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Tiburtini GA, Bertarini L, Bersani M, Dragani TA, Rolando B, Binello A, Barge A, Spyrakis F. In silico prediction of the interaction of legacy and novel per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) with selected human transporters and of their possible accumulation in the human body. Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:3035-3047. [PMID: 38884658 PMCID: PMC11324760 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-024-03797-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Per- and poly-fluorinated compounds constitute a wide group of fluorocarbon chemicals with widespread industrial applications, ranging from non-stick coating in cookware to water surfactants, from fire-fighting foams to water-repellent coatings on textiles. Presently, over 12,000 PFAS are known worldwide. In recent years, extensive research has focused on investigating the biological effects of these molecules on various organisms, including humans. Here, we conducted in silico simulations to examine the potential binding of a representative selection of PFAS to various human proteins known to be involved in chemical transportation and accumulation processes. Specifically, we targeted human serum albumin (HSA), transthyretin (TTR), thyroxine binding protein (TBG), fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs), organic anion transporters (OATs), aiming to assess the potential for bioaccumulation. Molecular docking simulations were employed for this purpose, supplemented by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to account for protein flexibility, when necessary. Our findings indicate that so-called "legacy PFAS" such as PFOA or PFOS exhibit a higher propensity for interaction with the analysed human protein targets compared to newly formulated PFAS, characterised by higher branching and hydrophilicity, and possibly a higher accumulation in the human body.
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Affiliation(s)
- G A Tiburtini
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - L Bertarini
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - M Bersani
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - B Rolando
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - A Binello
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - A Barge
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - F Spyrakis
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
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2
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Britton KN, Judson RS, Hill BN, Jarema KA, Olin JK, Knapp BR, Lowery M, Feshuk M, Brown J, Padilla S. Using Zebrafish to Screen Developmental Toxicity of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). TOXICS 2024; 12:501. [PMID: 39058153 PMCID: PMC11281043 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12070501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are found in many consumer and industrial products. While some PFAS, notably perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), are developmentally toxic in mammals, the vast majority of PFAS have not been evaluated for developmental toxicity potential. A concentration-response study of 182 unique PFAS chemicals using the zebrafish medium-throughput, developmental vertebrate toxicity assay was conducted to investigate chemical structural identifiers for toxicity. Embryos were exposed to each PFAS compound (≤100 μM) beginning on the day of fertilization. At 6 days post-fertilization (dpf), two independent observers graded developmental landmarks for each larva (e.g., mortality, hatching, swim bladder inflation, edema, abnormal spine/tail, or craniofacial structure). Thirty percent of the PFAS were developmentally toxic, but there was no enrichment of any OECD structural category. PFOS was developmentally toxic (benchmark concentration [BMC] = 7.48 μM); however, other chemicals were more potent: perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA), N-methylperfluorooctane sulfonamide (N-MeFOSA), ((perfluorooctyl)ethyl)phosphonic acid, perfluoro-3,6,9-trioxatridecanoic acid, and perfluorohexane sulfonamide. The developmental toxicity profile for these more potent PFAS is largely unexplored in mammals and other species. Based on these zebrafish developmental toxicity results, additional screening may be warranted to understand the toxicity profile of these chemicals in other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katy N. Britton
- Oak Ridge Associated Universities Research Participation Program Hosted by EPA, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Rapid Assay Development Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Richard S. Judson
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Computational Toxicology and Bioinformatics Branch, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA;
| | - Bridgett N. Hill
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Research Participation Program Hosted by EPA, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Rapid Assay Development Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA; (B.N.H.); (B.R.K.)
| | - Kimberly A. Jarema
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Immediate Office, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA;
| | - Jeanene K. Olin
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Rapid Assay Development Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA; (J.K.O.); (M.L.)
| | - Bridget R. Knapp
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Research Participation Program Hosted by EPA, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Rapid Assay Development Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA; (B.N.H.); (B.R.K.)
| | - Morgan Lowery
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Rapid Assay Development Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA; (J.K.O.); (M.L.)
| | - Madison Feshuk
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Scientific Computing and Data Curation Division, Data Extraction and Quality Evaluation Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA;
| | - Jason Brown
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Scientific Computing and Data Curation Division, Application Development Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA;
| | - Stephanie Padilla
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Rapid Assay Development Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA; (J.K.O.); (M.L.)
