Partitioning of PFAS to serum, tissues, eggs, and hatchlings of an Australian freshwater turtle

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2024-05, Vol.469, p.133885, Article 133885
• Main Authors: Vardy, Suzanne, Baddiley, Brenda, Braun, Christoph, Limpus, Col, Limpus, Duncan J., Du Plessis, Martha, Nilsson, Sandra, Gonzalez-Astudillo, Viviana, Beale, David
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkanesulfonic Acids; Animals; Australia; Ecosystem; Eggs; FASAs; Female; Fluorocarbon Polymers; Fluorocarbons - analysis; Fresh Water; Freshwater turtles; Hatchlings; Male; Maternal transfer; Partitioning; PFAS; Serum; Tissues; Turtles; Water; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133885

Turtles are a potential sentinel species of aquatic ecosystem health as they inhabit aquatic ecosystems, are long lived, and potentially have high exposure to anthropogenic chemicals via food and water. This study investigated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) tissue partitioning in female Emydura macquarii macquarii turtle, and the maternal offloading of (PFAS) into eggs and then hatchlings as well as the accumulation of PFAS in male and female Emydura macquarii macquarii serum. Significantly higher levels of perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSAs) and perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) were measured in the male serum compared to the female turtle serum, whereas perfluoroalkane sulfonamides (FASAs) were significantly higher in the female turtle serum. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was the predominant PFAS in the turtles whereas PFHxA was the predominant PFAS found in the surrounding water. PFHxA was not reported in any turtle tissue or the serum. The short-chain PFSAs and FASAs appeared to be highly associated with blood; long-chain PFSAs and PFCAs were more likely to be associated with tissue. Half of the PFHxS and all the long-chain PFSAs and PFCAs reported in the yolks were transferred into the hatchlings (by mass), suggesting a potential intergenerational effect. [Display omitted] •Half the PFHxS and all long-chain PFSAs and PFCAs were transferred from yolk to hatchlings (by mass).•PFOS was the dominant PFAS in the turtle body, making up approximately 90% of the total PFAS.•PFOS was found at the highest concentration in the ovaries and the lowest in the muscle.•PFSAs and PFCAs were found at higher concentration in the serum of males, FASAs in the females.•Elevated PFHxA, PFPeA and PFHpA were found in the water but were not in any serum or tissue samples.