Accumulation Potentials of Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylic Acids (PFCAs) and Perfluoroalkyl Sulfonic Acids (PFSAs) in Maize (Zea mays)
Abstract
Uptake of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) by maize represents a potential source of exposure for humans, either directly or indirectly via feed for animals raised for human consumption. The aim of the following study was, therefore, to determine the accumulation potential of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs) in maize (Zea mays). Two different concentrations of PFAAs were applied as aqueous solution to the soil to attain target concentrations of 0.25 mg or 1.00 mg of PFAA per kg of soil. Maize was grown in pots, and after harvesting, PFAA concentrations were measured in the straw and kernels of maize. PFCA and PFSA concentrations of straw decreased significantly with increasing chain length. In maize kernels, only PFCAs with a chain length ≤ C8 as well as perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) were detected. The highest soil-to-plant transfer for both straw and kernels was determined for short-chained PFCAs and PFSAs.
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Most plants retain PFAS in roots to mitigate phytotoxicity for shoots.
“most plants retain PFAS in roots to mitigate phytotoxicity for shoots25–28”
From Identification of a PFAS hyperaccumulator and elucidation of its translocation mechanism for sustainable phytoremediation (2025) · cites this paper as [28]
PFCAs exhibit higher translocation potential than their PFSA analogs, as indicated by Krippner et al. [45] who reported maize translocation factors of 35.2 vs 1.84, 2.82 vs 0.85, and 0.65 vs 0.62 for C4, C6 and C8 PFCA and PFSA respectively.
“These findings indicate that PFCAs exhibit higher translocation potential than their PFSA analogs, a trend indicated by Krippner et al. [45], who reported maize translocation factors of 35.2 versus 1.84, 2.82 versus 0.85, and 0.65 versus 0.62 for C4, C6 and C8 PFCA and PFSA respectively.”
From Influence of root morphology and salinity on PFAS uptake by ten Australian wetland plant species (2026) · cites this paper as [45]
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- Authors
- Krippner, J., Falk, S., Brunn, H., Georgii, S., Schubert, S., & Stahl, T.
- Affiliations
- Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen (DE)
- Hessian State Laboratory, Glarusstr. 6, 65203 Wiesbaden, Germany
- Hessian State Laboratory, Schubertstr. 60, 35392 Giessen, Germany
- Corresponding author
- Stahl, Thorsten
- Venue
- Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2015-04-07
- Volume
- 63
- Issue
- 14
- Pages
- 3646-3653
- ISSN
- 0021-8561 (ISSN-L)
- 1520-5118
- OpenAlex
- W2318688933
- Cited by
- 143
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 6
- FWCI
- 2.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Fluoride Effects and Removal
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmaceutical Science › Fluorine in Organic Chemistry
- Keywords
- perfluorinated carboxylic acids, perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids, maize, soil-to-plant transfer, chain length dependence, PFBS, maize grain, maize straw, food chain exposure, soil contamination
- MeSH terms
- Biological Transport, Carboxylic Acids, Zea mays, Fluorocarbons, Soil Pollutants, Sulfonic Acids, Food Safety
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