Effects of Perfluorooctane sulfonate on immobilization, heartbeat, reproductive and biochemical performance of Daphnia magna.

In recent years, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was widely detected in Yellow-Bohai Sea and other areas, causing a series of adverse effects in aquatic organisms. However, present studies of its chronic and acute toxicity on aquatic organisms were far more inadequate. Therefore, in the present study, Daphnia magna was used to investigate PFOS toxicity on their immobilization, heartbeat, reproductive and biochemical performance in acute, subchronic and chronic exposure. The results showed that the 48h-EC value for immobilization was 79.35 mg L and the toxicity was classified as intermediate. Heartbeat was significantly stimulated and reproductive parameters were significantly suppressed by PFOS, which can be used to reflect the toxicological effects on individuals. On the other hand, intrinsic rate of natural increase was more sensitive than reproductive parameters, which indicated negative responses on population dynamics of Daphnia magna. In addition, there were different degrees of inhibition on GST, CAT and ChE activity, which indicated three types of enzyme could become biomarkers to chronic PFOS exposure. Most of selected and evaluated endpoints have significant sensitivity to PFOS at the concentration of 8 mg L during subchronic and chronic exposure.