Uptake and elimination of emerging polyfluoroalkyl substance F-53B in zebrafish larvae: Response of oxidative stress biomarkers

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2019-01, Vol.215, p.182-188
• Main Authors: Wu, Yongming, Deng, Mi, Jin, Yuanxiang, Mu, Xiyan, He, Xiaoli, Luu, Nha-Thi, Yang, Chunyan, Tu, Wenqing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accumulation; Alkanesulfonates - analysis; Alkanesulfonates - pharmacokinetics; Alkanesulfonates - pharmacology; Alkanesulfonic Acids - pharmacology; Animals; Biomarkers - metabolism; China; Elimination; F-53B; Fluorocarbons - pharmacology; Larva - drug effects; Larva - metabolism; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Stigmasterol - analogs & derivatives; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Zebrafish; Zebrafish - metabolism
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.10.025

6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (F-53B) has been widely applied as a mist suppressant to replace perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in the metal plating industry in China for decades. Recently, F-53B has been frequently identified in the aquatic environment and wild-caught fish. However, studies on the uptake and elimination kinetics, and the toxicological effects of F-53B were very scarce. In this study, zebrafish larvae (72 h post fertilization, hpf) were exposed to F-53B (10, 100 μg/L) for 48 h, followed by a 24 h of depuration to examine both the dynamics of accumulation and elimination of F-53B and responses of antoxidant defense system in fish. The results showed that F-53B rapidly accumulated in zebrafish larvae in a concentration and time-dependent manner with BCF values of 3612–3615, but was eliminated slowly (half-life ranged from 241.5 to 258.6 h). F-53B exposure induced oxidative stress in zebrafish larvae, as reflected by the reduction in the GSH and MDA contents, CAT, SOD, CuZn-SOD, and GSH-ST activities, and the increase in GSH-Px activity as well as CAT and SOD protein levels. However, these oxidative stress markers were restored to control levels except for a decrease in protein level of SOD after depuration. Collectively, the results of this work indicate that F-53B behaves like PFOS and is bioaccumulative and persistent in zebrafish larvae, and further induced oxidative stress responses. •F-53B rapidly accumulated in zebrafish larvae with BCF values of 3612–3615.•Elimination of F-53B from zebrafish larvae was very slow with a half-life of 241.5–258.6 h.•F-53B exposure induced oxidative stress in zebrafish larvae at environmentally relevant concentrations.