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Sun T, Ji C, Li F, Wu H. Time Is Ripe for Targeting Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances-Induced Hormesis: Global Aquatic Hotspots and Implications for Ecological Risk Assessment. Environ Sci Technol 2024. [PMID: 38709515 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c00686] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Globally implemented ecological risk assessment (ERA) guidelines marginalize hormesis, a biphasic dose-response relationship characterized by low-dose stimulation and high-dose inhibition. The present study illuminated the promise of hormesis as a scientific dose-response model for ERA of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represented by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). A total of 266 hormetic dose-response relationships were recompiled from 1237 observations, covering 30 species from nine representative taxonomic groups. The standardized hormetic amplitudes followed the log-normal probability distribution, being subject to the limits of biological plasticity but independent of stress inducers. The SHapley Additive exPlanations algorithm revealed that the target endpoint was the most important variable explaining the hormetic amplitudes. Subsequently, quantitative frameworks were established to incorporate hormesis into the predicted no-effect concentration levels, with a lower induction dose and a zero-equivalent point but a broader hormetic zone for PFOS. Realistically, 10,117 observed concentrations of PFOA and PFOS were gathered worldwide, 4% of which fell within hormetic zones, highlighting the environmental relevance of hormesis. Additionally, the hormesis induction potential was identified in other legacy and emerging PFAS as well as their alternatives and mixtures. Collectively, it is time to incorporate the hormesis concept into PFAS studies to facilitate more realistic risk characterizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research (YIC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Shandong Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes, YICCAS, Yantai 264003, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Chenglong Ji
- CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research (YIC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Shandong Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes, YICCAS, Yantai 264003, P. R. China
- Function Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao 266237, P. R. China
- Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Qingdao 266071, P. R. China
| | - Fei Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research (YIC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Shandong Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes, YICCAS, Yantai 264003, P. R. China
- Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Qingdao 266071, P. R. China
| | - Huifeng Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research (YIC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Shandong Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes, YICCAS, Yantai 264003, P. R. China
- Function Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao 266237, P. R. China
- Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Qingdao 266071, P. R. China
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Lahne H, Gerstner D, Völkel W, Schober W, Aschenbrenner B, Herr C, Heinze S, Quartucci C. Human biomonitoring follow-up study on PFOA contamination and investigation of possible influencing factors on PFOA exposure in a German population originally exposed to emissions from a fluoropolymer production plant. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 259:114387. [PMID: 38703464 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114387] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the past, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was produced and applied as an emulsifier in a fluoropolymer production plant in the Altötting district, southern Bavaria (Germany). This chemical was released directly into the environment, resulting in the contamination of the local drinking water. During a human biomonitoring (HBM) survey in 2018, increased median PFOA blood serum levels, compared to a normally exposed control group with no known source of PFOA exposure from Munich, Germany, were detected in the resident population (23.18 μg/l in the general population, 20.71 μg/l in the children's group). The follow-up study aimed to investigate whether purification of the drinking water as the main PFOA exposure source has been successful in reducing internal PFOA exposure and to estimate the association of internal PFOA exposure with possible influencing factors. METHODS Only individuals who had already participated in the HBM study in 2018 were included. For the determination of the PFOA serum concentration, 5 ml of blood was drawn from each participating person. Blood samples were collected in the period from June to August 2022. Furthermore, information on sociodemographic characteristics, health status, dietary behaviour and other lifestyle factors were collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire. To examine the association of PFOA blood serum levels with possible influencing factors, such as age, gender and consumption of fish and game meat, a logistic regression model with a PFOA value > 10 μg/l as outcome was used. RESULTS A total of 764 individuals participated in the follow-up study in 2022. Analyses were performed separately for the general population (n = 559), women of reproductive age (15-49 years old) (n = 120), and children under 12 years old (n = 30). Median PFOA blood levels have decreased by 56.9% in the general population, by 59.8% in the group of women of reproductive age and by 73.4% in the group of children under 12 years old. In the general population, a higher probability of a PFOA value > 10 μg/l was found for those aged 40-59 years (Odds ratio (OR) = 2.33 (95%CI: 1.23 to 4.43, p = 0.01) and those aged 60 years and older (OR = 5.32, 95%CI: 2.78 to 10.19, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS In all study groups, the median PFOA serum levels decreased as expected after a half-life of four years, which confirms that contamination via drinking water has ceased. Furthermore, our study identified age as a significant predictor of internal PFOA exposure, while no influence was found for the consumption of fish and game meat. Further investigations are needed to quantify in a more detailed way the influence of dietary habits on PFOA exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Lahne
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute for Occupational Health and Product Safety, Environmental Health, Munich, Germany.
| | - Doris Gerstner
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute for Occupational Health and Product Safety, Environmental Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Völkel
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute for Occupational Health and Product Safety, Environmental Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Schober
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute for Occupational Health and Product Safety, Environmental Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Bettina Aschenbrenner
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute for Occupational Health and Product Safety, Environmental Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Caroline Herr
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute for Occupational Health and Product Safety, Environmental Health, Munich, Germany; Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 5, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefanie Heinze
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute for Occupational Health and Product Safety, Environmental Health, Munich, Germany; Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 5, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Caroline Quartucci
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute for Occupational Health and Product Safety, Environmental Health, Munich, Germany; Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 5, 80336, Munich, Germany
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Zhao M, Yin N, Yang R, Li S, Zhang S, Faiola F. Assessment and Comparison of Early Developmental Toxicity of Six Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances with Human Embryonic Stem Cell Models. Environ Sci Technol 2024. [PMID: 38687897 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c10758] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are extensively utilized in varieties of products and tend to accumulate in the human body including umbilical cord blood and embryos/fetuses. In this study, we conducted an assessment and comparison of the potential early developmental toxicity of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), heptafluorobutyric acid, perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexanesulfonate, and perfluorobutyric acid at noncytotoxic concentrations relevant to human exposure using models based on human embryonic stem cells in both three-dimensional embryoid body (EB) and monolayer differentiation configurations. All six compounds influenced the determination of cell fate by disrupting the expression of associated markers in both models and, in some instances, even led to alterations in the formation of cystic EBs. The expression of cilia-related gene IFT122 was significantly inhibited. Additionally, PFOS and PFOA inhibited ciliogenesis, while PFOA specifically reduced the cilia length. Transcriptome analysis revealed that PFOS altered 1054 genes and disrupted crucial signaling pathways such as WNT and TGF-β, which play integral roles in cilia transduction and are critical for early embryonic development. These results provide precise and comprehensive insights into the potential adverse health effects of these six PFAS compounds directly concerning early human embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miaomiao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Nuoya Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Renjun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shichang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shuxian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Francesco Faiola
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Wallace MAG, Smeltz MG, Mattila JM, Liberatore HK, Jackson SR, Shields EP, Xhani X, Li EY, Johansson JH. A Review of Sample Collection and Analytical Methods for Detecting Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Indoor and Outdoor Air. Chemosphere 2024:142129. [PMID: 38679180 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142129] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a unique class of chemicals synthesized to aid in industrial processes, fire-fighting products, and to benefit consumer products such as clothing, cosmetics, textiles, carpets, and coatings. The widespread use of PFAS and their strong carbon-fluorine bonds has led to their ubiquitous presence throughout the world. Airborne transport of PFAS throughout the atmosphere has also contributed to environmental pollution. Due to the potential environmental and human exposure concerns of some PFAS, research has extensively focused on water, soil, and organismal detection, but the presence of PFAS in the air has become an area of growing concern. Methods to measure polar PFAS in various matrices have been established, while the investigation of polar and nonpolar PFAS in air is still in its early development. This literature review aims to present the last two decades of research characterizing PFAS in outdoor and indoor air, focusing on active and passive air sampling and analytical methods. The PFAS classes targeted and detected in air samples include fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), perfluoroalkane sulfonamides (FASAs), perfluoroalkane sulfonamido ethanols (FASEs), perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs), and perfluorinated sulfonic acids (PFSAs). Although the manufacturing of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) has been largely phased out, these two PFAS are still often detected in air samples. Additionally, recent estimates indicate that there are thousands of PFAS that are likely present in the air that are not currently monitored in air methods. Advances in air sampling methods are needed to fully characterize the atmospheric transport of PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ariel Geer Wallace
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Air Methods and Characterization Division, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA.
| | - Marci G Smeltz
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Air Methods and Characterization Division, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA.
| | - James M Mattila
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA.
| | - Hannah K Liberatore
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Air Methods and Characterization Division, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA.
| | - Stephen R Jackson
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Air Methods and Characterization Division, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA.
| | - Erin P Shields
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Air Methods and Characterization Division, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA.
| | - Xhensila Xhani
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA; Johnston Community College, 245 College Road, Smithfield, North Carolina, 27577, USA.
| | - Emily Y Li
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Air Methods and Characterization Division, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA.
| | - Jana H Johansson
- Department of Thematic Studies, Environmental Change, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
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Bucaletti E, Barola C, Galarini R. Chloroperfluoropolyether carboxylate compounds: A review. Chemosphere 2024; 357:142045. [PMID: 38641293 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142045] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Several new per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been synthesized to replace traditional (legacy) PFASs frequently without clear information on their structure, use and potential toxicity. Among them, chloroperfluoropolyether carboxylates (ClPFPECAs) are an emerging group used as processing aids in the production of fluoropolymers to replace the ammonium salt of perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA). The Solvay Company has produced ClPFPECAs as a mixture of six congeners (oligomers) since the mid-1990s, but other possible manufacturers and annual quantities synthesized and used worldwide are unknown. Initial studies to monitor their presence were conducted because of public authority concerns about suspect environmental contamination near fluoropolymer plants. As of 2015, these chemicals have been found in soil, water, vegetative tissues and wildlife, as well as in biological fluids of exposed workers and people, in research carried out mainly in the United States (New Jersey) and Italy. Analysis of wildlife collected even in non-industrialized areas demonstrated widespread occurrence of ClPFPECAs. From the analytical point of view, the (presumptive) evidence of their presence was obtained through the application of non-targeted approaches performed by liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Available toxicological data show that ClPFPECAs have similar adverse effects than the compounds which they have replaced, whereas their carcinogenic potential and reproductive damage are currently unknown. All these observations once again cast doubt on whether many alternatives to traditional PFAS are actually safer for the environment and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Bucaletti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche "Togo Rosati", Via G. Salvemini, 1, 06126, Perugia, Italy
| | - Carolina Barola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche "Togo Rosati", Via G. Salvemini, 1, 06126, Perugia, Italy
| | - Roberta Galarini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche "Togo Rosati", Via G. Salvemini, 1, 06126, Perugia, Italy.
