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Water-level variations modulate ether-linked PFAS uptake and partitioning in emergent wetland plants
Yue Zhi1, Mengyu Zhang1, Xiongwei Lu1
1Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China.
Journal of Environmental Management
|February 25, 2026
Summary
Wetland plants effectively accumulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), with Cyperus alternifolius showing highest retention. Hydrology influences plant adaptation, optimizing PFAS remediation strategies through targeted harvesting or root sequestration.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Plant Biology
- Environmental Chemistry
Background:
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants.
- Wetland plants offer a nature-based solution for PFAS remediation.
- Understanding plant responses to hydrological variations is crucial for optimizing remediation efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the PFAS accumulation potential of five emergent macrophyte species under simulated water-level variations.
- To investigate the influence of hydrological conditions on PFAS uptake, translocation, and storage in wetland plants.
- To determine species-specific and compound-specific factors affecting PFAS remediation.
Main Methods:
- Simulated wetland mesocosms with controlled water-level variations.
- Cultivation of five emergent macrophyte species.
- Quantification of PFAS accumulation in root and shoot tissues.
- Analysis of root morphological plasticity and PFAS translocation.
Main Results:
- All evaluated species accumulated PFAS, with Cyperus alternifolius exhibiting the highest total mass retention.
- PFAS were predominantly stored in shoot tissues, with higher concentrations than in roots.
- High water levels induced root plasticity and increased root PFAS concentration but inhibited shoot translocation.
- PFAS uptake and accumulation were influenced by molecular structure (hydrophobicity, chain length, ether linkage) and plant tissue.
Conclusions:
- Wetland plant species demonstrate significant potential for PFAS remediation.
- Hydrological conditions can be manipulated to optimize PFAS sequestration in roots or removal via shoot harvesting.
- Species selection and understanding PFAS properties are key for effective nature-based remediation in dynamic riparian ecosystems.
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