Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1021/acs.est.0c00175
Document author version
Title (Primary) Membrane/water partitioning and permeabilities of perfluoroalkyl acids and four of their alternatives and the effects on toxicokinetic behavior
Author Ebert, A. ORCID logo ; Allendorf, F.; Berger, U.; Goss, K.-U.; Ulrich, N.
Source Titel Environmental Science & Technology
Year 2020
Department AUC; ANA
Volume 54
Issue 8
Page From 5051
Page To 5061
Language englisch
Supplements https://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/acs.est.0c00175/suppl_file/es0c00175_si_001.pdf
Keywords Ions; Membranes; Interface engineering; Toxicity; Permeability
Abstract The search for alternatives to bioaccumulative perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) is ongoing. New, still highly fluorinated alternatives are produced in hopes of reducing bioaccumulation. To better estimate this bioaccumulative behavior, we performed dialysis experiments and determined membrane/water partition coefficients, Kmem/w, of six perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), three perfluoroalkanesulfonic acids, and four alternatives. We also investigated how passive permeation might influence the uptake kinetics into cells, measuring the passive anionic membrane permeability Pion through planar lipid bilayers for six PFAAs and three alternatives. Experimental Kmem/w and Pion were both predicted well by the COSMO-RS theory (log RMSE 0.61 and 0.46, respectively). Kmem/w values were consistent with the literature data, and alternatives showed similar sorption behavior as PFAAs. Experimental Pion values were high enough to explain observed cellular uptake by passive diffusion with no need to postulate the existence of active uptake processes. However, predicted pKa and neutral permeabilities suggest that also the permeation of the neutral species should be significant in case of PFCAs. This can have direct consequences on the steady-state distribution of PFAAs across cell membranes and thus toxicity. Consequently, we propose a model to predict pH-dependent baseline toxicity based on Kmem/w, which considers the permeation of both neutral and anionic species.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=23002
Ebert, A., Allendorf, F., Berger, U., Goss, K.-U., Ulrich, N. (2020):
Membrane/water partitioning and permeabilities of perfluoroalkyl acids and four of their alternatives and the effects on toxicokinetic behavior
Environ. Sci. Technol. 54 (8), 5051 - 5061 10.1021/acs.est.0c00175