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Gardiner CL, Petali JM, Chen CY, Giffard NG, Fernando S, Holsen TM, Varghese JR, Romano ME, Crawford KA. Evaluating the environmental occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and potential exposure risk for recreational shellfish harvesters in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2025; 986:179747. [PMID: 40449359 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2025] [Revised: 05/21/2025] [Accepted: 05/22/2025] [Indexed: 06/03/2025]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Shellfish may be an important contributor to PFAS exposure from seafood consumption. Yet, shellfish consumption patterns are distinct from other seafood varieties and PFAS exposure via shellfish consumption has not been well studied, especially among recreational harvesters who may be exposed to PFAS through direct consumption of shellfish, incidental ingestion of sediment, and dermal absorption. METHODS Collocated surface water, sediment, and bivalve shellfish samples were collected in the Great Bay Estuary, a prominent estuary in New Hampshire, USA with multiple known PFAS sources. All media were analyzed for 27 PFAS compounds via UPLC-MS/MS. Human health risk of PFAS exposure from recreational shellfish harvesting was estimated for typical and high seafood consumers across multiple exposure routes using available health guidance values. RESULTS PFAS were detected in all Great Bay water, sediment, and shellfish samples. PFAS concentrations varied spatially, and profiles varied by media type, with shorter chain compounds found in water and longer chain compounds found in sediment and shellfish. For adults, PFAS exposure risk from recreational shellfish harvesting was greatest from direct consumption of shellfish (>99 % of estimated daily PFAS dose), followed by dermal absorption and incidental sediment ingestion. For children, dermal absorption and incidental ingestion were also important, contributing up to 10 % of estimated daily exposure. PFAS exposure risk from consuming razor clams exceeded the reference hazard quotient of 1 for multiple compounds among the general population that consumes typical or greater amounts of seafood, and among persons of childbearing age and young children who consume high amounts of seafood. CONCLUSIONS High frequency recreational shellfish harvesting and consumption may increase exposure to certain PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonathan M Petali
- Environmental Health Program, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Concord, NH, USA; Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Celia Y Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Nathan G Giffard
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Sujan Fernando
- Center for Air Resources Engineering and Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA
| | - Thomas M Holsen
- Center for Air Resources Engineering and Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA
| | - Juby R Varghese
- Center for Air Resources Engineering and Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA
| | - Megan E Romano
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
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Balgooyen S, Scott M, Blackwell BR, Pulster EL, Mahon MB, Lepak RF, Backe WJ. A High Efficiency Method for the Extraction and Quantitative Analysis of 45 PFAS in Whole Fish. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2025; 59:3759-3770. [PMID: 39954005 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c10001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2025]
Abstract
This study describes and validates a new method for extracting perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from whole-body fish tissue, demonstrates that freeze-dry preservation of tissue conserves bioaccumulative PFAS, and details a method demonstration on Lake Michigan fish. While fish filets are more commonly analyzed for their significance to human health, whole fish are useful to determine ecological impacts, but published methods such as EPA 1633 do not produce reliable results for this more challenging matrix. Here we show that lipid removal technology produces clean extracts without the need for solid-phase extraction or evaporative concentration, which often lead to loss of some PFAS. This method achieves an accuracy of 96 ± 9% for the detection of 45 PFAS while also offering benefits of a simple procedure, reduced processing time, and decreased waste generation compared to multistep cleanup and concentration methods. A test of freeze-drying demonstrated that compounds detected in Great Lakes fish were retained, but volatile compounds including sulfonamide precursors and ethanols were lost. To demonstrate field performance, the entire method was applied to whole-fish composites from Lake Michigan. Results from these samples reveal that the PFAS concentration was driven by collection location, while the distribution of PFAS was dictated by fish species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Balgooyen
- SpecPro Professional Services, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, United States
| | - Madelynn Scott
- Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, United States
| | - Brett R Blackwell
- United States Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, United States
| | - Erin L Pulster
- U.S. Geological Survey Columbia Environmental Research Center, 4200 East New Haven Road, Columbia, Missouri 65201, United States
| | - Michael B Mahon
- United States Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, United States
