LAUSR

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a broad class of environmentally persistent chemicals that include thousands of potentially toxic synthetic organic molecules. Some PFAS have been shown to cause adverse health effects including decreased total cholesterol, birth weight, and reproductive success in laboratory animals; however, a lack of chronic toxicity data exists for PFAS in avian ecological receptors. The present study reports the chronic toxicity of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and a mixture of PFOS and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) to Northern Bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) via oral exposure from drinking water. Female weight gain was significantly adversely affected at an average daily intake (ADI) of 3.10x10-3 ± 0.15x10-3 mg PFOS:PFHxS (1.2:1) mixture x kg-1 body weight x day-1 . Successful liberation from shell once pipped was significantly adversely affected at an ADI of 2.45x10-3 ± 0.01x10-3 mg PFOS x kg-1 body weight x day-1 . These values are comparatively much lower than the current dietary avian toxicity reference value (TRV) where birds were exposed via the feed suggesting the need for updated avian TRVs. Relationships between test chemical (PFOS) and test substance (PFOS:PFHxS) showed that PFOS and PFHxS have possible interacting effects in avian receptors and likely differing mechanisms of toxicity depending on chemical co-occurrence and dose. Both the single chemical and mixture exposures produced similar and possibly additive toxicity values. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.