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3
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de Souza BB, Meegoda J. Insights into PFAS environmental fate through computational chemistry: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 926:171738. [PMID: 38494023 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used chemicals that exhibit exceptional chemical and thermal stability. However, their resistance to degradation has led to their widespread environmental contamination. PFAS also negatively affect the environment and other organisms, highlighting the need for effective remediation methods to mitigate their presence and prevent further contamination. Computational chemistry methods, such as Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Molecular Dynamics (MD) offer valuable tools for studying PFAS and simulating their interactions with other molecules. This review explores how computational chemistry methods contribute to understanding and tackling PFAS in the environment. PFAS have been extensively studied using DFT and MD, each method offering unique advantages and computational limitations. MD simulates large macromolecules systems however it lacks the ability model chemical reactions, while DFT provides molecular insights however at a high computational cost. The integration of DFT with MD shows promise in predicting PFAS behavior in different environments. This work summarizes reported studies on PFAS compounds, focusing on adsorption, destruction, and bioaccumulation, highlighting contributions of computational methods while discussing the need for continued research. The findings emphasize the importance of computational chemistry in addressing PFAS contamination, guiding risk assessments, and informing future research and innovations in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Bezerra de Souza
- John A. Reif, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Jay Meegoda
- John A. Reif, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA.
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4
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Rattner BA, Bean TG, Beasley VR, Berny P, Eisenreich KM, Elliott JE, Eng ML, Fuchsman PC, King MD, Mateo R, Meyer CB, O'Brien JM, Salice CJ. Wildlife ecological risk assessment in the 21st century: Promising technologies to assess toxicological effects. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2024; 20:725-748. [PMID: 37417421 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Despite advances in toxicity testing and the development of new approach methodologies (NAMs) for hazard assessment, the ecological risk assessment (ERA) framework for terrestrial wildlife (i.e., air-breathing amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) has remained unchanged for decades. While survival, growth, and reproductive endpoints derived from whole-animal toxicity tests are central to hazard assessment, nonstandard measures of biological effects at multiple levels of biological organization (e.g., molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, organism, population, community, ecosystem) have the potential to enhance the relevance of prospective and retrospective wildlife ERAs. Other factors (e.g., indirect effects of contaminants on food supplies and infectious disease processes) are influenced by toxicants at individual, population, and community levels, and need to be factored into chemically based risk assessments to enhance the "eco" component of ERAs. Regulatory and logistical challenges often relegate such nonstandard endpoints and indirect effects to postregistration evaluations of pesticides and industrial chemicals and contaminated site evaluations. While NAMs are being developed, to date, their applications in ERAs focused on wildlife have been limited. No single magic tool or model will address all uncertainties in hazard assessment. Modernizing wildlife ERAs will likely entail combinations of laboratory- and field-derived data at multiple levels of biological organization, knowledge collection solutions (e.g., systematic review, adverse outcome pathway frameworks), and inferential methods that facilitate integrations and risk estimations focused on species, populations, interspecific extrapolations, and ecosystem services modeling, with less dependence on whole-animal data and simple hazard ratios. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:725-748. © 2023 His Majesty the King in Right of Canada and The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada. This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barnett A Rattner
- US Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Laurel, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Val R Beasley
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Karen M Eisenreich
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - John E Elliott
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Margaret L Eng
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | | | - Mason D King
- Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | | | - Jason M O'Brien
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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5
