Biomagnification and potential health effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a terrestrial food web
Abstract Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants with bioaccumulative, biomagnifying and toxic potential, and largely unknown fate and health effects in terrestrial wildlife. In a contaminated area, we studied PFAS in a terrestrial food web including soil, mushro...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16395-6 |
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| author | Frauke Ecke Bjørnar Ytrehus Magnus Evander Birger Hörnfeldt Alexandra Leijon Jonas Malmsten Aleksandra Skrobonja Lutz Ahrens |
| author_facet | Frauke Ecke Bjørnar Ytrehus Magnus Evander Birger Hörnfeldt Alexandra Leijon Jonas Malmsten Aleksandra Skrobonja Lutz Ahrens |
| author_sort | Frauke Ecke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants with bioaccumulative, biomagnifying and toxic potential, and largely unknown fate and health effects in terrestrial wildlife. In a contaminated area, we studied PFAS in a terrestrial food web including soil, mushrooms, berries, and wild-living herbivores (bank vole and two ungulate species) and a specialized predator (Tengmalm’s owl). In addition, in voles, we studied potential PFAS-induced liver damage and infection with a zoonotic pathogen. Concentrations of PFAS in vole livers were among the highest reported in terrestrial wildlife. Results suggest biomagnification of PFAS from soil, mushrooms, and berries to bank voles, from mushrooms to ungulates and from voles to the owl. Most vole livers showed diffuse cytoplasmic granulation, ranging from mild to severe, as well as mild and variable hepatocellular hypertrophy. We found high prevalence of Orthohantavirus puumalaense infection in bank voles, highlighting the possibility of PFAS-induced infection susceptibility. Our study supports that terrestrial wildlife magnifies PFAS from the environment and highlights largely unexplored yet worrying effects on wildlife health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a03ef73ad23a4da0b330c17160a73140 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-a03ef73ad23a4da0b330c17160a731402025-08-24T11:27:31ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111610.1038/s41598-025-16395-6Biomagnification and potential health effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a terrestrial food webFrauke Ecke0Bjørnar Ytrehus1Magnus Evander2Birger Hörnfeldt3Alexandra Leijon4Jonas Malmsten5Aleksandra Skrobonja6Lutz Ahrens7Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental SciencesNorwegian Veterinary InstituteDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå UniversityDepartment of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)Department of Pathology and Wildlife Diseases, Swedish Veterinary AgencyDepartment of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)Abstract Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants with bioaccumulative, biomagnifying and toxic potential, and largely unknown fate and health effects in terrestrial wildlife. In a contaminated area, we studied PFAS in a terrestrial food web including soil, mushrooms, berries, and wild-living herbivores (bank vole and two ungulate species) and a specialized predator (Tengmalm’s owl). In addition, in voles, we studied potential PFAS-induced liver damage and infection with a zoonotic pathogen. Concentrations of PFAS in vole livers were among the highest reported in terrestrial wildlife. Results suggest biomagnification of PFAS from soil, mushrooms, and berries to bank voles, from mushrooms to ungulates and from voles to the owl. Most vole livers showed diffuse cytoplasmic granulation, ranging from mild to severe, as well as mild and variable hepatocellular hypertrophy. We found high prevalence of Orthohantavirus puumalaense infection in bank voles, highlighting the possibility of PFAS-induced infection susceptibility. Our study supports that terrestrial wildlife magnifies PFAS from the environment and highlights largely unexplored yet worrying effects on wildlife health.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16395-6Bank voleBioaccumulationFrösönHistopathologyPFOSPUUV |
| spellingShingle | Frauke Ecke Bjørnar Ytrehus Magnus Evander Birger Hörnfeldt Alexandra Leijon Jonas Malmsten Aleksandra Skrobonja Lutz Ahrens Biomagnification and potential health effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a terrestrial food web Scientific Reports Bank vole Bioaccumulation Frösön Histopathology PFOS PUUV |
| title | Biomagnification and potential health effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a terrestrial food web |
| title_full | Biomagnification and potential health effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a terrestrial food web |
| title_fullStr | Biomagnification and potential health effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a terrestrial food web |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biomagnification and potential health effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a terrestrial food web |
| title_short | Biomagnification and potential health effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a terrestrial food web |
| title_sort | biomagnification and potential health effects of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances pfas in a terrestrial food web |
| topic | Bank vole Bioaccumulation Frösön Histopathology PFOS PUUV |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16395-6 |
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