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Zheng J, Liu S, Yang J, Zheng S, Sun B. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and cancer: Detection methodologies, epidemiological insights, potential carcinogenic mechanisms, and future perspectives. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 953:176158. [PMID: 39255941 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2024] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 09/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as "forever chemicals," are synthetic chemicals which have been used since the 1940s. Given their remarkable thermostability and chemical stability, PFAS have been widely utilized in commercial products, including textiles, surfactants, food packages, nonstick coatings, and fire-fighting foams. Thus, PFAS are widely distributed worldwide and have been detected in human urine, blood, breast milk, tissues and other substances. Growing concerns over the risks of PFAS, including their toxicity and carcinogenicity, have attracted people's attention. Recent reviews have predominantly emphasized advancements in the detection, adsorption, and degradation of PFAS through their chemical structures and toxic properties; however, further examination of the literature is needed to determine the link between PFAS exposure and cancer risk. Here, we introduced different PFAS detection methods based on sensors and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Then, we discussed epidemiological investigations on PFAS levels and cancer risks in recent years, as well as the mechanisms underlying the carcinogenesis. Finally, we proposed the "4C principles" for ongoing exploration and refinement in this field. This review highlights PFAS-cancer associations to fill knowledge gaps and provide evidence-based strategies for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zheng
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Sheng Liu
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Junjie Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Shujian Zheng
- Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA.
| | - Boshi Sun
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, China; Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
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2
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We ACE, Stickland AD, Clarke BO, Freguia S. Analysis of wastewater treatment plant data identifies the drivers of PFAS enrichment in foams. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 266:122397. [PMID: 39288725 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.122397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2024] [Revised: 08/08/2024] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
The concept of incorporating foam fractionation in aerated bioreactors at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) for the removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has recently been proposed. The extent of PFAS enrichment in aerated bioreactors' foams, as indicated by enrichment factors (EFs), has been observed to vary widely. Laboratory evidence has shown that factors affecting PFAS enrichment in foams include conductivity, surfactant concentrations and initial PFAS concentrations. However, real wastewaters are complex heterogenous matrices with physical, chemical and biological characteristics potentially contributing to the phenomenon of PFAS partitioning into foams. In this study, we characterised mixed liquor suspensions, including conductivity, filament content, aqueous PFAS concentrations, surface tension and total suspended solids concentrations (TSS) as well as foams, including bubble size and half-life. We used statistical tools - linear mixed-effects model - to establish relationships between PFAS enrichment in aerated bioreactor foams and the examined characteristics. We found that some of the examined characteristics, specifically filament content, surface tension and TSS concentrations measured in mixed liquor suspension and foam half-life, are negatively and significantly associated with the enrichment of longer chain PFAS (with perfluorinated carbon number ≥ 6). Of these, filament content is the important determinant of PFAS enrichment, potentially leading to an increase in, for example, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) EF from 3 to 100 between typical filamentous and non-filamentous suspended biomass. However, enrichment of shorter chain PFAS (with perfluorinated carbon number ≤ 5) is negligible and is not affected by the characteristics that were measured. The findings of our study may serve as valuable information for the implementation of foam fractionation at WWTPs by elucidating the drivers that contribute to the enrichment of longer chain PFAS, under conditions typically found at WWTPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Chyi En We
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Building 165, Chemical Engineering 1, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia; Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Anthony D Stickland
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Building 165, Chemical Engineering 1, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Bradley O Clarke
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Stefano Freguia
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Building 165, Chemical Engineering 1, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia.
