1
|
Phelps DW, Connors AM, Ferrero G, DeWitt JC, Yoder JA. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances alter innate immune function: evidence and data gaps. J Immunotoxicol 2024; 21:2343362. [PMID: 38712868 DOI: 10.1080/1547691x.2024.2343362] [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: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a large class of compounds used in a variety of processes and consumer products. Their unique chemical properties make them ubiquitous and persistent environmental contaminants while also making them economically viable and socially convenient. To date, several reviews have been published to synthesize information regarding the immunotoxic effects of PFASs on the adaptive immune system. However, these reviews often do not include data on the impact of these compounds on innate immunity. Here, current literature is reviewed to identify and incorporate data regarding the effects of PFASs on innate immunity in humans, experimental models, and wildlife. Known mechanisms by which PFASs modulate innate immune function are also reviewed, including disruption of cell signaling, metabolism, and tissue-level effects. For PFASs where innate immune data are available, results are equivocal, raising additional questions about common mechanisms or pathways of toxicity, but highlighting that the innate immune system within several species can be perturbed by exposure to PFASs. Recommendations are provided for future research to inform hazard identification, risk assessment, and risk management practices for PFASs to protect the immune systems of exposed organisms as well as environmental health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Drake W Phelps
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Ashley M Connors
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Toxicology Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Genetics and Genomics Academy, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Giuliano Ferrero
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Jamie C DeWitt
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Yoder
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Toxicology Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Genetics and Genomics Academy, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Fujii Y, Kato Y, Miyatake M, Akeda S, Nagata S, Ando J, Kido K, Ohta C, Koga N, Harada KH, Haraguchi K. Levels and spatial profile of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in edible shrimp products from Japan and neighboring countries; a potential source of dietary exposure to humans. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 189:108685. [PMID: 38823154 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is of great concern for human health because of their persistence and potentially adverse effects. Dietary intake, particularly through aquatic products, is a significant route of human exposure to PFAS. We analyzed perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acid (PFSA with carbon numbers from 6 to 8 and 10 (C6-C8, C10)) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (FOSA), and perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid (PFCA with carbon numbers from 6 to 15 (C6-C15)) in 30 retail packs of edible shrimps, which included seven species from eight coastal areas of Japan and neighboring countries. The most prevalent compounds were perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS, C8) and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA, C11), accounting for 46 % of total PFAS. The concentrations ranged from 6.5 to 44 ng/g dry weight (dw) (equivalent to 1.5 to 10 ng/g wet weight (ww)) and varied according to species and location. For example, Alaskan pink shrimp (Pandalus eous) from the Hokuriku coast, Japan contained high levels of long-chain PFCAs (38 ng/g dw (equivalent to 8.7 ng/g ww)), while red rice prawn (Metapenaeopsis barbata) from Yamaguchi, Japan contained a high concentration of PFOS (29 ng/g dw (equivalent to 6.7 ng/g ww)). We also observed regional differences in the PFAS levels with higher concentrations of long-chain PFCAs in Japanese coastal waters than in the South China Sea. The PFAS profiles in shrimp were consistent with those in the diet and serum of Japanese consumers, suggesting that consumption of seafood such as shrimp may be an important source of exposure. The estimated daily intake of sum of all PFAS from shrimp from Japanese coastal water was 0.43 ng/kg body weight/day in average, which could reach the weekly tolerable values (4.4 ng/kg body weight /week) for the sum of the four PFSA set by the EFSA for heavy consumers. The high concentration of PFAS in shrimp warrants further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yukiko Fujii
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Daiichi University of Pharmacy, 22-1 Tamagawa, Minami-ku, Fukuoka 815-8511, Japan.
| | - Yoshihisa Kato
- Kagawa School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, 1314-1, Shido, Sanuki, Kagawa 769-2193, Japan
| | - Masayuki Miyatake
- Kagawa School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, 1314-1, Shido, Sanuki, Kagawa 769-2193, Japan
| | - Syunpei Akeda
- Kagawa School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, 1314-1, Shido, Sanuki, Kagawa 769-2193, Japan
| | - Sigeru Nagata
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Daiichi University of Pharmacy, 22-1 Tamagawa, Minami-ku, Fukuoka 815-8511, Japan
| | - Junpei Ando
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Daiichi University of Pharmacy, 22-1 Tamagawa, Minami-ku, Fukuoka 815-8511, Japan
| | - Katsumi Kido
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Daiichi University of Pharmacy, 22-1 Tamagawa, Minami-ku, Fukuoka 815-8511, Japan
| | - Chiho Ohta
- Nakamura Gakuen University, 5-7-1 Befu, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0198, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Koga
- Nakamura Gakuen University, 5-7-1 Befu, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0198, Japan
| | - Kouji H Harada
- Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Yoshida Konoe, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Koichi Haraguchi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Daiichi University of Pharmacy, 22-1 Tamagawa, Minami-ku, Fukuoka 815-8511, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rispens B, Hendriks AJ. Towards process-based modelling and parameterisation of bioaccumulation in humans across PFAS congeners. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 359:142253. [PMID: 38714250 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large class of stable toxic chemicals which have ended up in the environment and in organisms in significant concentrations. Toxicokinetic models are needed to facilitate extrapolation of bioaccumulation data across PFAS congeners and species. For the present study, we carried out an inventory of accumulation processes specific for PFAS, deviating from traditional Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). In addition, we reviewed toxicokinetic models on PFAS reported in literature, classifying them according to the number of compartments distinguished as a one-compartment model (1-CM), two-compartment model (2- CM) or a multi-compartment model, (multi-CM) as well as the accumulation processes included and the parameters used. As the inventory showed that simple 1-CMs were lacking, we developed a generic 1-CM of ourselves to include PFAS specific processes and validated the model for legacy perfluoroalkyl acids. Predicted summed elimination constants were accurate for long carbon chains (>C6), indicating that the model properly represented toxicokinetic processes for most congeners. Results for urinary elimination rate constants were mixed, which might be caused by the exclusion of reabsorption processes (renal reabsorption, enterohepatic circulation). The 1-CM needs to be improved further in order to better predict individual elimination pathways. Besides that, more data on PFAS-transporter specific processes are needed to extrapolate across PFAS congeners and species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bjorn Rispens
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525, AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - A Jan Hendriks
