Effect of select perfluorinated compounds on hatching success of, and biomass accumulation in, the house cricket (Acheta domesticus).

Perfluoroalkyls (PFAS) have been widely used since their discovery in the 1940s. PFAS can be separated into two main divisions, polyfluorinated and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). PFASs are known to be persistent organic pollutants. PFASs are used in a variety of industries including aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, electronics, and textiles. PFASs are also used in a variety of household products. Multiple research studies have provided information regarding concentrations of PFASs in human blood, various mammals, and aquatic life. There is a noted lack of studies regarding the potential terrestrial impacts of PFAS contamination. In order to fill this gap, the effect of perfluoro-1-butanesulfonate (PFBS), perfluoro-1-octanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluro-n-octanoic acid (PFOA) on biomass accumulation and hatching success in the house cricket (Acheta domesticus) was studied. Cricket eggs (n=20/replicate) were exposed to select PFASs in lab-grade sand to evaluate a scenario in which PFASs were readily bioavailable. Liquid chromatography coupled with an electrospray ionization-triple stage quadrupole mass spectrometer was used for confirmatory analysis of the 6 different PFASs. Treatment concentrations (n = 5) were from 0 to 42 µg/g. Previous unpublished results suggest that these selected PFASs are toxic to cricket eggs at concentrations ≥ 42 µg/g; these toxic effects are manifested as a decrease in hatching success. Cohorts that successfully hatched were observed to determine gender ratio, functional development, and PFAS body burdens in adults. Understanding PFAS body burdens in adult crickets could aid toxicologists and ecologists in understanding the dispersion of PFASs through terrestrial food webs via insect predation. However, further work is necessary to understand the potential long-term impacts of PFAS on terrestrial systems.