Tissue bioconcentration pattern and biotransformation of per-fluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in Cyprinus carpio (european carp)—an extensive in vivo study

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.