Aqueous PFOS exposure decouples gaseous carbon loss from mineral-associated carbon retention in controlled wetland-interface mesocosms.

Aqueous PFOS exposure disrupts the link between gaseous carbon loss and mineral-associated carbon retention in wetland mesocosms, with effects varying by concentration.

• Why it matters: Understanding how contaminants like PFOS affect wetland carbon dynamics is crucial for predicting greenhouse gas emissions and carbon storage under pollution stress.
• What they did: Researchers used controlled rhizobox mesocosms with planted and unplanted treatments across four PFOS concentrations, measuring CO2 and CH4 fluxes, root-derived carbon, soil carbon fractions, and microbial profiles.
• The result: PFOS caused dose-dependent responses: low-to-medium levels increased root respiration and priming, while high levels suppressed biological activity but still maintained mineral-associated carbon, indicating complex decoupling of gas emissions and carbon retention.