ABSTRACT: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent a large group of contaminants of concern based on their widespread use, distribution and persistence in the environment, and potential toxicity. Many of the traditional models for estimating toxicity, bioaccumulation, and other relevant toxicological properties are not well suited for PFAS. Consequently, there is a need to generate hazard information for a large number of PFAS in an efficient and cost-effective manner. In the present study, Daphnia magna were exposed to multiple concentrations of 22 different PFAS for 24 h, in a 96-well plate format. Following exposure, whole body RNA was extracted and pooled extracts, each representing five exposed individuals, were subjected to RNA sequencing. Following analytical measurements to verify PFAS exposure concentrations in-well, and quality control on processed cDNA libraries for sequencing, concentration-response modeling was applied to the data sets for 18 of the tested compounds, and the concentration at which a concerted molecular response occurred (transcriptomic point of departure; tPOD) was calculated. The tPODs, based on average measured concentration of PFAS in the exposure wells, generally ranged from 0.03-0.58 µM (9.9-350 µg/L; interquartile range). In most cases, these concentrations were two orders of magnitude lower than similarly calculated tPODs for human cell lines exposed to PFAS. They were also lower than apical effect concentrations reported for seven PFAS for which some crustacean or invertebrate toxicity data were available, although there were a few exceptions. However, despite being lower than most other available hazard benchmarks, the Daphnia magna tPODs were, on average, four orders of magnitude greater than the maximum aqueous concentrations of PFAS measured in Great Lakes tributaries. Overall, this high throughput transcriptomics assay with Daphnia magna holds promise as a component of a tiered hazard evaluation strategy employing new approach methodologies.
