Data set for: Long-term Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) exposure alters anxiety-like behaviour but not boldness in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) is an organic pollutant that is commonly detected in wildlife, humans, and the environment. PFOS can cause a variety of toxic effects in zebrafish, however, the impact on complex behaviours like boldness and anxiety-like behaviour is unknown. To investigate the behavioural effects of PFOS in zebrafish, we exposed adult zebrafish to either 0, 0.1, or 1.0 mg/L PFOS for 40 days. After 20- and 40-days anxiety-like behaviour and boldness were assessed using the novel approach test and novel tank dive test, respectively. After 40- day exposure at a concentration of 1.0 mg/L, PFOS caused a significant increase in time spent in the upper zone and a significant decrease in time spent in the bottom zone of the novel tank dive test, suggesting decreased anxiety-like behaviour compared to controls. Neither 0.1 or 1.0 mg/L had an impact on zebrafish boldness at any time point. Exposure to 1.0 mg/L PFOS significantly decreased locomotion in the novel tank dive test after 20 days, whereas after 40 days there was no impact of PFOS on locomotion at any concentration, indicating potential short-term influences on locomotion. These results suggest chronic PFOS exposure can modulate anxiety-like behaviour, while exploratory activity and locomotion are not altered.