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Starnes HM, Jackson TW, Rock KD, Belcher SM. Quantitative cross-species comparison of serum albumin binding of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from five structural classes. Toxicol Sci 2024; 199:132-149. [PMID: 38518100 PMCID: PMC11057469 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfae028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of over 8000 chemicals, many of which are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic to humans, livestock, and wildlife. Serum protein binding affinity is instrumental in understanding PFAS toxicity, yet experimental binding data is limited to only a few PFAS congeners. Previously, we demonstrated the usefulness of a high-throughput, in vitro differential scanning fluorimetry assay for determination of relative binding affinities of human serum albumin for 24 PFAS congeners from 6 chemical classes. In the current study, we used this assay to comparatively examine differences in human, bovine, porcine, and rat serum albumin binding of 8 structurally informative PFAS congeners from 5 chemical classes. With the exception of the fluorotelomer alcohol 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctanol (6:2 FTOH), each PFAS congener bound by human serum albumin was also bound by bovine, porcine, and rat serum albumin. The critical role of the charged functional headgroup in albumin binding was supported by the inability of albumin of each species tested to bind 6:2 FTOH. Significant interspecies differences in serum albumin binding affinities were identified for each of the bound PFAS congeners. Relative to human albumin, perfluoroalkyl carboxylic and sulfonic acids were bound with greater affinity by porcine and rat serum albumin, and the perfluoroalkyl ether acid congener bound with lower affinity to porcine and bovine serum albumin. These comparative affinity data for PFAS binding by serum albumin from human, experimental model, and livestock species reduce critical interspecies uncertainty and improve accuracy of predictive bioaccumulation and toxicity assessments for PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M Starnes
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, USA
| | - Thomas W Jackson
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, USA
| | - Kylie D Rock
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, USA
| | - Scott M Belcher
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, USA
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6
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Brooks BW, van den Berg S, Dreier DA, LaLone CA, Owen SF, Raimondo S, Zhang X. Towards Precision Ecotoxicology: Leveraging Evolutionary Conservation of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Product Targets to Understand Adverse Outcomes Across Species and Life Stages. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:526-536. [PMID: 37787405 PMCID: PMC11017229 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5754] [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: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Translation of environmental science to the practice aims to protect biodiversity and ecosystem services, and our future ability to do so relies on the development of a precision ecotoxicology approach wherein we leverage the genetics and informatics of species to better understand and manage the risks of global pollution. A little over a decade ago, a workshop focusing on the risks of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the environment identified a priority research question, "What can be learned about the evolutionary conservation of PPCP targets across species and life stages in the context of potential adverse outcomes and effects?" We review the activities in this area over the past decade, consider prospects of more recent developments, and identify future research needs to develop next-generation approaches for PPCPs and other global chemicals and waste challenges. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:526-536. © 2023 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan W Brooks
- Department of Environmental Science, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | | | - David A Dreier
- Syngenta Crop Protection, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
| | - Carlie A LaLone
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Stewart F Owen
- Global Sustainability, Astra Zeneca, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK
| | - Sandy Raimondo
- Gulf Ecosystem Measurement and Modeling Division, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Breeze, Florida
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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7
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Starnes HM, Jackson TW, Rock KD, Belcher SM. Quantitative Cross-Species Comparison of Serum Albumin Binding of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Five Structural Classes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.10.566613. [PMID: 38014292 PMCID: PMC10680784 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.10.566613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of over 8,000 chemicals that are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic to humans, livestock, and wildlife. Serum protein binding affinity is instrumental in understanding PFAS toxicity, yet experimental binding data is limited to only a few PFAS congeners. Previously, we demonstrated the usefulness of a high-throughput, in vitro differential scanning fluorimetry assay for determination of relative binding affinities of human serum albumin for 24 PFAS congeners from 6 chemical classes. In the current study, we used this differential scanning fluorimetry assay to comparatively examine differences in human, bovine, porcine, and rat serum albumin binding of 8 structurally informative PFAS congeners from 5 chemical classes. With the exception