Biota-Sediment Accumulation Factors for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances.
Lawrence P Burkhard1, Lauren K Votava2
1Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
|November 18, 2022
Summary
Biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) vary significantly across aquatic species. Teleostei and Clitellata showed the highest BSAFs, while Magnoliopsida and Bivalvia had the lowest, indicating differential bioaccumulation potential.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Toxicology
- Ecotoxicology
- Environmental Chemistry
Background:
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous anthropogenic chemicals found globally in consumer products.
- PFAS can bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms, posing ecological risks.
- Sediments act as a significant sink for many anthropogenic chemicals, including PFAS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compile and analyze biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) for various PFAS across different aquatic taxonomic classes.
- To identify data gaps and understand factors influencing PFAS bioaccumulation from sediments.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted to gather BSAFs data.
- Data were assembled for 17 taxonomic classes, focusing on different PFAS chemical classes.
- Statistical comparisons were made across and within taxonomic groups.
Main Results:
- Carbonyl and sulfonyl PFAS classes had richer data; phosphate, ether, and fluorotelomer PFAS classes were data poor.
- Teleostei and Clitellata exhibited the highest BSAFs, while Magnoliopsida and Bivalvia showed the lowest.
- Laboratory-derived BSAFs were consistently higher than field-derived BSAFs.
Conclusions:
- Significant variations in BSAFs exist among aquatic taxonomic classes, suggesting differential bioaccumulation.
- Further research is needed on the effects of concentration, mixtures, ecosystem types, and predictive modeling for BSAFs.
- Understanding PFAS bioaccumulation from sediments is crucial for ecological risk assessment.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Biofilms
Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms encased in a self-produced extracellular polysaccharide matrix attached to surfaces. These microbial consortia can include single or multiple species, providing enhanced survival benefits by forming organized, multilayered structures.The formation of biofilms occurs through four key stages: attachment, colonization, development, and dispersal.During attachment, free-swimming planktonic cells adhere to a surface, often facilitated by...
01:26Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons
Bioremediation is an environmentally sustainable process that employs living organisms—primarily microorganisms—to degrade or neutralize pollutants from contaminated environments. In oil spills and hydrocarbon pollution, bioremediation involves the use of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria to transform toxic compounds into less harmful substances. This approach leverages natural microbial metabolic processes and is considered both cost-effective and ecologically favorable compared to physical or...
01:28Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides
Pesticides often feature structurally complex chemical architectures, incorporating halogen groups and multiple aromatic rings. These characteristics confer high chemical stability, rendering many pesticides resistant to natural degradation processes. This resistance poses significant environmental concerns, as persistent pesticide residues can accumulate in ecosystems and affect non-target organisms.Despite the inherent stability of many pesticides, certain microorganisms possess the metabolic...
01:30Microbial Wastewater Treatment
Microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems play a key role in the natural breakdown of contaminants introduced through domestic and industrial effluents. Acting as biological catalysts, these microbes change and mineralize a wide range of organic and inorganic pollutants under different redox conditions.In oxygen-rich surface waters, aerobic heterotrophs lead organic matter breakdown, using oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor to efficiently oxidize substrates to carbon dioxide and water.
01:27Bioplastics
Bioplastics derived from microbial processes present a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Among these, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), particularly polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs), have emerged as prominent candidates due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. These polymers are synthesized by a variety of bacteria, such as Cupriavidus necator and Pseudomonas putida, which naturally accumulate PHAs as intracellular carbon and energy reserves, especially under...
01:28Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a synthetic polymer widely utilized in the packaging industry, particularly for bottles and containers. Due to its chemical stability and durability, PET accumulates in the environment, contributing significantly to plastic pollution. It comprises repeating units of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, resulting in a semi-crystalline structure that is resistant to natural degradation processes.A notable breakthrough in plastic biodegradation came with the...