Research Output

This study examined how the short-chain PFAS compound PFBA affects growth and development in the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). Low PFBA exposure stimulated faster growth and development, consistent with a hormetic response. Transcriptomic analyses revealed coordinated changes in genes linked to metabolism, stress responses, hormonal signaling, and development. The findings demonstrate that environmentally relevant PFBA exposure can significantly alter insect physiology and developmental processes.

PFAS-contaminated irrigation water impacts soybeans, inducing early stress responses but enhancing pod and bean production. Short-chain PFAS accumulate in beans, while long-chain PFAS remain in roots. Stress adaptations, including upregulated aquaporins and oxidative responses, improve reproductive outcomes and bean nutritional content.

We explored the chemical and microbial barriers to PFAS biodegradation, emphasizing buried landfills as unique ecological niches with potential to enhance PFAS degradation processes.

PFBA, a short-chain PFAS, induces stress in soybeans, causing hormetic stimulation at lower exposure levels and inhibition at higher levels. Stress responses include oxidative stress, enriched non-enzymatic pathways, and circadian rhythm modulation, mirroring effects observed with long-chain PFAS

PFBA accumulates in plants and stimulates beet armyworm development. Exposed larvae showed increased weight gain, faster metamorphosis, and more leaf damage. The effects, observed in a dose-dependent hormesis model, suggest PFBA influences hormonal signaling pathways at low doses.