Organic Pollutants In Environment Research Articles

Characterization of Soil Toxicity in Kinkazi, Kitombe and Thiende Villages Affected by Oil Activities in Muanda and Potential Risk of Chemical Poisoning

Aims: Discharges from oil exploitation contain very toxic and persistent organic and inorganic environmental pollutants. The present study aims to characterize the ecotoxicity of the soils of these three villages subjected to oil exploitation activities.
 Study Design: This research consists of four parts, an introduction with literature review, a description of the study environment, the methods used and finally the results obtained.
 Place and Duration of Study: In order to assess the impacts due to oil exploitation activities on the soil, a study was carried out on six soil samples taken from the villages Kinkazi, Kitombe and Thiende during the month of November 2022 in the territory of Muanda, Kongo Central, D.R. Congo.
 Methodology: The soil samples were prepared in the laboratory according to standard procedures and a series of ecotoxicological tests were carried out with the analysis of some physico-chemical parameters using a Multiparameter. The data collected was processed and analysed with Excel 2010 software.
 Results: The soils of the Kinkazi, Kitombe and Thiende villages, like dumping grounds for pollutants from oil activities, are and represent a risk of chemical poisoning for the population. The inhibitory dose (ID50) varies from 26.25 to 36 g/g indicating the toxicity of these soils to Hibiscus asper seeds and the germination index obtained gives an average of around 58.7%.
 Conclusion: The ecotoxicological impact of oil activities on the soil represents a risk of chemical poisoning for the local population of Muanda given that these polluted soils are primarily used for agriculture and the species Hibiscus asper is one of the most popular species for crops market gardeners in the region.

Graphite oxide as an electronic conductor modified ZIF-8/NH2-MIL-125(Ti) hybrid material used as a photocatalyst for removal of organic dyes under visible light irradiation.

It is a great challenge to develop photocatalysts for the degradation of organic pollutants in the aqueous environment, especially those with excellent catalytic performance under visible light conditions. In this work, using graphene oxide (GO) as an electron shuttle agent and carrier, a hybrid of ZIF-8/NH2-MIL-125(Ti) and GO (ZIF-8/NH2-MIL-125(Ti)/GO) was prepared by a simple two-step solvothermal method. The morphology, structure, and combination of the synthesized catalysts were studied. The results showed that graphene oxide and ZIF-8 formed an in situ load on NH2-MIL-125(Ti). The construction of hybrid materials significantly improved the catalytic activity of NH2-MIL-125(Ti) in the visible light range. The degradation activity of the synthesized catalyst was further tested with reactive red dye. The results showed that the catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic removal efficiency for active red, with a degradation rate of 99.8% within 2 h. The prepared hybrid materials have good application prospects in the field of organic pollutant treatment in water.

Facile Synthesis and Enhanced Photocatalytic Properties of La2O3/SrSn(OH)6 Nanorods

Background: The efficient removal of the environmental organic pollutants using the photocatalytic technology catalyzed by the semiconductors has attracted great research interest in recent years. La2O3/SrSn(OH)6 nanorods show enhanced photo-catalytic activity towards crystal violet (CV). Objective: The aim is to obtain La2O3/SrSn(OH)6 nanorods by a simple hydrothermal route using lanthanum acetate and SrSn(OH)6 nanorods, and research the photo-catalytic properties for the CV degradation. Methods: La2O3/SrSn(OH)6 nanorods were obtained by a hydrothermal route using lanthanum acetate and SrSn(OH)6 nanorods and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence (PL) and photo-catalytic experiments. Results: The composite nanorods are comprised of hexagonal SrSn(OH)6 and cubic La2O3 phases. Some nanoscale particles attach to the surface of the nanorods with the diameter and length of about 100 nm and longer than 1 μm, respectively. La2O3/SrSn(OH)6 nanorods show lower band gap value than that of the SrSn(OH)6 nanorods. The photocatalytic reaction rate constant for the CV degradation using 15wt.%-La2O3/SrSn(OH)6 nanorods is 3 times higher than that of the pure nanorods. Conclusion: La2O3/SrSn(OH)6 nanorods possess good reusability and stability for the CV removal. The photo-catalytic activity for the CV removal of the SrSn(OH)6 nanorods can be greatly enhanced by the La2O3.