of the fluorotelomer alcohol 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctanol (6:2 FTOH), each PFAS congener bound by human serum albumin was also bound by bovine, porcine, and rat serum albumin. The critical role of the charged functional headgroup in albumin binding was supported by the inability of serum albumin of each species tested to bind 6:2 FTOH. Significant interspecies differences in serum albumin binding affinities were identified for each of the bound PFAS congeners. Relative to human albumin, perfluoroalkyl carboxylic and sulfonic acids were bound with greater affinity by porcine and rat serum albumin, and perfluoroalkyl ether congeners bound with lower affinity to porcine and bovine serum albumin. These comparative affinity data for PFAS binding by serum albumin from human, experimental model and livestock species reduce critical interspecies uncertainty and improve accuracy of predictive toxicity assessments for PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M. Starnes
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Thomas W. Jackson
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
- Current address: Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Kylie D. Rock
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
- Current address: Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Scott M. Belcher
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
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Spyrakis F, Dragani TA. The EU's Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Ban: A Case of Policy over Science. TOXICS 2023; 11:721. [PMID: 37755732 PMCID: PMC10536631 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11090721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
The proposal by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to ban over 12,000 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has sparked a debate about potential consequences for the economy, industry, and the environment. Although some PFAS are known to be harmful, a blanket ban may lead to significant problems in attempting to replace PFAS-based materials for environmental transition, as well as in medical devices and everyday products. Alternative materials may potentially be less safe, as a rush to replace PFAS would reduce the time needed for toxicological analyses. Studies have shown that PFAS exhibit a diverse range of mechanisms of action, biopersistence, and bioaccumulation potential, and should thus not be treated as a single group. This is particularly true for the class of fluoropolymers. A targeted approach that considers the specific risks and benefits of each chemical may be more effective. Moreover, the proposed ban may also have unintended consequences for the environment as PFAS use is also associated with benefits such as reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and improving energy efficiency. Policymakers must carefully weigh up the potential consequences before making a final decision on the ban.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Spyrakis
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy;
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Zhao J, Shi X, Wang Z, Xiong S, Lin Y, Wei X, Li Y, Tang X. Hepatotoxicity assessment investigations on PFASs targeting L-FABP using binding affinity data and machine learning-based QSAR model. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 262:115310. [PMID: 37523843 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent organic pollutants that have been detected in various environmental media and human serum, but their safety assessment remains challenging. PFASs may accumulate in liver tissues and cause hepatotoxicity by binding to liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP). Therefore, evaluating the binding affinity of PFASs to L-FABP is crucial in assessing the potential hepatotoxic effects. In this study, two binding sites of L-FABP were evaluated, results suggested that the outer site possessed high affinity to polyfluoroalkyl sulfates and the inner site preferred perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides, overall, the inner site of L-FABP was more sensitive to PFASs. The binding affinity data of PFASs to L-FABP were used as training set to develop a machine learning model-based quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) for efficient prediction of potentially hazardous PFASs. Further Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) model disclosed flexibility as the determinant molecular property on PFASs-induced hepatotoxicity. It can influence affinity of PFASs to target protein through affecting binding conformations directly (individual effect) as well as integrating with other molecular properties (joint effect). Our present work provided more understanding on hepatotoxicity of PFASs, which could be significative in hepatotoxicity gradation, administration guidance, and safer alternatives development of PFASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Zhao
- Department of Medical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Xiaoyue Shi
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Zhiqin Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Sijie Xiong
- Department of Medical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Yongfeng Lin
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Xiaoran Wei
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Yanwei Li
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Xiaowen Tang
- Department of Medical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.
