Evaluation of biomarkers in the European nightcrawler Dendrobaena veneta exposed to PFAS under controlled conditions

From the scientific relevance findings concerning the PFASs effects, it is necessary to extend the scientific knowledge about their effects on organisms in the natural environment. In the present research study, different stress biomarkers have been evaluated to assess the possible effects that PFASs' mixtures at environmentally detected concentrations may have on Dendobaena veneta. The results show that, in the short term (30 days), PFASs induce an increase in ROS levels and consequent increase in genomic damage. Moreover, PFASs tend to reduce the organisms antioxidant capacity and enhances both transcriptional and translational levels of metallothioneins.