Hormetic effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on ecologically relevant animal models: Generality, quantitative features, and risk assessment implications.

PFAS induce widespread hormetic responses across diverse ecological models, with biphasic dose-response patterns observed from bacteria to vertebrates.

• Why it matters: Understanding low-dose effects of PFAS is crucial because current risk assessments often overlook potential adaptive or beneficial responses, risking underestimating ecological impacts.
• What they did: The study analyzed over a hundred dose-response relationships in various species, examining endpoints like growth, immune function, and survival, and explored underlying mechanisms such as oxidative stress modulation.
• The result: Findings reveal that low-dose PFAS exposures can stimulate biological functions, challenging traditional toxicology and emphasizing the need to incorporate hormetic models into ecological risk assessments.