Inactivation of common airborne antigens by perfluoroalkyl chemicals modulates early life allergic asthma

Allergic asthma, driven by T helper 2 cell-mediated immune responses to common environmental antigens, remains the most common respiratory disease in children. Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) are environmental contaminants of great concern, because of their wide application, persistence in the environment, and bioaccumulation. PFCs associate with immunological disorders including asthma and attenuate immune responses to vaccines. The influence of PFCs on the immunological response to allergens during childhood is unknown. We report here that a major PFC, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), inactivates house dust mite (HDM) to dampen 5-wk-old, early weaned mice from developing HDM-induced allergic asthma. PFOS further attenuates the asthma protective effect of the microbial product lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We demonstrate that PFOS prevents desensitization of lung epithelia by LPS, thus abolishing the latter's protective effect. A close mechanistic study reveals that PFOS specifically binds the major HDM allergen Der p1 with high affinity as well as the lipid A moiety of LPS, leading to the inactivation of both antigens. Moreover, PFOS at physiological human (nanomolar) concentrations inactivates Der p1 from HDM and LPS in vitro, although higher doses did not cause further inactivation because of possible formation of PFOS aggregates. This PFOS-induced neutralization of LPS has been further validated in primary human cell models and extended to an in vivo bacterial infection mouse model. This study demonstrates that early life exposure of mice to a PFC blunts airway antigen bioactivity to modulate pulmonary inflammatory responses, which may adversely affect early pulmonary health.

Dynamics, thermodynamics, and mechanism of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) sorption to various soil particle-size fractions of paddy soil

Soil is an important sink for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) that is a typical persistent organic pollutant with high toxicity. Understanding of PFOS sorption to various particle-size fractions of soil provides an insight into the mobility and bioavailability of PFOS in soil. This study evaluated kinetics, isotherms, and mechanisms of PFOS sorption to six soil particle-size fractions of paddy soil at environmentally relevant concentrations (0.01-1 μg/mL). The used soil particle-size fractions included coarse sand (120.4-724.4 mm), fine sand (45.7-316.2 mm), coarse silt (17.3-79.4 mm), fine silt (1.9-39.8 mm), clay (0.5-4.4 mm), and humic acid fractions (8.2-83.7 mm) labeled as F1~F6, respectively. PFOS sorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics related to film diffusion and intraparticle diffusion, with speed-limiting phase acted by the latter. PFOS sorption isotherm data followed Freundlich model, with generally convex isotherms in larger size fractions (F1~F3) but concave isotherms in smaller size fractions (F4 and F5) and humic acid fraction (F6). Increasing organic matter content, Brunner-Emmet-Teller surface area, and smaller size fractions were conducive to PFOS sorption. Hydrophobic force, divalent metal ion-bridging effect, ligand exchange, hydrogen bonding, and protein-like interaction played roles in PFOS sorption. But hydrophobic force controlled the PFOS sorption, because its relevant organic matter governed the contribution of the soil fractions to the overall PFOS sorption. The larger size fractions dominated the PFOS sorption to the original soil because of their high mass percentages (~80%). This likely caused greater potential risks of PFOS migration into groundwater and bioaccumulation in crops at higher temperatures and c_e values, based on their convex isotherms with an exothermic physical process.

Transfer of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) from Feed into the Eggs of Laying Hens. Part 2: Toxicokinetic Results Including the Role of Precursors

A feeding study was performed to examine the bioaccumulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in laying hens' tissues and plasma and feed-to-egg transfer rates and half-lives. A 25 day exposure was followed by a 42 day depuration period. A target analysis revealed substantial amounts of the precursors N-methyl and N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamidoacetic acid (Me- and EtFOSAA), perfluorooctane sulfonamidoacetic acid (FOSAA), and perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA). In tissues and eggs, the highest bioaccumulation was found for PFHxS, PFHpS, PFOS, and PFOA. Low levels of PFHxS (all samples), PFOS, and FOSAA (in yolk) were measurable even after the depuration period. The egg elimination half-lives of PFOS and aforementioned precursors were estimated to be 4.3 days, while the transfer rates of PFOS and all precursors taken together were 0.99. The transfer rate of PFOA was around 0.49. PFHxS and PFHpS showed apparent transfer rates of >100%, which is hypothesized to indicate the presence of precursors.

