PM01 Amphibian Research and Monitoring
Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM - Monday, 10 November 2003
(PM013) Toxicity and Bioconcentration of PFOS in a Partial Life Cycle Test with the Northern Leopard Frog.
Kahl, M1, Kuehl, D1, Jensen, K1, Butterworth, B1, Tietge, J1, Degitz, S1, Nichols, J1, Ankley, G1, 1 USEPA, Duluth, MN, USA
ABSTRACT- A number of recent monitoring studies have demonstrated elevated concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in humans and wildlife throughout the world. Although no longer actively manufactured, the global distribution and relative persistence of PFOS indicates a need to understand its potential ecological risk. However, there is little known concerning toxicity of PFOS in chronic exposures with aquatic species. In these experiments, we evaluated the effects of PFOS on survival and development of the Northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens) from fertilization through complete metamorphosis. Exposures were conducted via the water at measured PFOS concentrations ranging from 0.03 to 10 mg/l. Animals exposed to 10 mg/l began dying at a high rate within about 2 weeks of test initiation. Survival was not affected by PFOS exposure for the remainder of the test (ca. 3 months); however, time-to-metamorphosis was significantly delayed in the 3 mg/l treatment group. The tadpoles readily accumulated PFOS from the water, but due to factors such as growth dilution, prediction of steady-state concentrations in the animals was difficult. One observation of interest during later parts of the assay, when growth of the tadpoles was quite variable, was a positive linear relationship between animal size and PFOS body burden. The implications of data from this study in terms of assessing the ecological risk of PFOS will be discussed. This abstract does not necessarily reflect EPA policy.
Key words: PFOS, Northern Leopard Frog, Toxicity, Bioconcentration