Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) uptake in the mustard species Brassica juncea.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a surfactant, is a member of the perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) family and is a contaminant of emerging concern for human and environmental health. PFOA is a persistent organic pollutant but currently little is known about (1) the potential ecological and toxicological effects of PFOA and (2) how PFOA moves in the environment. This study employs a radiotracer ( 14 C-PFOA) to study the uptake and translocation of PFOA in hydroponically grown Brassica juncea (brown mustard), a representative crop species. Plants were exposed in quadruplicate over the course of seven days (with plants sampled on Days 4 and 7) to PFOA concentrations of 0, 1, 5, 10, and 15 mg/L. Uptake was quantified via liquid scintillation counting of samples from the nutrient solution, roots, stems, and leaves. Transfer factors (roots to shoots) ranged from 0.15 to 4.73 kg/kg. Bioconcentration factors (solution to plant) ranged from 0.36 to 62.29 L/kg. Factors were influenced by plant compartment, day sampled, and treatment level. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.