{"id":859,"date":"2022-09-12T20:09:05","date_gmt":"2022-09-12T20:09:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/sites\/sepulveda\/?page_id=859"},"modified":"2026-09-21T19:38:52","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T19:38:52","slug":"pfas-toxicity-to-amphibians","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/sites\/sepulveda\/pfas-toxicity-to-amphibians\/","title":{"rendered":"PFAS Amphibians"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PFAS Toxicity to Amphibians<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Principal Investigator(s):<\/strong> Dr. Marisol Sep\u00falveda<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Spotted<\/figure><\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Researchers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\"Elizabeth<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Elizabeth Allmon<\/strong>
PhD<\/em>
<\/sup>Purdue Forestry & Natural Resources<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Matt<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Matt Hamilton<\/strong>
Research Scientist & Lab Manager<\/sup><\/em>
Purdue Forestry & Natural Resources<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Y.<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Youn Jeong Choi<\/strong>
Analytical Chemist<\/em>
<\/sup>Purdue Agronomy<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Tyler<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Tyler Hoskins<\/strong>
Research Assistant Faculty<\/sup><\/em>
Purdue Forestry & Natural Resources<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"J.<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Jason Conder<\/strong>
GeoSyntec<\/sup><\/em>
New York<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Dr.<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Jason Hoverman<\/strong>
Professor<\/sup><\/em>
Purdue Forestry & Natural Resources<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Z.<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Zachary Pandelides
<\/strong>GeoSyntec<\/sup><\/em>
Louisiana<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Linda<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Linda Lee<\/strong>
Professor<\/sup><\/em>
Purdue Environmental and Ecological Engineering & Agronomy<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Marisol Sep\u00falveda<\/strong>
Professor and Associate Head of Research<\/sup><\/em>
Purdue Forestry & Natural Resources<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Research Objectives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main goal of this research, is to develop toxicity reference values (TRVs) and bioconcentration factors (BCFs) for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) in three main amphibian groups (toads, frogs and salamanders). We completed close to 20 experiments exposing different amphibian species to four PFAS using different exposure routes and length of exposure. Major findings include: PFOS bioaccumulated and the precursor 6:2 FTS metabolized; LC50s are in the thousands of ppb, several orders of magnitude above environmental levels; LOECs for effects on growth, development, and condition factor ranged between 10 \u2013 1000 ppb; and effects varied depending on the species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Developing Toxicity Reference Values (TRVs) and Bioconcentration Factors (BCFs):<\/p>\n\n\n\n