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Cordner A, Brown P, Cousins IT, Scheringer M, Martinon L, Dagorn G, Aubert R, Hosea L, Salvidge R, Felke C, Tausche N, Drepper D, Liva G, Tudela A, Delgado A, Salvatore D, Pilz S, Horel S. PFAS Contamination in Europe: Generating Knowledge and Mapping Known and Likely Contamination with "Expert-Reviewed" Journalism. Environ Sci Technol 2024; 58:6616-6627. [PMID: 38569050 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09746] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
While the extent of environmental contamination by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has mobilized considerable efforts around the globe in recent years, publicly available data on PFAS in Europe were very limited. In an unprecedented experiment of "expert-reviewed journalism" involving 29 journalists and seven scientific advisers, a cross-border collaborative project, the "Forever Pollution Project" (FPP), drew on both scientific methods and investigative journalism techniques such as open-source intelligence (OSINT) and freedom of information (FOI) requests to map contamination across Europe, making public data that previously had existed as "unseen science". The FPP identified 22,934 known contamination sites, including 20 PFAS manufacturing facilities, and 21,426 "presumptive contamination sites", including 13,745 sites presumably contaminated with fluorinated aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) discharge, 2911 industrial facilities, and 4752 sites related to PFAS-containing waste. Additionally, the FPP identified 231 "known PFAS users", a new category for sites with an intermediate level of evidence of PFAS use and considered likely to be contamination sources. However, the true extent of contamination in Europe remains significantly underestimated due to a lack of comprehensive geolocation, sampling, and publicly available data. This model of knowledge production and dissemination offers lessons for researchers, policymakers, and journalists about cross-field collaborations and data transparency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alissa Cordner
- Department of Sociology, Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington 99362, United States
| | - Phil Brown
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology and Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Ian T Cousins
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm SE-10691, Sweden
| | - Martin Scheringer
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8092, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Catharina Felke
- Norddeutscher Rundfunk, Ressort Investigation, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Derrick Salvatore
- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Woburn, Massachusetts 01801, United States
| | - Sarah Pilz
- Freelance Journalist, Weißenfelder Straße 7, Parsdorf, Munich 85599, Germany
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Xu K, Huang J, Zhang Y, Wu X, Cai D, Hu G, Li Y, Ni Z, Lin Q, Wang S, Qiu R. Crop Contamination and Human Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances around a Fluorochemical Industrial Park in China. Toxics 2024; 12:269. [PMID: 38668492 PMCID: PMC11054258 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12040269] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Due to their significant environmental impact, there has been a gradual restriction of the production and utilization of legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), leading to continuous development and adoption of novel alternatives. To effectively identify the potential environmental risks from crop consumption, the levels of 25 PFAS, including fourteen perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), two precursor substances and nine novel alternatives, in agricultural soils and edible parts of various crops around a fluoride industrial park (FIP) in Changshu city, China, were measured. The concentration of ΣPFAS in the edible parts of all crops ranged from 11.64 to 299.5 ng/g, with perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) being the dominant compound, accounting for an average of 71% of ΣPFAS. The precursor substance, N-methylperfluoro-octanesulfonamidoacetic acid (N-MeFOSAA), was detected in all crop samples. Different types of crops showed distinguishing accumulation profiles for the PFAS. Solanaceae and leafy vegetables showed higher levels of PFAS contamination, with the highest ΣPFAS concentrations reaching 190.91 and 175.29 ng/g, respectively. The highest ΣAlternative was detected in leafy vegetables at 15.21 ng/g. The levels of human exposure to PFAS through crop consumption for various aged groups were also evaluated. The maximum exposure to PFOA for urban toddlers reached 109.8% of the standard value set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). In addition, short-chained PFAAs and novel alternatives may pose potential risks to human health via crop consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kairan Xu
- Maoming and Heyuan Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (K.X.); (J.H.); (Y.Z.); (X.W.); (Z.N.); (R.Q.)
| | - Jian Huang
- Maoming and Heyuan Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (K.X.); (J.H.); (Y.Z.); (X.W.); (Z.N.); (R.Q.)
| | - Yufeng Zhang
- Maoming and Heyuan Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (K.X.); (J.H.); (Y.Z.); (X.W.); (Z.N.); (R.Q.)
| | - Xilong Wu
- Maoming and Heyuan Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (K.X.); (J.H.); (Y.Z.); (X.W.); (Z.N.); (R.Q.)
| | - Dan Cai
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China; (G.H.); (Y.L.)
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Guocheng Hu
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China; (G.H.); (Y.L.)
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Yu Li
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China; (G.H.); (Y.L.)
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Urban Ecological Simulation and Protection, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Zhuobiao Ni
- Maoming and Heyuan Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (K.X.); (J.H.); (Y.Z.); (X.W.); (Z.N.); (R.Q.)
| | - Qingqi Lin
- Maoming and Heyuan Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (K.X.); (J.H.); (Y.Z.); (X.W.); (Z.N.); (R.Q.)
| | - Shizhong Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China;
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Heavy Metal Contaminated Soil Remediation, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Rongliang Qiu
- Maoming and Heyuan Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (K.X.); (J.H.); (Y.Z.); (X.W.); (Z.N.); (R.Q.)
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China;
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8
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Chang CJ, Ish JL, Chang VC, Daniel M, Jones RR, White AJ. Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Breast Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Epidemiologic Studies. Am J Epidemiol 2024:kwae010. [PMID: 38400646 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwae010] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
We synthesized the epidemiologic evidence on the associations between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure and breast cancer risk. Our systematic review and meta-analysis included 18 and 11 articles, respectively, covering studies up to February 2023. The summary relative risks (RR) estimated by random-effects meta-analyses did not support an association between PFAS and overall breast cancer risk (e.g., a natural log (ln)-unit increase in serum/plasma concentrations [ng/mL] for perfluorooctanoate [PFOA] RR=0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI]:0.77-1.18; perfluorooctane sulfonate [PFOS] RR=0.98, 95%CI: 0.87-1.11). However, when limiting to studies that assessed exposures prior to a breast cancer diagnosis, we observed a positive association with PFOA (a ln-unit increase, RR=1.16, 95%CI: 0.96-1.40). We also observed some possible heterogeneous associations by tumor estrogen and progesterone receptor status among postmenopausal breast cancer cases. No meaningful changes were observed after excluding the studies with high risk-of-bias (Tier 3). Based on the evaluation tool developed by the National Toxicology Program, given the heterogeneity across studies and the variability in timing of exposure measurements, the epidemiologic evidence needed to determine the association between PFAS exposure and breast cancer remains inadequate. Our findings support the need for future studies with improved study designs to determine this association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Che-Jung Chang
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jennifer L Ish
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Vicky C Chang
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Meklit Daniel
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rena R Jones
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Alexandra J White
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
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Fang B, Zhang Y, Chen H, Qiao B, Yu H, Zhao M, Gao M, Li X, Yao Y, Zhu L, Sun H. Stability and Biotransformation of 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid, Sulfonamide Amine Oxide, and Sulfonamide Alkylbetaine in Aerobic Sludge. Environ Sci Technol 2024; 58:2446-2457. [PMID: 38178542 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05506] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
The 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide (6:2 FTSAm)-based compounds signify a prominent group of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) widely used in contemporary aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) formulations. Despite their widespread presence, the biotransformation behavior of these compounds in wastewater treatment plants remains uncertain. This study investigated the biotransformation of 6:2 FTSAm-based amine oxide (6:2 FTNO), alkylbetaine (6:2 FTAB), and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTSA) in aerobic sludge over a 100-day incubation period. The biotransformation of 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide alkylamine (6:2 FTAA), a primary intermediate product of 6:2 FTNO, was indirectly assessed. Their stability was ranked based on the estimated half-lives (t1/2): 6:2 FTAB (no obvious products were detected) ≫ 6:2 FTSA (t1/2 ≈28.8 days) > 6:2 FTAA (t1/2 ≈11.5 days) > 6:2 FTNO (t1/2 ≈1.2 days). Seven transformation products of 6:2 FTSA and 15 products of 6:2 FTNO were identified through nontarget and suspect screening using high-resolution mass spectrometry. The transformation pathways of 6:2 FTNO and 6:2 FTSA in aerobic sludge were proposed. Interestingly, 6:2 FTSAm was hardly hydrolyzed to 6:2 FTSA and further biotransformed to perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs). Furthermore, the novel pathways for the generation of perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) from 6:2 FTSA were revealed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Fang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yaozhi Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Hao Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Biting Qiao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Hao Yu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Maosen Zhao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Meng Gao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yiming Yao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Lingyan Zhu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Hongwen Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
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10
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Pearce EN. Endocrine Disruptors and Thyroid Health. Endocr Pract 2024; 30:172-176. [PMID: 37956907 DOI: 10.1016/j.eprac.2023.11.002] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
A wide variety of thyroidal endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been identified. Exposure to known thyroidal EDCs is ubiquitous, and many likely remain unidentified. The sources of exposure include contaminated drinking water, air pollution, pesticides and agricultural chemicals, flame retardants, cleaning supplies, personal care products, food additives and packaging materials, coatings and solvents, and medical products and equipment. EDCs can affect thyroid hormone synthesis, transport, metabolism, and action in a myriad of ways. Understanding the health effects of thyroidal EDCs has been challenging because individuals may have multiple concomitant EDC exposures and many potential EDCs are not yet well characterized. Because of the importance of thyroid hormone for brain development in early life, pregnant women and young infants are particularly vulnerable to the effects of environmental thyroid disruption. The thyroidal effects of some EDCs may be exacerbated in iodine-deficient individuals, those with thyroid autoimmunity, and those with mutations in deiodinase genes. Differential exposures to EDCs may exacerbate health disparities in disadvantaged groups. High-throughput in vitro assays and in silico methods and methods that can detect the effects of relevant EDC mixtures are needed. In addition, optimal methods for detecting the effects of thyroidal EDCs on neurodevelopment need to be developed. Common sense precautions can reduce some thyroidal EDC exposures; however, regulation of manufacturing and drinking water content will ultimately be needed to protect populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth N Pearce
- Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition, and Weight Management, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
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11
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Li ZM, Roos A, Serfass TL, Lee C, Kannan K. Concentrations of 45 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in North American River Otters ( Lontra canadensis) from West Virginia, USA. Environ Sci Technol 2024; 58:2089-2101. [PMID: 38231021 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09467] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
North American river otters (Lontra canadensis) are top predators in riverine ecosystems and are vulnerable to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure. Little is known about the magnitude of exposure and tissue distribution of PFAS in river otters. We measured 45 PFAS in various tissues of 42 river otters collected from several watersheds in the state of West Virginia, USA. The median concentrations of ∑All (sum concentration of 45 PFAS) varied among tissues in the following decreasing order: liver (931 ng/g wet weight) > bile > pancreas > lung > kidney > blood > brain > muscle. Perfluoroalkylsulfonates (PFSAs) were the predominant compounds accounting for 58-75% of the total concentrations, followed by perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs; 21-35%). 8:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (8:2 FTS), 10:2 FTS, and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonate were frequently found in the liver (50-90%) and bile (96-100%), whereas hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) was rarely found. The hepatic concentrations of ∑All in river otters collected downstream of a fluoropolymer production facility located along the Ohio River were 2-fold higher than those in other watersheds. The median whole body burden of ∑All was calculated to be 1580 μg. PFOS and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) concentrations in whole blood of some river otters exceeded the human toxicity reference values, which warrant further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong-Min Li
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health and Department of Environmental Health Sciences, State University of New York at Albany, Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12237, United States
| | - Anna Roos
- Department of Environmental Monitoring and Research, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm SE-10405, Sweden
| | - Thomas L Serfass
- Department of Biology and Natural Resources, Frostburg State University, Frostburg, Maryland 21532, United States
| | - Conner Lee
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health and Department of Environmental Health Sciences, State University of New York at Albany, Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12237, United States
| | - Kurunthachalam Kannan
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health and Department of Environmental Health Sciences, State University of New York at Albany, Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12237, United States
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12