| | - Ryan F Lepak
- United States Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, United States
| | - Will J Backe
- United States Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, United States
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3
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Wu P, Foley C, Heiger-Bernays W, Chen C. Chemical mixtures of mercury, PCBs, PFAS, and pesticides in freshwater fish in the US and the risks they pose for fish consumption. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2025; 266:120381. [PMID: 39577725 PMCID: PMC11753927 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.120381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2024] [Revised: 11/13/2024] [Accepted: 11/14/2024] [Indexed: 11/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Freshwater fish are important food sources that also pose risks to human and wildlife health because of the bioaccumulation of environmental chemicals in their tissues. Although most studies, fish consumption advisories, and regulations focus on individual contaminants, fish consumers are exposed to mixtures of chemicals, including legacy contaminants and contaminants of emerging concern, that can have combined effects. Chemicals of emerging concern represent one source of hazard, but legacy contaminants can still pose threats to fish consumers due to their persistence in the environment. OBJECTIVES We investigate the following questions: 1) Do different chemicals correlate with one another in fish tissue, and if so, how? 2) How do levels of different chemicals in fish tissue vary by time and location? and 3) How do observed chemical levels compare with risk-based screening levels? METHODS Using several national data sources established and maintained by the US Environmental Protection Agency (NRSA, NCCA-GL, GLENDA, and NLFTS), this study examines the co-occurrence of chemicals in freshwater fish in lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers in the US. RESULTS We determine that organic contaminants correlate with one another, but generally not with mercury; organic chemicals have declined over time, but mercury has not; and fish concentrations of legacy contaminants-even those banned for decades-continue to exceed risk-based screening levels. DISCUSSION Despite some successes in curtailing release of pollutants, some contaminants in fish tissue have not declined and legacy and emerging pollutants continue to pose risks to fish consumers in the US. Correlations between chemicals in fish tissue suggest that exposures to mixtures is prevalent in the US but that organic contaminants do not generally correlate with mercury-noteworthy particularly since fish consumption advisories in the US are frequently driven by the level of mercury, and do not account for exposure to multiple contaminants. While programs such as the National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) Program seek to systematically monitor contaminants in fish tissue and other environmental indicators, continuous support from the US federal government is required to sustain this monitoring. Moreover, greater legislative and regulatory efforts are required at both the state and federal levels to reduce continuing sources and ongoing contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pianpian Wu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Caredwen Foley
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wendy Heiger-Bernays
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Celia Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA.
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4
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Bali S, Hall K, Massoud RI, Almeida NMS, Wilson AK. Interaction of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances with Estrogen Receptors in Rainbow Trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss): An In Silico Investigation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:15960-15970. [PMID: 39207093 PMCID: PMC11394024 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c03648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Fresh water sources, including lakes, such as the Great Lakes, are some of the most important ecosystems in the world. Despite the importance of these lakes, there is increasing concern about the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)─among the most prevalent contaminants of our time─due to the ability of PFAS to bioaccumulate and persist in the environment, as well as to its linkages to detrimental human and animal health effects. In this study, PFAS exposure on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is examined at the molecular level, focusing on the impact of PFAS binding on the alpha (α) and beta (β) estrogen receptors (ERs) using molecular dynamics simulations, binding free energy calculations, and structural analysis. ERs are involved in fundamental physiological processes, including reproductive system development, muscle regeneration, and immunity. This study shows that PFAS binds to both the estrogen α and estrogen β receptors, albeit via different binding modes, due to a modification of an amino acid in the binding site as a result of a reorientation of residues in the binding pocket. As ER overactivation can occur through environmental toxins and pollutants, this study provides insights into the influence of different types of PFAS on protein function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Semiha
Kevser Bali
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan
State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Kyleen Hall
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan
State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Rana I. Massoud
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan
State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Nuno M. S. Almeida
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan
State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Angela K. Wilson
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan
State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
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5
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Brady S, Shuwal M, Capozzi SL, Xia C, Annis M, Grasman K, Venier M. A decade of data and hundreds of analytes: Legacy and emerging chemicals in North American herring gull plasma. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 363:142797. [PMID: 38986784 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142797] [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: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Between 2010 and 2021, 199 herring gull serum samples were collected from Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Erie, including two Areas of Concern: Saginaw Bay and the River Raisin. They were analyzed for 21 polybrominated diphenyl ether congeners, 10 non-PBDE flame retardants, 85 polychlorinated biphenyls, 17 legacy organochlorine pesticides, and 36 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Σ36PFAS, Σ85PCB, Σ21PBDE, and Σ17Pesticide concentrations comprised 41-74%, 17-50%, 3-4%, and 5-9% of the total concentration, respectively. Median concentrations of the chemical groups ranged from 81.5 to 129 ng/g ww for PFAS, 26.3-158 ng/g ww for PCBs, 4.26-8.89 ng/g ww for PBDEs, and 8.08-23.0 ng/g ww for pesticides. The regional concentrations of all four classes of compounds are significantly decreasing when sites are combined with halving times of 11.3 ± 4.8, 8.2 ± 4.3, 5.9 ± 3.1, and 8.3 ± 4.2 years for the Penta-BDE mixture, ΣDDTs, Σ85PCBs and Σ36PFAS, respectively. These results suggest that, while PFAS has emerged as the dominant group of chemicals in the plasma, legacy pollutants continue to represent a threat to herring gulls and wildlife in the Great Lakes basin. PCBs were the largest contributors to the chemical load in plasma of birds whose colonies are located near the River Raisin, and continue to pose a threat to herring gulls within the two Areas of Concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney Brady
- O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, 702 North Walnut Grove, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Matthew Shuwal
- O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, 702 North Walnut Grove, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Staci L Capozzi
- O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, 702 North Walnut Grove, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Chunjie Xia
- O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, 702 North Walnut Grove, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Mandy Annis
- Biology Department, Calvin University, 3201 Burton Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, USA
| | - Keith Grasman
- Michigan Ecological Services Field Office, US Fish and Wildlife Service, 2651 Coolidge Road, East Lansing, MI, 48823, USA
| | - Marta Venier
- O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, 702 North Walnut Grove, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
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6
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Xia C, Capozzi SL, Romanak KA, Lehman DC, Dove A, Richardson V, Greenberg T, McGoldrick D, Venier M. The Ins and Outs of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Great Lakes: The Role of Atmospheric Deposition. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:9303-9313. [PMID: 38752648 PMCID: PMC11137863 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c10098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
As part of the Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network, precipitation (n = 207) and air (n = 60) from five sites and water samples (n = 87) from all five Great Lakes were collected in 2021-2023 and analyzed for 41 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These measurements were combined with other available data to estimate the mass budget for four representative compounds, PFBA, PFBS, PFOS, and PFOA for the basin. The median Σ41PFAS concentrations in precipitation across the five sites ranged between 2.4 and 4.5 ng/L. The median Σ41PFAS concentration in lake water was highest in Lake Ontario (11 ng/L) and lowest in Lake Superior (1.3 ng/L). The median Σ41PFAS concentration in air samples was highest in Cleveland at 410 pg/m3 and lowest at Sleeping Bear Dunes at 146 pg/m3. The net mass transfer flows were generally negative for Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron and positive for Lakes Erie and Ontario, indicating that the three most northern lakes are accumulating PFAS and the other two are eliminating PFAS. Atmospheric deposition is an important source of PFAS, particularly for Lake Superior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunjie Xia
- O’Neill
School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Staci L. Capozzi
- O’Neill
School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Kevin A. Romanak
- O’Neill
School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Daniel C. Lehman
- O’Neill
School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Alice Dove