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525, AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hill NI, Becanova J, Vojta S, Barber LB, LeBlanc DR, Vajda AM, Pickard HM, Lohmann R. Bioconcentration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and precursors in fathead minnow tissues environmentally exposed to aqueous film-forming foam-contaminated waters. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024. [PMID: 38896102 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been associated with toxicity in wildlife and negative health effects in humans. Decades of fire training activity at Joint Base Cape Cod (MA, USA) incorporated the use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), which resulted in long-term PFAS contamination of sediments, groundwater, and hydrologically connected surface waters. To explore the bioconcentration potential of PFAS in complex environmental mixtures, a mobile laboratory was established to evaluate the bioconcentration of PFAS from AFFF-impacted groundwater by flow-through design. Fathead minnows (n = 24) were exposed to PFAS in groundwater over a 21-day period and tissue-specific PFAS burdens in liver, kidney, and gonad were derived at three different time points. The ∑PFAS concentrations in groundwater increased from approximately 10,000 ng/L at day 1 to 36,000 ng/L at day 21. The relative abundance of PFAS in liver, kidney, and gonad shifted temporally from majority perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides (FASAs) to perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs). By day 21, mean ∑PFAS concentrations in tissues displayed a predominance in the order of liver > kidney > gonad. Generally, bioconcentration factors (BCFs) for FASAs, perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs), and fluorotelomer sulfonates (FTS) increased with degree of fluorinated carbon chain length, but this was not evident for PFSAs. Perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA) displayed the highest mean BCF (8700 L/kg) in day 21 kidney. Suspect screening results revealed the presence of several perfluoroalkyl sulfinate and FASA compounds present in groundwater and in liver for which pseudo-bioconcentration factors are also reported. The bioconcentration observed for precursor compounds and PFSA derivatives detected suggests alternative pathways for terminal PFAS exposure in aquatic wildlife and humans. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-12. © 2024 The Author(s). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas I Hill
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Jitka Becanova
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Simon Vojta
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA
| | | | | | - Alan M Vajda
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Heidi M Pickard
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rainer Lohmann
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Chen X, Wang C, Gui W, Guo Y, Zhou X, Zhao Y, Dai J. Time-course transcriptome analysis discloses PFDMO2OA (C8 HFPO-TA)-induced developmental malformations and cardiovascular toxicities in zebrafish. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 347:123729. [PMID: 38462201 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123729] [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: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
PFDMO2OA (C8 HFPO-TA), a novel substitute for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), has been frequently detected in surface waters. However, information on its toxicity remains scarce. In the present study, zebrafish embryos were exposed to varying concentrations of PFDMO2OA, ranging from 80 to 800 mg/L, until 120 h post-fertilization (hpf) to explore its potential developmental toxicities. The LC50 value for mortality was 505.9 mg/L, comparable to that of PFOA (over 500 mg/L), suggesting a lack of safety of PFDMO2OA compared to PFOA. At 120 hpf, PFDMO2OA exposure led to various malformations in embryos, including uninflated swim bladder, yolk sac oedema, spinal deformation, and pigmentation changes, with pericardial oedema being prominent. Analysis using O-dianisidine stain indicated a decline in erythrocytes over time. Transcriptome analysis further revealed the cardiovascular toxicity caused by PFDMO2OA at the molecular level. Time-course differential analysis pointed to the apoptosis dependent on disrupted mitochondrial function as a significant contributor to erythrocyte disappearance, as confirmed by the TUNEL stain. Therefore, the present findings suggest that PFDMO2OA induces developmental malformations and cardiovascular toxicities in zebrafish embryos, demonstrating a toxic potency comparable to that of PFOA. The results further highlight the significance of evaluating the health risks associated with PFDMO2OA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Congcong Wang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Wanying Gui
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yong Guo
- Key Laboratory of Organofluorine Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuming Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yanbin Zhao
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China.
| | - Jiayin Dai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Heimstad ES, Nygård T, Moe B, Herzke D. New insights from an eight-year study on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in an urban terrestrial ecosystem. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 347:123735. [PMID: 38458514 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123735] [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: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were analysed in a high number of terrestrial samples of soil, earthworm, bird eggs and liver from red fox and brown rat in an urban area in Norway from 2013 to 2020. PFOS and the long chain PFCAs were the most dominating compounds in all samples, proving their ubiquitous distribution. Other less studied compounds such as 6:2 FTS were first and foremost detected in earthworm. 8:2 FTS was found in many samples of fieldfare egg, sparrowhawk egg and earthworm, where the eggs had highest concentrations. Highest concentrations for both 6:2 FTS and 8:2 FTS were detected at present and former industry areas. FOSA was detected in many samples of the species with highest concentrations in red fox liver and brown rat liver of 3.3 and 5.5 ng/g ww. PFAS concentrations from the urban area were significantly higher than from background areas indicating that some of the species can be suitable as markers for PFAS emissions in an urban environment. Fieldfare eggs had surprisingly high concentrations of PFOS and PFCA concentrations from areas known to be or have been influenced by industry. Biota-soil-accumulation factor and magnification calculations indicate accumulation and magnification potential for several PFAS. Earthworm and fieldfare egg had average concentrations above the Canadian and European thresholds in diet for avian wildlife and predators. For earthworms, 18 % of the samples exceeded the European threshold (33 ng/g ww) of PFOS in prey for predators, and for fieldfare eggs, 35 % of the samples were above the same threshold. None of the soil samples exceeded a proposed PNEC of PFOS for soil living organisms of 373 ng/g dw.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Torgeir Nygård
- NINA-Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Børge Moe
- NINA-Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Dorte Herzke
- NILU, The Fram Centre, P. box 6606 Stakkevollan, NO-9296, Tromsø, Norway; NIPH-Norwegian Institute for Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Rohonczy J, Robinson SA, Forbes MR, De Silva AO, Brinovcar C, Bartlett AJ, Gilroy ÈAM. The effects of two short-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) on northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens) tadpole development. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 33:177-189. [PMID: 38315267 PMCID: PMC10940426 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-024-02737-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Short-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) have been detected in the environment globally. The presence and persistence of these compounds in the environment may lead to chronic wildlife exposure. We used northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens) tadpoles to investigate the chronic toxicity and the bioconcentration of two short-chain PFCAs, perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA). We exposed Gosner stage 25 tadpoles to PFBA and PFHxA (as individual chemicals) at nominal concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10, 100, and 1000 µg/L for 43-46 days. Tadpoles exposed to 0.1 to 100 µg/L of PFBA and PFHxA had significantly higher mean snout-to-vent lengths, mean masses, and scaled mass indexes than control tadpoles. These results indicate that exposure to short-chain PFCAs influences tadpole growth. Further investigation into the mechanism(s) causing the observed changes in tadpole growth is warranted. We observed a significantly higher proportion of males in the PFBA 1 µg/L treatment group, however further histological analyses are required to confirm visual sex identification before making concrete conclusions on the effects of PFCAs on amphibian sex ratios. PFBA concentrations in tissues were higher than PFHxA concentrations; a pattern that contrasts with previously published studies using fish, suggesting potential differences between taxa in PFBA and PFHxA bioconcentration. Bioconcentration factors were <10 L/kg wet weight, indicating low bioconcentration potential in tadpoles. Our results suggest that PFBA and PFHxA may have effects at environmentally-relevant concentrations (0.1-10 µg/L) and further investigation is required before these compounds can be deemed a "safe" alternative to their long-chain counterparts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jillian Rohonczy
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Stacey A Robinson
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada.
- Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada.
| | - Mark R Forbes
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Amila O De Silva
- Water Science and Technology Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, ON, L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Cassandra Brinovcar
- Water Science and Technology Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, ON, L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Adrienne J Bartlett
- Water Science and Technology Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, ON, L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Ève A M Gilroy
- Water Science and Technology Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, ON, L7S 1A1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Groffen T, Keirsebelik H, Dendievel H, Falcou-Préfol M, Bervoets L, Schoelynck J. Are Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) suitable as biomonitor or bioindicator of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pollution? JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 464:133024. [PMID: 37988866 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133024] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in the environment. In Flanders, the bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms is currently being monitored using European perch and European eel. Since both are native species, there is an ethical need to search for other suitable biomonitors. This study aims to investigate whether the invasive Chinese mitten crab could be used in biomonitoring programs by assessing PFAS accumulation in hepatopancreas, muscle tissue, and carapace. Furthermore, we correlated accumulated concentrations to those in the local abiotic environment. Concentrations in the crabs (highest average ∑PFAS concentration of 688 ± 505 ng/g ww) were often higher than those in crab species from other regions across the globe, confirming that Flanders is highly polluted with PFAS. Concentrations in the crabs did not reflect those in the abiotic environment. This implies that biomonitoring is necessary to investigate the impact of PFAS pollution on organisms in aquatic ecosystems, as important data is missing when only the abiotic environment is monitored. The accumulation profiles differed between the invasive crab and the native European perch and European eel, potentially due to a different ecology and trophic position. Since all three species provide complementary information on the PFAS pollution, a multi-species approach in biomonitoring is recommended. Overall, our results show that the crabs can be used as biomonitor, but more information is necessary to confirm their suitability as bioindicator.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thimo Groffen
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, ECOSPHERE Research Group, Universiteitsplein 1C, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Heleen Keirsebelik
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, ECOSPHERE Research Group, Universiteitsplein 1C, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Hannes Dendievel
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, ECOSPHERE Research Group, Universiteitsplein 1C, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Mathilde Falcou-Préfol
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, ECOSPHERE Research Group, Universiteitsplein 1C, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Lieven Bervoets
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, ECOSPHERE Research Group, Universiteitsplein 1C, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Jonas Schoelynck
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, ECOSPHERE Research Group, Universiteitsplein 1C, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Nielsen F, Fischer FC, Leth PM, Grandjean P. Occurrence of Major Perfluorinated Alkylate Substances in Human Blood and Target Organs. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:143-149. [PMID: 38154793 PMCID: PMC10785751 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c06499] [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: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Human exposure to perfluorinated alkylate substances (PFASs) is usually assessed from the concentrations in serum or plasma, assuming one-compartment toxicokinetics. To characterize body distributions of major PFASs, we obtained and extracted tissue samples from 19 forensic autopsies of healthy adult subjects who had died suddenly and were not known to have elevated levels of PFAS exposure. As target organs of toxicological importance, we selected the liver, kidneys, lungs, spleen, and brain, as well as whole blood. Samples weighing about 0.1 g were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to triple mass spectrometers. Minor variations in PFAS concentrations were found between the kidney cortex and medulla and between lung lobes. Organ concentrations of perfluorooctanoic sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorononanoate (PFNA) correlated well with blood concentrations, while perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorohexanoic sulfonate (PFHxS) showed more variable associations. Likewise, the liver concentrations correlated well with those of other organs. Calculations of relative distributions were carried out to assess the interdependence of organ retentions. Equilibrium model predictions largely explained the observed PFAS distributions, except for the brain. Although the samples were small and affected by a possible lack of homogeneity, these findings support the use of blood-PFAS concentrations as a measure of PFAS exposure, with the liver possibly acting as the main organ of retention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Flemming Nielsen
- Department
of Environmental Medicine, University of
Southern Denmark, Odense 5230, Denmark
| | - Fabian C. Fischer
- John
A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- Department
of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, United States
| | - Peter M. Leth
- Department
of Forensic Medicine, University of Southern
Denmark, Odense 5230, Denmark
| | - Philippe Grandjean
- Department
of Environmental Medicine, University of
Southern Denmark, Odense 5230, Denmark
- Department
of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, United States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Almeida NMS, Bali SK, James D, Wang C, Wilson AK. Binding of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) to the PPARγ/RXRα-DNA Complex. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:7423-7443. [PMID: 37990410 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear receptors are the fundamental building blocks of gene expression regulation and the focus of many drug targets. While binding to DNA, nuclear receptors act as transcription factors, governing a multitude of functions in the human body. Peroxisome proliferator-activator receptor γ (PPARγ) and the retinoid X receptor α (RXRα) form heterodimers with unique properties and have a primordial role in insulin sensitization. This PPARγ/RXRα heterodimer has been shown to be impacted by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and linked to a variety of significant health conditions in humans. Herein, a selection of the most common PFAS (legacy and emerging) was studied utilizing molecular dynamics simulations for PPARγ/RXRα. The local and global structural effects of PFAS binding on the known ligand binding pockets of PPARγ and RXRα as well as the DNA binding domain (DBD) of RXRα were inspected. The binding free energies were predicted computationally and were compared between the different binding pockets. In addition, two electronic structure approaches were utilized to model the interaction of PFAS within the DNA binding domain, density functional theory (DFT) and domain-based pair natural orbital coupled cluster with perturbative triples (DLPNO-CCSD(T)) approaches, with implicit solvation. Residue decomposition and hydrogen-bonding analysis were also performed, detailing the role of prominent residues in molecular recognition. The role of l-carnitine is explored as a potential in vivo remediation strategy for PFAS interaction with the PPARγ/RXRα heterodimer. In this work, it was found that PFAS can bind and act as agonists for all of the investigated pockets. For the first time in the literature, PFAS are postulated to bind to the DNA binding domain in a nonspecific manner. In addition, for the PPARγ ligand binding domain, l-carnitine shows promise in replacing smaller PFAS from the pocket.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nuno M S Almeida
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48864, United States
| | - Semiha Kevser Bali
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48864, United States
| | - Deepak James
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48864, United States
| | - Cong Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48864, United States
| | - Angela K Wilson
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48864, United States
