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Reinikainen J, Perkola N, Äystö L, Sorvari J. The occurrence, distribution, and risks of PFAS at AFFF-impacted sites in Finland. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 829:154237. [PMID: 35292316 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) comprise a wide group of persistent chemicals, whose ubiquitous occurrence in the environment, particularly due to their extensive use for fire suppression in aqueous film forming foams (AFFFs), has raised global attention. We evaluated the impacts of PFAS at three firefighting training sites and one industrial site in Finland, to highlight key elements to be considered in the retrospective risk assessment of these chemicals. The site assessments covered the occurrence and distribution of 23 PFAS in multiple environmental matrices, i.e., soil, sediment, surface water, groundwater, and biota, and the subsequent risks to human health and the environment owing to the migration of and exposure to the selected compounds. Our study showed that the extensive use of nowadays restricted or substituted PFAS, particularly PFOS, are still often the predominant compounds detected at AFFF-impacted sites and will continue to cause long-term risks to the environment. The most significant environmental or health risks at these sites are likely to concern aquatic ecosystems, fish consumption or groundwater usage due to the off-site migration of PFAS. Here, even a single fire extinguishing event can be a considerable contributor. We also illustrate that conventional procedures based on simple mass-balance, and exposure models, with a focus on PFOS and other site-specifically relevant PFAS may provide sufficient means to assess the risks. Moreover, we address that despite the exceedance of the very stringent regulatory threshold values issued recently for PFAS, the actual site-specific risks to human health and the environment may remain reasonably low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jussi Reinikainen
- Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, 140, FI-00251 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Noora Perkola
- Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, 140, FI-00251 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Lauri Äystö
- Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, 140, FI-00251 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Jaana Sorvari
- Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, 140, FI-00251 Helsinki, Finland.
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202
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Vendl C, Pottier P, Taylor MD, Bräunig J, Gibson MJ, Hesselson D, Neely GG, Lagisz M, Nakagawa S. Thermal processing reduces PFAS concentrations in blue food - A systematic review and meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 304:119081. [PMID: 35367104 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in the environment and often ingested with food. PFAS exposure in people can have detrimental health consequences. Therefore, reducing PFAS burdens in food items is of great importance to public health. Here, we investigated whether cooking reduces PFAS concentrations in animal-derived food products by synthesizing experimental studies. Further, we examined the moderating effects of the following five variables: cooking time, liquid/animal tissue ratio, cooking temperature, carbon chain length of PFAS and the cooking category (oil-based, water-based & no-liquid cooking). In our systematic review searches, we obtained 512 effect sizes (relative differences in PFAS concentration between raw and cooked samples) from 10 relevant studies. These studies exclusively explored changes in PFAS concentrations in cooked seafood and freshwater fish. Our multilevel-meta-analysis has revealed that, on average, cooking reduced PFAS concentrations by 29%, although heterogeneity among effect sizes was very high (I2 = 94.65%). Our five moderators cumulatively explained 49% of the observed heterogeneity. Specifically, an increase in cooking time and liquid/animal tissue ratio, as well as shorter carbon chain length of PFAS (when cooked with oil) were associated with significant reductions in PFAS concentrations. The effects of different ways of cooking depended on the other moderators, while the effect of cooking temperature itself was not significant. Overall, cooking can reduce PFAS concentrations in blue food (seafood and freshwater fish). However, it is important to note that complete PFAS elimination requires unrealistically long cooking times and large liquid/animal tissue ratios. Currently, literature on the impact of cooking of terrestrial animal produce on PFAS concentrations is lacking, which limits the inference and generalisation of our meta-analysis. However, our work represents the first step towards developing guidelines to reduce PFAS in food via cooking exclusively with common kitchen items and techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catharina Vendl
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biology Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
| | - Patrice Pottier
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biology Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Matthew D Taylor
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biology Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia; Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Nelson Bay, Australia; Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jennifer Bräunig
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Matthew J Gibson
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Daniel Hesselson
- Centenary Institute and Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - G Gregory Neely
- Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, Charles Perkins Centre, Centenary Institute, And School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Malgorzata Lagisz
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biology Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biology Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
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203
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A Review on Removal and Destruction of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) by Novel Membranes. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:membranes12070662. [PMID: 35877866 PMCID: PMC9325267 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12070662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are anthropogenic chemicals consisting of thousands of individual species. PFAS consists of a fully or partly fluorinated carbon–fluorine bond, which is hard to break and requires a high amount of energy (536 kJ/mole). Resulting from their unique hydrophobic/oleophobic nature and their chemical and mechanical stability, they are highly resistant to thermal, chemical, and biological degradation. PFAS have been used extensively worldwide since the 1940s in various products such as non-stick household items, food-packaging, cosmetics, electronics, and firefighting foams. Exposure to PFAS may lead to health issues such as hormonal imbalances, a compromised immune system, cancer, fertility disorders, and adverse effects on fetal growth and learning ability in children. To date, very few novel membrane approaches have been reported effective in removing and destroying PFAS. Therefore, this article provides a critical review of PFAS treatment and removal approaches by membrane separation systems. We discuss recently reported novel and effective membrane techniques for PFAS separation and include a detailed discussion of parameters affecting PFAS membrane separation and destruction. Moreover, an estimation of cost analysis is also included for each treatment technology. Additionally, since the PFAS treatment technology is still growing, we have incorporated several future directions for efficient PFAS treatment.
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204
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Xie Y, May AL, Chen G, Brown LP, Powers JB, Tague ED, Campagna SR, Löffler FE. Pseudomonas sp. Strain 273 Incorporates Organofluorine into the Lipid Bilayer during Growth with Fluorinated Alkanes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:8155-8166. [PMID: 35642897 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic organofluorine compounds are recalcitrant, globally distributed, and a human health concern. Although rare, natural processes synthesize fluorinated compounds, and some bacteria have evolved mechanisms to metabolize organofluorine compounds. Pseudomonas sp. strain 273 grows with 1-fluorodecane (FD) and 1,10-difluorodecane (DFD) as carbon sources, but inorganic fluoride release was not stoichiometric. Metabolome studies revealed that this bacterium produces fluorinated anabolites and phospholipids. Mass spectrometric fatty acid profiling detected fluorinated long-chain (i.e., C12-C19) fatty acids in strain 273 cells grown with FD or DFD, and lipidomic profiling determined that 7.5 ± 0.2 and 82.0 ± 1.0% of the total phospholipids in strain 273 grown with FD or DFD, respectively, were fluorinated. The detection of the fluorinated metabolites and macromolecules represents a heretofore unrecognized sink for organofluorine, an observation with consequences for the environmental fate and transport of fluorinated aliphatic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongchao Xie
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Amanda L May
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Gao Chen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Lindsay P Brown
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Joshua B Powers
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Eric D Tague
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Shawn R Campagna
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Biological and Small Molecule Mass Spectrometry Core, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- University of Tennessee - Oak Ridge Innovation Institute, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Frank E Löffler
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
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205
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Evich MG, Davis M, Weber EJ, Tebes-Stevens C, Acrey B, Henderson WM, Goodrow S, Bergman E, Washington JW. Environmental Fate of Cl-PFPECAs: Predicting the Formation of PFAS Transformation Products in New Jersey Soils. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:7779-7788. [PMID: 35617513 PMCID: PMC9474707 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c06126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Although next-generation per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) were designed and implemented as safer and environmentally degradable alternatives to "forever" legacy PFAS, there is little evidence to support the actual transformation of these compounds and less evidence of the safety of transformed products in the environment. Multiple congeners of one such PFAS alternative, the chloro-perfluoropolyether carboxylates (Cl-PFPECAs), have been found in New Jersey soils surrounding a manufacturing facility. These compounds are ideal candidates for investigating environmental transformation due to the existence of potential reaction centers including a chlorinated carbon and ether linkages. Transformation products of the chemical structures of this class of compounds were predicted based on analogous PFAS transformation pathways documented in peer-reviewed literature. Potential reaction products were used as the basis for high-resolution mass-spectrometric suspect screening of the soils. Suspected transformation products of multiple congeners, the Cl-PFPECAs, including H-PFPECAs, epox-PFPECAs, and diOH-PFPECAs, were tentatively observed in these screenings. Although ether linkages have been hypothesized as potential reaction centers under environmental conditions, to date, no documentation of ether scission has been identified. Despite exhaustive scrutiny of the high-resolution data for our Cl-PFPECA-laden soils, we found no evidence of ether scission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina G Evich
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 960 College Station Road, Athens, Georgia 30605, United States
| | - Mary Davis
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 960 College Station Road, Athens, Georgia 30605, United States
| | - Eric J Weber
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 960 College Station Road, Athens, Georgia 30605, United States
| | - Caroline Tebes-Stevens
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 960 College Station Road, Athens, Georgia 30605, United States
| | - Brad Acrey
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 960 College Station Road, Athens, Georgia 30605, United States
| | - William Matthew Henderson
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 960 College Station Road, Athens, Georgia 30605, United States
| | - Sandra Goodrow
- Division of Science & Research, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, 428 East State Street, Trenton, New Jersey 08625 United States
| | - Erica Bergman
- Site Remediation Program, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, 401 East State Street, Trenton, New Jersey 08625 United States
| | - John W Washington
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 960 College Station Road, Athens, Georgia 30605, United States
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206
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Macorps N, Le Menach K, Pardon P, Guérin-Rechdaoui S, Rocher V, Budzinski H, Labadie P. Bioaccumulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance in fish from an urban river: Occurrence, patterns and investigation of potential ecological drivers. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 303:119165. [PMID: 35306089 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in aquatic environments and a recent shift toward emerging PFAS is calling for new data on their occurrence and fate. In particular, understanding the determinants of their bioaccumulation is fundamental for risk assessment purposes. However, very few studies have addressed the combined influence of potential ecological drivers of PFAS bioaccumulation in fish such as age, sex or trophic ecology. Thus, this work aimed to fill these knowledge gaps by performing a field study in the Seine River basin (France). Composite sediment and fish (European chub, Squalius Cephalus) samples were collected from four sites along a longitudinal transect to investigate the occurrence of 36 PFAS. Sediment molecular patterns were dominated by fluorotelomer sulfonamidoalkyl betaines (i.e. 6:2 and 8:2 FTAB, 46% of ∑PFAS on average), highlighting the non-negligible contribution of PFAS of emerging concern. C9-C14 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA) and 10:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (10:2 FTSA) were detected in all fish samples. Conversely, 8:2 FTAB was detected in a few fish from the furthest downstream station only, suggesting the low bioaccessibility or the biotransformation of FTABs. ∑PFAS in fish was in the range 0.22-3.8 ng g-1 wet weight (ww) and 11-140 ng g-1 ww for muscle and liver, respectively. Fish collected upstream of Paris were significantly less contaminated than those collected downstream, pointing to urban and industrial inputs. The influence of trophic ecology and biometry on the interindividual variability of PFAS burden in fish was examined through analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs), with sampling site considered as a categorical variable. While the latter was highly significant, diet was also influential; carbon sources and trophic level (i.e. estimated using C and N stable isotope ratios, respectively) equally explained the variability of PFAS levels in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Patrick Pardon
- CNRS/Université de Bordeaux, UMR 5805 EPOC, Talence, France
| | | | | | | | - Pierre Labadie
- CNRS/Université de Bordeaux, UMR 5805 EPOC, Talence, France.
