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Cited by 150Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances researchEnvironmental Toxicology and EcotoxicologyToxic Organic Pollutants Impact

Fluorotelomer Acids are More Toxic than Perfluorinated Acids

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Phillips, Michelle M. (MacDonald), Dinglasan-Panlilio, Mary Joyce A., Mabury, Scott A., Solomon, Keith R., Sibley, Paul K.·2007·Environmental Science & Technology
DOI 10.1021/es070734c
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Abstract

Saturated and unsaturated fluorotelomer carboxylic acids have been identified as intermediates in the degradation of fluorotelomer alcohols to perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs). Although surface waters are the likely environmental sink for telomer acids, no fate or toxicity data exist for this matrix. We assessed the acute toxicity of the 4:2, 6:2, 8:2, and 10:2 saturated (FTCA) and unsaturated (FTUCA) fluorotelomer carboxylic acids to Daphnia magna, Chironomus tentans, and Lemna gibba. In general, toxicity increased with increasing fluorocarbon (FC) chain length, particularly for telomer acids of > or =8 FCs. In addition, the FTCAs were generally more toxic than the corresponding FTUCAs. Acute EC50s ranged from 0.025 mg/L (0.04 micromol/L) for D. magna (10:2 FTCA, immobility) to 63 mg/L (167 micromol/L) for C. tentans (6:2 FTCA, growth). While chain-length trends observed in the current study agree with those previously reported for PFCAs, the toxicity thresholds generated here are up to 10,000 times smaller. Our data provide the first evidence that PFCA precursors are more toxic than the PFCAs themselves.

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Phillips, M. M. (., Dinglasan-Panlilio, M. J. A., Mabury, S. A., Solomon, K. R., & Sibley, P. K.
Affiliations
University of Toronto (CA)
Corresponding author
Sibley, Paul K.
ORCID
Venue
Environmental Science & Technology
Publisher
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Published
2007-09-19
Volume
41
Issue
20
Pages
7159-7163
ISSN
  • 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
  • 1520-5851
DOI
10.1021/es070734c
OpenAlex
W2010936035
Cited by
150
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 10
FWCI
3.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Washington Tacoma Digital Commons (University of Washington Tacoma) (submittedVersion)
  • The Atrium (University of Guelph) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
Keywords
fluorotelomer carboxylic acids, fluorotelomer alcohols, perfluorinated carboxylic acids, acute toxicity, Daphnia magna, Chironomus tentans, Lemna gibba, chain length dependence, surface water toxicity
MeSH terms
Animals, Carboxylic Acids, Chironomidae, Daphnia, Fluorine, Fluorocarbons

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