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Lee WK, Lam TKY, Tang HC, Ho TC, Wan HT, Wong CKC. PFOS-elicited metabolic perturbation in liver and fatty acid metabolites in testis of adult mice. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1302965. [PMID: 38075064 PMCID: PMC10703039 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1302965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Multiple factors can contribute to sub-fecundity, including genetics, lifestyle, and environmental contaminants. PFASs are characterized as "forever chemicals" due to their ubiquitous contamination and their persistence in the environment, wildlife, and humans. Numerous studies have demonstrated that PFAS exposure adversely affects multiple bodily functions, including liver metabolism and gonadal function. It is unclear, however, how the disruption of hepatic fatty acid metabolism affects testicular function. Methods In this study, male mice were administered 0.3 and 3 μg/g body weight of PFOS for 21 days. Results Our data showed that PFOS exposure caused hepatic steatosis, as evidenced by significant increases in triglyceride levels, expression of ATP-citrate lyase, and fatty acid synthase, as well as fasting insulin levels. PFOS perturbed the expression levels of hepatokines, of which fibroblast growth factor-21 (Fgf-21), leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin-2 (Lect-2), and retinol-binding protein-4 (Rbp-4) were significantly reduced, whereas angiopoietin-like 4 (Angptl4) was noticeably increased. While Rbp-4 and Fgf-21 are known to contribute to spermatogenesis and testosterone synthesis. In PFOS-exposed groups, testicular ATP, and testosterone decreased significantly with a significant increase in the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-coactivator 1α. Mass spectrophotometry imaging revealed the localization of PFOS in testes, along with significant increases in fatty acid metabolites. These included arachidonic acid, dihomo-α-linolenic acid, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, oxidized ceramide, diacylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, and phosphatidylethanolamine, which are associated with inflammation and post-testicular causes of infertility. Discussion This study revealed potential links between PFOS-elicited changes in hepatic metabolism and their impacts on testicular biology. This study provides insights into alternative targets elicited by PFOS that can be used to develop diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for improving testicular dysfunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wang Ka Lee
- Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Thomas Ka Yam Lam
- State Key Laboratory in Environmental and Biological Analysis, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hiu Ching Tang
- Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Tsz Chun Ho
- Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- State Key Laboratory in Environmental and Biological Analysis, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hin Ting Wan
- Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chris Kong Chu Wong
- Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- State Key Laboratory in Environmental and Biological Analysis, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Zheng G, Eick SM, Salamova A. Elevated Levels of Ultrashort- and Short-Chain Perfluoroalkyl Acids in US Homes and People. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:15782-15793. [PMID: 37818968 PMCID: PMC10603771 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c06715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) make up a large group of fluorinated organic compounds extensively used in consumer products and industrial applications. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), the two perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) with 8 carbons in their structure, have been phased out on a global scale because of their high environmental persistence and toxicity. As a result, shorter-chain PFAAs with less than 8 carbons in their structure are being used as their replacements and are now widely detected in the environment, raising concerns about their effects on human health. In this study, 47 PFAAs and their precursors were measured in paired samples of dust and drinking water collected from residential homes in Indiana, United States, and in blood and urine samples collected from the residents of these homes. Ultrashort- (with 2 or 3 carbons [C2-C3]) and short-chain (with 4-7 carbons [C4-C7]) PFAAs were the most abundant in all four matrices and constituted on average 69-100% of the total PFAA concentrations. Specifically, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA, C2) and perfluoropropanoic acid (PFPrA, C3) were the predominant PFAAs in most of the samples. Significant positive correlations (n = 81; r = 0.23-0.42; p < 0.05) were found between TFA, perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA, C4), and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA, C7) concentrations in dust or water and those in serum, suggesting dust ingestion and/or drinking water consumption as important exposure pathways for these compounds. This study demonstrates that ultrashort- and short-chain PFAAs are now abundant in the indoor environment and in humans and warrants further research on potential adverse health effects of these exposures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guomao Zheng
- School
of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Stephanie M. Eick
- Gangarosa
Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- Department
of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Amina Salamova
- Gangarosa
Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Baumert BO, Fischer FC, Nielsen F, Grandjean P, Bartell S, Stratakis N, Walker DI, Valvi D, Kohli R, Inge T, Ryder J, Jenkins T, Sisley S, Xanthakos S, Rock S, La Merrill MA, Conti D, McConnell R, Chatzi L. Paired Liver:Plasma PFAS Concentration Ratios from Adolescents in the Teen-LABS Study and Derivation of Empirical and Mass Balance Models to Predict and Explain Liver PFAS Accumulation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:14817-14826. [PMID: 37756184 PMCID: PMC10591710 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c02765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Animal studies have pointed at the liver as a hotspot for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) accumulation and toxicity; however, these findings have not been replicated in human populations. We measured concentrations of seven PFAS in matched liver and plasma samples collected at the time of bariatric surgery from 64 adolescents in the Teen-Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (Teen-LABS) study. Liver:plasma concentration ratios were perfectly explained (r2 > 0.99) in a multilinear regression (MLR) model based on toxicokinetic (TK) descriptors consisting of binding to tissue constituents and membrane permeabilities. Of the seven matched plasma and liver PFAS concentrations compared in this study, the liver:plasma concentration ratio of perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) was considerably higher than the liver:plasma concentration ratio of other PFAS congeners. Comparing the MLR model with an equilibrium mass balance model (MBM) suggested that complex kinetic transport processes are driving the unexpectedly high liver:plasma concentration ratio of PFHpA. Intratissue MBM modeling pointed to membrane lipids as the tissue constituents that drive the liver accumulation of long-chain, hydrophobic PFAS, whereas albumin binding of hydrophobic PFAS dominated PFAS distribution in plasma. The liver:plasma concentration data set, empirical MLR model, and mechanistic MBM modeling allow the prediction of liver from plasma concentrations measured in human cohort studies. Our study demonstrates that combining biomonitoring data with mechanistic modeling can identify underlying mechanisms of internal distribution and specific target organ toxicity of PFAS in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brittney O. Baumert
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 90032
| | - Fabian C. Fischer
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA, 02134
| | - Flemming Nielsen
- Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, 5230
| | - Philippe Grandjean
- Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, 5230
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA, 02881
| | - Scott Bartell
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA, 92697
| | - Nikos Stratakis
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, ISGlobal, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Douglas I. Walker
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322
| | - Damaskini Valvi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA, 10029
| | - Rohit Kohli
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA, 90027
| | - Thomas Inge
- Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 60611
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA, 60611
| | - Justin Ryder
- Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 60611
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA, 60611
| | - Todd Jenkins
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA, 45229
| | - Stephanie Sisley
- Department of Pediatrics, USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA, 77030
| | - Stavra Xanthakos
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA, 45229
| | - Sarah Rock
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 90032
| | - Michele A. La Merrill
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA, 95616
| | - David Conti
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 90032
| | - Rob McConnell
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 90032
| | - Lida Chatzi
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 90032
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Shu Y, Wang Q, Hong P, Ruan Y, Lin H, Xu J, Zhang H, Deng S, Wu H, Chen L, Leung KMY. Legacy and Emerging Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Surveillance in Bufo gargarizans from Inlet Watersheds of Chaohu Lake, China: Tissue Distribution and Bioaccumulation Potential. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:13148-13160. [PMID: 37565447 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c02660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Amphibians are sensitive biomonitors of environmental pollutants but reports regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of synthetic organofluorine substances, are limited. In this study, samples of water and Chinese toads (Bufo gargarizans) were collected in Chaohu Lake, China. Tissue-specific bioaccumulation characteristics of 39 PFAS, including 19 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), 8 emerging PFAS, and 12 PFAA precursors, were investigated, and the levels of some biochemical indicators were determined. The highest PFAS concentrations were found in the liver [215.97 ng/g dry weight (dw)] of Chinese toads, followed by gonads (135.42 ng/g dw) and intestine (114.08 ng/g dw). A similar tissue distribution profile was found between legacy and emerging PFAS in the toads, and the occurrence of two emerging PFAS, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-propanoate (HFPO-DA) and 6:2 hydrogen-substituted polyfluorooctane ether sulfonate (6:2 H-PFESA) in the amphibians were for the first time reported. Field-based bioaccumulation factors of HFPO-DA were higher than perfluorooctanoic acid, indicating the higher bioaccumulation potential of this emerging PFAS than the legacy C8 compound. Males had significantly higher gonad PFAS levels than females while estradiol levels in gonads increased with increasing concentrations of certain PFAS (e.g., 6:2 H-PFESA), implying that PFAS may trigger estrogenic effects in the toads, especially for male toads.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yilin Shu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Qi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Pei Hong