Near-infrared carbon quantum dots from PEG-based deep eutectic solvents for high-accuracy quantitative analysis of naphthenic acids in wastewater

Naphthenic acids (NAs) are toxic components in refinery wastewater and in oil sands process water. The presence of NAs in aqueous environments would cause serious environmental problems. Development of a rapid method for screening and determination of trace NAs is urgent. In this work, a near-infrared fluorescence carbon quantum dots (CQDs) was successfully synthesized with p-phenylenediamine (PPD) and polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) by the hydrothermal method. It showed a good fluorescence response to NAs with good detectability. The limit of detection was calculated to be 0.16 mmol‧L−1, with a linear range from 0.5 to 15 mmol‧L−1. The detection mechanism of NAs and CQDs was also proposed with in situ infrared spectrometer. This work provides new insights into the fluorescence detection of CQDs in the petrochemical industry, broadening the application of CQDs in the detection of environmental organic pollutants.

Study of DNA methylation of hsd17β, er and reproductive endocrine disrupting effects in female Chlamys farreri under benzo[a]pyrene stress

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is one kind of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the marine environment which has multiple toxic effects. However, epigenetic studies correlated with reproductive endocrine disruption in invertebrates have not been explored. In our study, Chlamys farreri in the mature stage were exposed to B[a]P (0, 0.4, 2 and 10 μg/L) for 5 and 10 d to explore the effects on reproductive endocrine and DNA methylation. The results proved that B[a]P stress significantly restrained the growth of mature oocytes, reduced the content of sex hormones, and affected the expression of genes related to ovarian development. Histological observation showed that the ovarian microstructure was damaged. The detection of SAM/SAH, dnmts, GNMT in the ovary showed that the level of global DNA methylation fluctuated. Significant hypermethylation of the hsd17β promoter region in the ovary was associated with a significant downregulation of its gene expression. In summary, our results suggested that exposure to B[a]P might affect DNA methylation to regulate key reproductive genes, interfere with the synthesis of sex hormones, and inhibit ovarian development. These findings provide a basis for a better understanding of how epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the response of marine invertebrates to POPs stress, opening up new avenues for incorporating environmental epigenetic approaches into marine invertebrate management and conservation plans.

Characterization and Photocatalytic Performance of Newly Synthesized ZnO Nanoparticles for Environmental Organic Pollutants Removal from Water System

Most countries are facing problems of environmental pollution due to toxic organic pollutants being discharged into the environment from various man-made sources. Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a possible solution for the mentioned problem, and it has been widely applied for the removal of pollutants from aqueous solutions, thanks to its high removal efficiency and environmental friendliness. Among the commonly used metal oxides, ZnO has attracted researchers’ interests due to its ecofriendly and nontoxic nature. In this work, ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were prepared by the precipitation method from water (w) and ethanol solutions of the corresponding metal precursors (zinc–acetate dihydrate, A_ZnO, and zinc–nitrate hexahydrate, N_ZnO) followed by calcination at different temperatures. The structure and morphology of the prepared catalysts were characterized by different techniques (XRD, BET, and SEM). Based on the XRD results, it can be seen that the synthesized NPs possess high purity. Furthermore, at a higher calcination temperature, a higher crystal size was observed, which was more intense in the case of the ethanol solution of the precursors. The BET analysis showed macropores at the surface and also indicated that the increased temperature led to decreased surface area. Finally, SEM images showed that in the case of the water precursor solution, an irregular, rod-like shape of the NPs was observed. The photocatalytic properties of newly synthesized ZnO-NPs exposed to simulated sunlight were examined during the removal of pesticide clomazone (CLO) and the antidepressant drug amitriptyline (AMI). ZnO-NPs prepared by the precipitation method from the water solution of zinc–acetate dihydrate and calcined at 500 °C (A_ZnOw_500) showed the highest performance under simulated sunlight. Furthermore, the activity of A_ZnOw_500 and N_ZnOw_500 catalysts in the removal of three organic pollutants from water—two pesticides (sulcotrione (SUL) and CLO) and one pharmaceutical (AMI)—was also compared. Results showed that decreased photocatalytic activity was observed in the presence of N_ZnOw_500 NPs in all investigated systems. Finally, the effect of the initial pH was also examined. It was found that in the case of CLO and SUL, there was no influence of the initial pH, while in the case of AMI the kapp was slightly increased in the range from pH ~7 to pH ~10.