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207
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Huerta B, McHugh B, Regan F. Development and application of an LC-MS method to the determination of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in drinking, sea and surface water samples. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2022; 14:2090-2099. [PMID: 35551566 DOI: 10.1039/d2ay00300g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a group of synthetic organic surfactants that have become a global concern because of their toxicity and widespread presence in the aquatic environment and organisms globally. In this study, a new analytical method has been developed and validated for the analysis of 15 perfluorinated compounds in different water matrices: river water, drinking water and seawater. Water extraction was performed in anion exchange solid phase extraction cartridges, and extracts were analysed by liquid chromatography in tandem with mass spectrometry. Recoveries for target analytes were between 35 and 120%, depending on the water matrix. Method detection limits were in the range of 0.5-17 ng L-1. The validated method was applied to the determination of perfluorinated compounds in water samples around Ireland. Eight compounds out of fifteen were detected at least in one sample. Measured concentrations were higher in river water than seawater, and drinking water had the lowest levels, although still detectable for a considerable amount of compounds. The most prevalent compounds were PFPeA, PFOA and PFHxA, present in all types of water, and they had the highest concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belinda Huerta
- DCU Water Institute, School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.
| | - Brendan McHugh
- Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Co. Galway, H91 R673, Ireland
| | - Fiona Regan
- DCU Water Institute, School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.
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208
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Mahoney H, Xie Y, Brinkmann M, Giesy JP. Next generation per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances: Status and trends, aquatic toxicity, and risk assessment. ECO-ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH (ONLINE) 2022; 1:117-131. [PMID: 38075527 PMCID: PMC10702929 DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2022.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Widespread application of poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has resulted in some substances being ubiquitous in environmental matrices. That and their resistance to degradation have allowed them to accumulate in wildlife and humans with potential for toxic effects. While specific substances of concern have been phased-out or banned, other PFAS that are emerging as alternative substances are still produced and are being released into the environment. This review focuses on describing three emerging, replacement PFAS: perfluoroethylcyclohexane sulphonate (PFECHS), 6:2 chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonate (6:2 Cl-PFAES), and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA). By summarizing their physicochemical properties, environmental fate and transport, and toxic potencies in comparison to other PFAS compounds, this review offers insight into the viabilities of these chemicals as replacement substances. Using the chemical scoring and ranking assessment model, the relative hazards, uncertainties, and data gaps for each chemical were quantified and related to perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) based on their chemical and uncertainty scores. The substances were ranked PFOS > 6:2 Cl-PFAES > PFOA > HFPO-DA > PFECHS according to their potential toxicity and PFECHS > HFPO-DA > 6:2 Cl-PFAES > PFOS > PFOA according to their need for future research. Since future uses of PFAS remain uncertain in the face of governmental regulations and production bans, replacement PFAS will continue to emerge on the world market and in the environment, raising concerns about their general lack of information on mechanisms and toxic potencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Mahoney
- Toxicology Center, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Yuwei Xie
- Toxicology Center, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Markus Brinkmann
- Toxicology Center, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5B3, Canada
- School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5C8, Canada
- Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 3H5, Canada
- Centre for Hydrology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 1K2, Canada
| | - John P. Giesy
- Toxicology Center, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5B3, Canada
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Department of Integrative Biology and Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
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209
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Jones DK, Quinlin KA, Wigren MA, Choi YJ, Sepúlveda MS, Lee LS, Haskins DL, Lotufo GR, Kennedy A, May L, Harmon A, Biber T, Melby N, Chanov MK, Hudson ML, Key PB, Chung KW, Moore DW, Suski JG, Wirth EF, Hoverman JT. Acute Toxicity of Eight Aqueous Film-Forming Foams to 14 Aquatic Species. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:6078-6090. [PMID: 35486899 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Researchers have developed numerous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-free aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) formulations to replace PFAS-containing AFFF used for fire suppression. As part of the Department of Defense's Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP), we examined the direct lethal effects of seven PFAS-free AFFF and a PFAS-containing AFFF on 14 aquatic species using a series of lethal concentration (LC50) tests. We assessed the LC10, LC50, and LC90 values using log-logistic and logit analyses. Across all aquatic species tested, we discovered that exposure to at least one PFAS-free AFFF was more or as toxic as exposure to the PFAS-containing AFFF. For most cases, National Foam Avio F3 Green KHC 3% and Buckeye Platinum Plus C6MILSPEC 3% were the most and least toxic formulations, respectively. Moreover, we found consistency among results from multiple experiments using the same minnow species (Pimephales promelas) and among closely related taxa (e.g., daphnids, amphibians). Lastly, the LC50 values for AFFF formulations trended lower for tested marine species as compared to those of freshwater species. These results dramatically increase the current knowledge on the potentially toxic effects of AFFF but also highlight the need for additional research and the development of new PFAS-free AFFF that are more "ecologically friendly" than those containing persistent PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devin K Jones
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Kathryn A Quinlin
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Maggie A Wigren
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Youn J Choi
- Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Maria S Sepúlveda
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Linda S Lee
- Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - David L Haskins
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Guilherme R Lotufo
- US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, Mississippi 39180, United States
| | - Alan Kennedy
- US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, Mississippi 39180, United States
| | - Lauren May
- US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, Mississippi 39180, United States
| | - Ashley Harmon
- US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, Mississippi 39180, United States
| | - Thomas Biber
- US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, Mississippi 39180, United States
| | - Nicolas Melby
- US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, Mississippi 39180, United States
| | - Michael K Chanov
- EA Engineering, Science and Technology, Inc. PBC, Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031, United States
| | - Michelle L Hudson
- EA Engineering, Science and Technology, Inc. PBC, Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031, United States
| | - Peter B Key
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Charleston, South Carolina 29412, United States
| | - Katy W Chung
- CSS, Inc. Under Contract to NOAA, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Charleston, South Carolina 29412, United States
| | - David W Moore
- US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, Mississippi 39180, United States
| | - Jamie G Suski
- EA Engineering, Science and Technology, Inc. PBC, Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031, United States
| | - Edward F Wirth
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Charleston, South Carolina 29412, United States
| | - Jason T Hoverman
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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210
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Rodgers K, Swartz CH, Occhialini J, Bassignani P, McCurdy M, Schaider LA. How Well Do Product Labels Indicate the Presence of PFAS in Consumer Items Used by Children and Adolescents? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:6294-6304. [PMID: 35506608 PMCID: PMC9118540 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c05175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
PFAS are persistent and toxic chemicals used in many commercial and industrial applications that are often added to consumer products, including those used by children and adolescents, to impart water and stain resistance. Since product labels rarely list chemical additives, including PFAS, we evaluated whether other information on product labels can be used by consumers to select products without PFAS. We selected 93 items marketed to or often used by children and adolescents across three product types (furnishings, apparel, bedding) and five labeling groups representing different combinations of water and/or stain resistance and "green" (including "nontoxic") assurances. We screened all products for total fluorine (F) and analyzed solvent extracts from a subset (n = 61) for 36 targeted PFAS and from a smaller subset (n = 30) for perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) generated by precursor oxidation using the total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay. Products advertised as water- and/or stain-resistant had more frequent detections and higher concentrations of total F than those without such claims, and targeted PFAS were detected only in products labeled as water- and/or stain-resistant. Concentrations of PFAAs generated by precursor oxidation using the TOP assay often exceeded pre-oxidation concentrations, suggesting that PFAA precursors contribute to solvent-extractable PFAS from products. Among products advertised as water- and/or stain-resistant, detection frequencies and concentrations of targeted PFAS were similar regardless of green assurances. This study illustrates many nonessential uses of PFAS in products used by children and adolescents and suggests that while water- and stain-resistant assurances can identify products likely to contain PFAS, current green assurances do not consistently indicate the absence of PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn
M. Rodgers
- Silent
Spring Institute, 320 Nevada Street, Suite 302, Newton, Massachusetts 02460, United States
| | - Christopher H. Swartz
- Silent
Spring Institute, 320 Nevada Street, Suite 302, Newton, Massachusetts 02460, United States
| | - James Occhialini
- Alpha
Analytical Laboratories, 320 Forbes Blvd, Mansfield, Massachusetts 02048, United States
| | - Philip Bassignani
- Alpha
Analytical Laboratories, 320 Forbes Blvd, Mansfield, Massachusetts 02048, United States
| | - Michelle McCurdy
- Galbraith
Laboratories, Inc., 2323 Sycamore Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee 37921, United States
| | - Laurel A. Schaider
- Silent
Spring Institute, 320 Nevada Street, Suite 302, Newton, Massachusetts 02460, United States
- . Phone: 617-332-4288 ext 224
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211
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Wang Q, Ruan Y, Jin L, Lin H, Yan M, Gu J, Yuen CNT, Leung KMY, Lam PKS. Tissue-Specific Uptake, Depuration Kinetics, and Suspected Metabolites of Three Emerging Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Marine Medaka. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:6182-6191. [PMID: 35438980 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c07643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Restrictions on legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have led to the widespread use of emerging PFASs. However, their toxicokinetics have rarely been reported. Here, tissue-specific uptake and depuration kinetics of perfluoroethylcyclohexanesulfonate (PFECHS) and 6:2 and 8:2 chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonates (Cl-PFESAs) were studied in marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma). The fish were exposed to these substances for 28 days (0.2 μg/L), followed by a clearance period of 14 days. The depuration constant (kd) of PFECHS [0.103 ± 0.009 day-1 (mean ± standard deviation)] was reported for the first time. Among the six studied tissues, the highest concentrations of 6:2 Cl-PFESA, 8:2 Cl-PFESA, and PFECHS were found in the liver [1540, 1230, and 188 ng (g of wet weight)-1, respectively] on day 28 while the longest residence times were found in the eyes (t1/2 values of 21.7 ± 4.3, 23.9 ± 1.5, and 17.3 ± 0.8 days, respectively). No significant positive correlation was found between the bioconcentration factors of the studied PFASs and the phospholipid or protein contents in different tissues of the studied fish. Potential metabolites of Cl-PFESAs, i.e., their hydrogen-substituted analogues (H-PFESAs), were identified by time-of-flight mass spectrometry. However, the biotransformation rates were low (<0.19%), indicating the poor capacity of marine medaka to metabolize Cl-PFESAs to H-PFESAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution (SKLMP) and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Hong Kong 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Yuefei Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution (SKLMP) and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Hong Kong 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Linjie Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution (SKLMP) and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Hong Kong 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Huiju Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution (SKLMP) and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Meng Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution (SKLMP) and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Jiarui Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution (SKLMP) and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Calista N T Yuen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution (SKLMP) and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kenneth M Y Leung
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution (SKLMP) and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Paul K S Lam
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution (SKLMP) and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Hong Kong 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
- Office of the President, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
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212
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Jouanneau W, Léandri-Breton DJ, Corbeau A, Herzke D, Moe B, Nikiforov VA, Gabrielsen GW, Chastel O. A Bad Start in Life? Maternal Transfer of Legacy and Emerging Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances to Eggs in an Arctic Seabird. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:6091-6102. [PMID: 34874166 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In birds, maternal transfer is a major exposure route for several contaminants, including poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Little is known, however, about the extent of the transfer of the different PFAS compounds to the eggs, especially for alternative fluorinated compounds. In the present study, we measured legacy and emerging PFAS, including Gen-X, ADONA, and F-53B, in the plasma of prelaying black-legged kittiwake females breeding in Svalbard and the yolk of their eggs. We aimed to (1) describe the contaminant levels and patterns in both females and eggs, and (2) investigate the maternal transfer, that is, biological variables and the relationship between the females and their eggs for each compound. Contamination of both females and eggs were dominated by linPFOS then PFUnA or PFTriA. We notably found 7:3 fluorotelomer carboxylic acid─a precursor of long-chain carboxylates─in 84% of the egg yolks, and provide the first documented finding of ADONA in wildlife. Emerging compounds were all below the detection limit in female plasma. There was a linear association between females and eggs for most of the PFAS. Analyses of maternal transfer ratios in females and eggs suggest that the transfer is increasing with PFAS carbon chain length, therefore the longest chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) were preferentially transferred to the eggs. The mean ∑PFAS in the second-laid eggs was 73% of that in the first-laid eggs. Additional effort on assessing the outcome of maternal transfers on avian development physiology is essential, especially for PFCAs and emerging fluorinated compounds which are under-represented in experimental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Jouanneau
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 17031 La Rochelle, France
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Don-Jean Léandri-Breton
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 17031 La Rochelle, France
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3 V9, Canada
| | - Alexandre Corbeau
- ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution), UMR 6553 CNRS - Université de Rennes, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Dorte Herzke
- NILU - Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Børge Moe
- NINA - Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, NO-7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Vladimir A Nikiforov
- NILU - Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Olivier Chastel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 17031 La Rochelle, France
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213
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Nilsson S, Smurthwaite K, Aylward LL, Kay M, Toms LM, King L, Marrington S, Hobson P, Barnes C, Rotander A, Kirk MD, Mueller JF, Braeunig J. Biomonitoring of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure in firefighters: Study design and lessons learned from stakeholder and participant engagement. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2022; 242:113966. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.113966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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214
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The Conundrum of the PFOA human half-life, an international collaboration. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2022; 132:105185. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2022.105185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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215
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Heindel JJ, Howard S, Agay-Shay K, Arrebola JP, Audouze K, Babin PJ, Barouki R, Bansal A, Blanc E, Cave MC, Chatterjee S, Chevalier N, Choudhury M, Collier D, Connolly L, Coumoul X, Garruti G, Gilbertson M, Hoepner LA, Holloway AC, Howell G, Kassotis CD, Kay MK, Kim MJ, Lagadic-Gossmann D, Langouet S, Legrand A, Li Z, Le Mentec H, Lind L, Monica Lind P, Lustig RH, Martin-Chouly C, Munic Kos V, Podechard N, Roepke TA, Sargis RM, Starling A, Tomlinson CR, Touma C, Vondracek J, Vom Saal F, Blumberg B. Obesity II: Establishing causal links between chemical exposures and obesity. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 199:115015. [PMID: 35395240 PMCID: PMC9124454 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.115015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Obesity is a multifactorial disease with both genetic and environmental components. The prevailing view is that obesity results from an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure caused by overeating and insufficient exercise. We describe another environmental element that can alter the balance between energy intake and energy expenditure: obesogens. Obesogens are a subset of environmental chemicals that act as endocrine disruptors affecting metabolic endpoints. The obesogen hypothesis posits that exposure to endocrine disruptors and other chemicals can alter the development and function of the adipose tissue, liver, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, and brain, thus changing the set point for control of metabolism. Obesogens can determine how much food is needed to maintain homeostasis and thereby increase the susceptibility to obesity. The most sensitive time for obesogen action is in utero and early childhood, in part via epigenetic programming that can be transmitted to future generations. This review explores the evidence supporting the obesogen hypothesis and highlights knowledge gaps that have prevented widespread acceptance as a contributor to the obesity pandemic. Critically, the obesogen hypothesis changes the narrative from curing obesity to preventing obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerrold J Heindel
- Healthy Environment and Endocrine Disruptor Strategies, Commonweal, Bolinas, CA 92924, USA.