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Peng M, Xu Y, Wu Y, Cai X, Zhang W, Zheng L, Du E, Fu J. Binding Affinity and Mechanism of Six PFAS with Human Serum Albumin: Insights from Multi-Spectroscopy, DFT and Molecular Dynamics Approaches. Toxics 2024; 12:43. [PMID: 38250999 PMCID: PMC10819430 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12010043] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) bioaccumulate in the human body, presenting potential health risks and cellular toxicity. Their transport mechanisms and interactions with tissues and the circulatory system require further investigation. This study investigates the interaction mechanisms of six PFAS with Human Serum Albumin (HSA) using multi-spectroscopy, DFT and a molecular dynamics approach. Multi-spectral analysis shows that perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) has the best binding capabilities with HSA. The order of binding constants (298 K) is as follows: "Perfluorononanoic Acid (PFNA, 7.81 × 106 L·mol-1) > Perfluoro-2,5-dimethyl-3,6-dioxanonanoic Acid (HFPO-TA, 3.70 × 106 L·mol-1) > Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA, 2.27 × 105 L·mol-1) > Perfluoro-3,6,9-trioxadecanoic Acid (PFO3DA, 1.59 × 105 L·mol-1) > Perfluoroheptanoic Acid (PFHpA, 4.53 × 103 L·mol-1) > Dodecafluorosuberic Acid (DFSA, 1.52 × 103 L·mol-1)". Thermodynamic analysis suggests that PFNA and PFO3DA's interactions with HSA are exothermic, driven primarily by hydrogen bonds or van der Waals interactions. PFHpA, DFSA, PFOA, and HFPO-TA's interactions with HSA, on the other hand, are endothermic processes primarily driven by hydrophobic interactions. Competitive probe results show that the main HSA-PFAS binding site is in the HSA structure's subdomain IIA. These findings are also consistent with the findings of molecular docking. Molecular dynamics simulation (MD) analysis further shows that the lowest binding energy (-38.83 kcal/mol) is fund in the HSA-PFNA complex, indicating that PFNA binds more readily with HSA. Energy decomposition analysis also indicates that van der Waals and electrostatic interactions are the main forces for the HSA-PFAS complexes. Correlation analysis reveals that DFT quantum chemical descriptors related to electrostatic distribution and characteristics like ESP and ALIE are more representative in characterizing HSA-PFAS binding. This study sheds light on the interactions between HSA and PFAS. It guides health risk assessments and control strategies against PFAS, serving as a critical starting point for further public health research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingguo Peng
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China;
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China; (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (W.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Yang Xu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China; (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (W.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Yao Wu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China; (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (W.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Xuewen Cai
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China; (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (W.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Weihua Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China; (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (W.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Lu Zheng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China; (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (W.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Erdeng Du
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China; (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (W.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Jiajun Fu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China;
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13
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Atagi T, Hasegawa K, Motoki N, Inaba Y, Toubou H, Shibazaki T, Nakayama SF, Kamijima M, Tsukahara T, Nomiyama T. Associations between prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and wheezing and asthma symptoms in 4-year-old children: The Japan Environment and Children's Study. Environ Res 2024; 240:117499. [PMID: 37914018 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117499] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
The effects of early-life exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on the onset of asthma in children have been unclear. We examined the association between prenatal PFAS exposure and wheezing and asthma symptoms among 4-year-old children in a total of 17,856 mother-child pairs from the Japan Environment and Children's Study. Maternal first-trimester serum concentrations of six PFAS were used for the exposure assessment. We defined "wheeze ever," "current wheeze," "current symptoms of severe asthma," and "asthma ever" at the age of 4 years by the responses to the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire, and "doctor-diagnosed asthma" by the response to a corresponding question. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine exposure-outcome associations. Our findings revealed that doubling of the PFOA concentration was associated with a reduced occurrence of "wheeze ever," yielding an adjusted odds ratio of 0.94 (95% CI: 0.90-0.98). Also, doubling in the concentrations of PFOA and PFHxS was associated with a decreased prevalence of "asthma ever," with adjusted odds ratios of 0.94 (95% CI: 0.88-1.00) and 0.95 (95% CI: 0.90-0.99), respectively. However, these associations were not significant after applying the Bonferroni correction. The estimated exposure-response curves were nearly linear with a subtle or flat slope. When stratified by the child's sex or the mother's history of asthma, most of the estimated confidence intervals were overlapped between each pair of strata. Regional stratification analysis indicated low-to-moderate heterogeneity in 12 exposure-outcome pairs and moderate-to-high heterogeneity in 9 out of the 30 examined pairs. This study found no clear associations between prenatal PFAS exposure and the prevalence of wheezing and asthma among children at the age of 4 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuma Atagi
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan; First Department of Internal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan
| | - Kohei Hasegawa
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan.
| | - Noriko Motoki
- Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, And Environmental Epidemiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan
| | - Yuji Inaba
- Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, And Environmental Epidemiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan; Department of Neurology, Nagano Children's Hospital, 3100 Toyoshina, Azumino, Nagano 399-8288, Japan; Life Science Research Center, Nagano Children's Hospital, 3100 Toyoshina, Azumino, Nagano 399-8288, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Toubou
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan
| | - Takumi Shibazaki
- Department of Pediatrics, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan
| | - Shoji F Nakayama
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
| | - Michihiro Kamijima
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8601, Japan
| | - Teruomi Tsukahara
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan; Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, And Environmental Epidemiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan; Department of Occupational Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Nomiyama
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan; Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, And Environmental Epidemiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan; Department of Occupational Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan
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14
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Phelps DW, Palekar AI, Conley HE, Ferrero G, Driggers JH, Linder KE, Kullman SW, Reif DM, Sheats MK, DeWitt JC, Yoder JA. Legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances suppress the neutrophil respiratory burst. J Immunotoxicol 2023; 20:2176953. [PMID: 36788734 PMCID: PMC10361455 DOI: 10.1080/1547691x.2023.2176953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are used in a multitude of processes and products, including nonstick coatings, food wrappers, and fire-fighting foams. These chemicals are environmentally-persistent, ubiquitous, and can be detected in the serum of 98% of Americans. Despite evidence that PFASs alter adaptive immunity, few studies have investigated their effects on innate immunity. The report here presents results of studies that investigated the impact of nine environmentally-relevant PFASs [e.g. perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid potassium salt (PFOS-K), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), ammonium perfluoro(2-methyl-3-oxahexanoate) (GenX), 7H-perfluoro-4-methyl-3,6-dioxa-octane sulfonic acid (Nafion byproduct 2), and perfluoromethoxyacetic acid sodium salt (PFMOAA-Na)] on one component of the innate immune response, the neutrophil respiratory burst. The respiratory burst is a key innate immune process by which microbicidal reactive oxygen species (ROS) are rapidly induced by neutrophils in response to pathogens; defects in the respiratory burst can increase susceptibility to infection. The study here utilized larval zebrafish, a human neutrophil-like cell line, and primary human neutrophils to ascertain whether PFAS exposure inhibits ROS production in the respiratory burst. It was observed that exposure to PFHxA and GenX suppresses the respiratory burst in zebrafish larvae and a human neutrophil-like cell line. GenX also suppressed the respiratory burst in primary human neutrophils. This report is the first to demonstrate that these PFASs suppress neutrophil function and support the utility of employing zebrafish larvae and a human cell line as screening tools to identify chemicals that may suppress human immune function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drake W. Phelps
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - Anika I. Palekar
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - Haleigh E. Conley
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - Giuliano Ferrero
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - Jacob H. Driggers
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - Keith E. Linder
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - Seth W. Kullman
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Toxicology Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - David M. Reif
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Toxicology Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - M. Katie Sheats
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - Jamie C. DeWitt
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - Jeffrey A. Yoder
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Toxicology Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
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15
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Chen H, Kapidzic M, Gantar D, Aksel S, Levan J, Abrahamsson DP, Jigmeddagva U, Basrai S, San A, Gaw SL, Woodruff TJ, Fisher SJ, Robinson JF. Perfluorooctanoic acid induces transcriptomic alterations in second trimester human cytotrophoblasts. Toxicol Sci 2023; 196:187-199. [PMID: 37738295 PMCID: PMC10682971 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad097] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Poly- and perfluroroalkylated substances (PFAS) are a major class of surfactants used in industry applications and consumer products. Despite efforts to reduce the usage of PFAS due to their environmental persistence, compounds such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are widely detected in human blood and tissue. Although growing evidence supports that prenatal exposures to PFOA and other PFAS are linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes, the target organs and pathways remain unclear. Recent investigations in mouse and human cell lines suggest that PFAS may impact the placenta and impair trophoblast function. In this study, we investigated the effects of PFOA on cytotoxicity and the transcriptome in cultured second trimester human cytotrophoblasts (CTBs). We show that PFOA significantly reduces viability and induces cell death at 24 h, in a concentration-dependent manner. At subcytotoxic concentrations, PFOA impacted expression of hundreds of genes, including several molecules (CRH, IFIT1, and TNFSF10) linked with lipid metabolism and innate immune response pathways. Furthermore, in silico analyses suggested that regulatory factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-mediated pathways may be especially important in response to PFOA. In summary, this study provides evidence that PFOA alters primary human CTB viability and gene pathways that could contribute to placental dysfunction and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chen
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California 94143, USA
| | - Mirhan Kapidzic
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California 94143, USA
| | - Danielle Gantar
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California 94143, USA
| | - Sena Aksel
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California 94143, USA
| | - Justine Levan
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California 94143, USA
| | - Dimitri P Abrahamsson
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California 94143, USA
| | - Unurzul Jigmeddagva
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California 94143, USA
| | - Sanah Basrai
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California 94143, USA
| | - Ali San
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California 94143, USA
| | - Stephanie L Gaw
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California 94143, USA
| | - Tracey J Woodruff
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California 94143, USA
| | - Susan J Fisher
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California 94143, USA
| | - Joshua F Robinson
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California 94143, USA
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California 94143, USA
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16
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Cui J, Deng Y. Enhanced coagulation coupled with cyclic IX adsorption-ARP regeneration for removal of PFOA in drinking water treatment. Water Environ Res 2023; 95:e10928. [PMID: 37740247 DOI: 10.1002/wer.10928] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Laboratory investigations were conducted to demonstrate a potentially transformative, cost-efficient per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) treatment approach, consisting of enhanced coagulation and repeated ion exchange (IX)-advanced reduction process (ARP) for concurrent PFAS removal and IX resin regeneration. Enhanced alum coagulation at the optimal conditions (pH 6.0, 60 mg/L alum) could preferentially remove high molecular-weight, hydrophobic natural organic matter (NOM) from 5.0- to ~1.2-mg/L DOC in simulated natural water. This facilitated subsequent IX adsorption of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, a model PFAS in this study) (20 μg/L) using IRA67 resin by minimizing the competition of NOM for functional sites on the resin. The PFOA/NOM-laden resin was then treated by ARP, generating hydrated electrons (eaq - ) that effectively degraded PFOA. The combined IX-ARP regeneration process was applied over six cycles to treat PFOA in pre-coagulated simulated natural water, nearly doubling the PFOA removal compared with the control group without ARP regeneration. This study underscores the potential of enhanced coagulation coupled with cyclic IX-ARP regeneration as a promising, cost-effective solution for addressing PFOA pollution in water. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Enhanced alum coagulation can substantially mitigate NOM to favor the following IX removal of PFOA in water. Cyclic IX adsorption-ARP regeneration offers an effective, potentially economical solution to the PFOA pollution in water. ARP can effectively degrade PFOA during the ARP regeneration of PFOA/NOM-laden resin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junkui Cui
- Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey, USA
| | - Yang Deng
- Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey, USA
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17
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Manera M, Castaldelli G, Giari L. Perfluorooctanoic Acid Promotes Recruitment and Exocytosis of Rodlet Cells in the Renal Hematopoietic Tissue of Common Carp. Toxics 2023; 11:831. [PMID: 37888682 PMCID: PMC10611324 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11100831] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants, with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) being a prominent member. PFOA poses a risk to aquatic ecosystems and human health due to its presence in water, environmental persistence, and bioaccumulation. Since rodlet cells (RCs) have emerged as potential biomarkers for chemical stressors, this study aimed to investigate the effects of sub-chronic PFOA exposure on RCs in the renal hematopoietic tissue of common carp. Three groups of fish were used: an unexposed control group and two groups exposed to environmentally relevant (200 ng L-1) and elevated (2 mg L-1) PFOA concentrations. Light and transmission electron microscopy were employed to assess RCs' distribution patterns and exocytosis, while biometry quantified RCs in the hematopoietic tissue. The results showed that, even at environmentally relevant concentrations, PFOA significantly influenced RCs' distribution patterns, leading to increased occurrence and cluster formation, as well as heightened exocytosis activity. This research highlights PFOA's immunotoxicity in fish and suggests the potential of RCs as sentinel cells in the immunological response to environmental contaminants. These findings enhance our understanding of PFAS toxicity and emphasise the importance of monitoring their impact on fish as representative vertebrates and reliable animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Manera
- Department of Biosciences, Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, St. R. Balzarini 1, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Castaldelli
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, St. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (G.C.); (L.G.)
