Absorption, distribution, and excretion of ammonium perfluorooctanoate (APFO) after oral administration to various species

Male and female mice, rats, hamsters, and rabbits were treated with a single oral dose of C-14-ammonium perfluorooctanoate (APFO), and the excretion and tissue distributions were followed for 120 h (168 h in the rabbit). Substantial sex and species differences in the excretion and disposition of C-14-radioactivity derived from C-14-labeled APFO were observed in this study. The female rat and the male hamster excreted more than 99% of the original C-14 activity by 120 h after dosing; conversely, the male rat and the female hamster excreted only 39% and 60% of the original C-14 activity, respectively, by 120 h postdosing. The male and female rabbits excreted the C-14 activity as rapidly and completely as the female rat and the male hamster, whereas male and female mice excreted only 21% of the original C-14 activity by 120 h postdosing. The rapid excretors (female rat, male hamster, and male and female rabbits) contained negligible amounts of C-14 in organs and tissues at sacrifice. The slow excretors exhibited the highest C-14 concentrations in the blood and liver followed by the kidneys, lungs, and skin.