You are here:
Developmental Toxicity of Perfluorinated Phosphonic Acids in Mice
Citation:
Tatum, K. R., K. Das, B. Grey, AND C. LAU. Developmental Toxicity of Perfluorinated Phosphonic Acids in Mice. Presented at Society of Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) 23rd Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, November 13 - 17, 2011.
Impact/Purpose:
These results thus suggest that PFPA exposure during pregnancy did not compromise neonatal survival and postnatal growth to the extent seen with PFOS and PFOA, but the hepatic effects appeared to be common to all classes PFAAs.
Description:
Perfluorinated phosphonic acids (PFPAs) are a third member of the perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) family, and are structurally similar to the perfluoroalkyl sulfonates and perfluoroalkyl carboxylates. PFPAs are used primarily as a surfactant defoaming agent in pesticide production. Recently, these emerging chemicals have been detected in the environment, particularly in surface water as well as in effluent of wastewater treatment plants at concentrations ranging from pg/L to the low ng/L range. The presence of these chemicals in wastewater suggests human exposure; currently there is limited toxicological data concerning the potential health risks associated with exposure to this class of PFAAs. Previous studies from our laboratory have identified developmental toxicity associated with gestational exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The current study examines the potential adverse developmental effects of PFPA in the mouse. A mixture of PFPAs (Masurf-780) was given to timed-pregnant CD-1 mice by oral gavage daily on gestation days (GD) 1-17 at doses of 5, 10, 20, 30 or 40 mg/kg; controls received deionized water vehicle. At GD 17 (24 hours after the last treatment), mice from each dose group were subdivided and approximately half were sacrificed via decapitation for maternal and fetal examinations. PFPA did not alter maternal weight gains, but significantly increased maternal liver weights at term (GD-17) in a dose-dependent manner. PFPA did not influence the number of live fetuses or fetus weight observed at GD-17, except in the 40 mg/kg group where some mortality was observed. In contrast, fetal liver weights were significantly increased at doses greater than 5 mg/kg, Neonatal survival and growth were monitored through postnatal day 42 where significant changes were only seen in the highest dose group; whereas increased liver weight persisted in all dose groups. These results thus suggest that PFPA exposure during pregnancy did not compromise neonatal survival and postnatal growth to the extent seen with PFOS and PFOA, but the hepatic effects appeared to be common to all classes PFAAs. This abstract does not necessarily reflect U.S. EPA policy