| | - Luisa Giari
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, St. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (G.C.); (L.G.)
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18
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Durham J, Tessmann JW, Deng P, Hennig B, Zaytseva YY. The role of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) exposure in inflammation of intestinal tissues and intestinal carcinogenesis. Front Toxicol 2023; 5:1244457. [PMID: 37662676 PMCID: PMC10469509 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2023.1244457] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are organofluorine substances that are used commercially in products like non-stick cookware, food packaging, personal care products, fire-fighting foam, etc. These chemicals have several different subtypes made of varying numbers of carbon and fluorine atoms. PFAS substances that have longer carbon chains, such as PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid), can potentially pose a significant public health risk due to their ability to bioaccumulate and persist for long periods of time in the body and the environment. The National Academies Report suggests there is some evidence of PFOS exposure and gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation contributing to ulcerative colitis. Inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis are precursors to colorectal cancer. However, evidence about the association between PFOS and colorectal cancer is limited and has shown contradictory findings. This review provides an overview of population and preclinical studies on PFOS exposure and GI inflammation, metabolism, immune responses, and carcinogenesis. It also highlights some mitigation approaches to reduce the harmful effects of PFOS on GI tract and discusses the dietary strategies, such as an increase in soluble fiber intake, to reduce PFOS-induced alterations in cellular lipid metabolism. More importantly, this review demonstrates the urgent need to better understand the relationship between PFOS and GI pathology and carcinogenesis, which will enable development of better approaches for interventions in populations exposed to high levels of PFAS, and in particular to PFOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerika Durham
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Josiane Weber Tessmann
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Pan Deng
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Bernhard Hennig
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Yekaterina Y. Zaytseva
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
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19
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Cai D, Li QQ, Mohammed Z, Chou WC, Huang J, Kong M, Xie Y, Yu Y, Hu G, Qi J, Zhou Y, Tan W, Lin L, Qiu R, Dong G, Zeng XW. Fetal Glucocorticoid Mediates the Association between Prenatal Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Exposure and Neonatal Growth Index: Evidence from a Birth Cohort Study. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:11420-11429. [PMID: 37494580 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08831] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoid plays a key role in the growth and organ maturation of fetus. However, the effect of glucocorticoid on the association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure and fetal growth is still unknown. We detected cord cortisol (active glucocorticoid in human) and 34 PFAS concentrations in the maternal serum samples, which were collected from 202 mother-fetus pairs in the Maoming Birth Cohort from 2015 to 2018. The mediation effect of cord cortisol on the association between maternal PFAS and the neonatal growth index (NGI) was estimated. We found that higher PFAS concentrations were associated with lower NGI in terms of ponderal index, birth weight (BW), head circumference (HC), and its z-scores (BWZ and HCZ) (P < 0.05). Fetal cortisol could mediate 12.6-27.3% of the associations between PFAS and NGI. Specifically, cord cortisol mediated the association between branched perfluorooctane sulfonate (branched PFOS) and HCZ by 20.4% and between perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and HCZ by 27.3%. Our findings provide the first epidemiological data evincing that fetal cortisol could mediate the association between prenatal PFAS exposure and fetal growth. Further investigations are recommended to elucidate the interactions among cord cortisol, PFAS, and fetal growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Cai
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Qing-Qing Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zeeshan Mohammed
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Wei-Chun Chou
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Jinbo Huang
- Maoming Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Maoming 525000, China
| | - Minli Kong
- Maoming Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Maoming 525000, China
| | - Yanqi Xie
- Maoming Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Maoming 525000, China
| | - Yunjiang Yu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Guocheng Hu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Jianying Qi
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Weihong Tan
- Department of Reproductive Medicine and Genetics Center, The People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Lizi Lin
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Rongliang Qiu
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guanghui Dong
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiao-Wen Zeng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
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20
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Karamat A, Tehrani R, Foster GD, Van Aken B. Plant responses to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): a molecular perspective. Int J Phytoremediation 2023; 26:219-227. [PMID: 37462666 DOI: 10.1080/15226514.2023.2232874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) constitute a large class of toxic manmade compounds that have been used in many industrial and household products. Dispersion of PFAS in the environment has raised concerns because of their persistence and toxicity for living organisms. Both terrestrial and aquatic plants have been shown to take up PFAS from contaminated soil and groundwater, and to accumulate these compounds inside their tissues. Although PFAS generally exert a low toxicity on plants at environmentally relevant concentrations, they frequently impact biomass growth and photosynthetic activity at higher levels. Uptake, translocation, and toxicity of PFAS in plants have been well covered in literature. Although less attention has been given to the molecular mechanisms underlying the plant response to PFAS, recent studies based on -omics approaches indicate that PFAS affects the plant metabolism even a low concentration. The objective of this review is to summarize the current knowledge about the effects of PFAS on plants at the molecular level. Results from recent transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics studies show that low levels of PFAS induce oxidative stress and affect multiple plant functions and processes, including photosynthesis and energy metabolism. These potentially harmful effects trigger activation of defense mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayesha Karamat
- Environmental Science & Policies, George Mason University, Fairfax, United States
| | - Rouzbeh Tehrani
- Civil & Environmental Engineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Gregory D Foster
- Chemistry & Biochemistry, George Mason University, Fairfax, United States
| | - Benoit Van Aken
- Chemistry & Biochemistry, George Mason University, Fairfax, United States
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21
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Huang YR, Liu SS, Zi JX, Cheng SM, Li J, Ying GG, Chen CE. In Situ Insight into the Availability and Desorption Kinetics of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Soils with Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:7809-7817. [PMID: 37155686 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c09348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The physicochemical exchange dynamics between the solid and solution phases of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soils needs to be better understood. This study employed an in situ tool, diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT), to understand the distribution and exchange kinetics of five typical PFAS in four soils. Results show a nonlinear relationship between the PFAS masses in DGT and time, implying that PFAS were partially supplied by the solid phase in all of the soils. A dynamic model DGT-induced fluxes in soils/sediments (DIFS) was used to interpret the results and derive the distribution coefficients for the labile fraction (Kdl), response time (tc), and adsorption/desorption rates (k1 and k-1). The larger labile pool size (indicated by Kdl) for the longer chain PFAS implies their higher potential availability. The shorter chain PFAS tend to have a larger tc and relatively smaller k-1, implying that the release of these PFAS in soils might be kinetically limited but not for more hydrophobic compounds, such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), although soil properties might play an important role. Kdl ultimately controls the PFAS availability in soils, while the PFAS release from soils might be kinetically constrained (which may also hold for biota uptake), particularly for more hydrophilic PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue-Rui Huang
- Environmental Research Institute/School of Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Si-Si Liu
- Environmental Research Institute/School of Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin-Xin Zi
- Environmental Research Institute/School of Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Sheng-Ming Cheng
- Environmental Research Institute/School of Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510640, People's Republic of China
| | - Guang-Guo Ying
- Environmental Research Institute/School of Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Chang-Er Chen
- Environmental Research Institute/School of Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China
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22
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Li QQ, Huang J, Cai D, Chou WC, Zeeshan M, Chu C, Zhou Y, Lin L, Ma HM, Tang C, Kong M, Xie Y, Dong GH, Zeng XW. Prenatal Exposure to Legacy and Alternative Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Neuropsychological Development Trajectories over the First 3 Years of Life. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:3746-3757. [PMID: 36800558 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The neurotoxic effects of prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on offspring animals are well-documented. However, epidemiological evidence for legacy PFAS is inconclusive, and for alternative PFAS, it is little known. In this investigation, we selected 718 mother-child pairs from the Chinese Maoming Birth Cohort Study and measured 17 legacy and alternative PFAS in the third-trimester serum. Neuropsychological developments (communication, gross motor function, fine motor function, problem solving ability, and personal-social skills) were assessed at 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires 3rd edition. Trajectories of each subscale were classified into persistently low and persistently high groups via group-based trajectory modeling. Logistic regression and grouped weighted quantile sum were fitted to assess the potential effects of individual PFAS and their mixtures, respectively. Higher linear PFHxS levels were associated with elevated odds for the persistently low trajectories of communication (OR = 1.73; 95% CI: 1.12, 2.66) and problem solving ability (OR = 2.11; 95% CI: 1.14, 3.90). Similar findings were observed for linear PFOS, 1m-PFOS, PFDA, PFDoDA, PFUnDA, and legacy PFAS mixture. However, no association was observed for alternative PFAS and their mixture. We provided insights into the longitudinal links between prenatal legacy/alternative PFAS exposure and neuropsychological development trajectories over the first 3 years of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Qing Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jinbo Huang
- Maoming Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Maoming 525000, Guangdong, China
| | - Dan Cai
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou, 510655, China
| | - Wei-Chun Chou
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Mohammed Zeeshan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Chu Chu
- Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Department of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, 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
| | - Lizi Lin
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Hui-Min Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Cuilan Tang
- Maoming Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Maoming 525000, Guangdong, China
| | - Minli Kong
- Maoming Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Maoming 525000, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanqi Xie
- Maoming Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Maoming 525000, Guangdong, China
| | - Guang-Hui Dong
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiao-Wen Zeng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
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23
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Barbo N, Stoiber T, Naidenko OV, Andrews DQ. Locally caught freshwater fish across the United States are likely a significant source of exposure to PFOS and other perfluorinated compounds. Environ Res 2023; 220:115165. [PMID: 36584847 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, gained significant public and regulatory attention due to widespread contamination and health harms associated with exposure. Ingestion of PFAS from contaminated food and water results in the accumulation of PFAS in the body and is considered a key route of human exposure. Here we calculate the potential contribution of PFOS from consumption of locally caught freshwater fish to serum levels. We analyzed data for over 500 composite samples of fish fillets collected across the United States from 2013 to 2015 under the U.S. EPA's monitoring programs, the National Rivers and Streams Assessment and the Great Lakes Human Health Fish Fillet Tissue Study. The two datasets indicate that an individual's consumption of freshwater fish is potentially a significant source of exposure to perfluorinated compounds. The median level of total targeted PFAS in fish fillets from rivers and streams across the United States was 9,500 ng/kg, with a median level of 11,800 ng/kg in the Great Lakes. PFOS was the largest contributor to total PFAS levels, averaging 74% of the total. The median levels of total detected PFAS in freshwater fish across the United States were 278 times higher than levels in commercially relevant fish tested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2019-2022. Exposure assessment suggests that a single serving of freshwater fish per year with the median level of PFAS as detected by the U.S. EPA monitoring programs translates into a significant increase of PFOS levels in blood serum. The exposure to chemical pollutants in freshwater fish across the United States is a case of environmental injustice that especially affects communities that depend on fishing for sustenance and for traditional cultural practices. Identifying and reducing sources of PFAS exposure is an urgent public health priority.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Barbo
- Duke University, Nicholas School of the Environment, Grainger Hall, Circuit Drive, Box 90328, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Tasha Stoiber
- Environmental Working Group, 1250 I Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC, 20005, USA
| | - Olga V Naidenko
- Environmental Working Group, 1250 I Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC, 20005, USA
| | - David Q Andrews
- Environmental Working Group, 1250 I Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC, 20005, USA.
