Comparison of zebrafish in vitro and in vivo developmental toxicity assessments of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs)

Assessment of unique behavioral, morphological, and molecular alterations in the comparative developmental toxicity profiles of PFOA, PFHxA, and PFBA using the zebrafish model system

“…Our results first revealed that the 120 hpf-LC50 of PFOA, PFHxA, and PFBA were 561.05, 8394.5, and > 10,000 ppm, respectively. These results are in agreement with previously published data for these chemicals and also where the LC50 decreases with increasing chain length ( Wasel et al, 2021 ; Hagenaars et al, 2011 ; Ulhaq et al, 2013 ; Godfrey et al, 2017 ; Ding et al, 2013 ). On the other hand, other studies reported the 120 hpf-LC50 of PFOA to be around 72 ppm (continuous exposure started at < 4 hpf) ( Gebreab et al, 2020 ) and the 120 hpf-LC50 of PFHxA to be 290 μM (91 ppm) (AB wild type zebrafish embryos exposed at 3 hpf for 120 hpf) ( Annunziato et al, 2019 ).…”

“…The chemicals were solubilized in reverse osmosis water and all were within solubility limits ( Table S1 ). Stock solutions of PFOA [900 parts per million (ppm), mg/L], PFHxA (10,000 ppm), and PFBA (10,000 ppm) were neutralized to pH 7 with 5 M sodium hydroxide ( Wasel et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Selected concentrations were 0, 300, 500, 600, 700, and 900 ppm (724.5–2173.5 μM) of PFOA; 0, 5000, 7000, 8000, 9000, or 10,000 ppm (15,921.03–31,842.06 μM) of PFHxA; and 0, 5000, 7000, 8000, 9000, and 10,000 ppm (23,360–46,720 μM) of PFBA. All solutions were adjusted to a neutral pH ( Wasel et al, 2021 ). The developing zebrafish were exposed to the test chemicals until 120 hpf.…”

Bioaccumulation, Biodistribution, Toxicology and Biomonitoring of Organofluorine Compounds in Aquatic Organisms

“…Interestingly, the observed neurotoxicity of the development is directly proportional to the increase in the length of the carbon chain [145]. For instance, in another PFAA-exposure study in zebrafish embryos/embryonic cells, sulfonic acid toxicity was greater than carboxylic acid one, with a mortality rate that increased with carbon chain length (PFOA > PFHxA PFBA) [146]. This finding is in agreement with previous studies showing an LC 50 (48 h exposure) of 1005 mg/L for PFOA and of 107 mg/L for PFOS [122].…”

Systematic developmental toxicity assessment of a structurally diverse library of PFAS in zebrafish

“…They have rapid, transparent development and share significant genetic homology with humans ( Howe et al, 2013 ; Truong and Tanguay, 2017 ). Previous PFAS studies in developmental zebrafish found morphological and behavior effects ( Ulhaq et al, 2013 ; Jantzen et al, 2016 ; Rericha et al, 2021 ; Wasel et al, 2021 ), and identified structure driven trends in bioactivity and bioconcentration ( Menger et al, 2019 , 2020 ; Vogs et al, 2019 ; Gaballah et al, 2020 ). While one study conducted a high content screen of 58 PFAS ( Rericha et al, 2021 ), most have focused on fewer structures.…”