- Water
Quality Monitoring and Surveillance, Environment
and Climate Change Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Violeta Richardson
- Water
Quality Monitoring and Surveillance, Environment
and Climate Change Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Tracie Greenberg
- Water
Quality Monitoring and Surveillance, Environment
and Climate Change Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Daryl McGoldrick
- Water
Quality Monitoring and Surveillance, Environment
and Climate Change Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Marta Venier
- O’Neill
School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
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7
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Jonker MTO. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Water (2008-2022) and Fish (2015-2022) in The Netherlands: Spatiotemporal Trends, Fingerprints, Mass Discharges, Sources, and Bioaccumulation Factors. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024. [PMID: 38501493 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic synthetic chemicals of concern, which have been detected in nearly all environmental compartments. The present study provides a data analysis on PFAS concentrations in the Dutch inland and coastal national waters and fish sampled from 2008 to 2022 and 2015 to 2022, respectively. Although the fish database is relatively small, the water database is unique because of its temporal dimension. It appears that PFAS are omnipresent in Dutch water and fish, with relatively small spatial differences in absolute and relative concentrations (fingerprints) and few obvious temporal trends. Only perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) aqueous concentrations in the rivers Rhine and Scheldt have substantially decreased since 2012. Still, PFOS concentrations exceed the European water quality standards at all and fish standards at many locations. Masses of PFAS entering the country and the North Sea are roughly 3.5 tonnes/year. Generally, the data suggest that most PFAS enter the Dutch aquatic environment predominantly through diffuse sources, yet several major point sources of specific PFAS were identified using fingerprints and monthly concentration profiles as identification tools. Finally, combining concentrations in fish and water, 265 bioaccumulation factors were derived, showing no statistically significant differences between freshwater and marine fish. Overall, the analysis provides new insights into PFAS bioaccumulation and spatiotemporal trends, mass discharges, and sources in The Netherlands. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-11. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiel T O Jonker
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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8
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Point AD, Crimmins BS, Holsen TM, Fernando S, Hopke PK, Darie CC. Can blood proteome diversity among fish species help explain perfluoroalkyl acid trophodynamics in aquatic food webs? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 875:162337. [PMID: 36848995 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse family of industrially significant synthetic chemicals infamous for extreme environmental persistence and global environmental distribution. Many PFAS are bioaccumulative and biologically active mainly due to their tendency to bind with various proteins. These protein interactions are important in determining the accumulation potential and tissue distribution of individual PFAS. Trophodynamics studies including aquatic food webs present inconsistent evidence for PFAS biomagnification. This study strives to identify whether the observed variability in PFAS bioaccumulation potential among species could correspond with interspecies protein composition differences. Specifically, this work compares the perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) serum protein binding potential and the tissue distribution of ten perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) detected in alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), deepwater sculpin (Myoxocephalus thompsonii), and lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) of the Lake Ontario aquatic piscivorous food web. These three fish sera and fetal bovine reference serum all had unique total serum protein concentrations. Serum protein-PFOS binding experiments showed divergent patterns between fetal bovine serum and fish sera, suggesting potentially two different PFOS binding mechanisms. To identify interspecies differences in PFAS-binding serum proteins, fish sera were pre-equilibrated with PFOS, fractionated by serial molecular weight cut-off filter fractionation, followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of the tryptic protein digests and the PFOS extracts of each fraction. This workflow identified similar serum proteins for all fish species. However, serum albumin was only identified in lake trout, suggesting apolipoproteins are likely the primary PFAA transporters in alewife and deepwater sculpin sera. PFAA tissue distribution analysis provided supporting evidence for interspecies variations in lipid transport and storage, which may also contribute to the varied PFAA accumulation in these species. Proteomics data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD039145.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam D Point
- Institute for a Sustainable Environment, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, United States of America.