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24
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Chang VC, Rhee J, Berndt SI, Moore SC, Freedman ND, Jones RR, Silverman DT, Gierach GL, Hofmann JN, Purdue MP. Serum perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoate and risk of postmenopausal breast cancer according to hormone receptor status: An analysis in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. Int J Cancer 2023. [PMID: 36843273 PMCID: PMC10405832 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.34487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly persistent endocrine-disrupting chemicals that may contribute to breast cancer development; however, epidemiologic evidence is limited. We investigated associations between prediagnostic serum levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and postmenopausal breast cancer risk, overall and by hormone receptor status, in a nested case-control study of 621 cases and 621 matched controls in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. PFOS and PFOA levels were determined based on serum metabolomic profiling performed using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We used multivariable conditional logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between each PFAS and breast cancer risk, overall, by estrogen receptor (ER) or progesterone receptor (PR) status, and by joint ER/PR status. We found little evidence of association between PFOS or PFOA and breast cancer risk overall. However, in subtype-specific analyses, we observed statistically significant increased risks of ER+, PR+, and ER+/PR+ tumors for the third vs lowest quartile of serum PFOS (ORs [95% CIs] = 1.59 [1.01-2.50], 2.34 [1.29-4.23], and 2.19 [1.21-3.98], respectively) and elevated but nonstatistically significant ORs for the fourth quartile. Conversely, for PFOA, modest positive associations with ER-, PR-, ER+/PR-, and ER-/PR- tumors were generally seen in the upper quartiles. Our findings contribute evidence supporting positive associations between serum PFOS and hormone receptor-positive tumors, and possibly between PFOA and receptor-negative tumors. Future prospective studies incorporating tumor hormone receptor status are needed to better understand the role of PFAS in breast cancer etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicky C Chang
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jongeun Rhee
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Sonja I Berndt
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Steven C Moore
- Metabolic Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Neal D Freedman
- Metabolic Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Rena R Jones
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Debra T Silverman
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Gretchen L Gierach
- Integrative Tumor Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jonathan N Hofmann
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Mark P Purdue
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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25
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Crute CE, Landon CD, Garner A, Hall SM, Everitt JI, Zhang S, Blake B, Olofsson D, Chen H, Stapleton HM, Murphy SK, Feng L. Maternal exposure to perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) during pregnancy: evidence of adverse maternal and fetoplacental effects in New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. Toxicol Sci 2023; 191:239-252. [PMID: 36453863 PMCID: PMC9936209 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfac126] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) is a replacement for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) that is increasingly detected in drinking water and human serum. Higher PFBS exposure is associated with risk for preeclampsia, the leading cause of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality in the United States. This study investigated relevant maternal and fetal health outcomes after gestational exposure to PFBS in a New Zealand White rabbit model. Nulliparous female rabbits were supplied drinking water containing 0 mg/l (control), 10 mg/l (low), or 100 mg/l (high) PFBS. Maternal blood pressure, body weights, liver and kidney weights histopathology, clinical chemistry panels, and thyroid hormone levels were evaluated. Fetal endpoints evaluated at necropsy included viability, body weights, crown-rump length, and liver and kidney histopathology, whereas placenta endpoints included weight, morphology, histopathology, and full transcriptome RNA sequencing. PFBS-high dose dams exhibited significant changes in blood pressure markers, seen through increased pulse pressure and renal resistive index measures, as well as kidney histopathological changes. Fetuses from these dams showed decreased crown-rump length. Statistical analysis of placental weight via a mixed model statistical approach identified a significant interaction term between PFBS high dose and fetal sex, suggesting a sex-specific effect on placental weight. RNA sequencing identified the dysregulation of angiotensin (AGT) in PFBS high-dose placentas. These results suggest that PFBS exposure during gestation leads to adverse maternal outcomes, such as renal injury and hypertension, and fetal outcomes, including decreased growth parameters and adverse placenta function. These outcomes raise concerns about pregnant women's exposure to PFBS and pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine E Crute
- Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health Program, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Chelsea D Landon
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Angela Garner
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Samantha M Hall
- Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health Program, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Jeffery I Everitt
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Sharon Zhang
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Bevin Blake
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | | | - Henry Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Heather M Stapleton
- Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health Program, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Susan K Murphy
- Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health Program, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Liping Feng
- Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health Program, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
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Ignacio MCCD, Curtzwiler GW, Early MR, Updegraff KM, Vorst KL. Ion Selective Electrode (ISE) Method for Determination of Total Fluorine and Total Organic Fluorine in Packaging Substrates. Methods Protoc 2023; 6. [PMID: 36827497 DOI: 10.3390/mps6010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Various testing methods and techniques have been used to identify and quantify per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging. A common indirect measurement of PFAS is total fluorine (TF) and total organic fluorine (TOF). These methods are critical in rapidly screening food packaging materials for the >9000 PFAS and are often globally used for regulatory limits. However, this destructive approach requires careful sample preparation, combustion, and the analysis of the solution by a fluoride-specific electrode. The method described herein is a cost-effective, rapid, quantitative, and externally validated initial screening of packaging materials for fluoro-chemistry. This study presents validated protocols for measuring TF and TOF in packaging substrates using oxygen combustion sample preparation coupled with fluoride ion-selective electrode (F-ISE); the materials and required equipment are provided, and the step-by-step procedure from sample preparation to the analysis are described, including critical steps to minimize contamination and interferences during sample preparation.
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Thompson CM, Heintz MM, Wolf JC, Cheru R, Haws LC, Cullen JM. Assessment of Mouse Liver Histopathology Following Exposure to HFPO-DA With Emphasis on Understanding Mechanisms of Hepatocellular Death. Toxicol Pathol 2023; 51:4-14. [PMID: 36987989 PMCID: PMC10278389 DOI: 10.1177/01926233231159078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Ammonium 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)-propanoate (HFPO-DA) is a short chain member of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). To better understand the relevance of histopathological effects seen in livers of mice exposed to HFPO-DA for human health risk assessment, histopathological effects were summarized from hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained sections in several repeat-dose toxicity studies in mice. Findings across studies revealed histopathological changes consistent with peroxisomal proliferation, whereas two reports of steatosis could not be confirmed in the published figures. In addition, mechanisms of hepatocellular death were assessed in H&E sections as well as with the apoptotic marker cleaved caspase-3 (CCasp3) in newly cut sections from archived liver blocks from select studies. A comparison of serially CCasp3 immunolabeled and H&E-stained sections revealed that mechanisms of hepatocellular death cannot be clearly discerned in H&E-stained liver sections alone as several examples of putatively necrotic cells were positive for CCasp3. Published whole genome transcriptomic data were also reevaluated for enrichment of various forms of hepatocellular death in response to HFPO-DA, which revealed enrichment of apoptosis and autophagy, but not ferroptosis, pyroptosis, or necroptosis. These morphological and molecular findings are consistent with transcriptomic evidence for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) signaling in HFPO-DA exposed mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jeffrey C. Wolf
- Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Sterling, Virginia, USA
| | - Roza Cheru
- Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Sterling, Virginia, USA
| | | | - John M. Cullen
- North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
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Yi S, Harding-Marjanovic KC, Houtz EF, Antell E, Olivares C, Nichiporuk RV, Iavarone AT, Zhuang WQ, Field JA, Sedlak DL, Alvarez-Cohen L. Biotransformation of 6:2 Fluorotelomer Thioether Amido Sulfonate in Aqueous Film-Forming Foams under Nitrate-Reducing Conditions. Environ Sci Technol 2022; 56:10646-10655. [PMID: 35861429 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c00063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Despite the prevalence of nitrate reduction in groundwater, the biotransformation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under nitrate-reducing conditions remains mostly unknown compared with aerobic or strong reducing conditions. We constructed microcosms under nitrate-reducing conditions to simulate the biotransformation occurring at groundwater sites impacted by aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs). We investigated the biotransformation of 6:2 fluorotelomer thioether amido sulfonate (6:2 FtTAoS), a principal PFAS constituent of several AFFF formulations using both quantitative liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and qualitative high-resolution mass spectrometry analyses. Our results reveal that the biotransformation rates of 6:2 FtTAoS under nitrate-reducing conditions were about 10 times slower than under aerobic conditions, but about 2.7 times faster than under sulfate-reducing conditions. Although minimal production of 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate and the terminal perfluoroalkyl carboxylate, perfluorohexanoate was observed, fluorotelomer thioether and sulfinyl compounds were identified in the aqueous samples. Evidence for the formation of volatile PFAS was obtained by mass balance analysis using the total oxidizable precursor assay and detection of 6:2 fluorotelomer thiol by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Our results underscore the complexity of PFAS biotransformation and the interactions between redox conditions and microbial biotransformation activities, contributing to the better elucidation of PFAS environmental fate and impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Yi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Katie C Harding-Marjanovic
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Erika F Houtz
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Edmund Antell
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Christopher Olivares
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Samueli Samueli School of Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Rita V Nichiporuk
- The California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Anthony T Iavarone
- The California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Wei-Qin Zhuang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Jennifer A Field
- Department of Molecular and Environmental Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331-4003, United States
| | - David L Sedlak
