Ecotoxicity evaluation of PFBSK for the whole environmental compartments and comprehensive comparison of hazard and risk to PFOS

A series of perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS)-related substances are produced as the alternatives to corresponding perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). However, there is little reliable information about PFBS available for the whole ecotoxicology compartments. At present, its ecotoxicity of perfluorobutane sulfonate potassium (PFBSK) was selected as a typical PFBS chemical to investigate and evaluate its aquatic, terrestrial, microorganism and sediment toxicity according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guideline under the framework of the REACH regulation. Meanwhile, the ecotoxicology hazard and risk for PFBSK and PFOS were compared comprehensively. PFBSK did not show acute and chronic aquatic, microorganisms and terrestrial animal toxicity, while exhibited some terrestrial plants toxicity. The ecotoxicology of PFBSK decreased sharply except for terrestrial plants compared with PFOS. Especially, for acute and chronic aquatic ecotoxicity, PFBSK is lower than 100 times those of PFOS. Although the similar terrestrial plants toxicity level was observed for PFBSK and PFOS, the lower risk of PFBSK was deduced for the reason that there was far less chances to be exposed and retained in the soil and sediment for its high water solubility and low adsorption. In conclusion, PFBSK showed lower ecotoxicity hazard and risk than those of PFOS. PFBSK could be an environmental friendly alternative to PFOS.