Novel ternary catalyst Ag2O/NCDs@ porous tubular g-C3N4 as efficient visible-light-driven peroxymonosulfate activator

The photo-induced peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation method for the removal of emerging pollutants is regarded as a promising technique, and designing an effective and stable catalyst is the key. In the current work, a novel Ag2O nanoparticle and nitrogen-doped carbon dots (NCDs) modified porous tubular carbon nitride (Ag2O/NCDs@PTCN) catalyst was synthesized. The morphology, composition, and optical activities of the Ag2O/NCDs@PTCN were analyzed by TEM, XRD, XPS, and UV–vis, respectively. Catalytic degradation test results showed that the degradation efficiency of carbamazepine by Ag2O/NCDs@PTCN/Vis-PMS (0.1452 min−1) was greatly enhanced compared with Vis-PMS (0.0014 min−1). A series of mechanistic analysis indicated that both non-radical and radical played an important role in (1O2, h+, and O2•-) carbamazepine degradation. In addition, the Ag2O/NCDs@PTCN/Vis-PMS system showed low silver ion leaching, high adaptability to solution pH, and low toxicity of degradation products. This research may provide a green and hopeful practical application potential for degrading the persistent organic pollutants in the aquatic environment.

Exposure to PCB126 during the nursing period reversibly impacts early-life glucose tolerance.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent environmental organic pollutants known to have detrimental health effects. Using a mouse model, we previously demonstrated that PCB126 exposure before and during pregnancy and throughout the perinatal period adversely affected offspring glucose tolerance and/or body composition profiles. The purpose of this study was to investigate the glucose tolerance and body composition of offspring born to dams exposed to PCB126 during the nursing period only. Female ICR mice were bred, and half of the dams were exposed to either vehicle (safflower oil) or 1 µmole PCB126 per kg of body weight via oral gavage on postnatal days (PND) 3, 10, and 17 (n = 9 per group). Offspring body weight, lean and fat mass, and glucose tolerance were recorded every three weeks. PCB126 treatment did not alter dam nor offspring body weight (p > 0.05). PCB126-exposed male and female offspring displayed normal body composition (p > 0.05) relative to vehicle-exposed offspring. However, both male and female offspring that were exposed to PCB126 during the nursing period had significantly impaired glucose tolerance at 3 and 9 weeks of age (p < 0.05). At 6 and 12 weeks of age, no impairments in glucose tolerance existed in offspring (p > 0.05). Our current study demonstrates that exposure to PCB126 through the mother's milk does not affect short- or long-term body composition but impairs glucose tolerance in the short-term.

Interactions of Microplastics with Pesticides in Soils and Their Ecotoxicological Implications

In the middle of the 20th century, the production of plastics exploded worldwide because of their low cost and the versatility of their applications. However, since plastic debris is highly resistant to environmental degradation, a growing presence of plastics in all the ecosystems has been confirmed. Among them, plastic particles &lt; 5 mm, also known as microplastics (MPs), are of special concern because they are dispersed in aerial, terrestrial and aquatic environments, being the soil the main environmental sink of these contaminants. Due to their large specific surface area and hydrophobicity, MPs are considered good adsorbents for other environmental organic pollutants also present in terrestrial ecosystems, such as pharmaceuticals, personal-care products or pesticides with which they can interact and thus modify their environmental fate. In this review article, we examine the recent literature (from 2017 to 2022) to get a better understanding of the environmental fate of pesticides in soil (adsorption, mobility and/or degradation) when they are simultaneously present with MPs and the ecological risks on living organisms of the interactions between MPs and pesticides in soil. More studies are needed to fully understand the toxicological impact of the copresence in soil of pesticides and MPs.