| | - Sarah Howard
- Healthy Environment and Endocrine Disruptor Strategies, Commonweal, Bolinas, CA 92924, USA
| | - Keren Agay-Shay
- Health and Environment Research (HER) Lab, The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Israel
| | - Juan P Arrebola
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Karine Audouze
- Department of Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Paris, INSERM, T3S, Paris France
| | - Patrick J Babin
- Department of Life and Health Sciences, University of Bordeaux, INSERM, Pessac France
| | - Robert Barouki
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Paris, INSERM, T3S, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Amita Bansal
- College of Health & Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Etienne Blanc
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Paris, INSERM, T3S, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Matthew C Cave
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40402, USA
| | - Saurabh Chatterjee
- Environmental Health and Disease Laboratory, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Nicolas Chevalier
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Cote d'Azur, Cote d'Azur, France
| | - Mahua Choudhury
- College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - David Collier
- Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - Lisa Connolly
- The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Xavier Coumoul
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Paris, INSERM, T3S, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Gabriella Garruti
- Department of Endocrinology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro," Bari, Italy
| | - Michael Gilbertson
- Occupational and Environmental Health Research Group, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland
| | - Lori A Hoepner
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA
| | - Alison C Holloway
- McMaster University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hamilton, Ontario, CA, USA
| | - George Howell
- Center for Environmental Health Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
| | - Christopher D Kassotis
- Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Mathew K Kay
- College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Min Ji Kim
- Sorbonne Paris Nord University, Bobigny, INSERM U1124 (T3S), Paris, France
| | | | - Sophie Langouet
- Univ Rennes, INSERM EHESP, IRSET UMR_5S 1085, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Antoine Legrand
- Sorbonne Paris Nord University, Bobigny, INSERM U1124 (T3S), Paris, France
| | - Zhuorui Li
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Helene Le Mentec
- Sorbonne Paris Nord University, Bobigny, INSERM U1124 (T3S), Paris, France
| | - Lars Lind
- Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - P Monica Lind
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Robert H Lustig
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | | | - Vesna Munic Kos
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden
| | - Normand Podechard
- Sorbonne Paris Nord University, Bobigny, INSERM U1124 (T3S), Paris, France
| | - Troy A Roepke
- Department of Animal Science, School of Environmental and Biological Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Robert M Sargis
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Il 60612, USA
| | - Anne Starling
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Craig R Tomlinson
- Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - Charbel Touma
- Sorbonne Paris Nord University, Bobigny, INSERM U1124 (T3S), Paris, France
| | - Jan Vondracek
- Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Frederick Vom Saal
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Bruce Blumberg
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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216
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Ren J, Point AD, Baygi SF, Fernando S, Hopke PK, Holsen TM, Crimmins BS. Bioaccumulation of polyfluoroalkyl substances in the Lake Huron aquatic food web. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 819:152974. [PMID: 35007599 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.152974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of fluorinated organic chemicals that have been produced for industrial and commercial application since the 1950s. PFAS are highly persistent and ubiquitous in water, sediment, and biota. Toxic effects of PFAS on humans and the ecosystem have increased scientific and public concern. To better understand the distribution of PFAS in the Laurentian Great Lakes, carbon (12C and 13C) and nitrogen (14N and 15N) stable isotope enrichment, fatty acid profiles, and PFAS were measured in the Lake Huron (LH) aquatic food web. The trophic level of the organisms was estimated using δ15N and found to be a determinant of PFAS biomagnification. The δ13C and fatty acid profiles were used to assess the carbon/energy flow pathway and predator-prey relationships, respectively. The δ13C, δ15N, and fatty acids were used to elucidate the trophodynamics and understand the PFAS trophic transfer in the LH aquatic food web. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) was the dominant PFAS observed, followed by C9 - C11 perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCA). The highest PFOS concentrations (45 ± 11 ng/g, wet weight (wwt)) were detected in lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), while the highest total PFCA concentrations (sum of C4 - C16 PFCAs) were detected in deepwater sculpin (Myoxocephalus thompsonii). With the exception of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), C8-C14 PFAS biomagnification factors (BMFs) were found to be generally greater than 1, suggesting PFAS biomagnification from prey to predator. Trophic magnification factors (TMFs) of C8-C14 PFCA were found to be independent of compound hydrophobicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junda Ren
- Clarkson University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA
| | - Adam D Point
- Institute for a Sustainable Environment, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA
| | - Sadjad Fakouri Baygi
- Clarkson University, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA
| | - Sujan Fernando
- Clarkson University, Center for Air Resources Engineering and Science, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA
| | - Philip K Hopke
- Institute for a Sustainable Environment, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA; Clarkson University, Center for Air Resources Engineering and Science, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA; Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Thomas M Holsen
- Clarkson University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA; Clarkson University, Center for Air Resources Engineering and Science, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA
| | - Bernard S Crimmins
- Clarkson University, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA; AEACS, LLC, New Kensington, PA, USA.
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217
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Li J, Luo K, Liu X, Tang S, Zhang J, Chen D. Chemical-specific determinants for pre-conceptional exposure to emerging and legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 819:152501. [PMID: 34968602 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The exposure of preconception women to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) could negatively affect her reproductive health. However, chemical-specific determinants for pre-conceptional exposure to PFASs, particularly the emerging ones, remain poorly understood. In the present study, it was found that the total PFAS concentration ranged from 8.9 to 440.3 ng/mL (median: 49.6 ng/mL) in 1060 preconception women. The PFAS exposure profile was dominated by PFOA (16.8 ng/mL), followed by PFOS (13.3 ng/mL), 6:2 Cl-PFESA (8.9 ng/mL), PFDA (2.4 ng/mL), PFNA (2.1 ng/mL), and others. The pre-conceptional exposure to the selected PFASs was significantly associated, in a chemical-specific pattern, with multiple demographic characteristics and the consumption frequency of different types of food. In particular, the exposure to 6:2 Cl-PFESA was associated with age, parity, alcohol drinking, educational level, household income, and the consumption frequency of red meat, marine and freshwater fish, shellfish, and shrimp. However, our analysis revealed that the investigated sociodemographic and diet variables only explained a relatively small proportion (1.3%-18.7%) of PFAS concentration variations, raising the need of exploring additional factors critical to pre-conceptional PFAS exposure. Overall, the identification of chemical-specific determinants would greatly facilitate the understanding of the link between pre-conceptional exposure and health outcomes, and the mitigation of human exposure to PFAS, particularly the emerging ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Kai Luo
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xiaotu Liu
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Shuqin Tang
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Da Chen
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
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218
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Blake BE, Rickard BP, Fenton SE. A High-Throughput Toxicity Screen of 42 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Functional Assessment of Migration and Gene Expression in Human Placental Trophoblast Cells. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:881347. [PMID: 35548680 PMCID: PMC9081605 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.881347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become ubiquitous environmental contaminants that have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in women and experimental research models. Adverse developmental and reproductive outcomes have been investigated for relatively few PFAS, and such studies are not scalable to address the thousands of unique chemical structures. As the placenta has been reported as a PFAS target tissue, the human placental trophoblast JEG-3 cell line was employed in a high-throughput toxicity screen (HTTS) to evaluate the effects of 42 unique PFAS on viability, proliferation, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). HTTS concentration-response curve fitting determined EC50 values for 79% of tested compounds for at least one of the three endpoints. Trophoblast migratory potential was evaluated for a subset of six prioritized PFAS using a scratch wound assay. Migration, measured as the percent of wound closure after 72 h, was most severely inhibited by exposure to 100 µM perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA; 72% closure), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS; 57% closure), or ammonium perfluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoate (GenX; 79% closure). PFOA and GenX were subsequently evaluated for disrupted expression of 46 genes reported to be vital to trophoblast health. Disrupted regulation of oxidative stress was suggested by altered expression of GPEX1 (300 µM GenX and 3 µM GenX), GPER1 (300 µM GenX), and SOD1 and altered cellular response to xenobiotic stress was indicated by upregulation of the placental efflux transporter, ABCG2 (300 µM GenX, 3 µM GenX, and 100 µM PFOA). These findings suggest the placenta is potentially a direct target of PFAS exposure and indicate that trophoblast cell gene expression and function are disrupted at PFAS levels well below the calculated cytotoxicity threshold (EC50). Future work is needed to determine the mechanism(s) of action of PFAS towards placental trophoblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bevin E. Blake
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Mechanistic Toxicology Branch, Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Brittany P. Rickard
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Suzanne E. Fenton
- Mechanistic Toxicology Branch, Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
- *Correspondence: Suzanne E. Fenton,
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219
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Schildroth S, Rodgers KM, Strynar M, McCord J, Poma G, Covaci A, Dodson RE. Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and persistent chemical mixtures in dust from U.S. colleges. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 206:112530. [PMID: 34902383 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Indoor spaces contain several classes of persistent organic chemicals, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). However, concentrations of PFAS and persistent chemical mixtures and their associations with building characteristics on college campuses are understudied. We collected dust from 43 nonresidential spaces on four U.S. college campuses in 2016 and evaluated associations of room characteristics (carpeting, upholstered furniture, and years since last furnished) with dust concentrations of PFAS, PBDEs, PCBs, and OCPs. Nine PFAS, twelve PBDEs, two PCBs, and four OCPs were each detected in at least 75% of the spaces, including several chemicals (e.g., DDT) that have been banned for decades. Concentrations were correlated within and, in some cases, between chemical classes. Wall-to-wall carpeting (compared to rooms without wall-to-wall carpeting) was associated with higher concentrations of six individual PFAS and a mixture of PFAS, and the number of pieces of upholstered furniture was associated with increased concentrations of a mixture of PBDEs. These findings indicate that carpeting and furniture are current sources of PFAS and PBDEs, respectively. Building and finish materials should be carefully selected to avoid exposure to persistent chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Schildroth
- Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Kathryn M Rodgers
- Silent Spring Institute, 320 Nevada Street, Suite 302, Newton, MA, 02460, USA
| | - Mark Strynar
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling Durham, NC, 27711, USA
| | - James McCord
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling Durham, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Giulia Poma
- Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Robin E Dodson
- Silent Spring Institute, 320 Nevada Street, Suite 302, Newton, MA, 02460, USA.