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10
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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: 4.0] [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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11
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Yun X, Lewis AJ, Stevens-King G, Sales CM, Spooner DE, Kurz MJ, Suri R, McKenzie ER. Bioaccumulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances by freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates: Impact of species and sediment organic carbon content. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 866:161208. [PMID: 36581279 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161208] [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: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in aquatic environments have caused global concern due to their persistence, toxicity, and potential bioaccumulation of some compounds. As an important compartment of the aquatic ecosystem, sediment properties impact PFAS partitioning between aqueous and solid phases, but little is known about the influence of sediment organic carbon content on PFAS bioaccumulation in benthic organisms. In this study, three freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates - worms (Lumbriculus variegatus), mussels (Elliptio complanata) and snails (Physella acuta) - were exposed for 28 days to PFAS spiked synthetic sediment equilibrated with a synthetic surface water. Using microcosms, sediment organic carbon content - 2%, 5% and 8% - was manipulated to assess its impact on PFAS bioaccumulation. Worms were found to have substantially greater PFAS bioaccumulation compared to mussels and snails. The bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) and biota sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) in worms were both one to two magnitudes higher than in mussels and snails, likely due to different habitat-specific uptake pathways and elimination capacities among species. In these experiments, increasing sediment organic carbon content decreased the bioaccumulation of PFAS to benthic macroinvertebrates. In worms, sediment organic carbon content was hypothesized to impact PFAS bioaccumulation by affecting PFAS partitioning and sediment ingestion rate. Notably, the BSAF values of 8:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (FTS) were the largest among 14 PFAS for all species, suggesting that the benthic macroinvertebrates probably have different metabolic mechanisms for fluorotelomer sulfonic acids compared to fish evaluated in published literature. Understanding the impact of species and sediment organic carbon on PFAS bioaccumulation is key to developing environmental quality guidelines and evaluating potential ecological risks to higher trophic level species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Yun
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Asa J Lewis
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Galen Stevens-King
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Christopher M Sales
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Daniel E Spooner
- Department of Biology, Lock Haven University, Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, Lock Haven, PA 17745, USA
| | - Marie J Kurz
- Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA; Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Rominder Suri
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Erica R McKenzie
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA.
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12
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Vliet SMF, Hazemi M, Blatz D, Jensen M, Mayasich S, Transue TR, Simmons C, Wilkinson A, LaLone CA. Demonstration of the Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility Tool for Rapid Assessment of Protein Conservation. J Vis Exp 2023:10.3791/63970. [PMID: 36847398 PMCID: PMC10758989 DOI: 10.3791/63970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The US Environmental Protection Agency Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility (SeqAPASS) tool is a fast, freely available, online screening application that allows researchers and regulators to extrapolate toxicity information across species. For biological targets in model systems such as human cells, mice, rats, and zebrafish, toxicity data are available for a variety of chemicals. Through the evaluation of protein target conservation, this tool can be used to extrapolate data generated from such model systems to thousands of other species lacking toxicity data, yielding predictions of relative intrinsic chemical susceptibility. The latest releases of the tool (versions 2.0-6.1) have incorporated new features that allow for the rapid synthesis, interpretation, and use of the data for publication plus presentation-quality graphics. Among these features are customizable data visualizations and a comprehensive summary report designed to summarize SeqAPASS data for ease of interpretation. This paper describes the protocol to guide users through submitting jobs, navigating the various levels of protein sequence comparisons, and interpreting and displaying the resulting data. New features of SeqAPASS v2.0-6.0 are highlighted. Furthermore, two use-cases focused on transthyretin and opioid receptor protein conservation using this tool are described. Finally, SeqAPASS' strengths and limitations are discussed to define the domain of applicability for the tool and highlight different applications for cross-species extrapolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M F Vliet
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Scientific Computing and Data Curation Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency;
| | | | | | - Marissa Jensen
- Swenson College of Science and Engineering, Department of Biology, University of Minnesota Duluth
| | | | | | - Cody Simmons
- General Dynamics Information Technology, Research Triangle Park
| | | | - Carlie A LaLone
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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13