| | - Bernard S Crimmins
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, United States of America; AEACS, LLC, New Kensington, PA, United States of America
| | - Thomas M Holsen
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, United States of America; Center for Air and Aquatic Resources Engineering and Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, United States of America
| | - Sujan Fernando
- Center for Air and Aquatic Resources Engineering and Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, United States of America
| | - Philip K Hopke
- Institute for a Sustainable Environment, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, United States of America; Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Costel C Darie
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Group, Department of Chemistry & Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, United States of America
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9
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Ren J, Point AD, Baygi SF, Fernando S, Hopke PK, Holsen TM, Crimmins BS. Bioaccumulation of perfluoroalkyl substances in the Lake Erie food web. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 317:120677. [PMID: 36400140 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The bioaccumulation and biomagnification of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Lake Erie food web was investigated by analyzing surface water and biological samples including 10 taxa of fish species, 2 taxa of benthos and zooplankton. The carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopic composition and fatty acids profiles of biological samples were used to evaluate the food web structure and assess the biomagnification of PFAS. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) dominated the total PFAS (ΣPFAS) concentration (50-90% of ΣPFAS concentration), followed by C9-C11 perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs). The highest PFOS concentrations (79 ± 4.8 ng/g, wet weight (wwt)) and ΣPFAS (88 ± 5.2 ng/g, wwt) were detected in yellow perch (Perca flavescens). The C8-C14 PFAS biomagnification factors (BMFs) between apex piscivorous fish and prey fish were found to be generally greater than 1, indicative of PFAS biomagnification, while biodilution (BMF<1) was observed between planktivorous fish and zooplankton. Trophic magnification factors (TMFs) of C8-C14 PFCA were not correlated with perfluoroalkyl chain length. The C4-C9 PFAS were detected in the surface water of Lake Erie, and PFBA was found to have the highest concentrations (2.1-2.8 ng/L) among all PFAS detected. The log of bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was found to generally increase with increasing log Kow for C6, 8, and 9 PFAS in all selected species from three tropic levels.
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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 Civil and Environmental Engineering, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY, 13699, USA; 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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10
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Ren J, Fernando S, Hopke PK, Holsen TM, Crimmins BS. Suspect Screening and Nontargeted Analysis of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in a Lake Ontario Food Web. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:17626-17634. [PMID: 36468978 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c04321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are globally distributed in the natural environment, and their persistent and bioaccumulative potential illicit public concern. The production of certain PFAS has been halted or controlled by regulation due to their adverse effect on the health of humans and wildlife. However, new PFAS are continuously developed as alternatives to legacy PFAS. Additionally, many precursors are unknown, and their metabolites have not been assessed. To better understand the PFAS profiles in the Lake Ontario (LO) aquatic food web, a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (QToF) coupled to ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) was used to generate high-resolution mass spectra (HRMS) from sample extracts. The HRMS data files were analyzed using an isotopic profile deconvoluted chromatogram (IPDC) algorithm to isolate PFAS profiles in aquatic organisms. Fourteen legacy PFAAs (C5-C14) and 15 known precursors were detected in the LO food web. In addition, over 400 unknown PFAS features that appear to biomagnify in the LO food web were found. Profundal benthic organisms, deepwater sculpin(Myoxocephalus thompsonii), and Mysis were found to have more known precursors than other species in the food web, suggesting that there is a large reservoir of fluorinated substances in the benthic zone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junda Ren
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Clarkson University, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, New York 13699, United States
| | - Sujan Fernando
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clarkson University, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, New York 13699, United States
| | - Philip K Hopke
- Institute for a Sustainable Environment, Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York 13699, United States
- Center for Air Resources Engineering and Science, Clarkson University, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, New York 13699, United States
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642, United States
| | - Thomas M Holsen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Clarkson University, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, New York 13699, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clarkson University, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, New York 13699, United States
| | - Bernard S Crimmins
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Clarkson University, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, New York 13699, United States
- AEACS, LLC, New Kensington, Pennsylvania 15068, United States