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Yuefei Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Huiju Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Jing Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Huijuan Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Shuaitao Deng
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
- Shanghai Wildlife and Protected Natural Areas Research Center, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Hailong Wu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Lianguo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Kenneth Mei Yee Leung
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Taibl KR, Dunlop AL, Barr DB, Li YY, Eick SM, Kannan K, Ryan PB, Schroder M, Rushing B, Fennell T, Chang CJ, Tan Y, Marsit CJ, Jones DP, Liang D. Newborn metabolomic signatures of maternal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance exposure and reduced length of gestation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3120. [PMID: 37253729 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38710-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Marginalized populations experience disproportionate rates of preterm birth and early term birth. Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been reported to reduce length of gestation, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. In the present study, we characterized the molecular signatures of prenatal PFAS exposure and gestational age at birth outcomes in the newborn dried blood spot metabolome among 267 African American dyads in Atlanta, Georgia between 2016 and 2020. Pregnant people with higher serum perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid concentrations had increased odds of an early birth. After false discovery rate correction, the effect of prenatal PFAS exposure on reduced length of gestation was associated with 8 metabolomic pathways and 52 metabolites in newborn dried blood spots, which suggested perturbed tissue neogenesis, neuroendocrine function, and redox homeostasis. These mechanisms explain how prenatal PFAS exposure gives rise to the leading cause of infant death in the United States.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin R Taibl
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anne L Dunlop
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Dana Boyd Barr
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yuan-Yuan Li
- Metabolomics and Exposome Laboratory, Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Stephanie M Eick
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kurunthachalam Kannan
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - P Barry Ryan
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Madison Schroder
- Metabolomics and Exposome Laboratory, Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Blake Rushing
- Metabolomics and Exposome Laboratory, Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Timothy Fennell
- Analytical Chemistry and Pharmaceuticals, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Che-Jung Chang
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Youran Tan
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Carmen J Marsit
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Dean P Jones
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Donghai Liang
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Zhao L, Teng M, Zhao X, Li Y, Sun J, Zhao W, Ruan Y, Leung KMY, Wu F. Insight into the binding model of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances to proteins and membranes. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 175:107951. [PMID: 37126916 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have elicited much concern because of their ubiquitous distribution in the environment and the potential hazards they pose to wildlife and human health. Although an increasing number of effective PFAS alternatives are available in the market, these alternatives bring new challenges. This paper comprehensively reviews how PFASs bind to transport proteins (e.g., serum albumin, liver fatty acid transport proteins and organic acid transporters), nuclear receptors (e.g., peroxisome proliferator activated receptors, thyroid hormone receptors and reproductive hormone receptors) and membranes (e.g., cell membrane and mitochondrial membrane). Briefly, the hydrophobic fluorinated carbon chains of PFASs occupy the binding cavities of the target proteins, and the acid groups of PFASs form hydrogen bonds with amino acid residues. Various structural features of PFAS alternatives such as chlorine atom substitution, oxygen atom insertion and a branched structure, introduce variations in their chain length and hydrophobicity, which potentially change the affinity of PFAS alternatives for endogenous proteins. The toxic effects and mechanisms of action of legacy PFASs can be demonstrated and compared with their alternatives using binding models. In future studies, in vitro experiments and in silico quantitative structure-activity relationship modeling should be better integrated to allow more reliable toxicity predictions for both legacy and alternative PFASs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lihui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Miaomiao Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Xiaoli Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yunxia Li
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaqi Sun
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Wentian Zhao
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuefei Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Kenneth M Y Leung
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Fengchang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Zeng X, Chen T, Cui Y, Zhao J, Chen Q, Yu Z, Zhang Y, Han L, Chen Y, Zhang J. In utero exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and early childhood BMI trajectories: A mediation analysis with neonatal metabolic profiles. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 867:161504. [PMID: 36634772 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In utero perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure has been associated with childhood adiposity, but the mechanisms are poorly known. OBJECTIVE To investigate the potential mediating role of neonatal metabolites in the relationship between prenatal PFAS exposure and childhood adiposity trajectories in the first four years of life. METHODS We analyzed the data for 1671 mother-child pairs from the Shanghai Birth Cohort study. We included those with PFAS exposure information in early pregnancy, neonatal metabolites data and at least three child anthropometric measurements at 6, 12, 24 and/or 48 months. Body mass index (BMI) z-score trajectories were identified using latent class growth mixture modeling. The associations between PFAS concentrations and trajectory classes were assessed using multinomial logistic regression. Screening and penalization-based selection was used to identify neonatal amino acids and acylcarnitines with significant mediation effects. RESULTS Three BMI z-score trajectories in early childhood were identified: a persistent increase trajectory (Class 1, 2.2 %), a stable trajectory (Class 2, 66 %), and a transient increase trajectory (Class 3, 32 %). Increased odds of being in Class 1 were observed in association with one log-unit increase in concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate (odds ratio [OR], 1.76 [95 % CI, 0.96-3.23], Class 2 as reference; OR, 2.36 [95 % CI, 1.27-4.40], Class 3 as reference), perfluorononanoic acid (OR, 1.90 [95 % CI, 0.97-3.72], Class 2 as reference; OR, 2.23 [95 % CI, 1.12-4.42], Class 3 as reference) and perfluorodecanoic acid (OR, 1.95 [95 % CI, 1.12-3.38], Class 2 as reference; OR, 2.14 [95 % CI, 1.22-3.76], Class 3 as reference). The effect of prenatal PFAS exposure on being in Class 1 was significantly but partly mediated by octanoylcarnitine (2.64 % for perfluorononanoic acid and 3.70 % for sum of 10 PFAS). CONCLUSIONS In utero PFAS exposure is a risk factor for persistent growth in BMI z-score in early childhood. The alteration of neonatal acylcarnitines suggests a potential molecular pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Zeng
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Ting Chen
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Genetic Metabolism, Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yidan Cui
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jian Zhao
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Qian Chen
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Zhangsheng Yu
- Clinical Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yongjun Zhang
- Department of Neonatology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Lianshu Han