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Starnes HM, Rock KD, Jackson TW, Belcher SM. A Critical Review and Meta-Analysis of Impacts of Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances on the Brain and Behavior. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:881584. [PMID: 35480070 PMCID: PMC9035516 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.881584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of structurally diverse synthetic organic chemicals that are chemically stable, resistant to degradation, and persistent in terrestrial and aquatic environments. Widespread use of PFAS in industrial processing and manufacturing over the last 70 years has led to global contamination of built and natural environments. The brain is a lipid rich and highly vascularized organ composed of long-lived neurons and glial cells that are especially vulnerable to the impacts of persistent and lipophilic toxicants. Generally, PFAS partition to protein-rich tissues of the body, primarily the liver and blood, but are also detected in the brains of humans, wildlife, and laboratory animals. Here we review factors impacting the absorption, distribution, and accumulation of PFAS in the brain, and currently available evidence for neurotoxic impacts defined by disruption of neurochemical, neurophysiological, and behavioral endpoints. Emphasis is placed on the neurotoxic potential of exposures during critical periods of development and in sensitive populations, and factors that may exacerbate neurotoxicity of PFAS. While limitations and inconsistencies across studies exist, the available body of evidence suggests that the neurobehavioral impacts of long-chain PFAS exposures during development are more pronounced than impacts resulting from exposure during adulthood. There is a paucity of experimental studies evaluating neurobehavioral and molecular mechanisms of short-chain PFAS, and even greater data gaps in the analysis of neurotoxicity for PFAS outside of the perfluoroalkyl acids. Whereas most experimental studies were focused on acute and subchronic impacts resulting from high dose exposures to a single PFAS congener, more realistic exposures for humans and wildlife are mixtures exposures that are relatively chronic and low dose in nature. Our evaluation of the available human epidemiological, experimental, and wildlife data also indicates heightened accumulation of perfluoroalkyl acids in the brain after environmental exposure, in comparison to the experimental studies. These findings highlight the need for additional experimental analysis of neurodevelopmental impacts of environmentally relevant concentrations and complex mixtures of PFAS.
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DeLuca NM, Minucci JM, Mullikin A, Slover R, Cohen Hubal EA. Human exposure pathways to poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from indoor media: A systematic review. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 162:107149. [PMID: 35240384 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been primarily attributed to contaminated food and drinking water. There is information indicating other sources and pathways of exposure in residential environments, but few studies report relationships between these indoor media and human biomonitoring measurements. METHODS This study adapts existing systematic review tools and methodologies to synthesize evidence for PFAS exposure pathways from indoor environment media including consumer products, household articles, cleaning products, personal care products, and indoor air and dust. Studies were identified using innovative machine learning approaches and pathway-specific search strings to reduce time needed for literature search and screening. The included studies and systematic review were evaluated using tools modified specifically for exposure studies. The systematic review was conducted following a previously published protocol (DeLuca et al., 2021) that describes the systematic review methodology used in detail. RESULTS Only 7 studies were identified that measured the targeted subset of 8 PFAS chemicals in concordant household media (primarily house dust) and participant serum. Data extracted from the included studies were used to calculate exposure intake rates and estimate a percentage of occupant serum concentrations that could be attributed to the indoor exposure pathways. These calculations showed that exposure to PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, and PFHxS from contaminated house dust could account for 13%, 3%, 7%, and 25% of serum concentrations, respectively. Inhalation of PFAS in indoor air could account for less than 4% of serum PFOA concentrations and less than 2% of serum PFOS and PFNA concentrations. A risk of bias was identified due to participant profiles in most of the studies being skewed towards white, female, and higher socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS Along with synthesizing evidence for estimated contributions to serum PFAS levels from indoor exposure media, this systematic review also identifies a consistent risk of bias across exposure study populations that should be considered in future studies. It highlights a major research gap and need for studies that measure concordant data from both indoor exposure media and participant serum and the need for continued research on exposure modeling parameters for many PFAS chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M DeLuca
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Jeffrey M Minucci
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Ashley Mullikin
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Rachel Slover
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Elaine A Cohen Hubal
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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Rosato I, Zare Jeddi M, Ledda C, Gallo E, Fletcher T, Pitter G, Batzella E, Canova C. How to investigate human health effects related to exposure to mixtures of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances: A systematic review of statistical methods. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 205:112565. [PMID: 34915031 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Humans are exposed to several per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) daily; however, most previous studies have focused on individual PFAS. Although attention to effects of exposure to mixtures of PFAS has grown in recent years, there is no consensus on the appropriate statistical methods that can be used to assess their combined effect on human health. OBJECTIVES We aim to perform a comprehensive review of the statistical methods used in the existing studies which evaluate the association between exposure to mixtures of PFAS and any adverse human health effect. METHODS The online databases PubMed, Embase and Scopus were searched for eligible studies, published during the last ten years (last search performed on April 08, 2021). Covidence software was used by two different reviewers to perform a title/abstract screening, followed by a full text revision of the selected papers. RESULTS A total of 3640 papers were identified, and after the screening process, 53 papers were included in the current review. Most of the studies were published between 2019 and 2021 and were conducted mainly in North America and Europe; more than half of the studies (28 out of 53) were conducted on mother and child pairs. WQS (Weighted Quantile Sum) Regression and BKMR (Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression) were used in 36 out of 53 papers to model mixtures' effects. Health outcomes included in the studies are immunotoxicity (n = 8), fetal development (n = 7), neurodevelopment (n = 9), reproductive hormones (n = 6), thyroid hormones (n = 7), outcomes related to metabolic pathways (n = 16). CONCLUSION Studies on human exposure to PFAS as complex mixtures and health consequences have substantially increased in the last few years. Based on our findings, we propose that addressing risk from PFAS mixtures will likely require combinations of approaches and implementation of constantly evolving statistical methods. Specific guidelines and tools for quality assessment and publication of mixture observational studies are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Rosato
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Maryam Zare Jeddi
- RIVM-National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Caterina Ledda
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padova, Italy; Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Elisa Gallo
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Tony Fletcher
- Screening and Health Impact Assessment Unit, Azienda Zero-Veneto Region, Padova, Italy
| | - Gisella Pitter
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Erich Batzella
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Cristina Canova
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padova, Italy.
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Guo P, Furnary T, Vasiliou V, Yan Q, Nyhan K, Jones DP, Johnson CH, Liew Z. Non-targeted metabolomics and associations with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure in humans: A scoping review. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 162:107159. [PMID: 35231839 PMCID: PMC8969205 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To summarize the application of non-targeted metabolomics in epidemiological studies that assessed metabolite and metabolic pathway alterations associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure. RECENT FINDINGS Eleven human studies published before April 1st, 2021 were identified through database searches (PubMed, Dimensions, Web of Science Core Collection, Embase, Scopus), and citation chaining (Citationchaser). The sample sizes of these studies ranged from 40 to 965, involving children and adolescents (n = 3), non-pregnant adults (n = 5), or pregnant women (n = 3). High-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was the primary analytical platform to measure both PFAS and metabolome. PFAS were measured in either plasma (n = 6) or serum (n = 5), while metabolomic profiles were assessed using plasma (n = 6), serum (n = 4), or urine (n = 1). Four types of PFAS (perfluorooctane sulfonate(n = 11), perfluorooctanoic acid (n = 10), perfluorohexane sulfonate (n = 9), perfluorononanoic acid (n = 5)) and PFAS mixtures (n = 7) were the most studied. We found that alterations to tryptophan metabolism and the urea cycle were most reported PFAS-associated metabolomic signatures. Numerous lipid metabolites were also suggested to be associated with PFAS exposure, especially key metabolites in glycerophospholipid metabolism which is critical for biological membrane functions, and fatty acids and carnitines which are relevant to the energy supply pathway of fatty acid oxidation. Other important metabolome changes reported included the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle regarding energy generation, and purine and pyrimidine metabolism in cellular energy systems. CONCLUSIONS There is growing interest in using non-targeted metabolomics to study the human physiological changes associated with PFAS exposure. Multiple PFAS were reported to be associated with alterations in amino acid and lipid metabolism, but these results are driven by one predominant type of pathway analysis thus require further confirmation. Standardizing research methods and reporting are recommended to facilitate result comparison. Future studies should consider potential differences in study methodology, use of prospective design, and influence from confounding bias and measurement errors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Guo
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, USA; Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA
| | - Tristan Furnary
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - Vasilis Vasiliou
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - Qi Yan
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, USA
| | - Kate Nyhan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, USA; Harvey Cushing / John Hay Whitney Medical Library, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - Dean P Jones
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, USA; Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, USA
| | - Caroline H Johnson
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - Zeyan Liew
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, USA; Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA.
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224
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Roesch P, Vogel C, Huthwelker T, Wittwer P, Simon FG. Investigation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soils and sewage sludges by fluorine K-edge XANES spectroscopy and combustion ion chromatography. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:26889-26899. [PMID: 34860340 PMCID: PMC8989862 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17838-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
For the first time, fluorine K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy was applied to detect per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in various soil and sewage sludge samples. The method can be used to determine the speciation of inorganic and organic fluorides, without pre-treatment of solid samples. Therefore, XANES spectra of several inorganic fluorides as well as selected fluorinated organic compounds were recorded. While inorganic fluorides partially exhibit a variety of sharp spectral features in the XANES spectrum, almost all inspected organofluorine compounds show two distinct broad features at 688.5 and 692.0 eV. Moreover, the peak intensity ratio 688.5 eV/692.0 eV in the PFAS XANES spectrum can be inversely correlated to the chain length of the perfluoro sulfonic acid group. The detection of targeted PFAS by bulk-XANES spectroscopy in combination with linear combination fitting in soils and sewage sludges was not applicable due to the low organic fluorine to total fluorine ratio of the samples (0.01-1.84%). Nonetheless, direct analysis of pure PFAS revealed that analysis of organofluorine species might be achieved in higher concentrated samples. Furthermore, quantitative measurements by combustion ion chromatography (CIC) evaluated as sum parameters extractable organically bound fluorine (EOF) and total fluorine (TF) emphasize that besides soils, sewage sludges are a significant source of organic fluorine in agriculture (154-7209 µg/kg).