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LaLone CA, Blatz DJ, Jensen MA, Vliet SM, Mayasich S, Mattingly KZ, Transue TR, Melendez W, Wilkinson A, Simmons CW, Ng C, Zhang C, Zhang Y. From Protein Sequence to Structure: The Next Frontier in Cross-Species Extrapolation for Chemical Safety Evaluations. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:463-474. [PMID: 36524855 PMCID: PMC11265300 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5537] [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: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Computational screening for potentially bioactive molecules using advanced molecular modeling approaches including molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation is mainstream in certain fields like drug discovery. Significant advances in computationally predicting protein structures from sequence information have also expanded the availability of structures for nonmodel species. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to develop an analysis pipeline to harness the power of these bioinformatics approaches for cross-species extrapolation for evaluating chemical safety. The Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility (SeqAPASS) tool compares protein-sequence similarity across species for conservation of known chemical targets, providing an initial line of evidence for extrapolation of toxicity knowledge. However, with the development of structural models from tools like the Iterative Threading ASSEmbly Refinement (ITASSER), analyses of protein structural conservation can be included to add further lines of evidence and generate protein models across species. Models generated through such a pipeline could then be used for advanced molecular modeling approaches in the context of species extrapolation. Two case examples illustrating this pipeline from SeqAPASS sequences to I-TASSER-generated protein structures were created for human liver fatty acid-binding protein (LFABP) and androgen receptor (AR). Ninety-nine LFABP and 268 AR protein models representing diverse species were generated and analyzed for conservation using template modeling (TM)-align. The results from the structural comparisons were in line with the sequence-based SeqAPASS workflow, adding further evidence of LFABL and AR conservation across vertebrate species. The present study lays the foundation for expanding the capabilities of the web-based SeqAPASS tool to include structural comparisons for species extrapolation, facilitating more rapid and efficient toxicological assessments among species with limited or no existing toxicity data. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:463-474. © 2022 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlie A. LaLone
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Donovan J. Blatz
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Marissa A. Jensen
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
- University of Minnesota Duluth, Swenson College of Science and Engineering, Department of Biology, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Sara M.F. Vliet
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Scientific Computing and Data Curation Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Sally Mayasich
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Aquatic Sciences Center at U.S. EPA Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kali Z. Mattingly
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
- SpecPro Professional Services, Contractor to U.S. EPA Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Thomas R. Transue
- Congruence Therapeutics, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- General Dynamics Information Technology, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Wilson Melendez
- General Dynamics Information Technology, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Audrey Wilkinson
- General Dynamics Information Technology, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Cody W. Simmons
- General Dynamics Information Technology, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Carla Ng
- Departments of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh
| | - Chengxin Zhang
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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14
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Schmidt S. Truth in the Serum? Estimating PFAS Relative Potency for Human Risk Assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:94001. [PMID: 36129438 PMCID: PMC9491363 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
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15
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Charbonnet J, McDonough CA, Xiao F, Schwichtenberg T, Cao D, Kaserzon S, Thomas KV, Dewapriya P, Place BJ, Schymanski EL, Field JA, Helbling DE, Higgins CP. Communicating Confidence of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Identification via High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS 2022; 9:473-481. [PMID: 35719859 PMCID: PMC9202347 DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.2c00206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are important environmental contaminants, yet relatively few analytical reference standards exist for this class. Nontarget analyses performed by means of high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) are increasingly common for the discovery and identification of PFASs in environmental and biological samples. The certainty of PFAS identifications made via HRMS must be communicated through a reliable and harmonized approach. Here, we present a confidence scale along with identification criteria specific to suspect or nontarget analysis of PFASs by means of nontarget HRMS. Confidence levels range from level 1a-"Confirmed by Reference Standard," and level 1b-"Indistinguishable from Reference Standard," to level 5-"Exact Masses of Interest," which are identified by suspect screening or data filtering, two common forms of feature prioritization. This confidence scale is consistent with general criteria for communicating confidence in the identification of small organic molecules by HRMS (e.g., through a match to analytical reference standards, library MS/MS, and/or retention times) but incorporates the specific conventions and tools used in PFAS classification and analysis (e.g., detection of homologous series and specific ranges of mass defects). Our scale clarifies the level of certainty in PFAS identification and, in doing so, facilitates more efficient identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph
A. Charbonnet
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
- Department
of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Carrie A. McDonough
- Department
of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, United States
| | - Feng Xiao
- Department
of Civil Engineering, University of North
Dakota, Grand
Forks, North Dakota 58202, United States
| | - Trever Schwichtenberg
- Department
of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Dunping Cao
- Department
of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Sarit Kaserzon
- Queensland
Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Kevin V. Thomas
- Queensland
Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Pradeep Dewapriya
- Queensland
Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Benjamin J. Place
- National
Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Emma L. Schymanski
- Luxembourg
Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University
of Luxembourg, Belvaux 4362, Luxembourg
| | - Jennifer A. Field
- Department
of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Damian E. Helbling
- School
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, United States
| | - Christopher P. Higgins
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
- Queensland
Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
- Phone: 720-984-2116.
