Document Type
Book Chapter
Date of Original Version
2025
Department
Oceanography
Abstract
The bioaccumulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), both legacy and novel, in the environment presents significant ecological and health risks. PFAS are a diverse group of synthetic chemicals known for their persistence and bioaccumulation, which can cause widespread environmental contamination and health risks. Strong carbon-fluorine bonds give these compounds unparalleled stability, preventing them from degrading and enabling them to endure in a range of environmental matrices, including water, soil, and biota. Legacy PFAS, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), have been extensively studied and regulated, resulting in lower concentrations in some environmental media. However, novel PFAS, which are frequently used as substitutes, are becoming more prevalent and pose new challenges due to their poorly understood toxicological profiles. Bioaccumulation studies show that PFAS concentrations are higher in organisms near contamination hotspots, such as fluorochemical manufactures, than in other regions. These compounds accumulate in protein-rich tissues and can spread through food chains, affecting both aquatic and terrestrial organisms. The bioaccumulation of PFAS in agricultural settings is also a concern, as these chemicals can enter the food supply via contaminated crops and livestock, necessitating additional research to understand their uptake and lessen exposure. In this chapter, we look at birds as indicators of both terrestrial and marine PFAS contamination, in particular seabirds. Furthermore, we evaluate the impact of PFAS on marine mammals by combining data on tissue concentrations from the sub-Antarctic, Antarctic, and Arctic regions. There is ample evidence for PFAS accumulation in terrestrial and aquatic plants. In addition, we review the concepts of biomagnification and bioaccumulation, marine mammals and seabirds typically displaying the highest trophic magnification factors (TMFs) and field-derived biomagnification factors (BMFs) for PFAS.
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Taher, H. & Lohmann, R. (2025). Chapter 11 Bioaccumulation of legacy and novel PFAS in the environment. In R. Naidu, M. Mallavarapu, Y. Liu & A. Umeh (Ed.), Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances: Occurrence, Toxicity and Remediation of PFAS (pp. 495-518). Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110796797-011
Available at: https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110796797-011
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