Biomimetic degradability of linear perfluorooctanesulfonate (L-PFOS): Degradation products and pathways

The reductive degradability and decomposition pathways of linear perfluorooctanesulfonate (L-PFOS) were investigated in a biomimetic system consisting of Ti(III)-citrate and Vitamin B₁₂. Biomimetic degradation of L-PFOS could well be described by a first-order exponential decay model. Accompanied by the release of fluoride ion, technical PFOS could not only be transformed to perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs) and perfluoroalkylsulfonates (PFSAs) with perfluoroalkyl carbon chain length < C8 (thereafter referred as carbon-chain-shortened degradation products), but also be transformed to PFCAs with perfluoroalkyl carbon chain length ≥ C8 (thereafter referred as carbon-chain-lengthened degradation products). Perfluorohexanesulfonate and perfluorotetradecanoate were the most abundant carbon-chain-shortened and -lengthened degradation products of technical PFOS, respectively. Based on the various degradation products detected during biomimetic reduction of linear [1,2,3,4-¹³C₄]-PFOS, the degradation pathways of L-PFOS were proposed as follows: L-PFOS was first reduced to C₈F₁₇• radical by cleavage of C-S bond, and then transformed to PFOA through hydrolysis. However, the carbon-chain-shortened products were not generated through the sequential chain-shortening via C₈F₁₇• radicals and/or L-PFOS, while the carbon-chain-lengthened products were not formed via C₈F₁₇• radicals by stepwise addition of CF₂ moiety. In fact, C₈F₁₇• radical and/or L-PFOS were further reduced to form C_nF_2n+1• (n = 1, 2, 3, 4) radicals, and these radicals were chain-lengthened by stepwise addition of C₄F₈ moiety and eventually transformed to various degradation products via hydrolysis (PFCAs) or combination reaction with sulfonyl hydroxide (PFSAs). All carbon-chain-lengthened chemicals were first reported as the degradation products during the decomposition of L-PFOS, while carbon-chain-shortened compounds were first identified as the biomimetic reduction products of L-PFOS.

Levels of Perfluoroalkyl Acids (PFAAs) in Human Serum, Hair and Nails in Guangdong Province, China: Implications for Exploring the Ideal Bio-Indicator

The widespread human exposure to perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) has led to increasing public concern. In this study, we present a comprehensive measurement of total fluorine (TF), extractable organic fluorine (EOF), identified organic fluorine (IOF, total concentration of identified PFAAs quantified as fluorine) and 11 target PFAAs in human serum (n = 60), hair (n = 49) and nails (n = 39) collected from non-occupation exposed volunteers in 10 cities of Guangdong Province, China. The results indicated that EOF was the major form of fluorine in serum, accounting for 70-80% of TF. The levels of IOF contributed less than 10% of EOF. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) was found to be the dominant PFAA with mean concentration of 23 ng·mL^-1 in serum, 35 ng·g^-1 in hair and 33 ng·g^-1 in nail, respectively. Short-chain PFAAs (C ≤ 10) were the predominant PFAAs in three matrices. Levels of PFOS, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUdA) and perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) in males are significantly higher than those in females (p < 0.01). Significant positive correlations were observed between nail and serum for PFOS (p < 0.01), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (p < 0.05) and PFHxS (p < 0.01), suggesting that human nails, a noninvasive sample, are a promising bio-indicator for PFAA risk assessment.

Fabrication of hydrolytically stable magnetic core-shell aminosilane nanocomposite for the adsorption of PFOS and PFOA

Aminosilane materials, with their low cost and ease of modification, have exhibited great potential for the adsorption of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) from water. However, this kind of material may be facing two drawbacks during its application: low resistance to hydrolysis and difficulties in separation from the water matrix. This work proposed a strategy of grafting N-(2-aminoethyl) aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (AE-APTMS) on the surface of magnetic γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles by full utilization of the sorption sites provided by the aminosilane and the magnetism by γ-Fe₂O₃. The FTIR and XRD results verified the formation of the magnetic AE-APTMS nanocomposite. The core-shell nanocomposite showed a superparamagnetic property and an isoelectric point at pH = 8.2. Particularly, compared to the aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) nanocomposite, the AE-APTMS nanocomposite exhibited improved hydrolytic stability with 60% less loss of the amine groups during the 48 h adsorption process, as the longer alkyl chain hindered the aminosilane detachment. The AE-APTMS nanocomposite exhibited a rapid adsorption with the removal efficiency of 78% for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and 65% for perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) due to the electrostatic interaction and hydrophobic interaction. The regeneration and reuse of the magnetic AE-APTMS nanocomposite were conveniently realized with the removal efficiency higher than 70% for both PFOS and PFOA even after 15 adsorption-desorption cycles. The stable magnetic aminosilane nanocomposite with the ease of separation may provide a new strategy to achieve the economical and effective removal of typical PFCs from water.

