, but these chemicals were not found in the edible parts. All other PFAAs were present in all above-ground plant parts, with transpiration stream concentration factors (TSCFs) of 0.05-0.25. These PFAAs are taken up with the transpiration stream and accumulate primarily in the leaves. Although some systematic differences were observed, overall their uptake from nutrient solution to roots and their further distribution within the plants were similar between plant species and among PFAAs.

A review of measured bioaccumulation data on terrestrial plants for organic chemicals: Metrics, variability, and the need for standardized measurement protocols

“…Similarly for perfluoro-n-undecanoic acid (estimated log K OW of $ 6.82 for the neutral form and a pK a $ 0.5), BCF aq s range from 0.0056 to 17 (n ¼ 33). Both examples are from the same study [79] and were tentatively assigned medium-confidence scores. The differences in BCF values could be the result of species variability but could also be attributable to differences in the aboveground tissues of the plant selected in the calculation, plant growth rates, and the amount of water transpired.…”

The roles of protein and lipid in the accumulation and distribution of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) in plants grown in biosolids-amended soils

“…However, wheat, sugar snap pea and tomato showed no preference for uptake of PFASs with different perfluorinated carbon-chain (Wen et al, 2014;Blaine et al, 2014). Translocation from roots to the above ground part of plants showed a decrease with increasing PFAS carbon chain length (Wen et al, 2014;Blaine et al, 2014;Felizeter et al, 2014). As a result, long-chain PFASs are mainly distributed in plant roots, while short-chain PFASs are mainly found in leaves and fruits (Felizeter et al, 2014).…”

“…Land-application of biosolids (treated sludge) may lead to the accumulation of PFASs in soils, and consequently facilitate the entry of PFASs into the terrestrial food web by plant uptake (Wen et al, 2014;Sepulvado et al, 2011;Yoo et al, 2011;Washington et al, 2010). Both field and controlled laboratory studies have demonstrated that PFASs can be taken up from biosolids-amended soils, translocated and stored in different plant organs (Wen et al, 2014;Felizeter et al, 2014;Yoo et al, 2011;Blaine et al, 2014Blaine et al, , 2013Stahl et al, 2013;Lechner and Knapp, 2011). Soil organic carbon plays an important role in decreasing the accumulation of PFASs in plants (Wen et al, 2014;Yoo et al, 2011).…”

“…Translocation from roots to the above ground part of plants showed a decrease with increasing PFAS carbon chain length (Wen et al, 2014;Blaine et al, 2014;Felizeter et al, 2014). As a result, long-chain PFASs are mainly distributed in plant roots, while short-chain PFASs are mainly found in leaves and fruits (Felizeter et al, 2014). Blaine et al (2014) reported that PFOS root to shoot translocation factors (TFs) from roots to shoots were less than 1 for celery and tomato, and were more than 1 for radish and pea.…”

Mitteilungen des Umweltbundesamtes zu per- und polyfluorierten Chemikalien (PFC) in Trinkwasser

“…Heutige Techniken zur Wasseraufbereitung sind kaum in der Lage diese zu entfernen [29]. Die Schadstoffe werden außerdem von Pflanzen aus dem Boden aufgenommen [30,31,32]. Insbesondere kurzkettige PFC lagern sich in Gemüse und Obst ein [33].…”