Electrochemical Dechlorination of Trichloroethylene by Manganese Phthalocyanine: Performance and Mechanisms

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is one of the most abundant persistent organic pollutant in subsurface environment. TCE can be reduced electrochemically, but the extremely negative applied potential limits the application of this technology. Manganese phthalocyanine (MnPc) catalyst was used for the electrochemical reductive dechlorination of TCE. The results show that MnPc can be reduced by electrons attachment at −-0.21 V, −-1.22 V and −-1.77 V, respectively. With the decrease of applied potential from −-0.3 V to −-1.8 V, the transformation from TCE to dichloroethylene (DCE) efficiency increased from 19.9% to 41.8% after 5 hours of reaction. Although the electron transfer ability was enhanced with applied potential decreasing, the intensive HER caused the electron selectivity decreased when MnPc attached more electrons. MnPc catalyze the electrochemical reduction of TCE, which has potential application on the remediation of TCE-contaminated groundwater.

Catalytic metal-organic framework-melamine foam composite as an efficient material for the elimination of organic pollutants.

Water-insoluble organic pollutants in environment, such as sea oil spill, industrial reagents, and the abused organic pesticides, bring great risks to global water systems, which thus requires effective approaches for organic pollutant elimination. In this study, we report a catalytic metal-organic framework (MOF)-melamine foam (MF) composite material (DDT-UiO-66-NH2@MF) showing excellent oil-water separation performance and enzyme-like degradation ability toward organophosphorus pesticides. The fabrication of DDT-UiO-66-NH2@MF is based on the immobilization of a MOF-derived nanozyme (UiO-66-NH2) on MF sponge, and followed by the hydrophobic modification of UiO-66-NH2 by 1-dodecanethiol (DDT). The obtained DDT-UiO-66-NH2@MF thus displayed superhydrophobic/superhydrophilic property with a high water contact angle (WCA = 144.6°) and specific adsorption capacity toward various oils/organic solvents (62.2-119.8g/g), which leads to a continuous oil-water separation on a simple device. In the meanwhile, owing to the enzyme-like property of UiO-66-NH2, DDT-UiO-66-NH2@MF also displayed good ability to hydrolyze paraoxon under mild conditions, which facilitates the elimination of toxic pesticide residuals in water systems. This work provides a simple, efficient, and green approach for the separation and treatment of water-insoluble organic pollutants, as well as expands the use of MOFs-MF sponge composite materials in environmental sustainability.

Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on melanin interference toxicity and transgenerational toxicity of ethylhexyl salicylate based on DNA methylation sequencing

Organic ultraviolet filters (OUVFs) are new hydrophobic organic pollutants in the aquatic environment. When ingested by aquatic organisms, OUVFs can induce a variety of toxic effects in organisms and be transferred to offspring. However, as the main active ingredient in sunscreens, OUVFs have rarely been investigated for their melanin interference toxicity or transgenerational toxic effects on aquatic organisms and their interactive toxic effects with nanoplastics (NPs). Here, we show the mechanism by which OUVFs interfere with melanogenesis in parental or offspring zebrafish and the effect of polystyrene (PS) NPs on the melanin-interference effect of OUVFs. We found that EHS induced significant enrichment of the melanogenesis pathway, inhibited the expression of the key melanin gene microphthalmia-associated transcription factor a (mitfa) and induced the mitf tyrosinase (tyr)-dopachrome tautomerase (dct)-tyrosinase related protein 1 (tyrp1) signaling cascade in parents, which ultimately induced a decrease in melanin content. After reproduction, transgenerational melanin interference effects of EHS may occur through the maternal inheritance of mitfa. Coexisting PS-NPs may inhibit the melanin interference toxicity or transgenerational toxicity of EHS by reducing ultraviolet irritation to the skin through adsorption of EHS. Our results demonstrate the ecotoxic potential of OUVFs in terms of melanin interference and the interference of PS-NP carrier effects on the toxicity of OUVFs. We anticipate that our assay will contribute to the assessment of the toxic effects of OUVFs and provide a basis for the interactive ecotoxicity assessment of PS-NPs and hydrophobic organic pollutants.

