Development of PFOS and PFOA criteria for the protection of freshwater aquatic life in China

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are two widely used perfluorinated compounds. They have been detected in various environmental media and have harmed aquatic life and systems. The toxic effects of PFOS and PFOA on freshwater organisms were explored with the goal of protecting aquatic ecosystems in this study. Data from acute toxicity tests using nine aquatic species and chronic toxicity tests using three species were analyzed, along with PFOS and PFOA toxicity data for representative Chinese aquatic biota that have been published in the Chinese and international literature. Using the method recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), the criterion maximum concentration (CMC) for PFOS was calculated to be 3.78 mg/L, and the criterion continuous concentration (CCC) was calculated to be 0.25 mg/L. For PFOA, the CMC was calculated to be 45.54 mg/L, and the CCC was calculated to be 3.52 mg/L. The criteria derived in this study provide the scientific basis for development of water quality standards and aquatic ecosystem risk evaluation.