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16
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McDonough CA, Li W, Bischel HN, De Silva AO, DeWitt JC. Widening the Lens on PFASs: Direct Human Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Acid Precursors (pre-PFAAs). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:6004-6013. [PMID: 35324171 PMCID: PMC10782884 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c00254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Determining health risks associated with per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is a highly complex problem requiring massive efforts for scientists, risk assessors, and regulators. Among the most poorly understood pressing questions is the relative importance of pre-PFAAs, which are PFASs that degrade to highly persistent perfluoroalkyl acids. How many of the vast number of existing pre-PFAAs are relevant for direct human exposure, and what are the predominant exposure pathways? What evidence of direct exposure to pre-PFAAs is provided by human biomonitoring studies? How important are pre-PFAAs and their biotransformation products for human health risk assessment? This article outlines recent progress and recommendations toward widening the lens on human PFAS exposure to include the pre-PFAA subclass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie A. McDonough
- Department of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Wenting Li
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616 USA
| | - Heather N. Bischel
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616 USA
| | - Amila O. De Silva
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Water Science Technology Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Jamie C. DeWitt
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
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17
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Bangma J, Guillette TC, Bommarito PA, Ng C, Reiner JL, Lindstrom AB, Strynar MJ. Understanding the dynamics of physiological changes, protein expression, and PFAS in wildlife. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 159:107037. [PMID: 34896671 PMCID: PMC8802192 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.107037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) accumulation and elimination in both wildlife and humans is largely attributed to PFAS interactions with proteins, including but not limited to organic anion transporters (OATs), fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs), and serum proteins such as albumin. In wildlife, changes in the biotic and abiotic environment (e.g. salinity, temperature, reproductive stage, and health status) often lead to dynamic and responsive physiological changes that alter the prevalence and location of many proteins, including PFAS-related proteins. Therefore, we hypothesize that if key PFAS-related proteins are impacted as a result of environmentally induced as well as biologically programmed physiological changes (e.g. reproduction), then PFAS that associate with those proteins will also be impacted. Changes in tissue distribution across tissues of PFAS due to these dynamics may have implications for wildlife studies where these chemicals are measured in biological matrices (e.g., serum, feathers, eggs). For example, failure to account for factors contributing to PFAS variability in a tissue may result in exposure misclassification as measured concentrations may not reflect average exposure levels. The goal of this review is to share general information with the PFAS research community on what biotic and abiotic changes might be important to consider when designing and interpreting a biomonitoring or an ecotoxicity based wildlife study. This review will also draw on parallels from the epidemiological discipline to improve study design in wildlife research. Overall, understanding these connections between biotic and abiotic environments, dynamic protein levels, PFAS levels measured in wildlife, and epidemiology serves to strengthen study design and study interpretation and thus strengthen conclusions derived from wildlife studies for years to come.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - T C Guillette
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Paige A Bommarito
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Carla Ng
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jessica L Reiner
- Chemical Sciences Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 331 Fort Johnson Rd, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Andrew B Lindstrom
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Mark J Strynar
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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18