Removal of perfluoroalkanesulfonic acids (PFSAs) from synthetic and natural groundwater by electrocoagulation

Severe contaminations of perfluoroalkanesulfonic acids (PFSAs) existed in the natural groundwater beneath a fluorochemical industrial park (FIP) in Fuxin of China. In the present study, systematic researches were performed to determine the best conditions of efficient treatment for 1 mg L^-1 of PFSAs in the synthetic groundwater samples with the periodically reverse electrocoagulation (PREC) using the Al-Zn electrodes. Based upon the orthogonal experiments, the removal efficiencies of perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) could reach 87.4%, 95.6%, and 100%, respectively, within the initial 10 min, under the optimal conditions of voltage at 12.0 V, pH at 7.0, and stirring speed at 400 rpm. In addition, the optimized PREC technique was further applied to remove the PFSA contaminations from the natural groundwater samples of the Fuxin FIP, subsequently generating the removal efficiencies of three target PFSA analytes in the range between 59.0% and 100% at 60 min. Moreover, the SEM-EDS analyses showed the hydroxide flocs formed during the process of PREC treatment had clear characteristics of floc aggregates, with the major constituents of O, Al, C, N, Zn, and F elements. As a result, long-chain PFHxS and PFOS tended to be eliminated completely from the natural groundwater by their absorptions on the Al-Zn hydroxide flocs, potentially because of their higher hydrophobicity compared with short-chain PFBS.

Sorption behaviour of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in tropical soils

The sorption behaviour of three perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), namely perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), was determined on 28 tropical soils. Tropical soils are often highly weathered, richer in sesquioxides than temperate soils and may contain variable charge minerals. There are little data on sorption of PFASs in tropical soils. The highest K_d values were found for PFOS with mean values ranging from 0 to 31.6 L/kg. The K_d values for PFOA and PFHxS ranged from 0 to 4.9 L/kg and from 0 to 5.6 L/kg, respectively. While these values are in the range of literature sorption data, the average K_d values for PFOS and PFOA from the literature were 3.7 times and 3.6 times higher, respectively, than those measured in this study. Stepwise regression analysis did explain some of the variance, but with different explanatory variables for the different PFASs. The main soil properties explaining sorption for PFOS and PFOA were oxalate-extractable Al and pH, and for PFHxS was pH.

Electrooxidation of short and long chain perfluorocarboxylic acids using boron doped diamond electrodes

This study investigates electrooxidation of short (C3-C6) and long (C7-C-18) chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOA) using Si/BDD electrode. The effect of operational parameters (supporting electrolyte type, applied current density, and initial pH) were explored for PFOA removal. At the optimized conditions, 74% TOC removal and 37% defluorination ratio were gained for 10 mg L^-1 of PFOA solution which evidences that the shorter chain PFCAs were formed. The PFOA degradation pathway followed one direct electron transfer from PFOA molecule to anode surface. Then two different degradation pathways were proposed. The first proposed degradation mechanism involved the reaction of perfluoroheptyl radical and hydroxyl radical, the release of HF and hydrolysis. The second mechanism involved the reaction between perfluoroheptyl radical and O₂, formation of C₇F₁₅O and perfluorohexyl radical with releasing COF₂. The removal of short- (C3-C6) and long-chain PFCAs (C7-C18) was also characterized. More than 95% of removal efficiency was gained for all long-chain PFCAs, excluding C7. The removal ratios of short-chain PFCAs (C3-C6) were 39%, 41%, 66% and 70% for C3, C4, C5 and C6, respectively. Contrary to long-chain PFCAs, chain-length dependence for short-chain PFCAs were observed. Defluorination ratio of short-chain PFCAs was only 45% signifying that defluorination partially occurred. Water matrix did not significantly affect the degradation of short-chain PFCAs in deionized water (DI), river water and secondary effluent of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). In contrast, defluorination ratio of long-chain PFCAs was noticeably affected by water matrix with the order of DI water > WWTP effluent > river water.