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Vi PT, Ngoc NT, Quang PD, Dam NT, Tue NM, Tuyen LH, Viet PH, Anh DH. Perfluoroalkyl substances in freshwater and marine fish from northern Vietnam: Accumulation levels, profiles, and implications for human consumption. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 182:113995. [PMID: 35939932 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The accumulation profiles of nine perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were determined in 95 muscle samples of seven freshwater (n = 65) and seven marine (n = 30) fish species collected in Northern Vietnam. In both groups of fish, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) was the most prevalent component, accounting for roughly 29 % of total PFASs. The total PFASs in freshwater fish species ranged from 0.08 to 8.06 ng/g wet weight (w.w), with the highest concentration found in topmouth culter (7.01 ± 1.23 ng/g w.w). In marine fish, the highest mean concentration of PFASs was detected in Asian sea bass (2.75 ± 0.54 ng/g, w.w). Estimation on the human dietary intake of PFASs from fish consumption resulted in hazard ratios (HR) ranging from 0.019 to 0.238 for freshwater fish and from 0.016 to 0.074 for marine fish, indicating low exposure risks associated with PFASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phung Thi Vi
- Research Centre for Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development (CETASD), University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Key Laboratory of Analytical Technology for Environmental Quality and Food Safety Control (KLATEFOS), University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Nguyen Trai Street 334, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Nguyen Thuy Ngoc
- Research Centre for Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development (CETASD), University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Key Laboratory of Analytical Technology for Environmental Quality and Food Safety Control (KLATEFOS), University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Nguyen Trai Street 334, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Phan Dinh Quang
- Research Centre for Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development (CETASD), University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Nguyen Thanh Dam
- Key Laboratory of Analytical Technology for Environmental Quality and Food Safety Control (KLATEFOS), University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Nguyen Trai Street 334, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Nguyen Minh Tue
- Research Centre for Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development (CETASD), University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Key Laboratory of Analytical Technology for Environmental Quality and Food Safety Control (KLATEFOS), University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Nguyen Trai Street 334, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Le Huu Tuyen
- Research Centre for Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development (CETASD), University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Pham Hung Viet
- Research Centre for Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development (CETASD), University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Key Laboratory of Analytical Technology for Environmental Quality and Food Safety Control (KLATEFOS), University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Nguyen Trai Street 334, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Duong Hong Anh
- Research Centre for Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development (CETASD), University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Key Laboratory of Analytical Technology for Environmental Quality and Food Safety Control (KLATEFOS), University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Nguyen Trai Street 334, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
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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: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [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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Yu L, Liu X, Hua Z, Zhang Y, Xue H. Spatial and temporal trends of perfluoroalkyl acids in water bodies: A case study in Taihu Lake, China (2009-2021). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 293:118575. [PMID: 34838873 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) have been ubiquitously detected in water bodies and are a cause of great public concern due to their adverse effects. This study investigated the long-term temporal-spatial trends of PFAAs in the water bodies of the entire Taihu Lake, and predicted PFAA concentrations for 2024. A field investigation conducted in 2021 and previous data allowed to derive trends over a broad temporal-spatial scale, which is often not feasible in short-term studies. In the 2009-2021 period, the most quantifiable PFAAs increased, among which perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorohexanoic acid were predominant. As of 2021, the mean total concentration of ten PFAAs (∑10PFAA) showed a distinct spatial decreasing trend, moving from north to south within the lake, and similar spatial distribution patterns were also noted in other years. The main PFAA input and most serious contamination were concentrated in the northern region, due to the riverine inputs and clustering of PFAA-related industries. The ∑10PFAA concentration in the wet season was greater and presented a more uniform distribution pattern than that in the dry season, possibly due to the combined effects of the degradation of PFAA precursors, water inflow, rainfall, shipping activities, and a shallow water column. From 2009 to 2021 the ∑10PFAA concentration of the entire lake showed an increasing trend, but the rate of increase was significantly reduced. In addition, a grey model predicted that the mean ∑10PFAA concentration in the entire Taihu Lake will reach 431 ng/L in 2024, and the northern region will be affected by a more serious PFAA pollution in the future because it exhibited a high mean ∑10PFAA concentration of 426 ng/L in 2021. These findings provide novel insights into the temporal-spatial distribution of PFAAs in Taihu Lake, and could help regulators to formulate policy decisions in response to PFAA pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Yu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, College of Environment, Hohai Universities, Nanjing, 210098, PR China; Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development, Hohai University, Jiangsu, 210098, PR China
| | - Xiaodong Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, College of Environment, Hohai Universities, Nanjing, 210098, PR China; Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development, Hohai University, Jiangsu, 210098, PR China
| | - Zulin Hua
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, College of Environment, Hohai Universities, Nanjing, 210098, PR China; Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development, Hohai University, Jiangsu, 210098, PR China.
