Impacts of environmentally relevant levels of the perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) replacement compound GenX (Hexafluoropropylene Oxide Dimer Acid) on feeding behavior, mitochondrial ROS, and gene expression in Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are commercially manufactured chemicals known for widespread usage in different industries. Past research indicating negative health impacts and bioaccumulation in humans and the environment have resulted in the withdrawal and banning of some PFAS. GenX is a short-chained replacement for a long-chained PFAS, but an insufficient amount of research has been conducted on the potential health impacts of GenX to justify its growing prominence and its increasing exposures to humans and the environment, such as commercial dumping into residential waterways. GenX levels correlating to the concentrations found in the Cape Fear River were evaluated using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism to measure a neurological toxicity behavior, reactive oxygen species accumulation, and select genetic regulation changes. Neurological toxicity behavior in the form of pharyngeal pumping was used to determine if the excitatory effects of legacy PFAS apply to GenX and were found to have significantly substantive evidence. Potential symptoms mitochondrial toxicity in the form of semi-quantitative recordings of reactive oxygen species and genetic analysis of genes of interest were assessed as well with areas of further investigation identified.