Toxic effects of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plant

Toxic effects of different concentrations (0.1–200 mg L−1) of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) on wheat (Triticumaestivum L.) were investigated using the growing and developmental indexes of wheat, including length and biomass of roots and leaves, chlorophyll, soluble protein, peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the seedlings and permeability of root cells. The results showed that PFOS had significant (p < 0.05) effects on the growth of wheat seedlings under the experimental conditions. At the low concentration (less than 10 mg L−1), PFOS could slightly stimulate the growth of wheat seedlings and induce the synthesis of chlorophyll and soluble protein in wheat seedlings, and whereas exceeding 10 mg L−1 PFOS treatment could exert inhibition to the elongation and biomass of roots and leaves, and lead to damage to chlorophyll accumulation and soluble protein synthesis. Furthermore, the activities of SOD and POD in wheat roots and leaves were enhanced in the tested PFOS concentrations of 0.1–10 mg L−1. However, when the concentration of PFOS was raised up to 200 mg L−1, the activity of SOD and POD decreased significantly with 12.6% and 33.7% inhibition for roots compared to the control respectively, which indicated the antioxidative defensive system in wheat seedlings might be damaged by PFOS. In addition, the permeability of wheat root cells was enhanced at the tested concentration of 0.1–200 mg L−1. When the concentration was increased to 200 mg L−1, the electrolyte leakage was promoted 2.73 times higher than in the control.