Decomposition kinetics of perfluorinated sulfonic acids

Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) is a widespread and persistent pollutant of concern to human health and the environment. Although incineration is often used to treat material contaminated with PFOS and related per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), little is known about the precise chemical mechanism for the thermal decomposition of these substances of concern. Here, we present the first study of the thermal decomposition kinetics of PFOS and related perfluorinated acids, using computational chemistry and reaction rate theory methods. We discover that the preferred channel for PFOS decomposition is via an α-sultone that spontaneously decomposes to form perfluorooctanal and SO₂. At 1000 K the halflife for PFOS is predicted to be 0.2 s, decreasing sharply as temperature increases further. These results show that the acid headgroup in PFOS can be efficiently destroyed in incinerators operating at relatively modest temperatures. The new insights provided into the exact decomposition mechanism and kinetics of PFOS will help to improve remediation technologies actively under development.

Probing the hepatotoxicity mechanisms of novel chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl sulfonates to zebrafish larvae: Implication of structural specificity

Hepatotoxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae elicited by legacy perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and its three novel chlorinated alternatives, including chlorinated polyfluorooctane sulfonate (Cl-PFOS) and chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonates (6:2 and 8:2 Cl-PFESA analogs), was evaluated in this study. Upon 7-day separate exposure to the four target compounds at 1 µmol/L, significant hepatic steatosis in exposed larvae was evidenced by pathological micro/macro vacuolation, which was presumably attributed to the excess accumulation of lipid, especially the overloaded triglyceride (TG) level. Disruption on gene transcription was subjected to a structure-dependent manner. In general, PFOS, Cl-PFOS and 6:2 Cl-PFESA of the identical carbon chain length (i.e. C8), despite with different substituents, displayed a similar activation mode and comparable disruptive potency on lipid metabolism responsive genes, which particularly promoted fatty acid synthesis (acetyl-CoA carboxylase, acacb) and β-oxidation (cytochrome P450 enzymes-1A, cyp1a; peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidase 1, acox1; and acyl-CoA dehy-drogenase, acadm). However, 8:2 Cl-PFESA with a prolonged carbon chain length (i.e. C10), preferentially disturbed fatty acid exportation (apolipoprotein-B100, apob) and triggered a different modulation pattern on fatty acid β-oxidation against the other three compounds. Molecular docking analysis indicated that 8:2 Cl-PFESA exhibited considerably higher peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) antagonism than others, corresponding to its unique suppression effect on fatty acid β-oxidation responsive genes. To our knowledge, this is the first in vivo study reporting hepatotoxicity of Cl-PFOS and Cl-PFESAs to aquatic organisms. Although characterized with different toxic mode-of-action, these novel alternatives can elicit hepatic steatosis as strong as PFOS, stressing the biological risks in view of their global contamination.

Vertical transport and sinks of perfluoroalkyl substances in the global open ocean

The ubiquitous occurrence of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the open ocean has been previously documented, but their vertical transport and oceanic sinks have not been comprehensively characterized and quantified at the oceanic scale. During the Malaspina 2010 circumnavigation expedition, 21 PFAS were measured at the surface and at the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. In this work, we report an extended data set of PFAS dissolved phase concentrations at the DCM. ∑PFAS at the DCM varied from 130 to 11 000 pg L^-1, with a global average value of 500 pg L^-1. Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) abundance contributed 39% of ∑PFAS, followed by perfluorodecanoate (PFDA, 17%), and perfluorohexanoate (PFHxA, 12%). The relative contribution of the remaining compounds was below 10%, with perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) contributing only 5% to PFAS measured at the DCM. Estimates of vertical diffusivity, derived from microstructure turbulence observations in the upper (<300 m) water column, allowed the derivation of PFAS eddy diffusive fluxes from concurrent field measurements of eddy diffusivity and PFAS concentrations. The PFAS concentrations at the DCM predicted from an eddy diffusivity model were lower than field-measured concentrations, suggesting a relevant role of other vertical transport mechanisms. Settling fluxes of organic matter bound PFAS (biological pump), oceanic circulation and potential, yet un-reported, biological transformations are discussed.

