Even substitute PFAS cause metabolic stress in zebrafish embryos

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Researchers at Kyushu University found that PFBS, a substitute for some traditional PFAS chemicals, was absorbed by zebrafish embryos and disrupted sugar and fat metabolism. The exposure was associated with oxidative stress and impairments in heart function, facial and nervous-system development, and visual response.

Publishing in the Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, researchers from Kyushu University used zebrafish embryos to study the health effects of the PFAS called PFBS (perfluorobutanesulfonic acid), a substitute PFAS thought to be safer than traditional compounds. They found that while PFBS did not generate any obvious external dysfunction, the compound still gets absorbed and accumulates in the zebrafish embryo. Results showed that PFBS caused disruptions in the metabolic pathways for sugars and fat, which led to oxidative stress. Embryos also showed physical impairments in heart function, facial development, nervous system development and visual response.