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Lisa Alvarez-Cohen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Cyclotron Rd., Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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Burgess JL, Fisher JM, Nematollahi A, Jung AM, Calkins MM, Graber JM, Grant CC, Beitel SC, Littau SR, Gulotta JJ, Wallentine DD, Hughes RJ, Popp C, Calafat AM, Botelho JC, Coleman AD, Schaefer-Solle N, Louzado-Feliciano P, Oduwole SO, Caban-Martinez AJ. Serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance concentrations in four municipal US fire departments. Am J Ind Med 2022; 66:411-423. [PMID: 35864570 PMCID: PMC9859935 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Firefighters have occupational and environmental exposures to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The goal of this study was to compare serum PFAS concentrations across multiple United States fire departments to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants. METHODS Nine serum PFAS were compared in 290 firefighters from four municipal fire departments (coded A-D) and three NHANES participants matched to each firefighter on sex, ethnicity, age, and PFAS collection year. Only Departments A and C had sufficient women study participants (25 and six, respectively) to compare with NHANES. RESULTS In male firefighters compared with NHANES, geometric mean perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) was elevated in Departments A-C, sum of branched perfluoromethylheptane sulfonate isomers (Sm-PFOS) was elevated in all four departments, linear perfluorooctane sulfonate (n-PFOS) was elevated in Departments B and C, linear perfluorooctanoate (n-PFOA) was elevated in Departments B-D, and perfluorononanoate (PFNA) was elevated in Departments B-D, but lower in A. In male firefighters compared with NHANES, perfluoroundecanoate (PFUnDA) was more frequently detected in Departments B and D, and 2-(N-methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido) acetate (MeFOSAA) was less frequently detected in Departments B-D. In female firefighters compared with NHANES, PFHxS and Sm-PFOS concentrations were elevated in Departments A and C. Other PFAS concentrations were elevated and/or reduced in only one department or not significantly different from NHANES in any department. CONCLUSIONS Serum PFHxS, Sm-PFOS, n-PFOS, n-PFOA, and PFNA concentrations were increased in at least two of four fire departments in comparison to NHANES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jefferey L. Burgess
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Julia M. Fisher
- Statistics Consulting Laboratory, BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Amy Nematollahi
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Alesia M. Jung
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Miriam M. Calkins
- Division of Field Studies and Engineering, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Judith M. Graber
- Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Casey C. Grant
- D&S Research Associates & Engineers, LLC, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shawn C. Beitel
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Sally R. Littau
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | | | | | | | - Charles Popp
- Boston Fire Department, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Antonia M. Calafat
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Julianne C. Botelho
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Alissa D. Coleman
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | | | | | - Simi O. Oduwole
- Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
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Le T, Jamshidi E, Beidaghi M, Esfahani MR. Functionalized-MXene Thin-Film Nanocomposite Hollow Fiber Membranes for Enhanced PFAS Removal from Water. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2022; 14:25397-25408. [PMID: 35608926 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c03796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Due to adverse health effects and the broad sources of per- and polyfluoroakyl substances (PFAS), PFAS removal is a critical research area in water purification. We demonstrate the functionalization of thin-film composite (TFC) hollow fiber nanofiltration (HFN) membranes by MXene nanosheets during the interfacial polymerization (IP) process for enhanced removal of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) from water. A MXene-polyamide (PA) selective layer was fabricated on top of a polysulfone (PSF) hollow fiber support via IP of trimesoyl chloride (TMC) and a mixture of piperazine (PIP) and MXene nanosheets to form MXene-PA thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes. Incorporating MXene nanosheets during the IP process tuned the morphology and negative surface charge of the selective layer, resulting in enhanced PFOS rejection from 72% (bare TFC) to more than 96% (0.025 wt % MXene TFN), while the water permeability was also increased from 13.19 (bare TFC) to 29.26 LMH/bar (0.025 wt % MXene TFN). Our results demonstrate that both electrostatic interaction and size exclusion are the main factors governing the PFOS rejection, and both are determined by PA selective layer structural and chemical properties. The lamella structure and interlayer of MXene nanosheets inside the PA layer provided different transport mechanisms for water, ions, and PFAS molecules, resulting in enhanced water permeability and PFAS rejection due to traveling through the membrane by both diffusions through the PA layer and the MXene intralayer channels. MXene nanosheets showed very promising capability as a 2D additive for tuning the structural and chemical properties of the PA layer at the permeability-rejection tradeoff.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tin Le
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
| | - Elnaz Jamshidi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
| | - Majid Beidaghi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
| | - Milad Rabbani Esfahani
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
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Ahmadireskety A, Da Silva BF, Robey NM, Douglas TE, Aufmuth J, Solo-Gabriele HM, Yost RA, Townsend TG, Bowden JA. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Street Sweepings. Environ Sci Technol 2022; 56:6069-6077. [PMID: 34596397 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
One hundred and seventeen street sweeping samples were collected and analyzed for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Fifty-six samples were collected in one city (Gainesville, Florida) allowing for an in-depth city-wide characterization. Street sweepings from five other urban areas, (Orlando, n = 15; Key West, n = 15; Pensacola, n = 12; Tampa, n = 13; and Daytona Beach, n = 6) were analyzed to provide a city-to-city comparison of PFAS. Within our analytical workflow, 37 PFAS were quantified across all samples, while the maximum number of PFAS quantified at one site was 26. Of those PFAS quantified in Gainesville, 60% were perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and 33% were precursors to PFAA. Among the PFAAs, short-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) were the dominant class representing 26% of the total PFAS by concentration. In the comparison across different urban cities, the dominant compound by concentration and frequency of detection varied; however, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and linear perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOSlin) were the two PFAS that were detected the most frequently. This study documents the first-time detection of hexadecafluorosebacic acid and perfluoro-3,6,9-trioxaundecane-1,11-dioic acid within environmental samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atiye Ahmadireskety
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Bianca F Da Silva
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Nicole M Robey
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Thomas E Douglas
- Public Works Department, Solid Waste Division, City of Gainesville, Gainesville, Florida 32653, United States
| | - Joe Aufmuth
- George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32603, United States
| | - Helena M Solo-Gabriele
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, University of Miami, College of Engineering, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, United States
| | - Richard A Yost
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Timothy G Townsend
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - John A Bowden
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
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Katz DR, Sullivan JC, Rosa K, Gardiner CL, Robuck AR, Lohmann R, Kincaid C, Cantwell MG. Transport and fate of aqueous film forming foam in an urban estuary. Environ Pollut 2022; 300:118963. [PMID: 35134426 PMCID: PMC8924856 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The deployment of aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) used for firefighting during emergencies and training often releases per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into the environment. In October 2018, first responders in Providence, RI, USA applied an AFFF during a fuel spill. Due to the proximity of the incident to the upper reaches of Narragansett Bay (NB), an unknown quantity of gasoline and AFFF entered the estuary via surface runoff and stormwater drains. Water samples near the spill were collected approximately 15 h after the incident and analyzed for 24 PFAS. Minor increases in measured PFAS concentrations were observed relative to pre- and post-spill samples at monitoring sites near the incident, except 6:2-fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2-FTS) that peaked post-spill (max 311 ng/L). After performing the total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay on water samples and the AFFF concentrate, significant increases in perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) were observed. One compound, 6:2 fluorotelomer mercaptoalkylamido sulfonate (6:2-FTSAS), was identified as a major component of the AFFF used. Peak areas of 6:2-FTSAS and the degradation product 6:2-FTSAS-sulfoxide corresponded to observed increases in the TOP assay results and were useful as tracers of AFFF in surrounding waters. Elevated levels of PFAS at the time of sampling were limited to a confined area of the Providence River due to river flow and tidal action. Observed concentrations were also compared to hydrodynamic model results, and results confirmed rapid dissipation of AFFF components with distance from the spill. However, modeled results did not capture possible secondary releases of AFFF from local municipal stormwater and sewer infrastructure, as observational data suggest. The multiple lines of evidence of PFAS present in surface waters permitted a better assessment of the potential environmental impacts from products such as AFFF for which the chemical composition is largely unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Katz
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development (ORD), Center for Measurement and Modeling (CEMM), Atlantic Coastal Ecosystem Sciences Division (AED), 27 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, RI, 02882, USA.
| | - Julia C Sullivan
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Narragansett, RI, 02882, USA
| | - Kevin Rosa
- University of Rhode Island - Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI, 02882, USA
| | - Christine L Gardiner
- University of Rhode Island - Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI, 02882, USA
| | - Anna R Robuck
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Narragansett, RI, 02882, USA; University of Rhode Island - Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI, 02882, USA
| | - Rainer Lohmann
- University of Rhode Island - Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI, 02882, USA
| | - Chris Kincaid
- University of Rhode Island - Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI, 02882, USA
| | - Mark G Cantwell
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development (ORD), Center for Measurement and Modeling (CEMM), Atlantic Coastal Ecosystem Sciences Division (AED), 27 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, RI, 02882, USA
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Rosato I, Zare Jeddi M, Ledda C, Gallo E, Fletcher T, Pitter G, Batzella E, Canova C. How to investigate human health effects related to exposure to mixtures of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances: A systematic review of statistical methods. Environ Res 2022; 205:112565. [PMID: 34915031 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Humans are exposed to several per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) daily; however, most previous studies have focused on individual PFAS. Although attention to effects of exposure to mixtures of PFAS has grown in recent years, there is no consensus on the appropriate statistical methods that can be used to assess their combined effect on human health. OBJECTIVES We aim to perform a comprehensive review of the statistical methods used in the existing studies which evaluate the association between exposure to mixtures of PFAS and any adverse human health effect. METHODS The online databases PubMed, Embase and Scopus were searched for eligible studies, published during the last ten years (last search performed on April 08, 2021). Covidence software was used by two different reviewers to perform a title/abstract screening, followed by a full text revision of the selected papers. RESULTS A total of 3640 papers were identified, and after the screening process, 53 papers were included in the current review. Most of the studies were published between 2019 and 2021 and were conducted mainly in North America and Europe; more than half of the studies (28 out of 53) were conducted on mother and child pairs. WQS (Weighted Quantile Sum) Regression and BKMR (Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression) were used in 36 out of 53 papers to model mixtures' effects. Health outcomes included in the studies are immunotoxicity (n = 8), fetal development (n = 7), neurodevelopment (n = 9), reproductive hormones (n = 6), thyroid hormones (n = 7), outcomes related to metabolic pathways (n = 16). CONCLUSION Studies on human exposure to PFAS as complex mixtures and health consequences have substantially increased in the last few years. Based on our findings, we propose that addressing risk from PFAS mixtures will likely require combinations of approaches and implementation of constantly evolving statistical methods. Specific guidelines and tools for quality assessment and publication of mixture observational studies are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Rosato
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Maryam Zare Jeddi
- RIVM-National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Caterina Ledda
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padova, Italy; Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Elisa Gallo
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Tony Fletcher
- Screening and Health Impact Assessment Unit, Azienda Zero-Veneto Region, Padova, Italy
| | - Gisella Pitter
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Erich Batzella
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Cristina Canova
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padova, Italy.
