Effects of chain length and pH on the uptake and distribution of perfluoroalkyl substances in maize (Zea mays)

•Chain length-dependent uptake of PFASs by maize roots.•High uptake and translocation of short-chain PFASs by maize.•Short-chain PFASs are transferred predominantly to the shoot (shoot:root ratio>2).•Long-chain PFASs are transferred predominantly to the root (shoot:root ratio2.0, which indicates that shorter-chain PFASs are transferred predominantly and at higher concentrations to the shoot. In contrast, long-chain PFCAs such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) as well as the PFASs perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) accumulated at higher concentrations in the roots of maize plants with a shoot:root ratio of