Partition coefficients of four perfluoroalkyl acid alternatives between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and water in comparison to ten classical perfluoroalkyl acids

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are persistent, ubiquitous environmental contaminants and their long-chain representatives are bioaccumulative. The phase-out of these compounds (e.g. PFOA and PFOS) shifted the production to alternatives. However, little is known about the bioaccumulative behaviour of the alternatives, which are still highly fluorinated. PFAAs are predominantly detected in blood, where they bind to the transport protein serum albumin. This sorption can be described by the albumin/water partition coefficient. It is unclear whether the partition coefficients of the alternatives are lower than or in the same range as those of classical PFAAs. We determined albumin/water partition coefficients for seven perfluoroalkyl carboxylates, three perfluoroalkane sulfonates and four alternatives by dialysis experiments in a physiologically representative system. Quantification was done by LC-MS/MS and a mass balance approach. Logarithmic albumin/water partition coefficients for PFAAs range from 2.8 to 4.8 [L_water kg_albumin^-1] and increase with increasing chain length. Perfluorinated sulfonates sorb more strongly than their carboxylate counterparts. The albumin/water partition coefficients for the alternatives (HFPO-DA, DONA, 9Cl-PF3ONS and PFECHS) are in the same range as for classical PFAAs. Structural modifications such as the introduction of ether groups into the chain do not reduce sorption to albumin, whereas the chlorine atom in 9Cl-PF3ONS seems to even increase the sorption to albumin. We further investigated whether the sorption strength could be affected in the presence of medium- or long-chain fatty acids. Binding competition between medium-chain fatty acids and PFAAs appeared to be possible. However, the presence of physiologically more relevant long-chain fatty acids should not alter the albumin/water partition coefficients of PFAAs.

Sorption of PFOS isomers on goethite as a function of pH, dissolved organic matter (humic and fulvic acid) and sulfate

Understanding the distribution of PFOS isomers between the aqueous phase and goethite is crucial, since it is an abundant sorbent and thus may have a large influence on the mobility of PFOS. This study was conducted to understand the effects of pH, humic acid (HA), fulvic acid (FA) and sulfate on sorption of PFOS isomers. The results will increase the understanding about what parameters may control the fate and transport of PFOS in surface and ground water. The study was conducted by adding PFOS spiked water to a goethite slurry with different aqueous chemistry. Levels of total PFOS and PFOS isomers were quantified using an Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatograph coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Results showed that sorption of PFOS was mainly dependent on pH; sorption decreased as pH increased. Presence of HA increased log K_d from 1.29 to 2.03, 1.76 to 1.92 and 1.51 to 1.96 at pH 5.50-7.50 for 3-/4-/4-PFOS, 6-/2-PFOS and L-PFOS, respectively. Changes in the aqueous chemistry also affected the behaviour of PFOS as the addition of Na₂SO₄ enhanced the sorption of PFOS. Results showed that L-PFOS was more readily sorbed to goethite at pH < 4.35 both in the presence and in the absence of humic or fulvic acids. At pH > 4.5 the 3-/4-/5-PFOS isomer group was more associated to goethite. Besides electrostatic interactions, which controlled the sorption of PFOS, this study indicate that the presence of dissolved humic substances in the aqueous phase enhances the sorption via hydrophobic mechanisms.

Effect of solution chemistry and aggregation on adsorption of perfluorooctanesulphonate (PFOS) to nano-sized alumina

The interaction of pollutants with nanomaterials has attracted attention due to the extensive application of nanomaterials. In this study, the adsorption behavior of PFOS on nano-alumina with different shapes was investigated. First, the adsorption isotherms and kinetics of PFOS on alumina nanoparticles (NPs) and nanowires (NWs) were measured to calculate thermodynamic parameters. The effects of solution chemistry (e.g., pH, ionic strength, and the presence of humic acid) on adsorption were further studied. The different aggregation behavior of alumina NPs and NWs were the critical factor for PFOS adsorption, as demonstrated through dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiments. This study is the first to investigate the aggregation effects on PFOS adsorption on nanomaterials and the results should be useful in identifying the important roles of shape and aggregation of nanomaterials on the fate of organic pollutants in the environment.