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3
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Martínez J, Picardo M, Peñalver A, Fabregas J, Aguilar C, Borrull F. Occurrence and health risk assessment of PFAS and possible precursors: a case study in a drinking water treatment plant and bottled water (south Catalonia, Spain). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:56536-56549. [PMID: 39271611 PMCID: PMC11422264 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34805-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024]
Abstract
The presence of PFAS in drinking water may pose a serious threat to human health. This study aims to determine the levels of these compounds and their precursors in water samples from a drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) located in l'Ampolla (Spain) and to assess their fate. Additionally, ten Spanish bottled waters were analyzed to compare the occurrence of PFAS in the mentioned matrices and in drinking water. Off-line solid phase extraction (SPE) followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was applied to determine 26 PFAS and PFAS precursors after a total oxidizable precursor assay. The analytical method presents low quantification limits (0.25-5 ng/L). A total PFAS concentration of up to 16 ng/L in all the DWTP samples was obtained, and 6:2 FTS was the only precursor detected. Results are close to the quantification limits, resulting in a high degree of uncertainty, and for this, it is difficult to evaluate the DWTP PFAS removal efficiency. Regarding bottled water, total PFAS concentration found was up to 12 ng/L in one of ten samples, with no precursors detected. Exposure assessment revealed that there is no risk associated with the ingestion of the samples analyzed. Moreover, there were no differences in terms of risk between drinking water from l'Ampolla DWTP and bottled water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Martínez
- Departament de Química Analítica i Química Orgànica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Unitat de Radioquímica Ambiental i Sanitaria, Ctra. Nacional 340, Km. 1094, 43895 L'Ampolla, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Massimo Picardo
- Consorci d'Aigües de Tarragona, Ctra. Nacional 340, Km. 1094, 43895 L'Ampolla, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Alejandra Peñalver
- Departament de Química Analítica i Química Orgànica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Unitat de Radioquímica Ambiental i Sanitaria, Ctra. Nacional 340, Km. 1094, 43895 L'Ampolla, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Josepa Fabregas
- Consorci d'Aigües de Tarragona, Ctra. Nacional 340, Km. 1094, 43895 L'Ampolla, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Carme Aguilar
- Departament de Química Analítica i Química Orgànica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Unitat de Radioquímica Ambiental i Sanitaria, Ctra. Nacional 340, Km. 1094, 43895 L'Ampolla, Tarragona, Spain
- Serra Húnter Professor, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc Borrull
- Departament de Química Analítica i Química Orgànica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Unitat de Radioquímica Ambiental i Sanitaria, Ctra. Nacional 340, Km. 1094, 43895 L'Ampolla, Tarragona, Spain.
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Amorim VE, Silva Ferreira AC, Cruzeiro C, Cardoso PG. Enhancement of per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) quantification on surface waters from marinas in the douro river, Portugal. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 262:119805. [PMID: 39159776 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024]
Abstract
PFAS, known as "forever" compounds, are prevalent in various environments, including soils and aquatic systems, due to extensive usage. Surface waters in several European countries, especially marinas and ports with high boat traffic, require further study as potential contamination sources. Reliable methods for the extraction and quantification of these emergent compounds are essential. This study aimed to improve an existent solid phase extraction method to analyse marinas and ports' surface waters with variable salinities (2, 9 and 17 PSU). The objectives were to: 1) optimise the solid phase extraction method, considering matrix salinity effects and cross-contaminations, 2) validate the extraction and quantification method of 18 EPA 537.1 PFAS in estuarine surface waters, using the Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography - Quadrupole Time - Of - Flight - Tandem Mass spectrometry, and 3) apply the optimised method for PFAS quantification in three Portuguese marinas. All ICH criteria were successfully validated considering 9 PSU. Limits of quantification ranged from 117.80 ng/L to 385 ng/L, except for PFHpA (645.85 ng/L). PFAS levels (PFOA, HFPO-DA, PFBS, PFHxS and PFOS) were relatively low, reaching a maximum of 0.32 ng/L only for the PFOA. In Freixo marina, total average concentrations were slightly higher (∑PFAS = 1.02 ng/L) when compared to the ones found in Cais da Ribeira Port (∑PFAS = 0.94 ng/L) and Afurada marina (∑PFAS = 0.81 ng/L). PFOS concentrations are below the limit values set by the Environmental Quality Standards (36000 ng/L of PFOS for inland surface water, respectively), similar to other Portuguese river studies. This study enabled the development of a precise and reliable extraction and quantification method to quantify PFAS in estuarine surface waters, particularly from marinas. This method can be readily applied to analyse PFAS in other estuarine samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- V E Amorim
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Matosinhos, Portugal; Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - A C Silva Ferreira
- Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina (CBQF), Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal; Institute for Wine Biotechnology (IWBT), Department of Viticulture and Oenology (DVO), University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag XI, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Cork Supply Portugal, S.A., Rua Nova do Fial 102, 4535 São Paio de Oleiros, Portugal
| | - C Cruzeiro
- Unit Environmental Simulation (EUS), Helmholtz Zentrum München GmbH, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - P G Cardoso
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Matosinhos, Portugal.