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Roesch
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Division 4.3 Contaminant Transfer and Environmental Technologies, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Christian Vogel
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Division 4.3 Contaminant Transfer and Environmental Technologies, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Thomas Huthwelker
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Swiss Light Source, 5232, Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Wittwer
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Division 4.3 Contaminant Transfer and Environmental Technologies, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205, Berlin, Germany
| | - Franz-Georg Simon
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Division 4.3 Contaminant Transfer and Environmental Technologies, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205, Berlin, Germany
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225
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Su S, Jones PD, Raine JC, Yang Z, Gong Y, Xie Y, Tang J, Wang C, Zhao X, Giesy JP. Absorption and elimination of per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances substitutes in salmonid species after pre-fertilization exposure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 814:152547. [PMID: 34952081 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Due to their relatively large production and few restrictions on uses, novel substitutes for historically used per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are being used and accumulating in the environment. However, due to a lack of information on their toxicological properties their hazards and risks are hard to estimate. Before fertilization, oocytes of two salmonid species, Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) and Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), were exposed to three PFAS substances used as substitutes for traditional PFAS, PFBA, PFBS or GenX or two archetypical, historically used, longer-chain PFAS, PFOA and PFOS. Exposed oocytes were subsequently fertilized, incubated and were sampled during several developmental stages, until swim-up. All five PFAS were accumulated into egg yolks with similar absorption rates, and their concentrations in egg yolks were less than respective concentrations in/on egg chorions. Rapid elimination of the five PFAS was observed during the first 3 days after fertilization. Thereafter, amounts of PFOS and PFOA were stable until swim-up, while PFBA, PFBS and GenX were further eliminated during development from one month after the fertilization to swim-up. In these two salmonid species, PFBA, PFBS and GenX were eliminated faster than were PFOS or PFOA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Su
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Paul D Jones
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada; School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8, Canada.
| | - Jason C Raine
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Zilin Yang
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Yufeng Gong
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Yuwei Xie
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Jie Tang
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Chao Wang
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Xiaoli Zhao
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - John P Giesy
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada; Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada; Department of Environmental Sciences, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76706, United States
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226
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Kirkwood KI, Fleming J, Nguyen H, Reif DM, Baker ES, Belcher SM. Utilizing Pine Needles to Temporally and Spatially Profile Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:3441-3451. [PMID: 35175744 PMCID: PMC9199521 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c06483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
As concerns over exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are continually increasing, novel methods to monitor their presence and modifications are greatly needed, as some have known toxic and bioaccumulative characteristics while most have unknown effects. This task however is not simple, as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) CompTox PFAS list contains more than 9000 substances as of September 2020 with additional substances added continually. Nontargeted analyses are therefore crucial to investigating the presence of this immense list of possible PFAS. Here, we utilized archived and field-sampled pine needles as widely available passive samplers and a novel nontargeted, multidimensional analytical method coupling liquid chromatography, ion mobility spectrometry, and mass spectrometry (LC-IMS-MS) to evaluate the temporal and spatial presence of numerous PFAS. Over 70 PFAS were detected in the pine needles from this study, including both traditionally monitored legacy perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and their emerging replacements such as chlorinated derivatives, ultrashort chain PFAAs, perfluoroalkyl ether acids including hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, "GenX") and Nafion byproduct 2, and a cyclic perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) analog. Results from this study provide critical insight related to PFAS transport, contamination, and reduction efforts over the past six decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaylie I Kirkwood
- North Carolina State University, Department of Chemistry, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Jonathon Fleming
- North Carolina State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Helen Nguyen
- North Carolina State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - David M Reif
- North Carolina State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Erin S Baker
- North Carolina State University, Department of Chemistry, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Scott M Belcher
- North Carolina State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
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227
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Lei SN, Cong H. Fluorescence detection of perfluorooctane sulfonate in water employing a tetraphenylethylene-derived dual macrocycle BowtieCyclophane. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2021.08.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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228
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Evaluation and validation of methodologies for the extraction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in serum of birds and mammals. Anal Bioanal Chem 2022; 414:3017-3032. [PMID: 35182167 PMCID: PMC8934760 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-022-03962-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Advances in analytical techniques have allowed greater detection of environmental contaminants from small volumes of sample. Four methodologies were evaluated for the extraction of 53 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) from eight classes in 200 µL of avian and mammal serum. Spiked serums at four concentrations (0, 0.5, 5.0 and 25 ng mL−1) were prepared by protein precipitation (PPT), enhanced matrix removal (EMR), weak anion exchange (WAX), and hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) solid-phase extraction cartridges. The extract from each methodology was analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS), and concentrations were compared with known concentrations in the spiked media. EMR performed the best overall, with 40 of 53 compounds effectively recovered at 5 ng mL−1. Furthermore, EMR was effective overall at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 25 ng mL−1 for 39 out of 53. Similarly, PPT was effective for 35 of 53 compounds at all spiked serum concentrations. There was a negative correlation between internal standard recovery for compounds with increasing octanol–water coefficients (Kow) for WAX (R = − 0.65, p = 0.0043) and HLB (R = − 0.62, p = 0.0077) extractions, indicating methanol may not be a suitable solvent for long-chain PFAS extraction from protein-rich tissues. EMR and PPT represent fast and effective methodologies for the extraction of PFASs from low volumes of serum which allows greater accuracy and precision that can be applied to future human and wildlife biomonitoring programmes.
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229
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Helmer RW, Reeves DM, Cassidy DP. Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) cycling within Michigan: Contaminated sites, landfills and wastewater treatment plants. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 210:117983. [PMID: 34954365 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Concentrations of Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) from public and private sources in Michigan compiled for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) (influent, effluent, biosolids), contaminated sites, and landfill leachates reveal complex cycling within the natural and engineered environment. Analysis of 171 contaminated sites in Michigan by source release indicate four dominant PFAS sources - landfills, aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF), metal platers, and automotive/metal stamping - account for 75% of the contamination. Diverse chemical signatures were observed for leachates collected from 19 landfills (mostly type II municipal) with the dominant PFAS ranging from perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) to shorter-chained compounds, perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS). Analysis of PFAS carbon chain length as a function of landfill age shows the transition of C8s in leachate from older landfills to C4s and C6s in younger landfills, consistent with the phasing out and replacement of C8s. PFAS mass flux in leachate for landfills studied range between 5 - 2,000 g/yr and are highest for active landfills, which generate greater leachate volumes and contain fresh PFAS wastes. Detailed study of 10 WWTPs with industrial pretreatment programs indicate numerous chemical transformations across the plants that yield effluent PFAS concentrations as much as 19 times greater than influent, attributed to transformations of unmeasured precursors in the influent to measured, stable PFAS in the effluent. PFOA, PFHxA, perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA), PFBA, and PFBS show the greatest increases across the plant ranging from 20% to nearly 2,000%. PFOS concentrations decreased across 6 WWTPs, consistent with a strong tendency to adsorb onto biosolids. Estimated mass of discharge of (mostly unregulated) PFAS from WWTPs to receiving waters range from 40 g/yr to 128 kg/yr.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross W Helmer
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Western Michigan University, 1903W. Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008-5241, USA; Water Resources Division, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, 525W. Allegan St, Lansing, MI, 48933, USA
| | - Donald M Reeves
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Western Michigan University, 1903W. Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008-5241, USA.
| | - Daniel P Cassidy
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Western Michigan University, 1903W. Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008-5241, USA
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230
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Evich MG, Davis MJB, McCord JP, Acrey B, Awkerman JA, Knappe DRU, Lindstrom AB, Speth TF, Stevens CT, Strynar MJ, Wang Z, Weber EJ, Henderson WM, Washington JW. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the environment. Science 2022; 375:eabg9065. [PMID: 35113710 PMCID: PMC8902460 DOI: 10.1126/science.abg9065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 329] [Impact Index Per Article: 164.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Over the past several years, the term PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) has grown to be emblematic of environmental contamination, garnering public, scientific, and regulatory concern. PFAS are synthesized by two processes, direct fluorination (e.g., electrochemical fluorination) and oligomerization (e.g., fluorotelomerization). More than a megatonne of PFAS is produced yearly, and thousands of PFAS wind up in end-use products. Atmospheric and aqueous fugitive releases during manufacturing, use, and disposal have resulted in the global distribution of these compounds. Volatile PFAS facilitate long-range transport, commonly followed by complex transformation schemes to recalcitrant terminal PFAS, which do not degrade under environmental conditions and thus migrate through the environment and accumulate in biota through multiple pathways. Efforts to remediate PFAS-contaminated matrices still are in their infancy, with much current research targeting drinking water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina G. Evich
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling
| | - Mary J. B. Davis
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling
| | - James P. McCord
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling
| | - Brad Acrey
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling
| | - Jill A. Awkerman
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling
| | - Detlef R. U. Knappe
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA,Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Andrew B. Lindstrom
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment
| | - Thomas F. Speth
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response
| | - Caroline T. Stevens
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling
| | - Mark J. Strynar
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling
| | - Zhanyun Wang
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Eric J. Weber
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling
| | - W. Matthew Henderson
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling,corresponding: ,
| | - John W. Washington
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling,corresponding: ,
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Conley JM, Lambright CS, Evans N, Medlock-Kakaley E, Hill D, McCord J, Strynar MJ, Wehmas LC, Hester S, MacMillan DK, Gray LE. Developmental toxicity of Nafion byproduct 2 (NBP2) in the Sprague-Dawley rat with comparisons to hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (HFPO-DA or GenX) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 160:107056. [PMID: 34952357 PMCID: PMC8821375 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.107056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Nafion byproduct 2 (NBP2) is a polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonic acid that was recently detected in surface water, drinking water, and human serum samples from monitoring studies in North Carolina, USA. We orally exposed pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats to NBP2 from gestation day (GD) 14-18 (0.1-30 mg/kg/d), GD17-21, and GD8 to postnatal day (PND) 2 (0.3-30 mg/kg/d) to characterize maternal, fetal, and postnatal effects. GD14-18 exposures were also conducted with perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) for comparison to NBP2, as well as data previously published for hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (HFPO-DA or GenX). NBP2 produced stillbirth (30 mg/kg), reduced pup survival shortly after birth (10 mg/kg), and reduced pup body weight (10 mg/kg). Histopathological evaluation identified reduced glycogen stores in newborn pup livers and hepatocyte hypertrophy in maternal livers at ≥ 10 mg/kg. Exposure to NBP2 from GD14-18 reduced maternal serum total T3 and cholesterol concentrations (30 mg/kg). Maternal, fetal, and neonatal liver gene expression was investigated using RT-qPCR pathway arrays, while maternal and fetal livers were also analyzed using TempO-Seq transcriptomic profiling. Overall, there was limited alteration of genes in maternal or F1 livers from NBP2 exposure with significant changes mostly occurring in the top dose group (30 mg/kg) associated with lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Metabolomic profiling indicated elevated maternal bile acids for NBP2, but not HFPO-DA or PFOS, while all three reduced 3-indolepropionic acid. Maternal and fetal serum and liver NBP2 concentrations were similar to PFOS, but ∼10-30-fold greater than HFPO-DA concentrations at a given maternal oral dose. NBP2 is a developmental toxicant in the rat, producing neonatal mortality, reduced pup body weight, reduced pup liver glycogen, reduced maternal thyroid hormones, and altered maternal and offspring lipid and carbohydrate metabolism similar to other studied PFAS, with oral toxicity for pup loss that is slightly less potent than PFOS but more potent than HFPO-DA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin M Conley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Research & Development/Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Christy S Lambright
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Research & Development/Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Nicola Evans
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Research & Development/Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Elizabeth Medlock-Kakaley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Research & Development/Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Donna Hill
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Research & Development/Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - James McCord
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Research & Development/Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Mark J Strynar
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Research & Development/Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Leah C Wehmas
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Research & Development/Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Susan Hester
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Research & Development/Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Denise K MacMillan
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Research & Development/Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - L Earl Gray
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Research & Development/Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
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232
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Nolen RM, Faulkner P, Ross AD, Kaiser K, Quigg A, Hala D. PFASs pollution in Galveston Bay surface waters and biota (shellfish and fish) following AFFFs use during the ITC fire at Deer Park (March 17th-20th 2019), Houston, TX. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 805:150361. [PMID: 34818778 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The use of aqueous film forming foams (AFFFs) as fire retardants is an critical point-source for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) pollution into the aquatic environment. This study investigated PFASs pollution in the surface waters and biota (shellfish and fish) of Galveston Bay, following AFFFs use to extinguish a petrochemical fire (March 17th to 20th, 2019) of oil storage tanks at the International Terminals Company (ITC) in Deer Park (Houston, TX). The levels of up to twelve EPA priority PFASs were measured in surface waters and biota from March-November 2019. PFASs levels in surface waters showed mean total levels in March and April 2019 to be from 4× to ~300× higher than those measured in the following months. PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) was the most abundant homolog measured at ≥66% of total PFASs. Maximal PFOS levels exceeded the State of Texas' water regulatory limit of 0.6 μg L-1 in 3% of the samples analyzed in March and April 2019. PFOS was also the most prominent homolog (≥66% of total PFASs) measured in eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica), red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), gafftopsail catfish (Bagre marinus), and spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus). A statistically significant elevation of PFOS body-burdens was measured in oysters and spotted seatrout in April and May 2019, respectively. A Hazard Ratio calculation for seafood safety suggests an advisory of 1-2 meals per week for gafftopsail catfish and red drum, and 2 meals per week for spotted seatrout to be protective for human exposure to PFOS. The levels in oysters indicated no immediate concerns for the dietary exposure of humans. Our results highlight a need for continual monitoring to assess the long-term fate and seafood advisories for PFASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayna M Nolen
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77553, USA
| | - Patricia Faulkner
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77553, USA
| | - Ashley D Ross
- Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77553, USA
| | - Karl Kaiser
- Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77553, USA
| | - Antonietta Quigg
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77553, USA; Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - David Hala
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77553, USA; Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
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233
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PFAS Molecules: A Major Concern for the Human Health and the Environment. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10020044. [PMID: 35202231 PMCID: PMC8878656 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10020044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of over 4700 heterogeneous compounds with amphipathic properties and exceptional stability to chemical and thermal degradation. The unique properties of PFAS compounds has been exploited for almost 60 years and has largely contributed to their wide applicability over a vast range of industrial, professional and non-professional uses. However, increasing evidence indicate that these compounds represent also a serious concern for both wildlife and human health as a result of their ubiquitous distribution, their extreme persistence and their bioaccumulative potential. In light of the adverse effects that have been already documented in biota and human populations or that might occur in absence of prompt interventions, the competent authorities in matter of health and environment protection, the industries as well as scientists are cooperating to identify the most appropriate regulatory measures, substitution plans and remediation technologies to mitigate PFAS impacts. In this review, starting from PFAS chemistry, uses and environmental fate, we summarize the current knowledge on PFAS occurrence in different environmental media and their effects on living organisms, with a particular emphasis on humans. Also, we describe present and provisional legislative measures in the European Union framework strategy to regulate PFAS manufacture, import and use as well as some of the most promising treatment technologies designed to remediate PFAS contamination in different environmental compartments.
