Dietary exposure and accumulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances alters growth and reduces body condition of post-metamorphic salamanders

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are contaminants of concern due to their persistence, potential to bioaccumulate, and toxicity. While dietary exposure is the primary route of exposure for terrestrial species, data on dietary PFAS uptake and adverse effects are largely restricted to mammals. As such, substantial data gaps exist that hinder ecological risk assessment, including environmentally relevant exposure levels and taxa. Using a 30-d laboratory experiment, we examined the effects of dietary PFAS-exposure on post-metamorphic tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum). We fed salamanders crickets exposed to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), or 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS) at low (