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Genetic Metabolism, Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Neonatology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Jun Zhang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Ehrlich V, Bil W, Vandebriel R, Granum B, Luijten M, Lindeman B, Grandjean P, Kaiser AM, Hauzenberger I, Hartmann C, Gundacker C, Uhl M. Consideration of pathways for immunotoxicity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Environ Health 2023; 22:19. [PMID: 36814257 PMCID: PMC9944481 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-022-00958-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are of public health concern, because of their ubiquitous and extremely persistent occurrence, and depending on their structure, their bio-accumulative, mobile and toxic properties. Human health effects associated with exposure to PFAS include adverse effects on the immune system. In 2020, EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) defined adverse effects on the immune system as the most critical effect for human health risk assessment, based on reduced antibody responses to childhood vaccines and similar effects observed in experimental animal studies. Likewise, the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) considers PFAS-induced immunotoxicity, especially in children, as the critical effect for risk assessment. However, the mechanisms by which antibody concentrations are impacted are not completely understood. Furthermore, other targets of the immune system functions have been reported in the literature. OBJECTIVE The aim of this review is to explore PFAS-associated immune-related effects. This includes, relevant mechanisms that may underlie the observed effects on the immune system, immunosuppression as well as immunoenhancement, such as i) modulation of cell signalling and nuclear receptors, such as NF-κB and PPARs; ii) alteration of calcium signalling and homoeostasis in immune cells; iii) modulation of immune cell populations; iv) oxidative stress and v) impact on fatty acid metabolism & secondary effects on the immune system. METHODS A literature research was conducted using three databases (Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus), which were searched in July 2021 for relevant studies published in the time frame from 2018 to 2021. In total, 487 publications were identified as potentially eligible and following expert-based judgement, articles relevant for mechanisms of PFAS induced immunotoxicity are discussed. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, we show that there is substantial evidence from both in vitro and in vivo experimental as well as epidemiological studies, supporting that various PFAS, not only PFOA and PFOS, affect multiple aspects of the immune system. Timing of exposure is critical, because the developing immune system is especially vulnerable to toxic insults, resulting in a higher risk of particularly adverse immune effects but also other organs later in life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Ehrlich
- Environment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt GmbH), Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wieneke Bil
- Centre for Safety of Substances and Products, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Rob Vandebriel
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Berit Granum
- Division of Climate and Environment Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mirjam Luijten
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Birgitte Lindeman
- Division of Climate and Environment Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Philippe Grandjean
- Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Andreas-Marius Kaiser
- Environment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt GmbH), Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ingrid Hauzenberger
- Environment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt GmbH), Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christina Hartmann
- Environment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt GmbH), Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Claudia Gundacker
- Center for Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maria Uhl
- Environment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt GmbH), Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Labine LM, Oliveira Pereira EA, Kleywegt S, Jobst KJ, Simpson AJ, Simpson MJ. Sublethal Exposure of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances of Varying Chain Length and Polar Functionality Results in Distinct Metabolic Responses in Daphnia magna. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:242-256. [PMID: 36345965 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5517] [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: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of persistent organic pollutants used in industrial applications because of their physicochemical properties, which results in their ubiquitous presence across environmental matrices. To date, legacy PFAS have been well studied; however, the concentration of alternative PFAS may exceed the concentration of legacy pollutants, and more information is needed regarding the sublethal toxicity at the molecular level of aquatic model organisms, such as Daphnia magna. Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) are four widely detected PFAS alternatives of varying chain length and polar functionality that are quantified in aquatic environments. The present study examines the metabolic perturbations of PFAS with varying chemistries to D. magna using targeted mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. Daphnia were acutely exposed to sublethal concentrations of PFBA, PFHxA, PFHxS, and PFNA before the polar metabolite profile was extracted from single organisms. Multivariate analysis demonstrated significant separation between the sublethal concentrations of PFHxA, PFHxS, and PFNA relative to the controls; in sum, longer chain lengths demonstrated greater overall perturbations to the extracted metabolic profiles. Univariate statistics revealed significant perturbations in the concentrations of several amino acids, nucleotides/nucleosides, and neurotransmitters with exposure to PFAS. These metabolic perturbations are consistent with disruptions in energy metabolism (pantothenate and coenzyme A metabolism, histidine metabolism) and protein synthesis (aminoacyl-transfer RNA biosynthesis and amino acid metabolism), which were identified through biochemical pathway analysis. These results provide evidence that although PFAS chemistry (chain length and polar functional group) invokes unique metabolic responses, there is also an underlying toxic mode of action that is common with select PFAS exposure. Overall, the present study highlights the capabilities of environmental metabolomics to elucidate the molecular-level perturbations of pollutants within the same chemical class to model aquatic organisms, which can be used to prioritize risk assessment of substituted PFAS alternatives. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:242-256. © 2022 SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Labine
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Environmental NMR Centre and Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Erico A Oliveira Pereira
- Environmental NMR Centre and Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sonya Kleywegt
- Technical Assessment and Standards Development Branch, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Karl J Jobst
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
| | - André J Simpson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Environmental NMR Centre and Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Myrna J Simpson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Environmental NMR Centre and Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Li J, Wang L, Zhang X, Liu P, Deji Z, Xing Y, Zhou Y, Lin X, Huang Z. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances exposure and its influence on the intestinal barrier: An overview on the advances. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 852:158362. [PMID: 36055502 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of artificially synthetic organic compounds that are hardly degraded in the natural environment. PFAS have been widely used for many decades, and the persistence and potential toxicity of PFAS are an emerging concern in the world. PFAS exposed via diet can be readily absorbed by the intestine and enter the circulatory system or accumulate directly at intestinal sites, which could interact with the intestine and cause the destruction of intestinal barrier. This review summarizes current relationships between PFAS exposure and intestinal barrier damage with a focus on more recent toxicological studies. Exposure to PFAS could cause inflammation in the gut, destruction of the gut epithelium and tight junction structure, reduction of the mucus layer, and induction of the toxicity of immune cells. PFAS accumulation could also induce microbial disorders and metabolic products changes. In addition, there are limited studies currently, and most available studies converge on the health risk of PFAS exposure for human intestinal disease. Therefore, more efforts are deserved to further understand potential associations between PFAS exposure and intestinal dysfunction and enable better assessment of exposomic toxicology and health risks for humans in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiaoyang Li
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Agriculture, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, PR China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Zhuoma Deji
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Yudong Xing
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Xia Lin
