DETECTION OF PERFLUORINATED COMPOUNDS IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR EFFECT ON CELLULAR ORGANISMS

Abstract

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are detected worldwide, even in regions where production and application of PFCs are not found. These compounds, even at low concentrations, are highly toxic. In view of PFCs’ persistent nature and its ability to bioaccumulate, this study investigated its mechanism and harmful effects of PFCs in the aquatic environment. Aquatic habitat, being the major exposure source of PFCs to human, is of utmost concern as it ties up with our water and food source. Bioaccumulation of PFCs in green microalgae Chlorella vulgaris was studied and tested to better understand the effect of trophic magnification of PFCs in the aquatic environment. Environmental metabolomics was applied in this study to understand further the detailed effects of PFCs on aquatic organisms: Chlorella vulgaris and Daphnia magna. Liquid-chromatography tandem mass-spectrometry is used in untargeted metabolomics to investigate the metabolome of these aquatic organisms upon the acute stress exposure of PFCs.