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 tes...