Journal article
Effects of dissolved cations, dissolved organic carbon, and exposure concentrations on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances bioaccumulation in freshwater algae
Environmental pollution (1987), v 376, 126388
01 Jul 2025
PMID: 40348273
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have attracted global attention because of their persistence, toxicity, bioaccumulation potential, and associated adverse effects. As important primary producers, freshwater algae constitute the base of the food web in freshwater aquatic ecosystems. However, the effects of key environmental factors on PFAS uptake and bioaccumulation in freshwater algae have not been thoroughly studied. In this study, three bioaccumulation experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of dissolved cations, dissolved organic carbon, and exposure concentrations on PFAS bioaccumulation in algae. Among the 14 studied PFAS, seven long-chain PFAS tended to bioaccumulate in algae. Elevated divalent cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+) and dissolved organic carbon did not significantly change the algal bioconcentration factors (BCFs) of PFAS, suggesting complexity of the interactions among PFAS, environmental factors, and biotic activities. Additionally, increasing exposure concentrations (0.5, 1, 5, and 10 μg/L of each PFAS) increased PFAS concentrations in algae but decreased the BCF values. This indicated that attention should be paid to the application of BCFs in future studies, including ecological risk assessment. Moreover, fluorotelomer sulfonic acids (FTSs) were incompletely recovered, suggesting that biotransformation occurred. Further studies should be conducted to evaluate whether algae play a role in FTSs biotransformation and to determine the mechanisms. Studying the impacts of key environmental factors on PFAS bioaccumulation in algae is crucial for understanding the bioaccumulation processes that occur at the lowest trophic level and that eventually affect the dynamics of entire aquatic ecosystems.
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•The first study to report algal BCF values derived from laboratory experiments.•Seven long-chain PFAS exhibited various extents of bioaccumulation in algae.•PFNA, PFDA, PFUnA, and PFOS were the predominant compounds in algae.•Algal BCF values were lowest with the highest PFAS exposure concentration.•Evidence of 4:2 FTS, 6:2 FTS, and 8:2 FTS biotransformation.
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Details
- Title
- Effects of dissolved cations, dissolved organic carbon, and exposure concentrations on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances bioaccumulation in freshwater algae
- Creators
- Xiaoyan Yun - Temple UniversityMaya Hillis - Drexel UniversityErica Alston - Drexel UniversityChristopher M. Sales - Drexel UniversityDaniel E. Spooner - Lock Haven UniversityMarie J. Kurz - Drexel UniversityRominder Suri - Temple UniversityErica R. McKenzie - Temple University
- Publication Details
- Environmental pollution (1987), v 376, 126388
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 10
- Grant note
- UT-Battelle, LLC: DE-AC05-00OR22725 US Department of Energy (DOE)
This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US Department of Energy (DOE) . The publisher acknowledges the US government license to provide public access to these results in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan (https://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan) .
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- C. and J. Nyheim Plasma Institute; Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering; Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001495147800007
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105004895013
- Other Identifier
- 991022053486904721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Environmental Sciences