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Li B, Wang M, Cheng K, Guo X, Dong R, Yun K, Ma D. Rapid Determination of 12 Classes of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Water Samples from Environmental Forensic Cases. Molecules 2024; 29:3881. [PMID: 39202960 PMCID: PMC11356886 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29163881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2024] [Revised: 08/13/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The widespread use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) with different physico-chemical properties poses a great threat to the environment and human health. Simultaneous detection of different classes of PFASs is a difficult task, especially for rapid analysis of polluted water samples in environmental forensic cases. In this study, a simple sample preparation ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry was established for the detection of PFASs in a wide range of water matrices. By optimizing the conditions of pretreatment and the parameters of the instrument, the developed method provided good linearity of calibration standards (R2 > 0.99), and demonstrated excellent MLOQ (0.008-1.2 µg/L), with spiked recoveries ranging from 57.7% to 151% for 47 targets in surface water samples, and from 45.7 to 165% for 46 targets in ground and waste water samples, respectively. This method required an injection volume of 3 µL and an analysis time of only 18 min per sample. The validation method was successfully applied to the analysis of 20 environmental water samples, in which 15 target substances with different concentrations were detected, with total concentrations of 0.082 to 262.455 μg/L. The method is simple and exclusive, and can rapidly confirm the occurrence of PFASs in different water samples, providing a convenient and fast high-throughput analysis, which is especially suitable for the application in the environmental forensic investigation of PFASs pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Li
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology of Ministry of Public Security, School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Jinzhong 030600, China; (B.L.); (M.W.)
- Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai 200063, China; (K.C.); (X.G.); (R.D.)
| | - Meihui Wang
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology of Ministry of Public Security, School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Jinzhong 030600, China; (B.L.); (M.W.)
- Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai 200063, China; (K.C.); (X.G.); (R.D.)
| | - Kuan Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai 200063, China; (K.C.); (X.G.); (R.D.)
| | - Xueyan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai 200063, China; (K.C.); (X.G.); (R.D.)
| | - Ruyin Dong
- Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai 200063, China; (K.C.); (X.G.); (R.D.)
| | - Keming Yun
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology of Ministry of Public Security, School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Jinzhong 030600, China; (B.L.); (M.W.)
| | - Dong Ma
- Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai 200063, China; (K.C.); (X.G.); (R.D.)
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Sinclair GM, Jones OAH, Singh N, Long SM. Exposure to PFAS contaminated urban wetland water causes similar metabolic alterations to laboratory-based exposures in the freshwater amphipod Austrochiltonia subtenuis. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 109:104494. [PMID: 38925282 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2024.104494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Assessing the harm caused by pollutants in urban ecosystems remains a significant challenge. Traditional ecotoxicological endpoints are often not sensitive enough to detect the effects of toxicants at environmentally relevant concentrations (≤ng/L). A potential solution is using molecular biology methods to look at small biochemical changes caused by exposure to ng/L concentrations of contaminants. This has been tested in the lab but not conclusively demonstrated in the field. We exposed the freshwater amphipod (Austrochiltonia subtenuis) to water from an urban wetland containing known concentrations of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (as well as very low concentrations of pesticides) for 14 days and analyzed their metabolite profiles. Mannose, Myo-inositol, and Isopropyl propionate were found to change in PFAS exposed amphipods, a similar response to that previously observed in laboratory exposures to the same PFAS, but not pesticides. The results give a better understanding of PFAS toxicity at environmentally relevant concentrations and conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia M Sinclair
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora West Campus, PO Box 71, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - Oliver A H Jones
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora West Campus, PO Box 71, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia.