Promoting waste activated sludge reduction by linear alkylbenzene sulfonates: Surfactant dose control extracellular polymeric substances solubilization and microbial community succession

Short-time aerobic digestion (STAD) was proved to promote the reduction of waste activated sludge (WAS). This study systematically disclosed the influential characteristics and mechanisms of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) dosage on the reduction of WAS in STAD system. Flow cytometer (FC) combined with SYTOX Green (SG) dye was used to differentiate extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) release and cell lysis of WAS during STAD process. LAS lower than 0.10 g/g total suspended solids (TSS) brought about EPS solubilization and the decrease of sludge floc size, and the accumulated soluble microbial products (SMP) could be biodegraded by heterotrophs. Moreover, the activity of microorganisms (denoted as specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR)) and proportion of bacteria functional for LAS and SMP biodegradation dramatically increased, leading to a high LAS biodegradation rate (k_LAS) and increased WAS biodegradation rate (k_{COD, WAS}). Even more LAS (> 0.10 g/g TSS) caused cell lysis, leading to the decreased k_TCOD and k_LAS, and therefore inhibit the reduction of WAS. High WAS reduction and LAS biodegradation rate were achieved at the LAS dosage of 0.10 g/g TSS in STAD system. This study lays the foundation for improving WAS reduction by optimizing surfactant dose in STAD system.

Levels, spatial distribution and isomer profiles of perfluoroalkyl acids in soil, groundwater and tap water around a manufactory in China

In this study, 32 surface soil samples, 24 groundwater samples, and 6 tap water samples were collected around a perfluorosulfonates (PFSAs) manufactory in China to analyze the distributions of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) including linear and branched isomers. The total concentrations of PFAAs (∑PFAAs) ranged from 1.30 to 913 ng/g on a dry weight basis (dw), 31.4-15656 ng/L, and 11.8-59.7 ng/L in soil, groundwater and tap water samples respectively. Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) were the predominant PFAAs in the soil whereas PFBA was the predominant congener in groundwater. PFAA concentrations in the soil and groundwater decreased with increasing distance from the manufactory. Shorter-chain PFAAs showed higher proportions in groundwater than in soil samples and that shorter-chain PFAAs exhibited faster decreasing rates in soil samples, which may be due to the differences in the polarity and hydrophobicity of these molecules. For isomer profiles, n-PFHxS, n-PFOS, and n-PFOA were the main isomer in soil samples and groundwater samples. Direct exposure to PFOS and PFOA via the soil and tap water posed relatively low risk to the residents' health.

Chronic exposure to 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate acid (F-53B) induced hepatotoxic effects in adult zebrafish and disrupted the PPAR signaling pathway in their offspring

As a Chinese-specific alternative to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (commercial name: F-53B) has been used in the metal plating industry for over 40 years. This prevalence of use has resulted in its subsequent detection within the environment, wildlife, and humans. Despite this, however, its hepatotoxic effects on aquatic organisms remain unclear. Here, we characterized the impacts of long-term F-53B exposure on adult zebrafish liver and their offspring. Results showed that the concentration of F-53B was greater in the F0 liver than that in the gonads and blood. Furthermore, males had significantly higher liver F-53B levels than females. Hepatomegaly and obvious cytoplasmic vacuolation indicated that F-53B exposure induced liver injury. Compared to control, liver triglyceride levels decreased by 30% and 33.5% in the 5 and 50 μg/L-exposed males and 22% in 50 μg/L-exposed females. Liver transcriptome analysis of F0 adult fish found 2175 and 1267 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the 5 μg/L-exposed males and females, respectively. Enrichment analyses further demonstrated that the effects of F-53B on hepatic transcripts were sex-dependent. Gene Ontology showed that most DEGs were involved in multicellular organism development in male fish, whereas in female fish, most DEGs were related to metabolic processes and gene expression. qRT-PCR analysis indicated that the PPAR signaling pathway likely contributed to F-53B-induced disruption of lipid metabolism in F0 adult fish. In F1 larvae (5 days post fertilization), the transcription of pparα increased, like that in F0 adult fish, but most target genes showed the opposite expression trends as their parents. Taken together, our research demonstrated chronic F-53B exposure adversely impacts zebrafish liver, with disruption of PPAR signaling pathway dependent on sex and developmental stage.