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Chen Q, Chou WC, Lin Z. Integration of Toxicogenomics and Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling in Human Health Risk Assessment of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate. Environ Sci Technol 2022; 56:3623-3633. [PMID: 35194992 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c06479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Toxicogenomics and physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models are useful approaches in chemical risk assessment, but the methodology to incorporate toxicogenomic data into a PBPK model to inform risk assessment remains to be developed. This study aimed to develop a probabilistic human health risk assessment approach by integrating toxicogenomic dose-response data and PBPK modeling using perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) as a case study. Based on the available human in vitro and mouse in vivo toxicogenomic data, we identified the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at each exposure paradigm/duration. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and disease ontology enrichment analyses were conducted on the DEGs to identify significantly enriched pathways and diseases. The dose-response data of DEGs were analyzed using the Bayesian benchmark dose (BMD) method. Using a previously published PBPK model, the gene BMDs were converted to human equivalent doses (HEDs), which were summarized to pathway and disease HEDs and then extrapolated to reference doses (RfDs) by considering an uncertainty factor of 30 for mouse in vivo data and 10 for human in vitro data. The results suggested that the median RfDs at different exposure paradigms were similar to the 2016 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recommended RfD, while the RfDs for the most sensitive pathways and diseases were closer to the recent European Food Safety Authority's guidance values. In conclusion, genomic dose-response data and PBPK modeling can be integrated to become a useful alternative approach in risk assessment of environmental chemicals. This approach considers multiple endpoints, provides toxicity mechanistic insights, and does not rely on apical toxicity endpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiran Chen
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32608, United States
| | - Wei-Chun Chou
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32608, United States
| | - Zhoumeng Lin
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32608, United States
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Wattigney WA, Savadatti SS, Liu M, Pavuk M, Lewis-Michl E, Kannan K, Wang W, Spliethoff H, Marquez-Bravo L, Hwang SA. Biomonitoring of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in minority angler communities in central New York State. Environ Res 2022; 204:112309. [PMID: 34728236 PMCID: PMC8715741 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Onondaga Lake in central New York State was listed as a Superfund site in 1994 due to industrial disposal of pollutants. A biomonitoring program was conducted to assess exposure to over 70 legacy contaminants and contaminants of emerging concern in populations disproportionately at risk for exposure residing near Onondaga Lake and to educate these communities on how to reduce exposures. The populations of focus were refugees from Burma and Bhutan and low-income, primarily African American, anglers (urban anglers). These communities consume locally caught fish for economic as well as cultural reasons and therefore may be at higher risk of exposure. This study focuses on assessment of exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and associations with local fish consumption. Using respondent driven sampling, 311 refugees and 89 urban anglers were enrolled in the study. Following informed consent, study participants provided blood and urine specimens and completed a questionnaire. Percentiles of locally caught fish meals in the past 12 months by race/ethnicity groups showed that the Burmese participants of Karen ethnicity were the highest consumers, with a median of 135 meals compared to 103 meals for the other Burmese participants, 70 meals for the urban anglers, and 44 meals for the Bhutanese participants. Compared to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-16 sample of the general U.S. population, the Karen participants had markedly elevated perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) levels with median serum concentrations 9.5 times greater (41.6 ng/mL vs. 4.4 ng/mL) and 26.9 times greater (2.69 ng/mL vs. 0.10 ng/mL), respectively; the other Burmese participants had moderately elevated levels of PFOS and PFDA with median serum concentrations 3.0 times greater (13.3 ng/mL vs. 4.4 ng/mL) and 7.3 greater times greater (0.73 ng/mL vs. 0.10 ng/mL), respectively; and, PFAS levels were not elevated in the Bhutanese or urban angler cohorts. Male gender was consistently the strongest predictor of PFAS exposure among all study cohorts. A positive association between local fish consumption was indicated only for PFOS among urban anglers. An association between local fish consumption and PFAS was not statistically significant among the refugee cohorts, perhaps due to the lack of 'lower-end' exposure or exposure variability. Community events were held by the program staff to present the biomonitoring results and distribute community outreach materials with visual aids specific for the study populations to promote safe fish eating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy A Wattigney
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Office of Community Health and Hazard Assessment, 4770 Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA, 30341, United States.
| | - Sanghamitra S Savadatti
- New York State Department of Health, Center for Environmental Health, Division of Environmental Health Assessment, Empire State Plaza-Corning Tower, Albany, NY, 12237, United States; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12144, United States
| | - Ming Liu
- New York State Department of Health, Center for Environmental Health, Division of Environmental Health Assessment, Empire State Plaza-Corning Tower, Albany, NY, 12237, United States
| | - Marian Pavuk
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Office of Community Health and Hazard Assessment, 4770 Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA, 30341, United States
| | - Elizabeth Lewis-Michl
- New York State Department of Health, Center for Environmental Health, Division of Environmental Health Assessment, Empire State Plaza-Corning Tower, Albany, NY, 12237, United States
| | - Kurunthachalam Kannan
- New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY, 12201, United States; Department of Pediatrics and Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, United States
| | - Wei Wang
- New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY, 12201, United States
| | - Henry Spliethoff
- New York State Department of Health, Center for Environmental Health, Division of Environmental Health Assessment, Empire State Plaza-Corning Tower, Albany, NY, 12237, United States
| | - Lydia Marquez-Bravo
- New York State Department of Health, Center for Environmental Health, Division of Environmental Health Assessment, Empire State Plaza-Corning Tower, Albany, NY, 12237, United States
| | - Syni-An Hwang
- New York State Department of Health, Center for Environmental Health, Division of Environmental Health Assessment, Empire State Plaza-Corning Tower, Albany, NY, 12237, United States; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12144, United States
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Sha B, Johansson JH, Tunved P, Bohlin-Nizzetto P, Cousins IT, Salter ME. Sea Spray Aerosol (SSA) as a Source of Perfluoroalkyl Acids (PFAAs) to the Atmosphere: Field Evidence from Long-Term Air Monitoring. Environ Sci Technol 2022; 56:228-238. [PMID: 34907779 PMCID: PMC8733926 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [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] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The effective enrichment of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in sea spray aerosols (SSA) demonstrated in previous laboratory studies suggests that SSA is a potential source of PFAAs to the atmosphere. In order to investigate the influence of SSA on atmospheric PFAAs in the field, 48 h aerosol samples were collected regularly between 2018 and 2020 at two Norwegian coastal locations, Andøya and Birkenes. Significant correlations (p < 0.05) between the SSA tracer ion, Na+, and PFAA concentrations were observed in the samples from both locations, with Pearson's correlation coefficients (r) between 0.4-0.8. Such significant correlations indicate SSA to be an important source of atmospheric PFAAs to coastal areas. The correlations in the samples from Andøya were observed for more PFAA species and were generally stronger than in the samples from Birkenes, which is located further away from the coast and closer to urban areas than Andøya. Factors such as the origin of the SSA, the distance of the sampling site to open water, and the presence of other PFAA sources (e.g., volatile precursor compounds) can have influence on the contribution of SSA to PFAA in air at the sampling sites and therefore affect the observed correlations between PFAAs and Na+.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Sha
- Department
of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jana H. Johansson
- Department
of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Peter Tunved
- Department
of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
- Bolin
Centre for Climate Research, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Ian T. Cousins
- Department
of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Matthew E. Salter
- Department
of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
- Bolin
Centre for Climate Research, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
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Sweeney LM. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling of perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) in humans. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2021; 129:105099. [PMID: 34933042 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2021.105099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent, man-made compounds prevalent in the environment and consistently identified in human biomonitoring samples. In particular, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) have been identified at U.S. Air Force installations. The study of human toxicokinetics and physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling of PFHxS has been less robust and has been limited in scope and application as compared to PFOS and PFOA. The primary goal of the current effort was to develop a PBPK model describing PFHxS disposition in humans that can be applied to retrospective, current, and future human health risk assessment of PFHxS. An existing model developed for PFOS and PFOA was modified and key parameter values for exposure and toxicokinetics were calibrated for PFHxS prediction based on human biomonitoring data, particularly general population serum levels from the U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Agreement between the model and the calibration and evaluation data was excellent and recapitulated observed trends across sex, age, and calendar years. Confidence in the model is greatest for application to adults in the 2000-2018 time frame and for shorter-term future projections.
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Yamazaki E, Taniyasu S, Wang X, Yamashita N. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in surface water, gas and particle in open ocean and coastal environment. Chemosphere 2021; 272:129869. [PMID: 33592511 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A simultaneous sampling of atmospheric and seawater samples was performed in the Taiwan Western Strait, western Arctic Ocean, and the Antarctic Ocean. Analysis of both particle and gas phase PFAS in oceanic air was conducted using cascade impactor particle fractionator, cryogenic air sampler and activated charcoal fiber sorbent for the first time with application in the Taiwan Western Strait. Mean concentration of Σ12PFAS in surface seawater and atmospheric samples were 1178 pg/L and 24 pg/m3 in the Taiwan Western Strait, 430 pg/L and 6 pg/m3 in the western Arctic Ocean, and 456 pg/L and 3 pg/m3 in the Antarctic Ocean. In oceanic air from the Taiwan Western Strait, fluorotelomer alcohol (FTOH) and the ionic PFAS [perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acid (PFSA) and perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid (PFCA)] were found in 76% and 7% respectively. Regional comparison of air/water exchange (KAW) and gas-particle (Kp) partition coefficients of PFAS in the oceanic environment indicated potential partitioning of ionic PFAS between surface seawater and oceanic air. These findings highlight the advancement in atmospheric PFAS measurements through combined novel technologies, namely size-fractionated particle sampling with cryogenic air trapping and/or activated charcoal sorption. Correlation between Kp and carbon chain length of PFAS was observed using both hyphenated techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eriko Yamazaki
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 16-1 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8569, Japan
| | - Sachi Taniyasu
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 16-1 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8569, Japan
| | - Xinhong Wang
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
| | - Nobuyoshi Yamashita
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 16-1 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8569, Japan.
