Nanoplastics Affect the Bioaccumulation and Gut Toxicity of Emerging Perfluoroalkyl Acid Alternatives to Aquatic Insects (Chironomus kiinensis): Importance of Plastic Surface Charge

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been widely suggested as contributors to the aquatic insect biomass decline, and their bioavailability is affected by engineered particles. However, the toxicity effects of emerging ionizable POPs mediated by differentially charged engineered nanoparticles on aquatic insects are unknown. In this study, 6:2 chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonate (F-53B, an emerging perfluoroalkyl acid alternative) was selected as a model emerging ionizable POP; the effect of differentially charged nanoplastics (NPs, 50 nm, 0.5 g/kg) on F-53B bioaccumulation and gut toxicity to