Trophic Transfer of Perfluoroalkyl Acids in a Periphyton-Mayfly-Zebrafish Food Chain

Abstract

Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous contaminants in freshwater ecosystems. Many PFAS are incorporated into food webs, with potential effects on ecological and human health. However, PFAS incorporation into the base of aquatic food webs remains poorly understood. The goal of this study was to quantify the uptake and trophic transfer of both legacy and current use PFAS compounds using a simulated freshwater food chain in a lab setting. Natural periphytic biofilms were placed into trays containing equimolar binary aqueous PFAS mixtures at environmentally relevant concentrations for five days. Following the initial exposure period, newly hatched mayfly larvae were introduced into each tray to feed on periphyton for most of their larval development. The mature larvae were then fed to zebrafish. All water and biota samples contained detectable levels of the tested PFAS. All PFAS were more concentrated in periphyton than in water, and four of six PFAS were further concentrated in mayfly larvae relative to periphyton. PFDA was the most accumulative in all biota. PFAS concentrations in zebrafish were significantly correlated with those in larval mayflies. Assimilation efficiencies in zebrafish were high (>70%) for all compounds. Bioaccumulation of PFAS in periphyton and mayflies was positively correlated with log KOW and number of carbons.