Renal function and isomers of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS): Isomers of C8 Health Project in China

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widely-utilized synthetic chemicals commonly found in industrial and consumer products. Previous studies have examined associations between PFASs and renal function, yet the results are mixed. Moreover, evidence on the associations of isomers of PFASs with renal function in population from high polluted areas is scant. To help to address this data gap, we used high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to measure serum isomers of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), and other PFASs from 1612 adults residing in Shenyang, China, and characterized their associations with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Results showed that after adjusted for multiple confounding factors, most of the higher fluorinated PFASs, except for PFOA and PFDA, were negatively associated with eGFR and positively associated with CKD. Compared with linear PFOS (n-PFOS), branched PFOS isomers (Br-PFOS) were more strongly associated with eGFR (Br-PFOS; β = -1.22, 95%CI: 2.02, -0.42; p = 0.003 vs. n-PFOS; β = -0.16, 95%CI: 0.98, 0.65; p = 0.691) and CKD (Br-PFOS; OR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.58; p = 0.037 vs. n-PFOS; OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.80, 1.20; p = 0.834). In conclusion, branched PFOS isomers were negatively associated with renal function whereas their linear counterparts were not. Given widespread exposure to PFASs, potential nephrotoxic effects are of great public health concern, Furthermore, longitudinal research on the potential nephrotoxic effects of PFASs isomers will be necessary to more definitively assess the risk.

Characteristics of perfluoroalkyl acids in atmospheric PM10 from the coastal cities of the Bohai and Yellow Seas, Northern China

The concentration distributions, compositional profiles and seasonal variations of 17 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in PM₁₀ (particles with aerodynamic diameters < 10 μm) were determined in seven coastal cities of the Bohai and Yellow Seas. The detection rates of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and short-chain components (perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) with ≤7 carbon atoms and perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids (PFSAs) with ≤5 carbon atoms) were much higher than those of other long-chain PFAA species. The annual average concentration of total PFAAs in PM₁₀ ranged from 23.6 pg/m³ to 94.5 pg/m³ for the sampling cities. The monthly mean concentrations of PFAAs in PM₁₀ in some sampling cities reached a peak value in winter, while no significant seasonal differences presented in other cities. High concentrations of PFAAs in the northern cities generally occurred during the local heating period (from November to March). Generally, the dominant components of PFAAs were PFOA and perfluorobutyric acid (PFBA). Some significantly positive correlations (p < 0.01) between the 10 dominant components were revealed in the sampling cities, which implied similar sources and fate behaviors. Based on the simulated 72-hr backward trajectory tracking of air masses, the clustering results demonstrated the sampling cities were affected mainly by the atmospheric transport in sequence from the northwest, the southwest and the open seas, and many transport trajectories of air masses passed by the local fluorine chemical manufacturers in Liaoning, Shandong, Jiangsu, and Hubei Provinces. The estimated average daily intake (ADI) corresponding to the residents in different age groups indicated insignificant contributions to PFOA and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) exposures by inhalation of PM₁₀ compared to ingestion by daily diet, while the higher ADI of PFOA than the reported levels for adults should be a concern. The calculated hazard ratios (HR) exhibited low noncancer risks by inhalation exposure to PFOA and PFOS in PM₁₀.

Implementation and benchmarking of a novel analytical framework to clinically evaluate tumor-specific fluorescent tracers

During the last decade, the emerging field of molecular fluorescence imaging has led to the development of tumor-specific fluorescent tracers and an increase in early-phase clinical trials without having consensus on a standard methodology for evaluating an optical tracer. By combining multiple complementary state-of-the-art clinical optical imaging techniques, we propose a novel analytical framework for the clinical translation and evaluation of tumor-targeted fluorescent tracers for molecular fluorescence imaging which can be used for a range of tumor types and with different optical tracers. Here we report the implementation of this analytical framework and demonstrate the tumor-specific targeting of escalating doses of the near-infrared fluorescent tracer bevacizumab-800CW on a macroscopic and microscopic level. We subsequently demonstrate an 88% increase in the intraoperative detection rate of tumor-involved margins in primary breast cancer patients, indicating the clinical feasibility and support of future studies to evaluate the definitive clinical impact of fluorescence-guided surgery.

