Cited by 113Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances researchEnvironmental Chemistry and AnalysisLipid Membrane Structure and Behavior

Membrane-water partition coefficients to aid risk assessment of perfluoroalkyl anions and alkyl sulfates

Open access
Droge, Steven T. J.·2019·Environmental Science & Technology

Abstract

Abstract This study determined the sorption affinity to artificial phospholipid membranes (KMW) for series of perfluorinated carboxylates (PFCAs), perfluorinated sulfonates (PFSAs), alkyl sulfates (CxSO4), and 1-alkanesulfonates (CxSO3). A sorbent dilution assay with solid supported lipid membranes (SSLM) showed consistent CF2 unit increments of 0.59, and CH2 unit increments of 0.53, for the log KMW of perfluorinated and hydrogenated anions, respectively. PFSAs sorbed 0.90 log units stronger than analogue PFCAs; CxSO4 sorbed 0.75 log units stronger than analogue CxSO3 anions. The log KMW values for the octyl analogues increase in the order H(CH2)8SO3– (1.74) < H(CH2)8SO4– (2.58) < F(CF2)8CO2– (PFNA, 4.04) < F(CF2)8SO3– (PFOS, 4.88). Intrinsic partition ratios determined on a phospholipid coated HPLC column (IAM-HPLC) closely aligned with SSLM KMW values. COSMO-RS based molecular calculations of KMW aligned with SSLM KMW values for hydrogenated anions with C8–C14 alkyl chains but strongly underestimated CF2 and CH2 unit increments for C4–C8 based anions. Dividing the critical narcotic membrane burden of 100 mmol/kg by the experimental KMW predicts lethal baseline toxicity concentrations (LC50,narc). The LC50,narc coincides with the lowest reported acute LC50 values for several anionic surfactants but were on average about an order of magnitude lower.

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Crossref · 10.1021/acs.est.8b05052

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  • PFAS concentrations escalate in top predators, including polar bears and humans.

    “This bioaccumulation is particularly concerning for higher trophic levels, with PFAS concentrations escalating in top predators, including polar bears and humans [85].”

    From Industrial Applications, Environmental Fate, Human Exposure, and Health Effects of PFAS (2025) · cites this paper as [85]

    The Introduction (page unavailable) reports PFAS measurements across biota and describes retention of certain PFAS in humans. It does not report concentrations increasing with trophic level or identify polar bears as an example, so the top-predator claim is not supported. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Plotting the calculated bioaccumulation factors against the Kmw data published by Droge (2019) revealed a positive correlation for some pelagic primary producers, while the opposite trend with a decreasing bioaccumulation with increasing Kmw was observed for terrestrial primary producers.

    “Plotting the calculated bioaccumulation factors against the Kmw data published by Droge (2019) indeed revealed a positive correlation for some pelagic primary producers, while the opposite trend with a decreasing bio­ accumulation with increasing Kmw was observed for terrestrial primary producers.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Goss, K. The pKa values of PFOA and other highly fluorinated carboxylic acids. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2008, 42, 456.
  2. Ng, C. A.; Hungerbuḧler, K. Bioaccumulation of perfluorinated alkyl acids: Observations and models. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2014, 48, 4637-4648.
  3. Escher, B. I.; Ashauer, R.; Dyer, S.; Hermens, J. L. M.; Lee, J.- H.; Leslie, H. A.; Mayer, P.; Meador, J. P.; Warne, M. S. J. Crucial role of mechanisms and modes of toxic action for understanding tissue Environmental Science & Technology Article DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b05052 Environ. Sci. Technol. 2019, 53, 760-770
  4. residue toxicity and internal effect concentrations of organic chemicals. Integr. Environ. Assess. Manage. 2011, 7, 28-49.

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Authors
Droge, S. T. J.
Affiliations
University of Amsterdam (NL)
Corresponding author
Droge, Steven T. J.
Venue
Environmental Science & Technology
Published
2018-12-20
Volume
53
Issue
2
Pages
760-770
ISSN
  • 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
  • 1520-5851
OpenAlex
W2906548889
Cited by
112
References
73
Citations by year
2026: 20 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 4
FWCI
3.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • Unilever (MA-2017-00210N)
  • European Chemical Industry Council (ECO37)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Environmental Chemistry and Analysis
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
Keywords
perfluorinated carboxylic acids, perfluorinated sulfonates, alkyl sulfates, membrane-water partition coefficient, phospholipid membranes, COSMO-RS, risk assessment, PFOS, perfluorooctanoic acid
MeSH terms
Anions, Fluorocarbons, Sulfates, Water, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Risk Assessment

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