Toxicological interactions of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) with selected pollutants

The combined toxicity of the perfluorinated surfactants perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and several pollutants (Hg2+, Cd2+, 2,4-D, propylparaben, mitomycin C and furazolidone) has been examined with a bioluminescent cyanobacterial toxicity test. Hg2+, Cd2+, mitomycin C and furazolidone could be included in the “Acute aquatic hazard” category established in the Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 being “very toxic to aquatic life”. Toxicological interactions of PFOA, PFOS with these pollutants in binary, ternary and multicomponent mixtures were studied using the combination-index method. PFOA and PFOS showed an antagonistic interaction at the whole range of effect levels, this may explain in part the finding that PFOA and PFOS interacted in an inverse way with the organic pollutants; the relative hydrophobicity of the tested compounds would also explain this interaction pattern. The interaction of both PFOS and PFOA with heavy metals was mostly antagonistic, decreasing metal toxicity. With increasing complexity of the mixtures, the CI method predicted synergism at low to very low levels of effect; pollutant combinations at their mixture NOECs were tested and confirmed the predicted synergism.

► PFOA and PFOS interact antagonistically.
► PFOA and PFOS interact in an inverse way with organic pollutants.
► Relative hydrophobicity and antagonism may explain PFCs interaction with organics.
► The interaction of PFCs with heavy metals was antagonistic.
► Predicted synergism in complex mixtures at low levels was confirmed experimentally.