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Park SK, Ding N, Han D. Perfluoroalkyl substances and cognitive function in older adults: Should we consider non-monotonic dose-responses and chronic kidney disease? Environ Res 2021; 192:110346. [PMID: 33068581 PMCID: PMC7736478 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [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: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although potential neurotoxicity of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is suggested, previous epidemiologic studies have reported a 'protective' association between serum PFAS concentration and cognition function. Poor outcome assessment, residual confounding, non-monotonic dose-responses (NMDRs), and the role of reduced kidney function in PFAS excretion may be alternative explanations of these findings. OBJECTIVES We examined the association of perfluoroalkyls with cognitive functions assessed using the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease word learning and recall; the Animal Fluency; and the Digit Symbol Substitution tests. METHODS We included 903 adults aged ≥60 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014. We computed a composite z-score as an average of four individual cognitive z-scores and used it as the outcome. Linear and generalized additive models were used to evaluate linear and non-linear associations. RESULTS With the linearity assumption, perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorononanoate (PFNA) were significantly positively associated with composite z-score after adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, smoking, poverty-income ratio, health insurance, food security, alcohol, and physical activity. Smoothing plots suggested NMDRs, especially for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) with a U-shape dose-response. When restricting to participants without chronic kidney disease (CKD) (n = 613), the positive associations for PFOA and PFNA observed in the whole population diminished, whereas PFOS was inversely and significantly associated with composite z-score. Also, negative confounding effects of fish/seafood consumption seem to be substantial. Effect estimates of composite z-score were -0.055 (95% CI: -0.097, -0.012, P = 0.01) for a doubling increase in PFOS. DISCUSSION These findings suggest that the previous epidemiologic findings of a 'protective' association between PFAS and cognition may be explained by CKD, NMDRs and confounding by fish consumption. PFOS at the current population exposure level in the U.S. may be a risk factor for cognitive decline in older adults with normal kidney function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Kyun Park
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Ning Ding
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Dehua Han
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Ding N, Harlow SD, Randolph JF, Calafat AM, Mukherjee B, Batterman S, Gold EB, Park SK. Associations of Perfluoroalkyl Substances with Incident Natural Menopause: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2020; 105:dgaa303. [PMID: 32491182 PMCID: PMC7418447 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Previous epidemiologic studies of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and menopausal timing conducted in cross-sectional settings were limited by reverse causation because PFAS serum concentrations increase after menopause. OBJECTIVES To investigate associations between perfluoroalkyl substances and incident natural menopause. DESIGN AND SETTING A prospective cohort of midlife women, the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, 1999-2017. PARTICIPANTS 1120 multiracial/ethnic premenopausal women aged 45-56 years. METHODS Serum concentrations of perfluoroalkyls were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry. Natural menopause was defined as the bleeding episode prior to at least 12 months of amenorrhea not due to surgery or hormone use. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS Participants contributed 5466 person-years of follow-up, and 578 had incident natural menopause. Compared with the lowest tertile, women at the highest tertile of baseline serum concentrations had adjusted HR for natural menopause of 1.26 (95% CI: 1.02-1.57) for n-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (n-PFOS) (Ptrend = .03), 1.27 (95% CI: 1.01-1.59) for branched-PFOS (Ptrend = .03), and 1.31 (95% CI: 1.04-1.65) for n-perfluorooctanoic acid (Ptrend = .01). Women were classified into four clusters based on their overall PFAS concentrations as mixtures: low, low-medium, medium-high, and high. Compared with the low cluster, the high cluster had a HR of 1.63 (95% CI: 1.08-2.45), which is equivalent to 2.0 years earlier median time to natural menopause. CONCLUSION This study suggests that select PFAS serum concentrations are associated with earlier natural menopause, a risk factor for adverse health outcomes in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Ding
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Siobán D Harlow
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - John F Randolph
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Bhramar Mukherjee
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Stuart Batterman
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Ellen B Gold
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Davis, California
| | - Sung Kyun Park
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Vuong AM, Xie C, Jandarov R, Dietrich KN, Zhang H, Sjödin A, Calafat AM, Lanphear BP, McCandless L, Braun JM, Yolton K, Chen A. Prenatal exposure to a mixture of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and child reading skills at school age. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2020; 228:113527. [PMID: 32521479 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may affect child neurobehavior; however, exposures to mixtures of POPs have rarely been examined. METHODS We estimated associations of prenatal serum concentrations of 17 POPs, namely 5 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), 6 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and 4 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), with Wide Range Achievement Test-4 reading composite scores at age 8 years in 161 children from a pregnancy and birth cohort (Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment [HOME] Study, 2003-present) in Cincinnati, OH. We applied 6 statistical methods: least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), elastic net (ENET), Sparse Principal Component Analysis (SPCA), Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) regression, Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR), and Bayesian Additive Regression Trees (BART), to estimate covariate-adjusted associations with individual and their mixtures in multi-pollutant models. RESULTS Both LASSO and ENET models indicated inverse associations with reading scores for BDE-153 and BDE-28, and positive associations for CB-118, CB-180, perfluoroctanoate (PFOA), and perfluorononanoate (PFNA). The SPCA identified inverse associations for BDE-153 and BDE-100 and positive associations for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), PFOA, and PFNA, as parts of different principal component scores. The WQS regression showed the highest weights for BDE-100 (0.35) and BDE-28 (0.16) in the inverse association model and for PFNA (0.29) and CB-180 (0.21) in the positive association model. The BKMR model identified BDE-100 and BDE-153 for inverse associations and CB-118, CB-153, CB-180, PFOA, and PFNA for positive associations. The BART method found dose-response functions similar to the BKMR model. No interactions between POPs were identified. CONCLUSIONS Despite some inconsistency among biomarkers, these analyses revealed inverse associations between prenatal PBDE concentrations and children's reading scores. Positive associations of PCB congeners and PFAS with reading skills were also found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann M Vuong
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Nevada Las Vegas, School of Public Health, United States
| | - Changchun Xie
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Roman Jandarov
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Kim N Dietrich
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Hongmei Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Andreas Sjödin
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Bruce P Lanphear
- Child and Family Research Institute, BC Children's Hospital, British Columbia, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| | | | - Joseph M Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Aimin Chen
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States; Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
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Duffek A, Conrad A, Kolossa-Gehring M, Lange R, Rucic E, Schulte C, Wellmitz J. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in blood plasma - Results of the German Environmental Survey for children and adolescents 2014-2017 (GerES V). Int J Hyg Environ Health 2020; 228:113549. [PMID: 32502942 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The 5th cycle of the German Environmental Survey (GerES V) investigated the internal human exposure of children and adolescents aged 3-17 years in Germany to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The fieldwork of the population-representative GerES V was performed from 2014 to 2017. In total, 1109 blood plasma samples were analysed for 12 PFAS including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS). PFOS was quantified in all and PFOA in almost all samples, demonstrating ubiquitous exposure. The highest geometric mean concentrations measured were 2.49 ng/mL for PFOS, followed by PFOA (1.12 ng/mL) and PFHxS (0.36 ng/mL), while concentrations of other PFAS were found in much lower concentrations. The 95th percentile levels of PFOS and PFOA were 6.00 and 3.24 ng/mL, respectively. The results document a still considerable exposure of the young generation to the phased out chemicals PFOS and PFOA. The observed exposure levels vary substantially between individuals and might be due to different multiple sources. The relative contribution of various exposure parameters such as diet or the specific use of consumer products need to be further explored. Although additional investigations on the time trend of human exposure are warranted, GerES V underlines the need for an effective and sustainable regulation of PFAS as a whole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Duffek
- German Environment Agency, Laboratory for Water Analysis, Corrensplatz 1, Berlin, 14195, Germany.
| | - André Conrad
- German Environment Agency, Toxicology, Health-related Environmental Monitoring, Corrensplatz 1, Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Marike Kolossa-Gehring
- German Environment Agency, Toxicology, Health-related Environmental Monitoring, Corrensplatz 1, Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Rosa Lange
- German Environment Agency, Toxicology, Health-related Environmental Monitoring, Corrensplatz 1, Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Enrico Rucic
- German Environment Agency, Toxicology, Health-related Environmental Monitoring, Corrensplatz 1, Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Christoph Schulte
- German Environment Agency, Department Water and Soil, Wörlitzer Platz 1, Dessau-Roßlau, 06844, Germany
| | - Jörg Wellmitz
- German Environment Agency, Laboratory for Water Analysis, Corrensplatz 1, Berlin, 14195, Germany
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Cordner A, Richter L, Brown P. Environmental Chemicals and Public Sociology: Engaged Scholarship on Highly Fluorinated Compounds. Environ Sociol 2019; 5:339-351. [PMID: 32566692 PMCID: PMC7304546 DOI: 10.1080/23251042.2019.1629271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We report here on a multifaceted body of research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), chemicals that have become a well-known group of 'emerging contaminants' in recent years. Our PFAS Project team of over 10 researchers - faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates - has been working since 2015 to study the extent and health effects of PFAS contamination through a broad model of engaged public sociology. Our model of research combines organic public sociology with elements of community-based participatory research, a related but distinct research form most widely used in the environmental health sciences. Based on long-term, place-based relationships, our engaged public sociology has led to numerous academic, regulatory, and social movement effects. We argue that this form of engaged, intervention-oriented public sociology is appropriate and beneficial for research in many areas of environmental sociology given the social and ecological stakes in the current moment. Engaged public sociology involves collaborative, reflexive research with broadly-conceived communities or publics. It facilitates the creation of previously undone science by addressing research topics of interest to community members, and allows researchers to directly contribute to environmental and social justice movements by acting as reflexive, observant participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alissa Cordner
- Department of Sociology, Whitman College, 345 Boyer Ave, Walla Walla, WA, USA
| | - Lauren Richter
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
- Silent Spring Institute, Newton, MA, USA
| | - Phil Brown
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
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Thompson CM, Fitch SE, Ring C, Rish W, Cullen JM, Haws LC. Development of an oral reference dose for the perfluorinated compound GenX. J Appl Toxicol 2019; 39:1267-1282. [PMID: 31215065 PMCID: PMC6771874 DOI: 10.1002/jat.3812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [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: 10/25/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Ammonium 2,3,3,3‐tetrafluoro‐2‐(heptafluoropropoxy)‐propanoate, also known as GenX, is a processing aid used in the manufacture of fluoropolymers. GenX is one of several chemistries developed as an alternative to long‐chain poly‐fluoroalkyl substances, which tend to have long clearance half‐lives and are environmentally persistent. Unlike poly‐fluoroalkyl substances, GenX has more rapid clearance, but has been detected in US and international water sources. There are currently no federal drinking water standards for GenX in the USA; therefore, we developed a non‐cancer oral reference dose (RfD) for GenX based on available repeated dose studies. The review of the available data indicate that GenX is unlikely to be genotoxic. A combination of traditional frequentist benchmark dose models and Bayesian benchmark dose models were used derive relevant points of departure from mammalian toxicity studies. In addition, deterministic and probabilistic RfD values were developed using available tools and regulatory guidance. The two approaches resulted in a narrow range of RfD values for liver lesions observed in a 2‐year bioassay in rats (0.01–0.02 mg/kg/day). The probabilistic approach resulted in the lower, i.e., more conservative RfD. The probabilistic RfD of 0.01 mg/kg/day results in a maximum contaminant level goal of 70 ppb. It is anticipated that these values, along with the hazard identification and dose‐response modeling described herein, should be informative for risk assessors and regulators interested in setting health‐protective drinking water guideline values for GenX. Ammonium 2,3,3,3‐tetrafluoro‐2‐(heptafluoropropoxy)‐propanoate, also known as GenX, is a processing aid used in the manufacture of fluoropolymers. There are currently no federal drinking water standards for GenX in the USA. Frequentist benchmark dose models and Bayesian benchmark dose models were used to derive points of departure from mammalian toxicity studies. Deterministic and probabilistic reference dose values were developed and resulted in a narrow range of values (0.01‐0.02 mg/kg/day). The lower reference dose results in a maximum contaminant level goal of 70 ppb.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - John M Cullen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Moore Boston
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Natalie Banacos
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wendy Heiger-Bernays
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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