Aquatic Toxicology最新文献

{"title":"Impacts of PCBs on grey seal pup immunity and influenza A infection vary across biological scales","authors":"Christina M. McCosker ,&nbsp;Milton Levin ,&nbsp;Wendy B. Puryear ,&nbsp;Jonathan A. Runstadler ,&nbsp;Christopher Perkins ,&nbsp;Ebru Unal ,&nbsp;Kimberly T. Murray ,&nbsp;Kristina M. Cammen","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107583","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107583","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Disease outbreaks in marine species have increased, prompting concern regarding the health of coastal ecosystems. Environmental contaminants are hypothesized to contribute to disease outbreaks, as many contaminants have documented immunosuppressive effects in a variety of marine organisms. Of particular concern are marine mammals that have long life-spans, live in coastal waters, and have thick blubber, all of which leads to greater contaminant exposure and accumulation. In the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been detected in grey seals (<em>Halichoerus grypus</em>), yet research on impacts of PCBs in this species is limited or yields contradictory results. We first validated the use of dried blood spot (DBS) cards to measure contaminants in wild grey seal pups using a paired analysis to whole blood samples (<em>N</em> = 30). Then, DBS was used to measure PCBs in pup blood (<em>N</em> = 127) and we assessed the impact of PCBs on gene expression (<em>N</em> = 23), cytokines (<em>N</em> = 87), and influenza A virus (IAV) infection status (<em>N</em> = 127). We found a significant correlation between the concentrations of PCBs detected by DBS and whole blood. PCBs were found to down-regulate adaptive immunity genes, but up-regulate innate immunity and defense response genes. Despite the apparent effects of PCBs at the molecular level, we observed no difference in cytokine profiles nor IAV infection status across pups with and without measurable PCBs. Our research highlights the intricacies of contaminant-induced effects on immune function and sheds light on how grey seals survive ongoing threats in their environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"289 ","pages":"Article 107583"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145156287","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Toxic effects of enrofloxacin on grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus): an ecological risk assessment based on cross-system regulatory mechanisms and network toxicology","authors":"Ping Li ,&nbsp;Bianhao Zeng ,&nbsp;Xuqian Cao ,&nbsp;Yiwei Liu ,&nbsp;Cheng-Zhuang Chen ,&nbsp;Bin Liu ,&nbsp;Ling Liu ,&nbsp;Yi Chai ,&nbsp;Zhi-Hua Li","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107581","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107581","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Enrofloxacin (ENR), a fluoroquinolone antibiotic commonly utilized in aquaculture, poses significant risks to human health due to its residues bioaccumulating in aquatic species and subsequently entering the food chain. Consequently, elucidating the toxicological mechanisms of ENR in cultured fish species and its associated health implications for humans is imperative. Grass carp (<em>Ctenopharyngodon idellus</em>) were exposed to varying concentrations of ENR for 14 days, followed by a 14-day depuration period. The results demonstrated that elevated ENR concentrations induced oxidative stress in gut tissues, resulting in histopathological damage. Concurrently, significant alterations in neurochemical and immune-related biomarkers were observed, correlating strongly with gut oxidative stress. These findings suggest that ENR triggers gut injury, concomitant with neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity mediated via the gut-brain and gut-liver axes. Given that ENR residues in grass carp may enter the human body through the food chain, a network toxicology approach was utilized to investigate its potential human toxicity. Four core target proteins were identified, and molecular docking revealed interactions between ENR and these targets. Thus, ENR may interact with gut injury-associated core proteins, leading to gut injury and contributing to subsequent neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity. This study investigated the toxicological effects of ENR on fish and explored its potential toxicity to humans, providing a scientific basis for the safe use of ENR and ensuring food safety in aquatic fish.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"289 ","pages":"Article 107581"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145103925","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microplastic fiber-induced transgenerational epigenetic disruption impairs fitness in Daphnia magna","authors":"Buom Sup Shim ,&nbsp;Hae Min Yoon ,&nbsp;Jun-Hyeon An ,&nbsp;Qiqing Chen ,&nbsp;Gil Jung Kim ,&nbsp;Jae-Seong Lee ,&nbsp;Heum Gi Park ,&nbsp;Young Hwan Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107579","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107579","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastic fibers (MPFs) are the most prevalent type of microplastics in freshwater environments. However, although the effects of plastic pollution on various aquatic species have been extensively studied, the underlying mechanisms of the intergenerational effects of MPFs on aquatic organisms remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the multi- and transgenerational toxicity of MPFs in <em>Daphnia magna</em> over three generations. Our findings revealed that MPFs exposure negatively affects reproduction and molting frequency across generations. Notably, the transgenerational groups exhibited reproductive