Associate Professor Merrimack College North andover, Massachusetts
Body of Abstract: Human knowledge and ability to synthesize substances needed and used in various products have advanced our lives in different ways. However, most man made materials are not free of side effects. Among the widely used materials are the emerging compounds belonging to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) known as forever, everywhere chemicals. These anthropogenic materials are released into the environment and are found in numerous soil and water samples. Based on the CDC report, PFAS are found in serum of more than 95% of the US population. They harm multiple organ systems, impair child development, and can result in cancer. PFAS released in the soil or water can impact plant growth and subsequently human health via the food chain. Therefore, it is critical to understand plant responses to PFAS to protect plants and potentially propose a species to remove these chemicals from the environment through phytoremediation. This project studied physiological responses of duckweed (Lemna minor) exposed to 100 ppt of PFOA, a common form of PFAS, for 14 days. Plant growth, photosynthetic pigments, enzymatic antioxidative responses, and oxidative stress indicators were studied in this species. This study showed that antioxidative responses were induced upon exposure to PFOA. Despite the oxidative stress impacts of PFOA on L. minor, plant growth and photosynthetic parameters were not significantly impacted compared to the control group. This indicates that L. minor can be suggested to be grown in an environment contaminated with PFAS to protect the ecosystem. Further studies are needed to understand the potential of this species for phytoremediation purposes.