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. 2023 Mar 27;12(7):1423.
doi: 10.3390/foods12071423.

Tissue Bioconcentration Pattern and Biotransformation of Per-Fluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) in Cyprinus carpio (European Carp)-An Extensive In Vivo Study

Valentina Andreea Petre  1 , Florentina Laura Chiriac  1 , Irina Eugenia Lucaciu  1 , Iuliana Paun  1 , Florinela Pirvu  1 , Vasile Ion Iancu  1 , Laura Novac  1 , Stefania Gheorghe  1
Affiliations

Tissue Bioconcentration Pattern and Biotransformation of Per-Fluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) in Cyprinus carpio (European Carp)-An Extensive In Vivo Study

Valentina Andreea Petre et al. Foods. .

Abstract

The perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent a persistent class of synthetic chemicals that spread in the environment as a result of industrialization. Due to their bioaccumulative and endocrine disruption implications, these chemicals can affect food quality and human health, respectively. In the present study, the bioconcentration and biotransformation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were evaluated in a biphasic system (exposure and depuration). Carp were continuously exposed, under laboratory conditions, to 10 (Experiment 1) and 100 (Experiment 2) µg/L PFOA for 14 weeks, followed by a wash out period of 3 weeks. Fish organs and tissues were collected at 8, 12, 14 weeks of exposure and at week 17, after the depuration period. The results obtained from the LC-MS/MS analysis showed the presence of PFOA in all studied organs. The highest values of PFOA were identified in the gallbladder (up to 2572 ng/g d.w.) in Experiment 1 and in the gallbladder (up to 18,640 ng/g d.w.) and kidneys (up to 13,581 ng/g d.w.) in Experiment 2. The average BCF varied between 13.4 and 158 L/Kg in Experiment 1 and between 5.97 and 80.3 L/Kg in Experiment 2. Four biotransformation products were identified and quantified in all organs, namely: PFBA, PFPeA, PFHxA, and PFHpA. PFBA was proven to be the dominant biotransformation product, with the highest values being determined after 8 weeks of exposure in the kidney, gallbladder, brain, liver, and gonads in both experiments. Because freshwater fish are an important food resource for the human diet, the present study showed the fishes' capacity to accumulate perfluoroalkyl substances and their metabolites. The study revealed the necessity of monitoring and risk studies of new and modern synthetic chemicals in aquatic resources.

Keywords: Cyprinus carpio; PFOA; bioconcentration; biotransformation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PFOA concentration levels determined in fish organs during the bioconcentration in Experiment 1: (a) intestine and gonads; (b) kidney and brain; (c) liver, gills, gallbladder; (d) scales, skin, muscle.
Figure 2
Figure 2
PFOA concentration levels determined in fish organs during the bioconcentration in Experiment 2: (a) kidney and gallbladder; (b) gills, scales, brain and gonads; (c) muscle and intestine; (d) skin and liver.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Hepatosomatic (HIS) and gonadosomatic (IGS) indices under the action of PFOA at 10 and 100 µg/L exposures at 8 w, 12 w, 14 w, and 17 w.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Variation of identified metabolite concentrations in fish organs in Experiment 1 (a) and Experiment 2 (b).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Distribution of PFOA metabolites in fish organs in Experiment 1 (a) and Experiment 2 (b).
Figure 6
Figure 6
PFOA metabolization pathway in fish organs.
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