impairments and reduced molting frequency in the F1 and F2 generations (F1T and F2T), despite never being directly exposed to MPFs. Furthermore, whole-genome bisulfite sequencing revealed that these transgenerational adverse effects are associated with differential DNA methylation patterns in specific genes, suggesting that MPFs may threaten <em>Daphnia</em> populations through epigenetic modifications. Collectively, our findings provide valuable insights into the intergenerational toxicity of MPFs and the underlying molecular mechanisms driving these responses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"289 ","pages":"Article 107579"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145156284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Endocrine effects of Imazalil on aromatase expression, vitellogenesis and ovarian histology using cyp19a1a-eGFP-casper transgenic zebrafish","authors":"Julie De Oliveira ,&nbsp;Tu-Ky Ly ,&nbsp;Edith Chadili ,&nbsp;Violette Thermes ,&nbsp;Antoine Mergot ,&nbsp;Benjamin Piccini ,&nbsp;Olivier Palluel ,&nbsp;Hélène Budzinski ,&nbsp;Karyn Le Menach ,&nbsp;Patrick Pardon ,&nbsp;Rémy Beaudouin ,&nbsp;Xavier Cousin ,&nbsp;François Brion ,&nbsp;Nathalie Hinfray","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107580","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107580","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Considering the hazards and risks posed by endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) to organisms, there is a need to study their effects. To that end, transgenic fish are powerful models that can provide mechanistic information regarding the endocrine activity of test chemicals. In this study, we used a newly developed transgenic zebrafish line (<em>cyp19a1a-eGFP-casper</em>) in the OECD 21-day fish assay (OECD TG 230) to provide additional mechanistic insight on Imazalil (IMZ; 1.9; 9.9 and 140.7 µg/L). After 21 days of exposure to IMZ, the circulating concentrations of 17-β-estradiol (E2) and vitellogenin decreased in females, reflecting the aromatase activities inhibition. Exposure to 140.7 µg/L of IMZ for 21 days also resulted in a change in the proportion of the different oocyte stages in the ovaries, with an accumulation of large oocytes in exposed females. In addition to the classical endpoints, <em>in vivo</em> GFP fluorescence was quantified in the ovaries during the time course of the exposure to follow gonadal aromatase expression. After seven days of exposure, ovarian aromatase expression increased in females exposed to medium and high concentrations of IMZ, persisting over the 21-day of exposure in fish from the highest concentration group and reflecting a compensatory response to the aromatase enzymatic activities inhibition. Results from the present study provided valuable information on the mode of action and the effects of IMZ in zebrafish. Transgenic zebrafish exposure to IMZ caused a cascade of responses consistent with effects reported for wild-type fish exposed to azole fungicides, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The <em>cyp19a1a-eGFP</em>(-casper) transgenic zebrafish lines, allowed <em>in vivo</em> monitoring of gonadal aromatase expression in a time- and concentration-dependent manner thereby demonstrating their relevance to provide complementary mechanistic information on aromatase in regulatory assays such as OECD TG 230.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"289 ","pages":"Article 107580"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145103926","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Toxic effects of environmental biotoxin okadaic acid by network toxicology analysis and deep learning prediction","authors":"Dongyao Wang ,&nbsp;Ying Zhang ,&nbsp;Yao Yang ,&nbsp;Yuxiao Tang ,&nbsp;Yan Liu ,&nbsp;Hui Shen ,&nbsp;Xinhao Li ,&nbsp;Lianghua Wang ,&nbsp;Feng Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107578","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107578","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study aims to promote a network toxicology and deep learning strategy to efficiently investigate the underlying neurotoxicity molecular mechanisms of okadaic acid (OA) , which is a typical representative of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning in bio-environmental or food chain system. 95 hub targets associated with OA-related diarrhea, and neurotoxicity were identified using K means algorithm of network toxicology strategy at the macro level. More specifically, the key target AKT1 was identified using DeepPurpose algorithm of deep learning strategy at the micro level. The synergistic integration of network toxicology and deep learning approaches enables multidimensional complementarity across systems biology and molecular interaction levels; the former constructs global toxicity networks, while the latter elucidates key target mechanisms. This multi-scale approach enhances study efficiency and mechanistic precision. Further on, molecular docking and bio-layer interferometry were conducted to confirm the binding between AKT1 and OA (INTERACTION_ENERGY =56.99 kcal/mol, K_D=6.61E-11 M). This research provides a theoretical and correlational basis of OA-induced diarrhea-related brain injury, as well as establishing a decision-making for the treatment of bio-environmental or foodborne OA exposure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"289 ","pages":"Article 107578"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145103927","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Humic acid enhances adsorption of antibiotic ciprofloxacin on polylactic acid microplastics, leading to reproductive and mitochondrial toxicity in Daphnia magna: Quantitative analysis","authors":"Hanseong Kim ,&nbsp;Jinho Jung ,&nbsp;Joorim Na","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107577","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107577","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biodegradable microplastics (BMPs), which undergo incomplete degradation in freshwater environments, have emerged as potential vectors of micropollutants. However, their adsorption behavior and combined toxicity with coexisting micropollutants in the presence of natural organic matter (NOM) remain poorly understood. This study investigated the interaction of polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics (MPs)–humic acid (HA), adsorption of ciprofloxacin (CIP), and the combined toxicity to <em>Daphnia magna</em> exposed to PLA MPs, HA, and CIP for 17 days. PLA MPs interacted with HA to form heteroaggregates featuring an HA corona and a bridge-like structure, increasing the surface O/C ratio. HA initially suppressed CIP adsorption onto PLA MPs during the first hour, but significantly enhanced it after three hours, reaching 55.46 % equilibrium adsorption. Furthermore, combined exposure with HA exacerbated mitochondrial DNA damage in <em>D. magna</em>, while ATP levels remained stable due to a compensatory response. At the individual level, this exposure impaired reproduction, embryonic development, and somatic growth. Our findings suggest that BMPs, in the presence of NOM, enhance ecological toxicity through interactions with environmental pollutants, highlighting their emerging risks in freshwater ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"289 ","pages":"Article 107577"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145119911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impacts of environmental pharmaceuticals on diatom physiology: Mechanistic, functional and ecological perspectives","authors":"Hirak Parikh ,&nbsp;Gayatri Dave ,&nbsp;Archana Tiwari","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107575","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107575","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pharmaceuticals, a diverse class of bioactive compounds, are increasingly recognized as a significant ecotoxicological concern in aquatic environments. Their high target specificity and potency at nanomolar concentrations can disrupt evolutionarily conserved biochemical pathways in non-target organisms, even at sub-therapeutic environmental levels. Diatoms (Bacillariophyceae), as silica-walled microalgae, are ecologically indispensable yet underrepresented in ecotoxicological risk frameworks. This review consolidated findings from available empirical studies to examine the mechanistic and physiological impacts of pharmaceuticals and antibiotic mixtures on diatoms across cellular, molecular, and community scales. We assessed compound-specific toxicity profiles, concentration-response dynamics, and hormetic thresholds, as well as alterations in chloroplast photophysiology (Fv/Fm, OJIP kinetics), redox balance (reactive oxygen species and antioxidant enzymes), frustule biosilification, and lipidome remodeling. Moreover, we evaluated the potential of diatoms in phcoremediation, highlighting their capacity for pharmaceutical biosorption, biotransformation, and ecological sequestration, particularly in engineered bioreactor systems. Finally, the review stressed the need for a paradigm shift from single-compound assays to mixture toxicity modeling and multi-generational ecotoxicogenomics, aiming to capture latent evolutionary consequences of chronic exposure. By integrating diatom-based endpoints into regulatory surveillance and predictive modeling, we underscored the necessity for change in safeguarding aquatic microbial primary producers amid intensifying chemical anthropogenesis and mounting antimicrobial resistance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"289 ","pages":"Article 107575"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145103928","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chloroxylenol disrupts Rana chensinensis tadpoles metabolic homeostasis via gut microbiota-dysregulated: A multi-omics perspective","authors":"Yue Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhaoyang Jiang ,&nbsp;Jiayi Li ,&nbsp;Fengbang Wang ,&nbsp;Yalin Liu ,&nbsp;Maoyong Song ,&nbsp;Xinyi Li","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107576","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107576","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chloroxylenol (para‑chloro-meta-xylenol, PCMX), a widely used disinfectant with increasingly detected in aquatic systems, poses understudied risks to aquatic organisms, particularly regarding intestinal health. This study systematically evaluated the multilevel toxicity of environmentally relevant PCMX concentrations (1.43, 14.3, 143 μg/L) in <em>Rana chensinensis</em> tadpoles through chronic exposure from Gosner stage 26 to 38. Following chronic exposure PCMX induced morphological changes, intestinal histopathological damage and decreased the activities of intestinal digestive enzymes (α-amylase, pepsin, trypsin). 