Tissue distribution and elimination of perfluorodecanoic acid in the rat after single intraperitoneal administration

Tissue distribution, metabolism, and excretion of perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) after a single intraperitoneal dose (20 mg/kg) were studied in female and male Wistar rats. PFDA accumulated in the serum and tissues of the rats. In the serum, more than 99% of PFDA was bound by the serum proteins. In the liver, anionic and esterified PFDA were detected. Metabolic oxidation of PFDA was not observed. PFDA was not excreted in urine either by females or males during 14 days after the administration. At the same time, about 0.5% of the administered PFDA dose was excreted daily in the faeces by both sexes. In spite of the analogical structure with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is rapidly eliminated in urine by the female rats, PFDA accumulated similarly in females and males. The reduced elimination of PFDA partially explains its greater toxicity to rats in comparison with PFOA.