| | - Navneet Singh
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora West Campus, PO Box 71, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia; ADE Consulting Group, Williamstown North, Victoria 3016, Australia
| | - Sara M Long
- Aquatic Environmental Stress Research Group (AQUEST), School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora West Campus, PO Box 71, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
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We ACE, Stickland AD, Clarke BO, Freguia S. The role of suspended biomass in PFAS enrichment in wastewater treatment foams. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 254:121349. [PMID: 38401288 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Foaming in aerated bioreactors at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has been identified as an operational issue for decades. However, the affinity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for air-liquid interfaces suggests that foam harvesting has the potential to become a sustainable method for PFAS removal from sewage. Aerated bioreactors' foams are considered three-phase systems, comprising air, aqueous and solid components, the latter consisting of activated sludge biomass. To achieve a comprehensive understanding of the capability of aerated bioreactors' foams to enrich PFAS, we analysed PFAS concentrations from WWTPs in both the solid and aqueous phases of the collapsed foams (foamate) and underlying bulk mixed liquors. Our findings show that PFAS enrichment occurs not only in the aqueous phase but also in the solid phase of the foamate. This suggests that previous field studies that only analysed the aqueous phase may have underestimated the capability of the aerated bioreactors' foams to enrich PFAS. Fractions of PFOA and PFOS sorbed to the solid phase of the foamate can be as high as 60 % and 95 %, respectively. Our findings highlight the importance of implementing effective foamate management strategies that consider both the aqueous and solid phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Chyi En We
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Anthony D Stickland
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Bradley O Clarke
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Stefano Freguia
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
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Iannone A, Carriera F, Passarella S, Fratianni A, Avino P. There's Something in What We Eat: An Overview on the Extraction Techniques and Chromatographic Analysis for PFAS Identification in Agri-Food Products. Foods 2024; 13:1085. [PMID: 38611389 PMCID: PMC11011820 DOI: 10.3390/foods13071085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) are a group of anthropogenic chemicals used in a range of industrial processes and consumer products. Recently, their ubiquitous presence in the environment as well as their toxicological effects in humans have gained relevant attention. Although the occurrence of PFASs is widely investigated in scientific community, the standardization of analytical method for all matrices still remains an important issue. In this review, we discussed extraction and detection methods in depth to evaluate the best procedures of PFAS identification in terms of analytical parameters (e.g., limits of detection (LODs), limits of quantification (LOQs), recoveries). Extraction approaches based on liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), alkaline digestion, and solid phase extraction (SPE), followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis are the main analytical methods applied in the literature. The results showed detectable recoveries of PFOA and PFOS in meat, milk, vegetables, eggs products (90.6-101.2% and of 89.2-98.4%), and fish (96-108%). Furthermore, the low LOD and LOQ values obtained for meat (0.00592-0.01907 ng g-1; 0.050 ng g-1), milk (0.003-0.009 ng g-1; 0.010-0.027 ng g-1), fruit (0.002-0.009 ng g-1; 0.006-0.024 ng g-1), and fish (0.00369-0.017.33 ng g-1; 0.05 ng g-1) also confirmed the effectiveness of the recent quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe method (QuEChERS) for simple, speedy, and sensitive ultra-trace PFAS analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Iannone
- Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Via De Sanctis, IT-86100 Campobasso, Italy; (A.I.); (F.C.); (S.P.); (A.F.)
| | - Fabiana Carriera
- Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Via De Sanctis, IT-86100 Campobasso, Italy; (A.I.); (F.C.); (S.P.); (A.F.)
| | - Sergio Passarella
- Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Via De Sanctis, IT-86100 Campobasso, Italy; (A.I.); (F.C.); (S.P.); (A.F.)
| | - Alessandra Fratianni
- Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Via De Sanctis, IT-86100 Campobasso, Italy; (A.I.); (F.C.); (S.P.); (A.F.)
| | - Pasquale Avino
- Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Via De Sanctis, IT-86100 Campobasso, Italy; (A.I.); (F.C.); (S.P.); (A.F.)
- Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Division of Rome, c/o Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, Via Cristoforo Colombo 44, IT-00147 Rome, Italy
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Marchiandi J, Alghamdi W, Dagnino S, Green MP, Clarke BO. Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals from beverage packaging materials and risk assessment for consumers. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133314. [PMID: 38147747 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the influence of beverage packaging materials on the presence of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in plastic, glass, carton, aluminium, and tin canned non-alcoholic beverages. Results showed that 63 EDCs including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), bisphenols, parabens, benzophenone-type UV-filters, biocides, nitrophenols, and alkylphenols, were detected in 144/162 screened products. Detected ∑63EDC concentrations ranged from 1.3 to 19,600 ng/L. EDC concentrations were higher in beverages packaged in metal cans while lower or no levels were detected in glass, plastic, and carton packaged drinks. Bisphenol levels were higher on average in canned beverages compared to glass (p < 0.01) and plastic products (p < 0.05) produced by the same brand and manufacturer. Two structural isomers of bisphenol A (BPA) were identified in 19 beverages, constituting the first detection in foodstuffs. The calculated daily intake of detected EDCs showed that exposure to BPA from per capita beverage consumption of 364 mL/day are up to 2000-fold higher than the newly revised safety guideline for BPA recommended by the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority). Overall, these findings suggest that BPA exposure poses a potential health hazard for individuals who regularly consume non-alcoholic beverages packaged in aluminium or tin cans, particularly young children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaye Marchiandi
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Wejdan Alghamdi
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Sonia Dagnino
- Transporters in Imaging and Radiotherapy in Oncology (TIRO), School of Medicine, Direction de la Recherche Fondamentale (DRF), Institut des sciences du vivant Fréderic Joliot, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), Université Côte d'Azur (UCA), 28 Avenue de Valombrose, 06107 Nice, France; MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark P Green
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Bradley O Clarke
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
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Licul-Kucera V, Ragnarsdóttir O, Frömel T, van Wezel AP, Knepper TP, Harrad S, Abou-Elwafa Abdallah M. Interspecies comparison of metabolism of two novel prototype PFAS. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 351:141237. [PMID: 38242512 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
As a result of proposed global restrictions and regulations on current-use per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), research on possible alternatives is highly required. In this study, phase I in vitro metabolism of two novel prototype PFAS in human and rat was investigated. These prototype chemicals are intended to be safer-by-design and expected to mineralize completely, and thus be less persistent in the environment compared to the PFAS available on the market. Following incubation with rat liver S9 (RL-S9) fractions, two main metabolites per initial substance were produced, namely an alcohol and a short-chain carboxylic acid. While with human liver S9 (HL-S9) fractions, only the short-chain carboxylic acid was detected. Beyond these major metabolites, two and five additional metabolites were identified at very low levels by non-targeted screening for the ether- and thioether-linked prototype chemicals, respectively. Overall, complete mineralization during the in vitro hepatic metabolism of these novel PFAS by HL-S9 and RL-S9 fractions was not observed. The reaction kinetics of the surfactants was determined by using the metabolite formation, rather than the substrate depletion approach. With rat liver enzymes, the formation rates of primary metabolite alcohols were at least two orders of magnitude higher than those of secondary metabolite carboxylic acids. When incubating with human liver enzymes, the formation rates of single metabolite carboxylic acids, were similar or smaller than those experienced in rat. It also indicates that the overall metabolic rate and clearance of surfactants are significantly higher in rat liver than in human liver. The maximum formation rate of the thioether congener exceeded 10-fold that of the ether in humans but were similar in rats. Overall, the results suggest that metabolism of the prototype chemicals followed a similar trend to those reported in studies of fluorotelomer alcohols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktória Licul-Kucera
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Institute for Analytical Research, Hochschulen Fresenius Gem. Trägergesellschaft MbH, Idstein, Germany.
