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Evaluation of published bioconcentration factor (BCF) and bioaccumulation factor (BAF) data for per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances across aquatic species
Citation:
Burkhard, L. Evaluation of published bioconcentration factor (BCF) and bioaccumulation factor (BAF) data for per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances across aquatic species. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Pensacola, FL, 40(6):1530-1543, (2021). https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5010
Impact/Purpose:
Purpose The report assembles from the scientific literature bioconcentration factors (BCFs) and bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) for aquatic organisms. The reports summarizes the available data and provides an analysis of gaps and limitations in the currently available data. Audience The product is intended for two audiences. First, OW is developing aquatic life criteria for PFOS and PFOA chemicals and needs bioaccumulation data for their development. The report summarizes the available data. Second, by assembling the data, EPA’s researchers and other researchers can plan and implement research efforts to fill the gaps and limitations in the current data. Impact One of the goals of this literature review is to provide PFAS bioaccumulation data for BCFs and BAFs assembled in a form for others to work with without having to grind through the scientific literature. We hope the assembled data will provide a springboard for others to advance our understanding of PFAS universe of chemicals.
Description:
Per¿ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man¿made chemicals of concern across the globe, and some of the PFAS chemicals are known to be bioaccumulative in aquatic species. A literature search for bioconcentration factors (BCFs) and bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) for PFASs has been done and data for 17 taxonomic classes were assembled. The assembled data were evaluated for quality, and for gaps and limitations in bioaccumulation information for PFAS universe of chemicals. In general, carbonyl and sulfonyl PFAS classes are relatively data rich while phosphate, fluorotelomer and ether PFAS classes are data limited for fish and nonexistent for most other taxonomic classes. Taxonomic classes with the most measurements were, in descending order, Teleostei (fish), Bivalvia, and Malacostraca (shrimps, crabs …). For fish, average whole body BAFs (L/kg-ww) for PFOS and PFOA were 3.49 (sd=0.91, n=67) and 2.12 (sd=0.8, n=42) using all measurements, respectively. In comparison to freshwater species, data are limited for marine species and further research is needed to determine if BAFs for freshwater and marine species should be the same or different. BAFs are consistent with BCF behavior where BCFs decline with increasing concentration in laboratory measurements.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Evaluation of published bioconcentration factor (BCF) and bioaccumulation factor (BAF) data for per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances across aquatic species