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Astuto MC, Di Nicola MR, Tarazona JV, Rortais A, Devos Y, Liem AKD, Kass GEN, Bastaki M, Schoonjans R, Maggiore A, Charles S, Ratier A, Lopes C, Gestin O, Robinson T, Williams A, Kramer N, Carnesecchi E, Dorne JLCM. In Silico Methods for Environmental Risk Assessment: Principles, Tiered Approaches, Applications, and Future Perspectives. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2425:589-636. [PMID: 35188648 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1960-5_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This chapter aims to introduce the reader to the basic principles of environmental risk assessment of chemicals and highlights the usefulness of tiered approaches within weight of evidence approaches in relation to problem formulation i.e., data availability, time and resource availability. In silico models are then introduced and include quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models, which support filling data gaps when no chemical property or ecotoxicological data are available. In addition, biologically-based models can be applied in more data rich situations and these include generic or species-specific models such as toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic models, dynamic energy budget models, physiologically based models, and models for ecosystem hazard assessment i.e. species sensitivity distributions and ultimately for landscape assessment i.e. landscape-based modeling approaches. Throughout this chapter, particular attention is given to provide practical examples supporting the application of such in silico models in real-world settings. Future perspectives are discussed to address environmental risk assessment in a more holistic manner particularly for relevant complex questions, such as the risk assessment of multiple stressors and the development of harmonized approaches to ultimately quantify the relative contribution and impact of single chemicals, multiple chemicals and multiple stressors on living organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - A Rortais
- European Food Safety Authority, Parma, Italy
| | - Yann Devos
- European Food Safety Authority, Parma, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Antony Williams
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Nynke Kramer
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Edoardo Carnesecchi
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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19
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LaLone CA, Basu N, Browne P, Edwards SW, Embry M, Sewell F, Hodges G. International Consortium to Advance Cross-Species Extrapolation of the Effects of Chemicals in Regulatory Toxicology. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2021; 40:3226-3233. [PMID: 34551147 PMCID: PMC9161440 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Carlie A. LaLone
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and DevelopmentUS Environmental Protection AgencyDuluthMinnesotaUSA
| | - Niladri Basu
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental SciencesMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Patience Browne
- Environment DirectorateOrganisation for Economic Co‐operation and DevelopmentParisFrance
| | - Stephen W. Edwards
- GenOmics, Bioinformatics, and Translational Research CenterRTI InternationalResearch Triangle ParkNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Michelle Embry
- Health and Environmental Sciences InstituteWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Fiona Sewell
- National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement, and Reduction of Animals in ResearchLondonUK
| | - Geoff Hodges
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Sharnbrook, BedfordshireUK
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20
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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: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [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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21
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Savoca D, Pace A. Bioaccumulation, Biodistribution, Toxicology and Biomonitoring of Organofluorine Compounds in Aquatic Organisms. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:6276. [PMID: 34207956 PMCID: PMC8230574 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This review is a survey of recent advances in studies concerning the impact of poly- and perfluorinated organic compounds in aquatic organisms. After a brief introduction on poly- and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) features, an overview of recent monitoring studies is reported illustrating ranges of recorded concentrations in water, sediments, and species. Besides presenting general concepts defining bioaccumulative potential and its indicators, the biodistribution of PFCs is described taking in consideration different tissues/organs of the investigated species as well as differences between studies in the wild or under controlled laboratory conditions. The potential use of species as bioindicators for biomonitoring studies are discussed and data are summarized in a table reporting the number of monitored PFCs and their total concentration as a function of investigated species. Moreover, biomolecular effects on taxonomically different species are illustrated. In the final paragraph, main findings have been summarized and possible solutions to environmental threats posed by PFCs in the aquatic environment are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Pace
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università Degli Studi di Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy;
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22
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News Feature: How "forever chemicals" might impair the immune system. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2105018118. [PMID: 33833063 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2105018118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
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