| | - Oddný Ragnarsdóttir
- School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Tobias Frömel
- Institute for Analytical Research, Hochschulen Fresenius Gem. Trägergesellschaft MbH, Idstein, Germany
| | - Annemarie P van Wezel
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Thomas P Knepper
- Institute for Analytical Research, Hochschulen Fresenius Gem. Trägergesellschaft MbH, Idstein, Germany
| | - Stuart Harrad
- School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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11
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Geiger MJ, Morrison JM, Carmack DJ, Lockwood-O'Brien SY, Stagliano MC, Karrer TA. A high-throughput small volume matrix based calibration using isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis for 42 per and polyfluoroalkyl substances in groundwater. J Chromatogr A 2024; 1716:464633. [PMID: 38246069 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2024.464633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
A novel method for the determination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater is presented using a subsample, matrix-matched calibrators, 96-well plate solid phase extraction (SPE), and ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Accuracy, precision, measurement of uncertainty (MOU), method detection limit (MDL), method quantitation limit (MQL), analytical measurement range, interferences/ion suppression, and analyte stability were determined as part of the in-house method validation. The method quantitates 42 PFAS compounds from nine different compound classes. Accuracy for the reference material (RM) and matrix spike (MS) ranged from 52.3 to 117.8 %, and precision for the MS and matrix spike duplicate (MSD) had a coefficient of variation (CV) from 2.0 % to 23.3 %. MDLs spanned from 0.07 to 1.97 ng L-1, with MQLs ranging from 0.20 to 5.90 ng L-1. Suppression studies determined that iron and manganese have effects on analytes that do not have paired isotopically labeled standards. The results from the in-house validation indicated that this Michigan Department of Health and Human Services laboratory developed test meets the necessary accuracy, precision, MDL, MQL and reporting limits requirement established by the laboratory's quality system essentials (QSEs) and select criteria from the Department of Defense (DoD) Quality Systems Manual for Environmental Laboratories and American Industrial Hygiene Association Laboratory Accreditation Program, LLC (AIHA LAP, LLC) accrediting International Standard Organization (ISO/IEC 17025:2017) check list.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Geiger
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Laboratories, Lansing, MI 48906, USA; University of South Florida candidate for Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) in Public Health and Clinical Laboratory Science and Practice, 4202 E. Flower Ave, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
| | - Jessica M Morrison
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Laboratories, Lansing, MI 48906, USA
| | - Douglas J Carmack
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Laboratories, Lansing, MI 48906, USA
| | - Sarah Y Lockwood-O'Brien
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Laboratories, Lansing, MI 48906, USA
| | - Michael C Stagliano
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Laboratories, Lansing, MI 48906, USA
| | - Timothy A Karrer
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Laboratories, Lansing, MI 48906, USA
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12
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Riaz R, Abdur Rehman MY, Junaid M, Iqbal T, Khan JA, Dong Y, Yue L, Chen Y, Xu N, Malik RN. First insights into per-and polyfluoroalkyl substance contamination in edible fish species of the Indus water system of Pakistan. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 349:140970. [PMID: 38114020 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a group of emerging contaminants, that have a wide range of applications in industrial and commercial products. The direct discharge of untreated industrial and domestic wastewater into freshwater bodies is a common practice in developing countries, which are the main contributors to PFASs in the aquatic environment. The situation is further worsened due to poor wastewater treatment facilities and weak enforcement of environmental regulations in countries like Pakistan. The current study was designed to assess PFASs contamination in muscle tissues of edible fish species from major tributaries of the Indus System, including Head Panjnad (HP), Head Trimmu (HT), Chashma Barrage (CB), Head Blloki (HB) and Head Qadirabad (HQ). The analysis of target PFAS was performed using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a quadrupole Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry. The highest levels of ∑17PFASs were observed in S. seenghala, C. mirigala from HB, and C. mirigala from HQ with a mean value of 45.4 ng g-1, 43.7 ng g-1, and 40.8 ng g-1, respectively. Overall, the compositional profile of fish samples was predominated by long-chain PFASs such as PFOA, PFOS, PFHpS, and PFDS. The accumulation of PFASs in fish species is dependent on the physiochemical properties of PFASs, characteristics of the aquatic environment, and fish species. Significant associations of PFASs with isotopic composition (p < 0.05), feeding habits (p < 0.05), and zones (p < 0.05) indicate that dietary proxies could be an important predictor of PFASs distribution among species. The C7-C10 PFASs exhibited bio-accumulative tendency with an accumulation factor ranging from 0.5 to 3.4. However, none of the fish samples had sufficiently high levels of PFOS to cause human health risk (HR < 1). For future studies, it is s recommended to conduct seasonal monitoring and the bioaccumulation pattern along trophic levels of both legacy and emerging PFASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahat Riaz
- Environmental Health Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Yasir Abdur Rehman
