Concentration-dependent toxicokinetics of novel PFOS alternatives and their chronic combined toxicity in adult zebrafish

Abstract

The increasing use of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) alternatives has led to their release into the aquatic environment. This study sought to determine the effects of exposure concentration on the toxicokinetics of PFOS and its alternatives, including perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (F-53B) and sodium p-perfluorous nonenoxybenzenesulfonate (OBS) in adult zebrafish by exposure to mixtures of the five per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at 1, 10, and 100 ng/mL for 28-day, followed by a 14-day depuration. PFAS predominantly accumulated in the blood and liver, and the bioconcentration factor (BCF) decreased in the order of F-53B > PFOS > OBS ≫ PFHxS > PFBS in whole-fish homogenates. The uptake rate constants and BCF of the short-chain PFAS (≤C6) positively correlated with increasing exposure concentration, while the long-chain PFAS (≥C8) exhibited a pattern of first increasing and then decreasing. A consistent increase in the elimination rate constants of short- and long-chain PFAS was observed with increasing exposure concentration. All PFAS form tight conformations with ZSA and ZL-FABP via hydrogen bonding as revealed by molecular docking analysis. Furthermore, chronic combined exposure to PFAS induced the occurrence of vacuolation and oxidative stress in the zebrafish liver. Our findings uniquely inform the concentration-dependent bioconcentration potential and health risks to aquatic organisms of these PFOS alternatives in the environment.