Defluorination of perfluoroalkyl acids is followed by production of monofluorinated fatty acids

We investigated the capability of microorganisms isolated from environments polluted with perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) to conduct biotransformation of these emerging pollutants. Two different microbial consortia (chemoorganoheterotrophic bacteria and total yeast and molds) were isolated from two river sediments in Saitama and Osaka, Japan, known for long term pollution with perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The microbial consortia were incubated in the presence of added PFOS and PFOA, and decreases in concentrations of these compounds were between 46-69% and 16-36%, respectively. Decreases in concentrations were, in part, due to sorption on biomass, but defluorinated PFOS and PFOA products were not detected. However, untargeted analysis suggested the presence of several metabolites found only in samples from consortia with PFOS and PFOA but not in the control samples. Molecular formula candidates were narrowed down to two options, C₁₈H₂₈O₅F and C₂₁H₂₇O₄. It was assumed that these formulas were associated with unsaturated monofluorinated fatty acids and hydrocarbons with multiple unsaturated bonds or ring structures.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate induced neurotoxicity responses associated with neural genes expression, neurotransmitter levels and acetylcholinesterase activity in planarians Dugesia japonica

As a persistent and widespread toxic organic pollutant in the environment, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) has the potential to cause great harm to wildlife. In our study, the effects of PFOS on neurodevelopment gene expression, neurotransmitter content, neuronal morphology, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity were examined, and the potential neurotoxicity mechanisms of PFOS were also investigated in planarians, Dugesia japonica. Using quantitative real-time PCR analysis, five neurodevelopmental related genes were measured, among which, DjotxA, DjotxB, DjFoxD, and DjFoxG were found to be down-regulated, while Djnlg was found to be up-regulated, following exposure to PFOS for 10 days compared with control groups. In addition, the neurotransmitters including dopamine, serotonin, and γ-aminobutyricacid as well as the acitivity of AChE were altered by PFOS exposure. Furthermore, PFOS exposure altered brain morphology as well as smaller cephalic ganglia which displayed reduced nerve fiber density decreased brain branches compared to controls. Our results demonstrate that neurotransmission was disturbed after exposure to PFOS and that exposure to this pollutant can cause neurotoxic defects. Results from this study provide valuable information regarding the neuro- and ecological toxicity of PFOS in aquatic animals and aquatic environments.

Characterizing the binding interactions of PFOA and PFOS with catalase at the molecular level

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) have effects on human health by inducing oxidative stress and catalase (CAT) is a vital enzyme involved in protection against oxidative damage. The interactions of PFOA and PFOS with CAT were investigated by using biophysical methods including spectroscopic techniques, molecular docking and enzyme activity measurements. UV-visible, circular dichroism (CD) and resonance light scattering (RLS) spectroscopy results showed that the structure and conformation of CAT were changed by PFOA and PFOS. PFOA could loosen and unfold the skeleton of CAT but PFOS affected the microenvironment around the aromatic amino acid residues and heme groups. Both PFOA and PFOS altered the secondary structure of CAT by decreasing α-helix and increasing β-sheet content. The size of CAT was smaller and CAT became dispersed when it was bound by perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). Furthermore, enzyme activity test showed that PFOS decreased the activity of CAT because the binding site of PFOS was close to the active center of CAT, but PFOA had little effect on the activity because PFOA bound at the surface of the enzyme. These results indicated that PFCs could damage the structures and conformations of CAT but the changes were not always related to the activity and function of CAT.

Occurrence and distribution of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the water dissolved phase and suspended particulate matter of the Dalian Bay, China

In the present study, the contamination level and spatial distribution of PFASs in the water dissolved phase and suspended particulate matter (SPM) phase of the Dalian Bay, and the SPM-water partition behavior were investigated. The total concentrations of PFASs (∑PFASs) in the water dissolved phase ranged from 6.9 to 17.1 ng L^-1, with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorobutanoic acid, and perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) as the predominant PFASs, while ∑PFASs in SPM ranged from 1.7 to 27.5 ng g^-1 dw with higher contributions from PFBS, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and PFOA. As for the pollution distribution, the concentrations of PFASs inside the Dalian Bay were higher than those outside the bay. For perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid (PFCAs) and perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids (PFSAs), the suspended particulate matter-water partition coefficient (log K_d) values ranged from 2.62 to 3.76, and from 3.39 to 3.56, respectively. The log K_d values of PFASs generally increased with the increasing perfluorinated carbon chain length. Short-chain PFCAs were mostly detected in the water dissolved phase, while long-chain PFCAs and PFSAs appeared to bind more strongly to SPM phase. The contamination level of long-chain PFCAs and PFSAs could be underestimated if only the water dissolved phase were measured. Therefore, further investigations should consider the role of SPM on the environmental behavior and fate of PFASs in the aquatic environment.