Catalyst-free biphasic orthorhombic/hexagonal tungsten oxide system with enhanced photocatalytic response under visible light

Abstract These days, textile industries pose a more significant threat to surface water and groundwater sources directly or indirectly by discharging wastewater containing various dyes and organic pollutants to these water sources. The phase-junction-engineered heterogeneous photocatalysis carried out by visible light-driven semiconductor photocatalysts is opening a new window for the degradation of environmental organic pollutants. In this work, we have reported a one-step bottom-up hydrothermal synthesis of biphasic tungsten oxide (o/h-WO3) and performed a photodegradation experiment under visible light irradiation for the efficient degradation of organic pollutants such as Methylene blue (MB) and Methyl violet (MV), respectively. The X-ray diffraction, RAMAN, transmission electron microscopy and ultraviolet–Vis characterization techniques were used to investigate the structural, morphological and optical properties of the as-synthesized o/h-WO3. Moreover, the low calculated band gap (∼2.8 eV) and the anionic nature of o/h-WO3 suggest it as an efficient visible light-driven photocatalyst suitable for heterogeneous photocatalysis. The photodegradation experiment performed under visible light using o/h-WO3 photocatalyst showed better degradation efficiency of 71% and 89% for MB and MV, respectively, in 100 min. The dyes followed first-order kinetics, and their kinetic rate constants were calculated using the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model. Furthermore, the recyclability study of the photocatalyst was also performed and discussed the underlying mechanism for the photodegradation of the organic dyes.

Recent advances in application of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as adsorbent and catalyst in removal of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

The presence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the aquatic environment is causing widespread concern due to their bioaccumulation, toxicity, and possible environmental risk. These contaminants are produced daily in large quantities and released into water bodies. Traditional wastewater treatment plants are ineffective at degrading these pollutants. As a result, the development of long-term and effective POP removal techniques is critical. In water, adsorption removal and photocatalytic degradation of POPs have been identified as energy and cost-efficient solutions. Both technologies have received a lot of attention for their efforts to treat the world's wastewater. Photocatalytic removal of POPs is a promising, effective, and long-lasting method, while adsorption removal of persistent POPs represents a simple, practical method, particularly in decentralized systems and isolated areas. It is critical to develop new adsorbents/photocatalysts with the desired structure, tunable chemistry, and maximum adsorption sites for highly efficient removal of POPs. As a class of recently created multifunctional porous materials, Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer tremendous prospects in adsorptive removal and photocatalytic degradation of POPs for water remediation. This review defines POPs and discusses current research on adsorptive and photocatalytic POP removal using emerging MOFs for each type of POPs.

What do we know about the production and release of persistent organic pollutants in the global environment?

As of 2020, a cumulative total of 31 306 kilotonnes of manmade persistent organic pollutants had been synthesized and commercialized worldwide, resulting in cumulative releases of 20 348 kilotonnes into the global environment.

Adsorption/desorption behavior of ciprofloxacin on aged biodegradable plastic PLA under different exposure conditions

Polylactic acid, one of the degradable plastics, and ciprofloxacin (CIP) are two typical organic pollutants in the water environment. Adsorption of CIP on aged-microplastics may result in their long-range transport and cause compound combination effects. In this study, the sorption of CIP to microplastics in a simulated aging state was examined. The microplastics aged alternately day and night have larger adsorption capacity than those aged continuously. Adsorption isotherms demonstrated that compared to monolayer adsorption of virgin plastic, the adsorption of aged-PLA is more consistent with the Freundlich model, indicating that adsorption is mainly based on multi-molecular layer adsorption on non-homogeneous surfaces. Moreover, the maximum adsorption capacity of continuous aging for CIP was 26.439 mg/g，the maximum adsorption capacity of alternate aging for CIP was 46.913 mg/g. The results of desorption experiments show that the sorption-desorption process of CIP on PLA is irreversible, and the aged have higher desorption capacity, which indicates that aged microplastics are helpful in enriching and fix CIP for a long time. Our results showed that commonly observed PLA can be a carrier of antibiotics in the aquatic environment.

Electrochemical reduction of nickel selenide/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites: Highly sensitive detection of 4-nitrophenol

Developing a facile and sensitive electrochemical sensor to monitor organic pollutants in the water environment is particularly indispensable. Herein, we established a green synthetic strategy that graphene oxide and nickel selenide have been modified successively onto the indium tin oxide (ITO) glass by two-step electrochemical reduction to determine 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). The Ni3Se4/rGO composite was characterized in detail by some techniques including XRD, XPS, SEM, TEM and EDX to analyse morphology features, structural parameters and chemical properties. Cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry were applied to explore the electrochemical behavior of Ni3Se4/rGO composite. As a consequence, Ni3Se4/rGO/ITO electrode as a sensing platform for 4-NP detection exhibits favorable properties, the obtained reduction peak current is proportional to the concentrations of 4-NP in the range of 0.05 μM to 5.0 μM and 5.0 μM to 200 μM, and the detection limit is 17.1 nM (S/N = 3). Moreover, the prepared electrochemical sensor displays excellent selectivity, remarkable reproducibility and good stability, and has acceptable accuracy when applied to the monitoring of 4-NP in actual water samples.

