PFAS Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification in Middle Tennessee Freshwater Food Webs

PFAS Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification in Middle Tennessee Freshwater Food Webs   Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse group of human-generated molecules that consist of a non-polar fluorinated carbon chain and a polar head. Due to their beneficial properties, they are used in many personal, industrial, and military applications. However, PFAS compounds are associated with endocrine disruption, some cancers, and other adverse health outcomes. Military installations have experienced PFAS contamination through activities, including using aqueous film-forming foams for fire control and regular firefighting training exercises using PFOS and PFOA. Freshwater insects developing in PFAS-contaminated streams can bioaccumulate these compounds as juveniles and transport PFAS to terrestrial consumers, including spiders, bats, and birds. We examined the potential for PFAS to move across the aquatic/terrestrial boundary through adult emergent aquatic insects to riparian predators at a military installation with a history of PFAS contamination. We found that PFAS compounds concentrate in adult insects, and biomagnification factors for organisms were both site and species-specific. Also we found that Tetragnatha spiders can be useful bioindicators for PFAS contamination in freshwaters. Understanding which PFAS compounds biomagnify and what routes they move through food webs can help inform mitigation efforts.

Presentation Preference: Oral

Primary Presenter: Peter Blum, Tennessee Technological University (pwblum@gmail.com)

Authors:

Justin Murdock, Water Center  (jnmurdock@tntech.edu)