Comparative Toxicological Effects of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate and Its Alternative 6:2 Chlorinated Polyfluorinated Ether Sulfonate on Earthworms

Abstract

Abstract:High levels of 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (F‐53B), which is a substitute for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), are detected in various environmental matrices, wildlife and humans. F‐53B has received increased attention due to its potential risk to ecosystems. However, its toxicity in the soil organisms remains unclear. In this study, a comparative investigation was conducted on the toxicities of F‐53B and PFOS to the earthworm Eisenia. fetida. F‐53B was significantly more acutely toxic to earthworms than PFOS with LC50s of 1.43 and 1.83 mmol/kg dry soil (~816 and 984 mg/kg dry soil), respectively. Although both F‐53B and PFOS, at 0.4 mmol/kg dry soil (= 228 and 215 mg/kg dry soil) caused oxidative stress in earthworms, as evidenced by increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activities as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) level, the stress caused by F‐53B was higher than that by PFOS. In the transcriptomic and metabolomic studies, negative effects of PFOS and F‐53B were observed on several metabolic processes in earthworms, including protein digestion and amino acid absorption, lipid metabolism, and the immune response. Compared to PFOS, F‐53B exhibited a weaker disruption of lipid metabolism, comparable potency for toxicity to the immune response, and a stronger potency in the extracellular matrix (ECM) destruction along with apoptosis and ferroptosis induction. Hence, our data suggest that F‐53B is more toxic than PFOS to earthworms. The findings provide some new insights into the potential toxicity of F‐53B to soil organisms.

Derived from fangchinoline, LYY-35 exhibits an inhibiting effect on human NSCLC cancer A549 cells

“…Based on mortality statistics, lung cancer was the leading cause of death from malignant tumors in China. In 2022, lung cancer was responsible for approximately 733,300 fatalities, corresponding to a mortality rate of 73.3 per 100,000 individuals 4 . Lung cancer is categorically divided into two main types: small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with lung adenocarcinoma constituting the predominant subtype of NSCLC 5 , 6 .…”