First Evidence of In Vitro Effects of C6O4—A Substitute of PFOA—On Haemocytes of the Clam <i>Ruditapes philippinarum</i>

• Main Authors: Jacopo Fabrello, Francesca Targhetta, Maria Ciscato, Davide Asnicar, Ilaria Bernardini, Massimo Milan, Tomaso Patarnello, Maria Gabriella Marin, Valerio Matozzo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-08-01
• Series: Toxics
• Subjects: C6O4; per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances; bivalve; haemocyte; in vitro assays
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/9/8/191

Alternative chemicals to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances have recently been introduced in various industrial processes. C6O4 (difluoro{[2,2,4,5-tetrafluoro-5-(trifluoromethoxy)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl]oxy}acetic acid) is a new surfactant and emulsifier used as a replacement for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). From an ecotoxicological point of view, in vitro assays are useful tools for assessing the negative effects and understanding the mechanisms of action of chemicals at the cellular level. Here, we present the results of an in vitro study in which the effects of C6O4 were evaluated—for the first time—on haemocytes of the clam <i>Ruditapes philippinarum</i>. Cells were exposed to three concentrations of C6O4 (0.05, 0.5, 5 μg/mL) and the effects on haemocyte viability, haemocyte morphology, differential haemocyte count, lysosomal membrane stability, superoxide anion production, acid phosphatase, and β-glucuronidase activities, as well as on the percentage of micronuclei and chromosomal aberrations were evaluated. The results demonstrated that C6O4 significantly affected haemocyte morphology, lysosomal membrane stability, hydrolytic enzyme activity, and superoxide anion production, and promoted chromosomal aberrations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study revealing the in vitro effects of C6O4, a substitute for PFOA, on haemocytes from a bivalve species.