2,3′,4,4′,5-Pentachlorobiphenyl induces mitochondria-dependent apoptosis mediated by AhR/Cyp1a1 in mouse germ cells

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are environmental organic pollutants widely used in industry that can bioaccumulate and affect the reproductive systems of male animals of different species. 2,3′,4,4′,5-Pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB118) is a representative of the 209 toxic PCB congeners. In this study, male mice were exposed to PCB118 at 0, 50, and 500 μg/kg/day for 35 days beginning 3–4 weeks after birth. The results of the study showed that PCB118 exposure during puberty reduced testicular quality, caused tissue damage, decreased sperm motility and sperm count, and increased malformation and testicular cell apoptosis in mice. Moreover, PCB118 increased the oxidative stress levels in sperm and testicular tissue and the expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and Cyp1a1 and siginificantly decreased the level of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). The results indicate that PCB118 can activate the AhR/Cyp1a1 pathway and inhibit Nrf2 expression to aggravate testicular oxidative stress and induce cell apoptosis, resulting in testicular and sperm quality damage.

Preparation of magnetic Fe3O4@PDA/CuS core-shell nanocomposite as a green photocatalyst

To solve the emerging aromatic organic pollutants in aqueous environment, in this study, the efficient recyclable core-shell structured photocatalyst Fe3O4@PDA/CuS was prepared by in situ reduction method. Firstly, Fe3O4 as cores were prepared to provide magnetic recovery. Through the self-polymerization of dopamine (DA), polydopamine (PDA) was coated on Fe3O4 as shells to protect Fe3O4 cores. Then, Cu2+ coordinated with PDA on the surface of Fe3O4@PDA and in situ reduced by Na2S to obtain core-shell structural Fe3O4@PDA/CuS with CuS uniformly growing on the PDA. CuS with a narrow band gap will endow Fe3O4 @PDA/CuS excellent photocatalytic performance for organic dyes degradation. The decomposition rate of methylene blue (MB) reached to 92.1 % within 180 min under visible light irradiation of Fe3O4@PDA/CuS as photocatalyst without any cocatalyst. When pH= 10, the decomposition rate of MB can reach to 92.7 % in 60 min, indicated Fe3O4@PDA/CuS was more suitable for use under alkaline conditions. The capture experiment determined that·OH was the main active substance. This also explained that under alkaline conditions, numerous OH- was conducive to the formation of ·OH, thus accelerated the degradation rate. And the decomposition rate of MB by Fe3O4@PDA/CuS can still reach 83.95 % after reused three times.

Molecular and genetic analyses revealed the phytotoxicity of perfluorobutane sulfonate

Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) has oily and hydrophobic characteristics similar to those of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), which is an environmental organic pollutant and has gradually become the main substitute for PFOS in industry. Several studies have revealed the potential toxicity of PFBS in animals. PFBS can be taken up and accumulate in plants; however, whether and how PFBS affects plant growth remain largely unclear. A low concentration of PFBS did not affect plant growth, indicating that it had higher environmental safety than other perfluorinated compounds; however, a high concentration of PFBS (>1 mM) markedly inhibited primary root growth in Arabidopsis thaliana. Subsequently, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying plant growth mediated by high concentrations of PFBS. First, a genome-wide transcriptomic analysis revealed that PFBS altered the expression of genes associated with phytohormone signaling pathways. Combining physio-biochemical and genetic analyses, we next demonstrated that PFBS reduced the contents of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA), and disrupted the two signaling pathways in plants, finally inhibiting root growth. Moreover, a high concentration of PFBS also inhibited photosynthesis by comprehensively repressing the expression of genes related to the Calvin cycle and the photosynthetic apparatus. Such an understanding is helpful for elucidating the phytotoxicity of PFBS and provides a new strategy for toxicology research on organic pollutants in plants.