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Zhenzhen Huang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Miranda DDA, Peaslee GF, Zachritz AM, Lamberti GA. A worldwide evaluation of trophic magnification of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in aquatic ecosystems. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2022; 18:1500-1512. [PMID: 35029321 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A review of the published literature on the trophic magnification factor (TMF) for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) was conducted to assess how biomagnification varies across aquatic systems worldwide. Although the TMF has been recognized as the most reliable tool for assessing the biomagnification of organic contaminants, peer-reviewed studies reporting TMFs for PFAS are few and with limited geographical distribution. We found 25 published studies of the biomagnification of 35 specific PFAS, for which the TMF was generated through linear regression of individual log-PFAS concentration and the δ15 N-based trophic position of each organism in the food webs. Studies were concentrated mainly in China, North America, and Europe, and the most investigated compound was perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), which was frequently shown to be biomagnified in the food web (TMFs ranging from 0.8 to 20). Other long-chain carboxylates displayed substantial variation in trophic magnification. Observed differences in the TMF were associated with length of the food web, geographic location, sampling methodologies, tissue analyzed, and distance from known direct PFAS inputs. In addition to biomagnification of legacy PFAS, precursor substances were observed to bioaccumulate in the food web, which suggests they may biotransform to more persistent PFAS compounds in upper trophic levels. This review discusses the variability of environmental characteristics driving PFAS biomagnification in natural ecosystems and highlights the different approaches used by each study, which can make comparisons among studies challenging. Suggestions on how to standardize TMFs for PFAS are also provided in this review. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:1500-1512. © 2022 SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniele de A Miranda
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- Environmental Change Initiative, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Graham F Peaslee
- Environmental Change Initiative, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Alison M Zachritz
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Gary A Lamberti
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- Environmental Change Initiative, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Zhang Y, Mustieles V, Sun Y, Oulhote Y, Wang YX, Messerlian C. Association between serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances concentrations and common cold among children and adolescents in the United States. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 164:107239. [PMID: 35447424 PMCID: PMC10250187 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exert immunosuppressive effects in experimental animals. Few epidemiologic studies investigated PFAS exposure and immune-related clinical outcomes such as common cold, especially during childhood when the immune system is developing. METHODS This study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and included 517 children 3-11 years (2013-2014 cycle) and 2732 adolescents 12-19 years (2003-2016 cycles). Serum concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) were quantified. Common cold was self-reported by the participant or parent as having a head cold or chest cold in the last month. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to examine the covariate-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) between individual PFAS concentrations and common cold incidence in the past month. The joint effect of PFAS mixtures was evaluated using Probit Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR). RESULTS A doubling of serum PFHxS concentration was associated with a 31% higher odds (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.62) of common cold among children. Serum PFNA (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 0.93, 1.98) and PFOA (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 0.67, 2.62) concentrations were also related to common cold among children, as were serum PFOS concentrations among adolescents (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.96, 1.32). ORs were higher in male than female children and adolescents. BKMR showed a clear increasing trend of common cold estimates across quantiles of the total PFAS mixture concentration among children, while no obvious pattern emerged in adolescents. DISCUSSION Among children in the United States, serum concentrations of PFAS mixtures, especially PFHxS and PFNA, were associated with higher odds of common cold. Among adolescents, PFOS was associated with increased common cold in the last month. This study contributes to the existing evidence supporting the immunotoxicity of PFAS in childhood and adolescence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Vicente Mustieles
- University of Granada, Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM), Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs GRANADA, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Yang Sun
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Youssef Oulhote
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Yi-Xin Wang
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carmen Messerlian
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center, Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Kirk AB, Michelsen-Correa S, Rosen C, Martin CF, Blumberg B. PFAS and Potential Adverse Effects on Bone and Adipose Tissue Through Interactions With PPARγ. Endocrinology 2021; 162:6364127. [PMID: 34480479 PMCID: PMC9034324 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a widely dispersed, broad class of synthetic chemicals with diverse biological effects, including effects on adipose and bone differentiation. PFAS most commonly occur as mixtures and only rarely, if ever, as single environmental contaminants. This poses significant regulatory questions and a pronounced need for chemical risk assessments, analytical methods, and technological solutions to reduce the risk to public and environmental health. The effects of PFAS on biological systems may be complex. Each may have several molecular targets initiating multiple biochemical events leading to a number of different adverse outcomes. An exposure to mixtures or coexposures of PFAS complicates the picture further. This review illustrates how PFAS target peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors. Additionally, we describe how such activation leads to changes in cell differentiation and bone development that contributes to metabolic disorder and bone weakness. This discussion sheds light on the importance of seemingly modest outcomes observed in test animals and highlights why the most sensitive end points identified in some chemical risk assessments are significant from a public health perspective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea B Kirk
- Correspondence: Andrea Kirk, PhD, US EPA Headquarters, William Jefferson Clinton Bldg, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Mail Code 5201P, Washington, DC 20460, USA.
| | - Stephani Michelsen-Correa
- EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division, Washington, District of Columbia 20460, USA
| | - Cliff Rosen
- Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA
| | | | - Bruce Blumberg
- University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Zeeshan M, Zhang YT, Yu S, Huang WZ, Zhou Y, Vinothkumar R, Chu C, Li QQ, Wu QZ, Ye WL, Zhou P, Dong P, Zeng XW, Hu LW, Yang BY, Shen X, Zhou Y, Dong GH. Exposure to isomers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances increases the risk of diabetes and impairs glucose-homeostasis in Chinese adults: Isomers of C8 health project. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 278:130486. [PMID: 34126693 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130486] [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: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure has been linked to diabetes, but evidence on the association of isomers of PFAS with type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains scant. This population based cross-sectional study aimed to investigate associations between serum PFAS isomers, glucose-homeostasis markers and T2D, adjusted for multiple potential confounders. We used data from "Isomers of C8 Health Project in China" from July 2015 to October 2016. A total of 10 PFAS including isomers of PFOS and PFOA were measured in serum of 1045 Chinese adults. Fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, homeostasis model of insulin (HOMA-IR) and beta cell function (HOMA-β) were considered as markers of glucose-homeostasis. We found significant positive associations between serum PFAS isomers and glucose-homeostasis markers, namely, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR. Per log-unit increase in branched (br)-PFOS concentration was associated with increased fasting blood glucose (β = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.33), fasting insulin (β = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.44, 2.93) and HOMA-IR (β = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.50, 0.89). As compared to br-PFOS, linear (n)-PFOS and -PFOA showed lesser significant associations with glucose-homeostasis makers. Further, exposure to all PFAS including isomeric PFOS, PFOA and PFHxS increased the risk of T2D with br-PFOS exhibiting the highest risk (OR = 5.41, 95% CI: 3.68-7.96). The associations were stronger among women than men. In conclusion, chronic exposure to PFAS isomers was associated with impaired glucose-homeostasis and may increase the prevalence of T2D in Chinese adults. Given the ubiquity of PFAS in the environment and the public health burden of T2D, future studies are warranted to corroborate the findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Zeeshan
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Yun-Ting Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Shu Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Wen-Zhong Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Rajamanickam Vinothkumar
- Key Laboratory of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention Research, Lishui Hospital of Zhejiang University, Lishui, 323000, China
| | - Chu Chu
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Qing-Qing Li
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Qi-Zhen Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Wan-Lin Ye
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Peien Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Pengxin Dong
- Nursing College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Xiao-Wen Zeng
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Li-Wen Hu
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Bo-Yi Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Xubo Shen
- School of Public Health, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563060, China
| | - Yuanzhong Zhou
