Avian Toxicity Reference Values for Perfluorooctane Sulfonate

Abstract

Toxicity reference values (TRVs) and predicted no effect concentrations (PNECs) were derived for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) based on the characteristics of a top avian predator. On the basis of the protective assumptions used in this assessment, the benchmarks are protective of avian populations and were based on acute and chronic dietary exposures of northern bobwhite quail and mallard. Toxicological endpoints included mortality, growth, feed consumption, and histopathology. Reproductive endpoints included egg production, fertility, hatchability and survival, and growth of offspring. On the basis of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes Initiative methodology, and a lowest observable adverse effect concentration (LOAEC) of 10 mg PFOS kg(-1) feed, an uncertainty factor of 36 was derived. The TRV based on PFOS dietary intake was 0.021 mg PFOS kg(-1) body weight day(-1), while for serum, liver, and egg, TRVs were 1.7 microg PFOS mL(-1), 0.6 microg PFOS g(-1) wet weight, and 1.7 microg PFOS mL(-1), respectively. On the basis of the European Commission methodology, a correction factor of 2 (for lowest observed effect level to no observable effect level) and an assessment factor of 30, for a total adjustment of 60, were used to derive PNECs. PNECs based on dietary, mean serum, liver, and egg PFOS concentrations were 0.013 mg PFOS kg(-1) body weight day(-1), 1.0 microg PFOS mL(-1), 0.35 microg PFOS g(-1) wet weight, and 1.0 microg PFOS mL(-1), respectively.

Toxicity Reference Values and Tissue Residue Criteria for Protecting Avian Wildlife Exposed to Methylmercury in China

“…Three sources of uncertainty are considered in assigning a UF value: (1) interspecies differences in toxicological sensitivity (UF A ), (2) subchronic to chronic extrapolations (UF S ), and (3) LOAEL to NOAEL extrapolations (UF L ). Application factors for each source of uncertainty were assigned values between 1 and 10, based on available information and professional judgment (US EPA 1995c ; Newsted et al 2005 ) .…”

“…Recently, using the tissue residue approach has been recommended for assessing the ecological risk of bioaccumulative contaminants (Sappington et al 2011 ;Beckvar et al 2005 ;Newsted et al 2005 ) . Because wildlife regularly consume fi sh, toxicity reference values (TRVs) that are based on fi sh tissue concentrations have been developed for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlodibenzo-p -dioxin (TCDD), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), per fl uorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and cadmium (Cd) (Newsted et al 2005 ;Kannan et al 2000 ;Blankenship et al 2008 ;Stanton et al 2010 ) .…”

“…Because wildlife regularly consume fi sh, toxicity reference values (TRVs) that are based on fi sh tissue concentrations have been developed for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlodibenzo-p -dioxin (TCDD), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), per fl uorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and cadmium (Cd) (Newsted et al 2005 ;Kannan et al 2000 ;Blankenship et al 2008 ;Stanton et al 2010 ) . Moreover, concentrations of contaminants in tissues of wildlife, such as blood and feathers (Kahle and Becker 1999 ;Herring et al 2009 ) , have been used as exposure indices for risk assessments.…”

“…Therefore, TRVs and tissue residue criteria (TRCs) that are based on concentrations of toxicants in tissues are effective for protecting wildlife from the hazards of exposure to pollutants. To illustrate, the critical blood concentration of lead (Pb) has been derived for wildlife by using the tissue residue approach (Buekers et al 2009 ) , and TRVs were derived for PFOS in avian tissues (e.g., serum and liver) and eggs (Newsted et al 2005 ) .…”

Fabrication of novel poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) hollow fiber nanofiltration membrane for effective removal of trace amount perfluorooctane sulfonate from water

“…PFOS is widely used in the textile and chemical industries, coating materials, fire retardants, drug packaging materials, and surfactants owing to its excellent thermal and chemical stability, and non-hydrophilic and non-lipophilic properties [2][3][4][5]. Although PFOS plays an important role in the developing industry, its environmental persistence and bioaccumulation may be potentially hazardous [6]. PFOS and its derivatives have attracted global concerns owing to their harmful effects on the environment and humans.…”