Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) are persistent per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in human tissues and fluids. As part of a project investigating the indirect sources of PFOA/PFOS in the environment and engineered systems, this study is concerned with the mechanisms leading to their in vivo generation in terrestrial invertebrates. We demonstrate here the generation of PFOA and PFOS in earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) from a group of four zwitterionic/cationic polyfluoroalkyl amides and sulfonamides. The zwitterionic PFAS compounds were metabolized in earthworm within a few days to PFOA/PFOS and several infrequently reported PFAS species for which chemical structures were determined using high-resolution mass spectrometry. Cationic PFAS, on the other hand, were found to be much less metabolizable. Peak-shaped bioaccumulation curves were seen for all zwitterionic/cationic PFAS. A significant fraction of zwitterionic/cationic PFAS residual in earthworm was detected at end of the elimination phase, indicating that not all molecules in vivo are available for enzymatic degradation. Furthermore, the dietary route was shown to be the major route of uptake of zwitterionic/cationic PFAS due to, in part, their strong adsorption to soil particles, whereas the dermal exposure is the predominant contributor to the earthworm’s body burden of the anionic PFAS (PFOA).

In vivo generation of PFOA, PFOS and other compounds from cationic and zwitterionic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in a terrestrial invertebrate (lumbricus terrestris)

ACS Fall 2020 Virtual Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.