First Report on the Bioaccumulation and Trophic Transfer of Perfluoroalkyl Ether Carboxylic Acids in Estuarine Food Web

As novel alternatives to legacy poly- and perfluor-oalkyl substances (PFAS), perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acids(PFECAs) have been widely detected in the environment;however, there is limited information and knowledge regardingtheir bioaccumulation and trophic transfer behavior along the foodchain. This research presents thefirst known published data on thebioaccumulation and trophic transfer characteristics of PFECAs ina source-impacted estuary. Elevated PFECA concentrations wereobserved in organisms (for instance, conch, with perfluoro-2-methoxyacetic acid (PFMOAA) concentration reaches up to16 700 ng/g dry weight (dw)), indicating exposure risks to theconsumers. Conch can be acted as a potential environmentalbioindicator of PFMOAA. PFMOAA, hexafluoropropylene oxidetrimer acid (HFPO-TrA) and PFOA were predominant detected in biotas. On the basis of trophic magnification factors (TMFs),PFECAs with >= 6 perfluorinated carbons (HFPO-TrA, hexafluoropropylene oxide tetramer acid (HFPO-TeA) and perfluoro (3, 5, 7,9, 11-pentaoxadodecanoic) acid (PFO5DoA)) could be biomagnified along the food chain (TMF > 1), while PFMOAA with theleast perfluorinated carbons undergone biodilution (TMF < 1). As seafood is an important dietary source of protein to human, thereis a potential health risk related to the consuming polluted aquatic products.

Automated summary

This research provides the first published data on the bioaccumulation and trophic transfer characteristics of PFECAs in a source-impacted estuary. It found that certain PFECAs biomagnify along the food chain, while others undergo biomagnification. This poses exposure risks and potential health hazards to consumers.