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234
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Predicting the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance mixtures on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha activity in vitro. Toxicology 2022; 465:153024. [PMID: 34743024 PMCID: PMC8692422 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.153024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Human exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is ubiquitous, with mixtures of PFAS detected in drinking water, food, household dust, and other exposure sources. Animal toxicity studies and human epidemiology indicate that PFAS may act through shared mechanisms including activation of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α (PPARα). However, the effect of PFAS mixtures on human relevant molecular initiating events remains an important data gap in the PFAS literature. Here, we tested the ability of modeling approaches to predict the effect of diverse PPARα ligands on receptor activity using Cos7 cells transiently transfected with a full length human PPARα (hPPARα) expression construct and a peroxisome proliferator response element-driven luciferase reporter. Cells were treated for 24 h with two full hPPARα agonists (pemafibrate and GW7647), a full and a partial hPPARα agonist (pemafibrate and mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate), or a full hPPARα agonist and a competitive antagonist (pemafibrate and GW6471). Receptor activity was modeled with three additive approaches: effect summation, relative potency factors (RPF), and generalized concentration addition (GCA). While RPF and GCA accurately predicted activity for mixtures of full hPPARα agonists, only GCA predicted activity for full and partial hPPARα agonists and a full agonist and antagonist. We then generated concentration response curves for seven PFAS, which were well-fit with three-parameter Hill functions. The four perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCA) tended to act as full hPPARα agonists while the three perfluorinated sulfonic acids (PFSA) tended to act as partial agonists that varied in efficacy between 28-67 % of the full agonist, positive control level. GCA and RPF performed equally well at predicting the effects of mixtures with three PFCAs, but only GCA predicted experimental activity with mixtures of PFSAs and a mixture of PFCAs and PFSAs at ratios found in the general population. We conclude that of the three approaches, GCA most accurately models the effect of PFAS mixtures on hPPARα activity in vitro. Understanding the differences in efficacy with which PFAS activate hPPARα is essential for accurately predicting the effects of PFAS mixtures. As PFAS can activate multiple nuclear receptors, future analyses should examine mixtures effects in intact cells where multiple molecular initiating events contribute to proximate effects and functional changes.
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235
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Nielsen G, Heiger-Bernays WJ, Schlezinger JJ, Webster TF. Predicting the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance mixtures on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha activity in vitro. Toxicology 2022; 465:153024. [PMID: 34743024 DOI: 10.1101/2021.09.30.462638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Human exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is ubiquitous, with mixtures of PFAS detected in drinking water, food, household dust, and other exposure sources. Animal toxicity studies and human epidemiology indicate that PFAS may act through shared mechanisms including activation of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α (PPARα). However, the effect of PFAS mixtures on human relevant molecular initiating events remains an important data gap in the PFAS literature. Here, we tested the ability of modeling approaches to predict the effect of diverse PPARα ligands on receptor activity using Cos7 cells transiently transfected with a full length human PPARα (hPPARα) expression construct and a peroxisome proliferator response element-driven luciferase reporter. Cells were treated for 24 h with two full hPPARα agonists (pemafibrate and GW7647), a full and a partial hPPARα agonist (pemafibrate and mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate), or a full hPPARα agonist and a competitive antagonist (pemafibrate and GW6471). Receptor activity was modeled with three additive approaches: effect summation, relative potency factors (RPF), and generalized concentration addition (GCA). While RPF and GCA accurately predicted activity for mixtures of full hPPARα agonists, only GCA predicted activity for full and partial hPPARα agonists and a full agonist and antagonist. We then generated concentration response curves for seven PFAS, which were well-fit with three-parameter Hill functions. The four perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCA) tended to act as full hPPARα agonists while the three perfluorinated sulfonic acids (PFSA) tended to act as partial agonists that varied in efficacy between 28-67 % of the full agonist, positive control level. GCA and RPF performed equally well at predicting the effects of mixtures with three PFCAs, but only GCA predicted experimental activity with mixtures of PFSAs and a mixture of PFCAs and PFSAs at ratios found in the general population. We conclude that of the three approaches, GCA most accurately models the effect of PFAS mixtures on hPPARα activity in vitro. Understanding the differences in efficacy with which PFAS activate hPPARα is essential for accurately predicting the effects of PFAS mixtures. As PFAS can activate multiple nuclear receptors, future analyses should examine mixtures effects in intact cells where multiple molecular initiating events contribute to proximate effects and functional changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greylin Nielsen
- Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
| | - Wendy J Heiger-Bernays
- Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Jennifer J Schlezinger
- Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
| | - Thomas F Webster
- Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
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236
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Costopoulou D, Vassiliadou I, Leondiadis L. PFASs intake from fish, eggs and drinking water in Greece in relation to the safety limits for weekly intake proposed in the EFSA scientific opinion of 2020. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 286:131851. [PMID: 34391114 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Food consumption has been recognized as the most significant contributor to human exposure to polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) for the general population. In 2020, EFSA introduced for the first time safety limit of 4.4 ng/kg body weight (bw) for weekly intake for the sum of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) which are all perfluoralkyl acids (PFAAs) that belong to PFASs group. Fish and eggs have been found to contribute significantly, almost 50 % to PFOS and PFOA dietary intake of the Greek population. In the present study, estimation of human intake of these four PFASs from fish, eggs and drinking water consumption is attempted. Data from EFSA food consumption database for fish and eggs are used for assessment. Mean weekly intake estimated is above the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) recently proposed, mainly due to fish consumption. Exceedance of the proposed TWI emphasizes the need for continuous monitoring of levels of PFASs in food in parallel with efforts to lower these levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danae Costopoulou
- Mass Spectrometry and Dioxin Analysis Laboratory, INRASTES, NCSR "Demokritos", 15310, Athens, Greece.
| | - Irene Vassiliadou
- Mass Spectrometry and Dioxin Analysis Laboratory, INRASTES, NCSR "Demokritos", 15310, Athens, Greece
| | - Leondios Leondiadis
- Mass Spectrometry and Dioxin Analysis Laboratory, INRASTES, NCSR "Demokritos", 15310, Athens, Greece
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237
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Hill NI, Becanova J, Lohmann R. A sensitive method for the detection of legacy and emerging per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in dairy milk. Anal Bioanal Chem 2022; 414:1235-1243. [PMID: 34355253 PMCID: PMC8727491 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-021-03575-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
There is widespread contamination by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) across the globe, with adverse effects on human and environmental health. For human exposure, drinking water and dietary exposure have been recognized as important PFAS exposure pathway for the general population. Several documented cases of dairy milk contamination by PFAS have raised concerns over this exposure pathway in general. A sensitive method for determination of 27 PFAS in milk was hence modified and applied on raw and processed milk samples from 13 farms across the United States (U.S.). A combination of acid and basic extraction method and ENVI-Carb clean-up achieved recoveries of targeted PFAS between 70 and 141%. The method detection limits (MDL) ranged from 0.8 to 22 ng/L (for 26 PFAS) and 144 ng/L for perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA). The uniqueness of this method is considered in the targeted screening of a broad range of legacy PFAS, as well as perfluorinated sulfonamide species and fluorotelomer sulfonates. No legacy PFAS were detected in 13 milk samples from regions of concern given local use of biosolids or proximity to fire training areas. Overall, then, the uptake of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) from dairy milk in the U.S. is considered low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas I Hill
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI, USA
| | - Jitka Becanova
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI, USA.
| | - Rainer Lohmann
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI, USA
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238
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Aghaei Z, Steeves KL, Jobst KJ, Cahill LS. The impact of perfluoroalkyl substances on pregnancy, birth outcomes and offspring development: A review of data from mouse models1. Biol Reprod 2021; 106:397-407. [PMID: 34875017 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) are persistent in the environment and bioaccumulate in wildlife and humans, potentially causing adverse health effects at all stages of life. Studies from human pregnancy have shown that exposure to these contaminants are associated with placental dysfunction and fetal growth restriction; however, studies in humans are confounded by genetic and environmental factors. Here, we synthesize the available results from mouse models of pregnancy to show the causal effects of prenatal exposure to PFOA and PFOS on placental and fetal development and on neurocognitive function and metabolic disorders in offspring. We also propose gaps in the present knowledge and provide suggestions for future research studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Aghaei
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
| | - Katherine L Steeves
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
| | - Karl J Jobst
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
| | - Lindsay S Cahill
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
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239
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Abstract
Na+/taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) is important for the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids, which has been suggested to contribute to the long serum elimination half-lives of perfluoroalkyl substances in humans. We demonstrated that some perfluoroalkyl sulfonates are transported by NTCP; however, little was known about carboxylates. The purpose of this study was to determine if perfluoroalkyl carboxylates would interact with NTCP and potentially act as substrates. Sodium-dependent transport of [3H]-taurocholate was measured in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) stably expressing NTCP in the absence or presence of perfluoroalkyl carboxylates with varying chain lengths. PFCAs with 8 (PFOA), 9 (PFNA), and 10 (PFDA) carbons were the strongest inhibitors. Inhibition kinetics demonstrated competitive inhibition and indicated that PFNA was the strongest inhibitor followed by PFDA and PFOA. All three compounds are transported by NTCP, and kinetics experiments revealed that PFOA had the highest affinity for NTCP with a Km value of 1.8 ± 0.4 mM. The Km value PFNA was estimated to be 5.3 ± 3.5 mM and the value for PFDA could not be determined due to limited solubility. In conclusion, our results suggest that, in addition to sulfonates, perfluorinated carboxylates are substrates of NTCP and have the potential to interact with NTCP-mediated transport.
