It's not all about PFAS: Metal(loid)s are associated with physiological and metabolic changes in a native frog from conservation wetlands

Damian C Lettoof; Rui Wang; Brad Clarke; Nicola Gray; Samuele Sala; Nick Bourne; William R Richmond; Helen E Nice; Peter Novak; Brenton von Takach; Bruce L Webber; Anna H Kaksonen; Tom Walsh; David J Beale

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127097

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It's not all about PFAS: Metal(loid)s are associated with physiological and metabolic changes in a native frog from conservation wetlands

Journal article

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It's not all about PFAS: Metal(loid)s are associated with physiological and metabolic changes in a native frog from conservation wetlands

Damian C Lettoof, Rui Wang, Brad Clarke, Nicola Gray, Samuele Sala, Nick Bourne, William R Richmond, Helen E Nice, Peter Novak, Brenton von Takach, …

Environmental pollution (1987), Vol.385, 127097

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127097

PMID: 40945569

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Abstract

Litoria moorei

trace elements

amphibian

ecotoxicology

metabolomics

points of departure

Urban wetlands provide essential habitats for wildlife but face increasing contamination from anthropogenic sources, including but not limited to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and metal(loid)s. Accumulation of these contaminants are known to impair organism biological functions. This study quantified PFAS and metal(loid) concentrations in liver tissue of motorbike frogs (Ranoidea moorei) along a contamination gradient of conservation significant urban wetlands in Perth, Western Australia, and assessed relationships of liver concentrations with whole-organism health metrics and metabolomic profiles in four tissues to evaluate biological effects. Of 61 accepted PFAS in frog livers, 22 had at least one individual above reporting limit. Linear perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was the most abundant PFAS compound in frog livers and males had higher PFAS concentrations at larger body sizes. The total PFAS concentrations in motorbike frog livers (range: 1.3 - 145.7, outlier: 364.3 μg/kg) were relatively low compared to tertiary consumer species or those inhabiting heavily contaminated sites. Total PFAS concentrations, or interactions between total PFAS and metal(loid)s, were not significantly correlated with body condition, liver mass, or gross health indicators; however, there were subtle tissue-specific metabolic perturbations linked to PFAS exposure, particularly in males. Biological responses showed stronger associations with liver concentrations of Zn (range: 13.7 - 90 mg/kg), Se (range: <0.05 - 4.1 mg/kg), and Cu (range: 11.3 - 248.5 mg/kg). Zinc concentrations were negatively associated with body condition, and females showed greater muscle metabolic perturbation while males had more metabolic associations in fat tissue. Selenium concentrations exhibited a biphasic relationship with body condition, with males showing Se-associated metabolic changes in the liver and fat. Copper concentrations were inversely associated with liver mass, with females exhibiting higher Cu levels and greater metabolic disruption. This study integrates metabolomics with traditional health assessments to better understand how anthropogenic and naturally occurring contaminants influence amphibian health.

Details

Title: It's not all about PFAS: Metal(loid)s are associated with physiological and metabolic changes in a native frog from conservation wetlands
Authors/Creators: Damian C Lettoof - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Rui Wang - The University of Melbourne
Brad Clarke - Australian Laboratory of Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
Nicola Gray - Murdoch University, Centre for Computational and Systems Medicine
Samuele Sala - Murdoch University, Centre for Computational and Systems Medicine
Nick Bourne - Agriculture & Food Research Unit, CSIRO, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia
William R Richmond - Government of Western Australia
Helen E Nice - Government of Western Australia
Peter Novak - Rivers and Estuaries Science, Biodiversity and Conservation Science Division, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, Western Australia 6151, Australia
Brenton von Takach - Curtin University
Bruce L Webber - The University of Western Australia
Anna H Kaksonen - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Tom Walsh - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
David J Beale - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Publication Details: Environmental pollution (1987), Vol.385, 127097
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd.
Identifiers: 991005814049407891
Murdoch Affiliation: Australian National Phenome Centre; Centre for Computational and Systems Medicine
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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