- School of Public Health, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563060, China
| | - Guang-Hui Dong
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Venezia O, Islam S, Cho C, Timme-Laragy AR, Sant KE. Modulation of PPAR signaling disrupts pancreas development in the zebrafish, Danio rerio. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2021; 426:115653. [PMID: 34302850 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2021.115653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptors (PPARs) are transcription factors that regulate processes such as lipid and glucose metabolism. Synthetic PPAR ligands, designed as therapeutics for metabolic disease, provide a tool to assess the relationship between PPAR activity and pancreas development in vivo, an area that remains poorly characterized. Here, we aim to assess the effects of PPAR agonists and antagonists on gene expression, embryonic morphology and pancreas development in transgenic zebrafish embryos. To evaluate developmental perturbations, we assessed gross body and pancreas morphology at 4 days post fertilization (dpf) in response to developmental exposures with PPARα, PPARγ, and PPARβ/δ agonists and antagonists at 0, 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 μM concentrations. All ligand exposures, with the exception of the PPARα agonist, resulted in significantly altered fish length and yolk sac area. PPARγ agonist and antagonist had higher incidence of darkened yolk sac and craniofacial deformities, whereas PPARα antagonist had higher incidence of pericardial edema and death. Significantly reduced endocrine pancreas area was observed in both PPARγ ligands and PPARα agonist exposed embryos, some of which also exhibited aberrant endocrine pancreas morphology. Both PPARβ/δ ligands caused reduced exocrine pancreas length and novel aberrant phenotype, and disrupted gene expression of pancreatic targets pdx1, gcga, and try. Lipid staining was performed at 8 dpf and revealed altered lipid accumulation consistent with isoform function. These data indicate chronic exposure to synthetic ligands may induce morphological and pancreatic defects in zebrafish embryos.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Venezia
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States of America
| | - Sadia Islam
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States of America
| | - Christine Cho
- School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Alicia R Timme-Laragy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States of America
| | - Karilyn E Sant
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States of America; School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States of America.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Andersen ME, Hagenbuch B, Apte U, Corton JC, Fletcher T, Lau C, Roth WL, Staels B, Vega GL, Clewell HJ, Longnecker MP. Why is elevation of serum cholesterol associated with exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in humans? A workshop report on potential mechanisms. Toxicology 2021; 459:152845. [PMID: 34246716 PMCID: PMC9048712 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.152845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Serum concentrations of cholesterol are positively correlated with exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in humans. The associated change in cholesterol is small across a broad range of exposure to PFOA and PFOS. Animal studies generally have not indicated a mechanism that would account for the association in humans. The extent to which the relationship is causal is an open question. Nonetheless, the association is of particular importance because increased serum cholesterol has been considered as an endpoint to derive a point of departure in at least one recent risk assessment. To gain insight into potential mechanisms for the association, both causal and non-causal, an expert workshop was held Oct 31 and Nov 1, 2019 to discuss relevant data and propose new studies. In this report, we summarize the relevant background data, the discussion among the attendees, and their recommendations for further research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Bruno Hagenbuch
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd - MS 1018, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
| | - Udayan Apte
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd - MS 1018, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
| | - J Christopher Corton
- Advanced Experimental Toxicology Models Branch, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Dr., MD B105-03, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA.
| | - Tony Fletcher
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK.
| | - Christopher Lau
- Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology Branch, Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Mail Code B105-04, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA.
| | - William L Roth
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (Retired), Numerical Animals, 16005 Frontier Rd., Reno, NV 89508, USA.
| | - Bart Staels
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1011-EGID, F-59019 Lille, France.
| | - Gloria L Vega
- Center for Human Nutrition, Dallas, TX, USA; Department of Clinical Nutrition, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-9052, USA.
| | - Harvey J Clewell
- Ramboll US Consulting, Inc., 3214 Charles B. Root Wynd, Suite 130, Raleigh, NC 27612, USA.
| | - Matthew P Longnecker
- Ramboll US Consulting, Inc., 3214 Charles B. Root Wynd, Suite 130, Raleigh, NC 27612, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Panieri E, Buha-Đorđevic A, Saso L. Endocrine disruption by PFAS: A major concern associated with legacy and replacement substances. ARHIV ZA FARMACIJU 2021. [DOI: 10.5937/arhfarm71-34197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Perand poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) have been used for decades in a great variety of processes and products by virtue of their exceptional properties, versatility and chemical stability. Nevertheless, it is increasingly recognized that these substances can represent a serious hazard to human health and living organisms due to their persistence, long-range transport potential and tendency to accumulate in biota. For this reason, some efforts have been made across the EU to identify alternative molecules, with a shorter carbon chain and theoretically safer profile, that might replace the previous generation of legacy PFAS. Unfortunately, this strategy has not been entirely successful and serious concerns are still posed by PFAS in different human populations. Among others, an emerging aspect is represented by the adverse effects that both legacy and alternative PFAS can exert on the human endocrine system, with respect to vulnerable target subpopulations. In this review we will briefly summarize PFAS properties, uses and environmental fate, focusing on their effects on human reproductive capacity and fertility, body weight control and obesity as well as thyroid function.
Collapse
|
30
|
Lee YJ, Jung HW, Kim HY, Choi YJ, Lee YA. Early-Life Exposure to Per- and Poly-Fluorinated Alkyl Substances and Growth, Adiposity, and Puberty in Children: A Systematic Review. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:683297. [PMID: 34566884 PMCID: PMC8458955 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.683297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a family of synthetic polyfluorinated compounds, are widely used in consumer products. Ubiquitous exposures to PFAS, in consideration of their persistence, bioaccumulation potential, and toxicities have led to concerns regarding possible harmful effects during critical periods of development in early-life and long-term consequences on health. The potential effects of PFAS depend on various factors including the type of PFAS and the timing and level of exposure. We performed a systematic review of the epidemiologic literature to assess the effects of early-life PFAS exposure on prenatal and postnatal growth, adiposity, and puberty in children and adolescents. For birth size, most studies indicated that prenatal PFAS exposure, in particular long-chain PFAS, may impair fetal growth, albeit some reports of null associations with maternal PFAS. For growth within 2 years of age, prenatal PFAS exposure showed no associations with height and either null or negative associations with weight. However, postnatal PFAS exposures were inversely related to height and weight at 2 years in a cross-sectional study. For postnatal adiposity, prenatal PFAS may mostly have negative associations with body mass index in the first 2 years of life, but positive relationships with adiposity in childhood and adolescence, although some studies showed null associations. For puberty, the evidence for associations between early-life PFAS exposure and pubertal development or sex hormone levels were limited and inconclusive. From experimental studies, plausible mechanisms through which PFAS may affect early-life growth and puberty include PFAS-induced activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, alterations of thyroid or steroid hormone synthesis and metabolism, and their weak estrogenic or anti-androgenic properties. Although the published literature suggests possible effects of PFAS exposures on early-life growth, adiposity, and puberty, current human evidence is limited in establishing PFAS-induced effects on early-life physical development. Further investigation is warranted to clarify PFAS-induced effects on growth and physical development in consideration of the critical time-window of exposure, concomitant exposure to chemical mixtures including various PFAS types, and possible non-monotonic dose-response relationship for growth and adiposity trajectories.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yun Jeong Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hae Woon Jung
- Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hwa Young Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yoon-Jung Choi
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Environmental Health Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Young Ah Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Young Ah Lee,
| |
Collapse
|