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Heinsberg LW, Niu S, Arslanian KJ, Chen R, Bedi M, Unasa-Apelu F, Fidow UT, Soti-Ulberg C, Conley YP, Weeks DE, Ng CA, Hawley NL. Characterization of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) concentrations in a community-based sample of infants from Samoa. Chemosphere 2024; 353:141527. [PMID: 38401869 PMCID: PMC10997188 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent contaminants with documented harmful health effects. Despite increasing research, little attention has been given to studying PFAS contamination in low- and middle-income countries, including Samoa. Using data and biosamples collected through the Foafoaga o le Ola ("Beginning of Life") Study, which recruited a sample of mothers and infants from Samoa, we conducted an exploratory study to describe concentrations of 40 PFAS analytes in infant cord blood collected at birth (n = 66) and infant dried blood spots (DBS) collected at 4 months post-birth (n = 50). Of the 40 PFAS analytes tested, 19 were detected in cord blood, with 10 detected in >50% of samples (PFBA, PFPeA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnA, PFTrDA, PFHxS, PFOS, and 9Cl-PF3ONS); and 12 analytes were detected in DBS, with 3 detected in >50% of samples (PFBA, PFHxS, and PFOS). PFAS concentrations were generally lower than those reported in existing literature, with the exception of PFHxS, which was detected at higher concentrations. In cord blood, we noted suggestive (p < 0.05) or significant (p < 0.006) associations between higher PFHxS and male sex; higher PFPeA and residence in Northwest 'Upolu (NWU) compared to the Apia Urban Area (AUA); lower PFUnA and 9Cl-PF3ONS and greater socioeconomic resources; lower PFOA and higher parity; higher PFDA and higher maternal age; and lower PFUnA, PFTrDA, and 9Cl-PF3ONS and higher maternal BMI. In DBS, we found suggestive (p < 0.05) or significant (p < 0.025) associations between lower PFBA and residence in NWU versus AUA; lower PFBA and PFHxS and higher maternal age; and higher PFBA and higher maternal BMI. Finally, we observed associations between nutrition source at 4 months and DBS PFBA and PFHxS, with formula- or mixed-fed infants having higher concentrations compared to exclusively breastfed infants. This study represents the first characterization of PFAS contamination in Samoa. Additional work in larger samples is needed to identify potentially modifiable determinants of PFAS concentrations, information that is critical for informing environmental and health policy measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lacey W Heinsberg
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Shan Niu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Kendall J Arslanian
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Ruiwen Chen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Megha Bedi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Folla Unasa-Apelu
- Obesity, Lifestyle and Genetic Adaptations Study Group, Apia, Samoa.
| | | | | | - Yvette P Conley
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Health Promotion and Development, School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Daniel E Weeks
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Carla A Ng
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Nicola L Hawley
- Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Mikołajczyk S, Warenik-Bany M, Pajurek M. Occurrence of perfluoroalkyl substances in cow's, goat's and sheep's milk - dietary intake and risk assessment. J Vet Res 2023; 67:593-602. [PMID: 38130456 PMCID: PMC10730547 DOI: 10.2478/jvetres-2023-0058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Milk from cows, goats and sheep was analysed in terms of content of fourteen perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Material and Methods Altogether, 73 milk samples from cows (n = 38), goats (n = 20) and sheep (n = 15) were collected from various regions of Poland. Concentrations of analytes were determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results The lower-bound sum of four PFAS (∑4 PFASs) concentrations (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorononanoic acid and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid) were highest in sheep's (0.0055 μg/kg), lower in goat's (0.0046 μg/kg), and lowest in cow's milk (0.0008 μg/kg). Goat's and sheep's milk was statistically significantly more contaminated than cow's milk. None of the samples exceeded the indicative values set by Commission Recommendation (EU) 2022/1431, and even the maximum detected concentrations were an order of magnitude lower. The most frequently detected was linear PFOS, which was found in 33%, 76% and 93% of cow's, goat's and sheep's milk samples, respectively. Based on mean upper-bound ∑4 PFAS concentrations and average milk consumption, the estimated intake of ∑4 PFASs ranged from 0.153 to 0.266 ng/kg body weight (b.w.) for children and from 0.050 to 0.88 ng/kg b.w. for adults, which indicates that exposure is very low and is merely <7% of the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) for children and <2% of the TWI for adults. Conclusion Regardless of the milk type, the intake of PFASs via consumption of Polish milk does not contribute significantly to the overall PFAS intake of either adults or children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szczepan Mikołajczyk
- Radiobiology Department, National Veterinary Research Institute, 24-100Puławy, Poland
| | | | - Marek Pajurek
- Radiobiology Department, National Veterinary Research Institute, 24-100Puławy, Poland
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