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240
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Guelfo JL, Korzeniowski S, Mills MA, Anderson J, Anderson RH, Arblaster JA, Conder JM, Cousins IT, Dasu K, Henry BJ, Lee LS, Liu J, McKenzie ER, Willey J. Environmental Sources, Chemistry, Fate, and Transport of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: State of the Science, Key Knowledge Gaps, and Recommendations Presented at the August 2019 SETAC Focus Topic Meeting. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2021; 40:3234-3260. [PMID: 34325493 PMCID: PMC8745034 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
A Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Focused Topic Meeting (FTM) on the environmental management of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) convened during August 2019 in Durham, North Carolina (USA). Experts from around the globe were brought together to critically evaluate new and emerging information on PFAS including chemistry, fate, transport, exposure, and toxicity. After plenary presentations, breakout groups were established and tasked to identify and adjudicate via panel discussions overarching conclusions and relevant data gaps. The present review is one in a series and summarizes outcomes of presentations and breakout discussions related to (1) primary sources and pathways in the environment, (2) sorption and transport in porous media, (3) precursor transformation, (4) practical approaches to the assessment of source zones, (5) standard and novel analytical methods with implications for environmental forensics and site management, and (6) classification and grouping from multiple perspectives. Outcomes illustrate that PFAS classification will continue to be a challenge, and additional pressing needs include increased availability of analytical standards and methods for assessment of PFAS and fate and transport, including precursor transformation. Although the state of the science is sufficient to support a degree of site-specific and flexible risk management, effective source prioritization tools, predictive fate and transport models, and improved and standardized analytical methods are needed to guide broader policies and best management practices. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:3234-3260. © 2021 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L. Guelfo
- Department of Civil, Environmental, & Construction EngineeringTexas Tech UniversityLubbockTexasUSA
| | - Stephen Korzeniowski
- American Chemistry CouncilWashingtonDCUSA
- Associated General Contractors of AmericaExtonPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Marc A. Mills
- Office of Research and DevelopmentUS Environmental Protection Agency, CincinnatiOhioUSA
| | | | | | | | | | - Ian T. Cousins
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical ChemistryStockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
| | | | | | - Linda S. Lee
- Department of AgronomyPurdue University, West LafayetteIndianaUSA
| | - Jinxia Liu
- Department of Civil EngineeringMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Erica R. McKenzie
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringTemple UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Janice Willey
- Naval Sea Systems Command, Laboratory Quality and Accreditation Office, Goose CreekSouth CarolinaUSA
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241
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Roth K, Yang Z, Agarwal M, Liu W, Peng Z, Long Z, Birbeck J, Westrick J, Liu W, Petriello MC. Exposure to a mixture of legacy, alternative, and replacement per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) results in sex-dependent modulation of cholesterol metabolism and liver injury. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 157:106843. [PMID: 34479135 PMCID: PMC8490327 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epidemiological studies have shown Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to be associated with diseases of dysregulated lipid and sterol homeostasis such as steatosis and cardiometabolic disorders. However, the majority of mechanistic studies rely on single chemical exposures instead of identifying mechanisms related to the toxicity of PFAS mixtures. OBJECTIVES The goal of the current study is to investigate mechanisms linking exposure to a PFAS mixture with alterations in lipid metabolism, including increased circulating cholesterol and bile acids. METHODS Male and female wild-type C57BL/6J mice were fed an atherogenic diet used in previous studies of pollutant-accelerated atherosclerosis and exposed to water containing a mixture of 5 PFAS representing legacy, replacement, and alternative subtypes (i.e., PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and GenX), each at a concentration of 2 mg/L, for 12 weeks. Changes at the transcriptome and metabolome level were determined by RNA-seq and high-resolution mass spectrometry, respectively. RESULTS We observed increased circulating cholesterol, sterol metabolites, and bile acids due to PFAS exposure, with some sexual dimorphic effects. PFAS exposure increased hepatic injury, demonstrated by increased liver weight, hepatic inflammation, and plasma alanine aminotransferase levels. Females displayed increased lobular and portal inflammation compared to the male PFAS-exposed mice. Hepatic transcriptomics analysis revealed PFAS exposure modulated multiple metabolic pathways, including those related to sterols, bile acids, and acyl carnitines, with multiple sex-specific differences observed. Finally, we show that hepatic and circulating levels of PFOA were increased in exposed females compared to males, but this sexual dimorphism was not the same for other PFAS examined. DISCUSSION Exposure of mice to a mixture of PFAS results in PFAS-mediated modulation of cholesterol levels, possibly through disruption of enterohepatic circulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Roth
- Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Zhao Yang
- Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Manisha Agarwal
- Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Wendy Liu
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals, Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Zheyun Peng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Ze Long
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Johnna Birbeck
- Department of Chemistry, Lumigen Instrumentation Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Judy Westrick
- Department of Chemistry, Lumigen Instrumentation Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Wanqing Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Michael C Petriello
- Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
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242
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Chambers WS, Hopkins JG, Richards SM. A Review of Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substance Impairment of Reproduction. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2021; 3:732436. [PMID: 35295153 PMCID: PMC8915888 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2021.732436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In this review article, we compiled peer-reviewed literature describing PFAS exposure and reproductive effects in animals and humans. The aim was to compare environmental occurrence and effects of the most prominent long-chain PFAS compounds and their short-chain replacements. Long-chain PFAS compounds are known to persist in the environment due to their chemical stability, and also known to bioaccumulate; hence, these compounds are being replaced globally. Indeed, PFOA and PFOS are considered long-chain "forever pollutants," and thus the potential reproductive risk may continue for decades. Much less is known about their short-chain replacements despite the fact that they becoming more widespread in the environment. Short-chain PFAS are generally less bioaccumulative than long-chain, but they are more mobile and persistent in aquatic ecosystems. The three most prominent of these are commonly referred to as GenX, ADONA and F53B. The short-chain PFAS have similar physical and chemical properties as their predecessors; however, because they are relatively new, much less is known about the potential to disrupt reproduction. Indeed, high-quality epidemiological studies are needed to determine associations between short-chain PFAS exposure and effects on reproductive health. However, epidemiological evidence is mounting that long-chain PFAS exposure is associated with reproductive effects (i.e., decrease in fertility, reduced fetal growth and birth weight, pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, thyroid hormone disruption during pregnancy, and preterm birth). Evidence from animal models and human cell lines indicates that short-chain PFAS similarly affect reproductive endpoints; however, epidemiological studies are scarce and inconsistent. Although short-chain PFAS have been quantified in drinking water and sediment worldwide, most of these studies did not focus on quantitation of GenX, ADONA, and F53B. There are also many other short-chain PFAS byproducts of manufacturing that have yet to be identified and studied. When sum total concentration of long- and short-chain PFAS are considered, the concentration rises by an order or magnitude or greater, as will the risk of exposure and subsequent reproductive effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weston S. Chambers
- Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Sciences, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN, United States
| | - Jaida G. Hopkins
- Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Sciences, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN, United States
| | - Sean M. Richards
- Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Sciences, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Section on Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Chattanooga, TN, United States
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243
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Kärrman A, Yeung LWY, Spaan KM, Lange FT, Nguyen MA, Plassmann M, de Wit CA, Scheurer M, Awad R, Benskin JP. Can determination of extractable organofluorine (EOF) be standardized? First interlaboratory comparisons of EOF and fluorine mass balance in sludge and water matrices. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2021; 23:1458-1465. [PMID: 34546240 DOI: 10.1039/d1em00224d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The high proportion of unidentified extractable organofluorine (EOF) observed globally in humans and the environment indicates widespread occurrence of unknown per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, efforts to standardize or assess the reproducibility of EOF methods are currently lacking. Here we present the first EOF interlaboratory comparison in water and sludge. Three participants (four organizations) analyzed unfortified and PFAS-fortified ultrapure water, two unfortified groundwater samples, unfortified wastewater treatment plant effluent and sludge, and an unfortified groundwater extract. Participants adopted common sample handling strategies and target lists for EOF mass balance but used in-house combustion ion-chromatography (CIC) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods. EOF accuracy ranged from 85-101% and 76-109% for the 60 and 334 ng L-1 fluorine (F) - fortified water samples, respectively, with between-laboratory variation of 9-19%, and within-laboratory variation of 3-27%. In unfortified sludge and aqueous samples, between-laboratory variation ranged from 21-37%. The contribution from sum concentrations of 16 individual PFAS (∑PFAS-16) to EOF ranged from 2.2-60% but extended analysis showed that other targets were prevalent, in particular ultra-short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (e.g. trifluoroacetic acid) in aqueous samples and perfluoroalkyl acid-precursors (e.g. polyfluoroalkyl phosphate diesters) in sludge. The EOF-CIC method demonstrated promising accuracy, robustness and reporting limits but poor extraction efficiency was observed for some targets (e.g. trifluoroacetic acid).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kärrman
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre (MTM), Örebro University, Sweden.
| | - Leo W Y Yeung
- Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre (MTM), Örebro University, Sweden.
| | - Kyra M Spaan
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Sweden.
| | | | | | - Merle Plassmann
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Sweden.
| | - Cynthia A de Wit
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Sweden.
