Brain region distribution and patterns of bioaccumulative perfluoroalkyl carboxylates and sulfonates in East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus)
Abstract
The present study investigated the comparative accumulation of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in eight brain regions of polar bears (Ursus maritimus, n = 19) collected in 2006 from Scoresby Sound, East Greenland. The PFAAs studied were perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs, C(6) -C(15) chain lengths) and sulfonates (C(4) , C(6) , C(8) , and C(10) chain lengths) as well as selected precursors including perfluorooctane sulfonamide. On a wet-weight basis, blood-brain barrier transport of PFAAs occurred for all brain regions, although inner regions of the brain closer to incoming blood flow (pons/medulla, thalamus, and hypothalamus) contained consistently higher PFAA concentrations compared to outer brain regions (cerebellum, striatum, and frontal, occipital, and temporal cortices). For pons/medulla, thalamus, and hypothalamus, the most concentrated PFAAs were perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), ranging from 47 to 58 ng/g wet weight, and perfluorotridecanoic acid, ranging from 43 to 49 ng/g wet weight. However, PFOS and the longer-chain PFCAs (C(10) -C(15) ) were significantly (p < 0.002) positively correlated with lipid content for all brain regions. Lipid-normalized PFOS and PFCA (C(10) -C(15) ) concentrations were not significantly (p > 0.05) different among brain regions. The burden of the sum of PFCAs, perfluoroalkyl sulfonates, and perfluorooctane sulfonamide in the brain (average mass, 392 g) was estimated to be 46 µg. The present study demonstrates that both PFCAs and perfluoroalkyl sulfonates cross the blood-brain barrier in polar bears and that wet-weight concentrations are brain region-specific.
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The brain stem, hypothalamus, and thalamus are some of the most highly perfused and lipid-rich brain regions, while the frontal and temporal cortex have lower lipid content and relatively low perfusion.
“The brain stem, hypothalamus, and thalamus are some of the most highly perfused and lipid-rich brain regions, while the frontal and temporal cortex are characterized as having lower lipid content and relatively low perfusion (Cipolla, 2009; Greaves et al., 2013).”
From A Critical Review and Meta-Analysis of Impacts of Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances on the Brain and Behavior (2022) · cites this paper as Greaves et al., 2013
Greaves et al. reported a positive correlation between longer chain perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and extractable lipid content in the brainstem and cerebellum.
“Greaves et al. (2013) also reported a positive correlation between longer chain perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and extractable lipid content in the brainstem and cerebellum, hypothesizing that PFCAs with carbon chain lengths”
From A Critical Review and Meta-Analysis of Impacts of Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances on the Brain and Behavior (2022) · cites this paper as Greaves et al. (2013)
Due to the diversity of PFAS, perfluorinated compounds with varying chemical structures are likely to cross the blood-brain barrier through multiple mechanisms, which might result in different patterns of distribution in the CNS.
“Due to the diversity of PFAS, perfluorinated compounds with varying chemical structures are likely to cross the BBB through multiple mechanisms, which might result in different patterns of distribution in the CNS (Greaves et al., 2013; Cao and Ng, 2021).”
From A Critical Review and Meta-Analysis of Impacts of Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances on the Brain and Behavior (2022) · cites this paper as Greaves et al., 2013
In polar bear brains, the highest PFAS concentrations were reported in the hypothalamus, brain stem, thalamus, and cerebellum, whereas the lowest concentrations were observed in the cortex.
“The highest concentrations of PFAS were reported in the hypothalamus, brain stem, thalamus, and cerebellum, whereas the lowest concentrations were observed in the cortex (Greaves et al., 2013; Eggers Pedersen et al., 2015).”
From A Critical Review and Meta-Analysis of Impacts of Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances on the Brain and Behavior (2022) · cites this paper as Greaves et al., 2013
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- Authors
- Greaves, A. K., Letcher, R. J., Sonne, C., & Dietz, R.
- Affiliations
- Environment and Climate Change Canada (CA)
- Aarhus University (DK)
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
- Corresponding author
- Letcher, Robert J.
- Venue
- Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2012-12-27
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 713-722
- ISSN
- 0730-7268 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-8618
- OpenAlex
- W2029026103
- Cited by
- 86
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 3.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Kommissionen for Videnskabelige Undersøgelser i Grønland
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmaceutical Science › Fluorine in Organic Chemistry
- Keywords
- perfluoroalkyl carboxylates, perfluoroalkyl sulfonates, PFOS, perfluorooctane sulfonamide, polar bear, brain tissue distribution, blood-brain barrier, bioaccumulation, marine mammal contaminants
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Ursidae, Brain, Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Pollutants, Female, Fluorocarbons, Greenland, Male, Tissue Distribution
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