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that PCMX exposure altered the structure and composition of tadpole intestinal microbiota. Transcriptomic analysis identified disruptions in smooth muscle contraction regulators and metabolic pathways, which had a negative impact on tadpole growth and development. These multilevel disruptions collectively suggest that PCMX interferes with nutrient absorption, microbial homeostasis, and metabolic regulation, impairing tadpole gut health and ultimately disrupting normal amphibian development. This study provides novel evidence that chronic PCMX exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations compromises amphibian larval development, highlighting the need for enhanced environmental monitoring and regulatory considerations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"289 ","pages":"Article 107576"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145079173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) cause intestinal toxicity in marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma)","authors":"Naiyu Xie ,&nbsp;Qi Wang ,&nbsp;Shicong Du ,&nbsp;Yingyu Bao ,&nbsp;Yetong Shao ,&nbsp;Linjie Jin ,&nbsp;Yutong Zhang ,&nbsp;Meng Yan ,&nbsp;Patrick K.H. Lee ,&nbsp;Kenneth M.Y. Leung ,&nbsp;Paul K.S. Lam ,&nbsp;Yuefei Ruan","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107574","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107574","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Perfluoroethylcyclohexane sulfonate (PFECHS) and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonate (6:2 Cl-PFESA) are emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) of growing concern due to their frequent detection in coastal environments and bioaccumulation in marine biota. Given structural similarities to legacy PFAS, it is hypothesized that these emerging PFAS may induce toxic effects on the digestive system <em>in vivo</em>. This study investigated the bioavailability and potential digestive damage of PFECHS and 6:2 Cl-PFESA using marine medaka (<em>Oryzias melastigma</em>) as a model animal. Fish were chronically exposed (90 days post-fertilization) to PFECHS and 6:2 Cl-PFESA at environmentally relevant concentrations (nominal: 0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 μg/L). Results demonstrated that 6:2 Cl-PFESA had a higher bioconcentration potential than PFECHS, and both emerging PFAS preferred accumulating in liver over intestines. PFECHS exposure caused alterations in intestinal digestive enzyme activities and substantial changes in intestinal microbial community in medaka. Compared with the 6:2 Cl-PFESA-exposure and control groups, PFECHS exposure decreased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., <em>Bacteroides</em> and <em>Pseudomonas</em>), while increased the relative abundance of <em>Alkalimarinus</em> and pathogenic bacteria <em>Vibrio</em>. Co-occurrence network analysis further revealed species interactions were less complex and cooperative in medaka exposed to PFECHS than 6:2 Cl-PFESA. These findings provide critical evidence for the toxic mechanisms of these emerging PFAS regarding their disruption of intestinal homeostasis, enzymatic function, and microbial symbiosis in marine fish.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"289 ","pages":"Article 107574"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145090768","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Arctic and sub-Arctic marine diatom responses to PFAS exposure: Understanding physiological changes and resilience","authors":"Ashani Arulananthan ,&nbsp;Bettina Scholz ,&nbsp;Ulf Karsten ,&nbsp;Hans-Peter Grossart ,&nbsp;Auður Sigurbjörnsdóttir ,&nbsp;Óttar Rolfsson ,&nbsp;Hanna Joerss ,&nbsp;Bernardo Duarte ,&nbsp;Oddur Þór Vilhelmsson","doi":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107562","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107562","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants widely detected across diverse ecosystems. Despite regulatory bans on several PFAS compounds, PFAS remain prevalent in remote areas like the Arctic, raising significant ecological health concerns. This study addresses a critical knowledge gap regarding the effects of PFAS on unicellular primary producers, with a focus on diatom physiology and fitness. Two ecologically important Arctic and sub-Arctic diatom species, <em>Cylindrotheca closterium</em> and <em>Thalassiosira pseudonana,</em> as well as legacy long-chain PFAS, and two emerging PFAS replacements were investigated. Exposures were conducted for 10 days at three concentrations (100 mg/L, 1 mg/L, and 0.9 ng/L). Following the 10 d (short-term) toxicity assessment, one PFAS mixture was exposed for 28 days (long-term) at an environmentally relevant concentration of 0.9 ng/L. Physiological and biochemical responses, including growth, photosynthetic capacity, stress biomarkers, and metabolic changes, were assessed. Results revealed distinct impacts of PFAS on individual PFAS and their mixtures. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA), perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA), and perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTeDA) often exhibited the most detrimental effects on both species relative to controls. PFAS mixtures exhibited synergistic impacts, with increasing effects as the number of PFAS compounds increased. Both diatoms exhibited significant reductions in growth and photochemical efficiency of photosystem II, along with elevated proline and total antioxidant activity, during short-term exposure to PFAS. During the long-term experiment, after the exponential growth phase (after 14 d), growth rates were not significantly different from those of the controls, suggesting potential compensatory responses over time. Despite the mild growth inhibition, enhanced biochemical activity relative to controls indicates sustained metabolic adjustment under prolonged PFAS exposure. These findings emphasize the potential impacts of PFAS, specially in mixtures, on disrupting primary producers in cold marine ecosystems, highlighting the need to assess the cumulative effects of pollutants on foundational Arctic biota.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":248,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Toxicology","volume":"289 ","pages":"Article 107562"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145090778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}