| | | | - Raed Awad
- IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Sweden
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244
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Aristizabal-Henao JJ, Brown HJ, Griffin EK, Ostfeld RS, Oggenfuss K, Parker BM, Wisely SM, Bowden JA. Ticks as novel sentinels to monitor environmental levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2021; 23:1301-1307. [PMID: 34369533 DOI: 10.1039/d1em00209k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmentally persistent, ubiquitous pollutants. It is important to continuously monitor the presence of PFAS contamination, utilizing both legacy and new sentinels. In this study, environmental PFAS levels were evaluated using ticks as a sentinel model due to their world-wide distribution, hematophagous nature, and ease of collection and sampling. Hematophagy in discrete blood meals, from a suite of vertebrates, allows ticks to sample dozens of species of consumers and bioaccumulation across communities. Four different species of ticks, across two states (NY, n = 28 in mid-April of 2020 and FL, n = 32 between 2015 and 2020) with two sampling sites in each state were analyzed for the presence of 53 PFAS. The total PFAS concentration in ticks was the lowest at Newburgh (NY), a site that has been undergoing remediation efforts, while the highest total PFAS concentrations were measured in ticks at the Sweetwater site, a wastewater treatment wetland. Detection of PFAS and the potential for variation between tick species and between locations are necessary to establish the utility of ticks as sentinels, in addition to assessing additional environmental factors, such as other wildlife, water, or soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan J Aristizabal-Henao
- Center for Environmental & Human Toxicology, Department, of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 1333 Center Dr, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| | - Hannah J Brown
- Center for Environmental & Human Toxicology, Department, of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 1333 Center Dr, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| | - Emily K Griffin
- Center for Environmental & Human Toxicology, Department, of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 1333 Center Dr, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| | | | | | - Brandon M Parker
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - John A Bowden
- Center for Environmental & Human Toxicology, Department, of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 1333 Center Dr, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
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245
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Taylor S, Terkildsen M, Stevenson G, de Araujo J, Yu C, Yates A, McIntosh RR, Gray R. Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at high concentrations in neonatal Australian pinnipeds. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 786:147446. [PMID: 33971603 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Per and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) exposure was investigated in Australian pinnipeds. Concentrations of 16 PFAS were measured in the livers of Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea), Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) and a long-nosed Fur Seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) pup sampled between 2017 and 2020 from colonies in South Australia and Victoria. Findings reported in this study are the first documented PFAS concentrations in Australian pinnipeds. Median and observed range of values in ng/g wet weight were highest for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) in the liver of N. cinerea (PFOS = 7.14, 1.00-16.9; PFOA = 2.73, 0.32-11.2; PFNA = 2.96, 0.61-8.22; n = 28), A. forsteri (PFOS = 15.98, PFOA = 2.02, PFNA = 7.86; n = 1) and A. p. doriferus (PFOS = 27.4, 10.5-2119; PFOA = 0.98, 0.32-52.2; PFNA = 2.50, 0.91-44.2; n = 20). PFAS concentrations in A. p. doriferus pups were significantly greater (p < 0.05) than in N. cinerea pups for all PFAS except PFOA and were of similar magnitude to those reported in northern hemisphere marine animals. These results demonstrate exposure differences in both magnitude and PFAS profiles for N. cinerea in South Australia and A. p. doriferus in Victoria. This study reports detectable PFAS concentrations in Australian pinniped pups indicating the importance of maternal transfer of these toxicants. As N. cinerea are endangered and recent declines in pup production has been reported for A. p. doriferus at the colony sampled, investigation of potential health impacts of these toxicants on Australian pinnipeds is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon Taylor
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | | | - Gavin Stevenson
- Australian Ultra-Trace Laboratory, National Measurement Institute, North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia.
| | - Jesuina de Araujo
- Australian Ultra-Trace Laboratory, National Measurement Institute, North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia
| | - Chunhai Yu
- Australian Ultra-Trace Laboratory, National Measurement Institute, North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia
| | - Alan Yates
- Australian Ultra-Trace Laboratory, National Measurement Institute, North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia.
| | - Rebecca R McIntosh
- Conservation Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, PO Box 97, Cowes, Victoria 3922, Australia.
| | - Rachael Gray
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
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246
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Goodrich JA, Alderete TL, Baumert BO, Berhane K, Chen Z, Gilliland FD, Goran MI, Hu X, Jones DP, Margetaki K, Rock S, Stratakis N, Valvi D, Walker DI, Conti DV, Chatzi L. Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Glucose Homeostasis in Youth. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:97002. [PMID: 34468161 PMCID: PMC8409228 DOI: 10.1289/ehp9200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a prevalent class of persistent pollutants, may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVE We examined associations between PFAS exposure and glucose metabolism in youth. METHODS Overweight/obese adolescents from the Study of Latino Adolescents at Risk of Type 2 Diabetes (SOLAR; n=310) participated in annual visits for an average of 3.3±2.9y. Generalizability of findings were tested in young adults from the Southern California Children's Health Study (CHS; n=135) who participated in a clinical visit with a similar protocol. At each visit, oral glucose tolerance tests were performed to estimate glucose metabolism and β-cell function via the insulinogenic index. Four PFAS were measured at baseline using liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry; high levels were defined as concentrations >66th percentile. RESULTS In females from the SOLAR, high perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) levels (≥2.0 ng/mL) were associated with the development of dysregulated glucose metabolism beginning in late puberty. The magnitude of these associations increased postpuberty and persisted through 18 years of age. For example, postpuberty, females with high PFHxS levels had 25-mg/dL higher 60-min glucose (95% CI: 12, 39mg/dL; p<0.0001), 15-mg/dL higher 2-h glucose (95% CI: 1, 28mg/dL; p=0.04), and 25% lower β-cell function (p=0.02) compared with females with low levels. Results were largely consistent in the CHS, where females with elevated PFHxS levels had 26-mg/dL higher 60-min glucose (95% CI: 6.0, 46mg/dL; p=0.01) and 19-mg/dL higher 2-h glucose, which did not meet statistical significance (95% CI: -1, 39mg/dL; p=0.08). In males, no consistent associations between PFHxS and glucose metabolism were observed. No consistent associations were observed for other PFAS and glucose metabolism. DISCUSSION Youth exposure to PFHxS was associated with dysregulated glucose metabolism in females, which may be due to changes in β-cell function. These associations appeared during puberty and were most pronounced postpuberty. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9200.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse A. Goodrich
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Tanya L. Alderete
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Brittney O. Baumert
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Kiros Berhane
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Zhanghua Chen
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Frank D. Gilliland
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Michael I. Goran
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Saban Research Institute, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Xin Hu
- Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Dean P. Jones
- Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Katerina Margetaki
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Sarah Rock
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Nikos Stratakis
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Damaskini Valvi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Douglas I. Walker
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - David V. Conti
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Leda Chatzi
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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247
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Drew R, Hagen TG, Champness D. Accumulation of PFAS by livestock - determination of transfer factors from water to serum for cattle and sheep in Australia. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2021; 38:1897-1913. [PMID: 34323170 DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2021.1942562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
In this study accumulation has been determined of several per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from ingested water to steady state serum concentration for adult beef cattle and sheep raised on a hobby farm impacted by PFAS contamination. PFAS concentrations in stock water were stable for more than a year, they were non-measurable in grass but present at very low levels in soil which equated to just 1% of the intake from water. Prior to quantifying PFAS in cattle serum there had been no breeding for 18 months. Although there were high concentrations of several PFAS in the water, only perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) and perfluorohexane sulphonate (PFHxS) were in cattle serum in appreciable amounts; perfluoroheptane sulphonate (PFHpS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) were much lower. Transfer factors (TFs) for cattle were calculated by dividing steady state serum concentration (ng PFAS/mL) by water concentration (µg PFAS/L). Average and upper estimate TF values for cattle were calculated; the former were 140 (total PFOS, i.e. tPFOS), 130 (PFHpS), 65 (PFHxS), 170 (PFNA), and 120 (PFDA). Previous investigation campaigns at the farm provided relative steady state serum PFAS concentrations for sheep and cattle that allowed adjustment of the cattle TFs. The resulting average estimate TFs for ewes (non-pregnant and not lactating) were 20 (tPFOS) and 30 (PFHxS), other PFAS were not measurable in sheep serum. Discussion on using these TFs in human health risk assessments is provided. With certain assumptions/caveats the TFs allow estimations of PFAS steady state serum concentrations for use in preliminary human health risk assessments (HHRAs) when only PFAS in stock water is known.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger Drew
- ToxConsult Pty Ltd., Darling South, Australia
| | | | - David Champness
- Agriculture Victoria, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (Now Known as the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions), Hamilton, Australia
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248
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George S, Dixit A. A machine learning approach for prioritizing groundwater testing for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 295:113359. [PMID: 34346391 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory agencies are beginning to recognize and regulate per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as concerning environmental contaminants. In groundwater management, testing and mitigation strategies are desirable, but can be time and cost-intensive processes. As a result, only a fraction of all groundwater wells has been tested for PFAS levels, resulting in potentially extended drinking water exposure to PFAS in the meantime. In this study, we build a series of machine learning models (including linear and random forest regressors) to predict PFAS based on a groundwater dataset from California. These models are used to compare the relative predictive ability of co-contaminant fingerprints, hydrological properties, soil parameters, proximity of airports/military bases, and geospatial data. Additionally, a random forest machine learning model that combines all data types can quantitatively predict the maximum PFAS compound concentration in a well with a Spearman correlation of 0.64 and can discern wells containing concerningly high concentrations of PFAS with an accuracy of 91 % (AUC of 0.90). This approach may have widespread utility for other hazardous anthropogenic compounds in groundwater. Future investigations should evaluate the practicability of using machine learning to prospectively prioritize contaminant testing in groundwater wells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Atray Dixit
- Coral Genomics, San Francisco, CA, 94107, USA.
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249
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Schlezinger JJ, Hyötyläinen T, Sinioja T, Boston C, Puckett H, Oliver J, Heiger-Bernays W, Webster TF. Perfluorooctanoic acid induces liver and serum dyslipidemia in humanized PPARα mice fed an American diet. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2021; 426:115644. [PMID: 34252412 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2021.115644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are pervasive in the environment resulting in nearly universal detection in people. Human serum PFAS concentrations are strongly associated with increased serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and growing evidence suggests an association with serum triacylglycerides (TG). Here, we tested the hypothesis that perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) dysregulates liver and serum triacylglycerides in human peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α (hPPARα)-expressing mice fed an American diet. Mice were exposed to PFOA (3.5 mg/L) in drinking water for 6 weeks resulting in a serum concentration of 48 ± 9 μg/ml. In male and female hPPARα mice, PFOA increased total liver TG and TG substituted with saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Lack of expression of PPARα alone also increased total liver TG, and PFOA treatment had little effect on liver TG in PPARα null mice. In hPPARα mice, PFOA neither significantly increased nor decreased serum TG; however, there was a modest increase in TG associated with very low-density cholesterol particles in both sexes. Intriguingly, in female PPARα null mice, PFOA significantly increased serum TG, with a similar trend in males. PFOA also modified fatty acid and TG homeostasis-related gene expression in liver, in a hPPARα-dependent manner, but not in adipose. The results of our study and others reveal the importance of context (serum concentration and genotype) in determining the effect of PFOA on lipid homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Schlezinger
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - T Hyötyläinen
- MTM Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro 702 81, Sweden
| | - T Sinioja
- MTM Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro 702 81, Sweden
| | - C Boston
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - H Puckett
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - J Oliver
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - W Heiger-Bernays
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - T F Webster
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
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250
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Bartell SM, Vieira VM. Critical review on PFOA, kidney cancer, and testicular cancer. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2021; 71:663-679. [PMID: 33780327 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2021.1909668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The carcinogenicity of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has been reviewed previously by several different regulatory agencies and researchers, with contradictory conclusions-especially regarding epidemiological findings on kidney cancer and testicular cancer. In addition, previous dose-response assessments have focused primarily on evidence from animal studies. This critical review summarizes peer reviewed epidemiological studies on PFOA and cancers of the kidneys and testes, using modified Hill's criteria to assess the evidence for causation. We converted exposures to a common scale based on serum PFOA concentrations and applied meta-analysis to estimate the average increase in cancer risk reported by the studies with sufficient information to estimate serum PFOA. Using random effects meta-analysis, we found that the average relative increase in cancer risk per 10 ng/mL increase in serum PFOA for these studies is 16% (95% CI: 3%, 30%) for kidney cancer and 3% (95% CI: 2%, 4%) for testicular cancer. These associations are most likely causal, but results are limited by the small number of studies for testicular cancer, the overlapping study populations for several studies, and the lack of measured or modeled serum PFOA concentrations for several studies.Implications: Our review meta-analysis indicates an average increase in cancer risk per 10 ng/mL increase in serum PFOA for kidney and testicular cancers. These associations are most likely causal, but results are limited by the small number of studies for testicular cancer, the overlapping study populations for several studies, and the lack of measured or modeled serum PFOA concentrations for several studies. The weight of evidence could be even stronger with the addition of future studies conducted in large cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M Bartell
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Statistics, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Verónica M Vieira
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
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