Joseph Tucker
Ph.D. Student
Dr. Alan Vajda's Lab
Department of Integrative Biology
Date: Thursday, September 19th
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Location: Science Building, Room 4127
Title: Determining Bioconcentration Factors and Physiological Effects on Pimephales promelas by use of a Complex Mixture of Poly- and Per- Fluoroalkyl Substances
Historical use of aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) during fire training activities at Joint Base Cape Cod has led to contamination of groundwater by complex mixtures of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) near these fire training areas (FTA). In order to evaluate the uptake/depuration kinetics and effects of complex mixtures of PFAS, a series of fish exposure experiments were conducted using on-site, purpose-built, fish exposure mobile-laboratories. Three groundwater wells, including one reference (REF) and two PFAS contaminated water sources (FTA-1, and FTA-2), were used as environmental source waters for a series of continuous-flow fish exposure experiments using on-site purpose-built mobile laboratories. Exposures for Chapter 1: Uptake and Depuration adult male fathead minnows were exposed to 100% REF, 90% REF:10% FTA-1, 100% FTA-1, 90% REF:10% FTA-2, or 100% FTA-2 for up to 6 weeks. After two weeks of exposure to contaminated water, half of the exposed fish were moved to additional aquaria receiving just REF water. Water and fish carcasses were sampled weekly for analysis of up to 40 PFAS for determination of mixture- and concentration dependent effects on PFAS uptake rates, depuration rates, and bioconcentration factors. Exposures for Chapter 2: Effects and Biomarkers fathead minnows also were done for 6 weeks. However, fish used for this experiment were acclimated for 3-weeks in just REF water prior to being exposed at different ratios of the REF and FTA-2 water sources for the final 3 weeks. Fish collected from the “effects” experiment will also have tissue and plasma concentrations of PFAS quantified and compared to biomarkers across multiple levels of biological organization in the testes and liver.