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, College of Environment, Hohai Universities, Nanjing, 210098, PR China; Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development, Hohai University, Jiangsu, 210098, PR China
| | - Hongqin Xue
- School of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, PR China
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Piva E, Giorgetti A, Ioime P, Morini L, Freni F, Faro FL, Pirani F, Montisci M, Fais P, Pascali JP. Hair determination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Italian population. Toxicology 2021; 458:152849. [PMID: 34217792 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.152849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are anthropogenic chemicals present in the environment and defined as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The interest in these forms of contaminants is related to the toxic consequences for health derived from exposures and bioaccumulation processes. The present research aims at assessing differences in the exposure of PFAS in the Italian population by hair analyses. To this aim, 20 compounds of the PFAS family were investigated in hair of 86 Italian subjects distributed across the regions of Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Marche. The applied method was ad hoc developed in a previous research and included SPE extraction and LC-QTOF analysis. In the analyzed population, 66.4 % had quantifiable amounts of one or more PFAS molecules (up to 4 compounds); mean PFAS content, expressed as sum of PFAS, was 0.1457 ng/g, ranging from "not detected" to 0.85 ng/g (SD 0.1867). PFOA and PFOS were the chemicals most frequently detected, with mean concentrations of 0.1402 ng/g and 0.1155 ng/g, respectively. PFBA was detected in 9.3 % of subjects with a mean concentration of 0.3760 ng/g; PFNA in 3.5 % of subjects with mean concentration 0.12 ng/g; PFDA was found in one subject at the concentration of 0.541 ng/g. PFUnA and PFHxS were detected below the limit of quantification. The overall results displayed differences in the presence and prevalence of PFAS in hair of the Italian population on a geographical base. On the contrary, no significatively differences in the amount of PFAS were observed when considering gender or age classes. On this base, hair can be considered a good diagnostic tool to assess PFAS exposure on a regional-scaled base. Of course, more studies are required to infer PFAS internal dose from hair results due to its peculiar detection window and to interpretative issues derived from external contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Piva
- dtoLABS, Via Pozzuoli, 13C/13D, 30038, Spinea, VE, Italy
| | - A Giorgetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 49, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - P Ioime
- dtoLABS, Via Pozzuoli, 13C/13D, 30038, Spinea, VE, Italy
| | - L Morini
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Via Forlanini, 12, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - F Freni
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Via Forlanini, 12, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - F Lo Faro
- Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, University "Politecnica delle Marche" of Ancona, Via Conca 71, 60126, Ancona, Italy
| | - F Pirani
- Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, University "Politecnica delle Marche" of Ancona, Via Conca 71, 60126, Ancona, Italy
| | - M Montisci
- Department of Cardiologic, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35127, Padova, Italy
| | - P Fais
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 49, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - J P Pascali
- Department of Cardiologic, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35127, Padova, Italy.
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