Long Chain perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) was phased out due to Stockholm convention. GenX (C3F7OCF(CF3)COOH, CAS No. 62037-80-3) was developed as perfluoroalkyl alternatives of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) since 2009. However, few studies targeted on the toxicity and bioaccumulation of genX. This study evaluated the uptake of genX via earthworms and plants from soil matrix. Earthworms (Eisenia fetida) were exposed in 5 mg/kg of genX for 30 days. The body weight and contaminant concentration in earthworm were examined to evaluate the sublethal effect and bioconcentration factor. The earthworms exposed in equivalent PFOA soil and uncontaminated soil were conducted as reference. In the other hand, three kinds of plants (Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana tabacum, and Medicago sativa) grew in half strength Murashige and Skoog medium agar with different level of genX (0, 5, 20 mg/L) for 21 days. The sublethal effect was evaluated via root length, shoot weight, and root weight. The genX concentration between shoot and root (transfer factor) was regarded as the uptake ability of plant. The mesocosm will be conducted to investigate the competition of genX between earthworms and plants as well to evaluate the potential of phytoremediation from PFASs-contaminated soil.

Accumulation and toxicity of perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluoroalkyl alternatives on earthworms (Eisenia fetida) and terrestrial plants

256th National Meeting (2018)

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