- Environmental Health Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Junaid
- Key Laboratory for Heavy Metal Pollution Control and Reutilization, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510641, China
| | - Taimoor Iqbal
- Environmental Health Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Jawad Aslam Khan
- Environmental Health Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Yanran Dong
- Key Laboratory for Heavy Metal Pollution Control and Reutilization, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Linxia Yue
- Key Laboratory for Heavy Metal Pollution Control and Reutilization, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yupeng Chen
- Key Laboratory for Heavy Metal Pollution Control and Reutilization, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Nan Xu
- Key Laboratory for Heavy Metal Pollution Control and Reutilization, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Riffat Naseem Malik
- Environmental Health Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
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13
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Partington JM, Marchiandi J, Szabo D, Gooley A, Kouremenos K, Smith F, Clarke BO. Validating blood microsampling for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances quantification in whole blood. J Chromatogr A 2024; 1713:464522. [PMID: 38041975 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2023.464522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
Microsampling allows the collection of blood samples using a method which is inexpensive, simple and minimally-invasive, without the need for specially-trained medical staff. Analysis of whole blood provides a more holistic understanding of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) body burden. Capillary action microsamplers (Trajan hemaPEN®) allow the controlled collection of whole blood as dried blood spots (DBS) (four 2.74 µL ± 5 %). The quantification of 75 PFAS from DBS was evaluated by comparing five common extraction techniques. Spiked blood (5 ng/mL PFAS) was extracted by protein precipitation (centrifuged; filtered), acid-base liquid-liquid extraction, trypsin protease digestion, and weak anion exchange (WAX) solid-phase extraction with analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Filtered protein precipitation was the most effective extraction method, recovering 72 of the 75 PFAS within 70 to 130 % with method reporting limit (MRL) for PFOS of 0.17 ng/L and ranging between 0.05 ng/mL and 0.34 ng/mL for all other PFAS. The optimised method was applied to human blood samples to examine Inter- (n = 7) and intra-day (n = 5) PFAS blood levels in one individual. Sixteen PFAS were detected with an overall Σ16PFAS mean = 6.3 (range = 5.7-7.0) ng/mL and perfluorooctane sulfonate (branched and linear isomers, ΣPFOS) = 3.3 (2.8-3.7) ng/mL being the dominant PFAS present. To the authors knowledge, this minimally invasive self-sampling protocol is the most extensive method for PFAS in blood reported and could be a useful tool for large scale human biomonitoring studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan M Partington
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia; Trajan Scientific and Medical, Ringwood, Victoria 3134, Australia
| | - Jaye Marchiandi
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Drew Szabo
- Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm SE11418, Sweden
| | - Andrew Gooley
- Trajan Scientific and Medical, Ringwood, Victoria 3134, Australia
| | | | - Fraser Smith
- Trajan Scientific and Medical, Ringwood, Victoria 3134, Australia
| | - Bradley O Clarke
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
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14
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Wollin KM, Batke M, Damm G, Freyberger A, Gundert-Remy U, Mangerich A, Hengstler JG, Partosch F, Schupp T, Sonnenburg A, Foth H. PFASs-restriction proposal commentary on ECHA's Annex XV restriction report, proposal for a restriction, March 2023. Arch Toxicol 2023; 97:3305-3312. [PMID: 37801158 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03597-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
PFASs are defined as substances that contain at least one fully fluorinated methyl (CF3-) or methylene (-CF2-) carbon atom. The excellent technical properties of members of the PFAS group have led to their use in a wide range of applications. The substance group comprises more than 10,000 individual compounds. A variety of adverse effects has been described for single substances. For the majority of the PFASs, neither toxicokinetic data nor effect data is available. Hence, because of the small number of PFASs for which a full toxicological profile is available, grouping based on the existing data is not feasible. A critical problem of PFASs and their degradation products is the very high persistence, which clearly fulfils the criterion for the substance property Very Persistent (vP) according to Annex XIII of the REACH Regulation. Because of this property the European Commission is planning to take action. Defining suitable subgroups appears to be a scientifically based approach. However, to reach this goal, large data gaps would have to be closed which would take up to centuries, a time-frame, which is not defendable with respect to potential irreversible harm. Because of the time pressure resulting from the potential irreversible harm, the precautionary principle has been selected as an appropriate tool to handle PFASs and in the restriction proposal PFASs are treated as one group. This approach is justified in the view of the advisory committee of the German Society for Toxicology. ECHA's proposal received a lot of attention in the public. However, communication so far has obviously led to the misunderstanding of a proven health hazard for all PFASs. Communication should explain the justification of the broad inclusion of substances as being based on the precautionary principle. Data gaps versus current knowledge need to be clearly communicated; communication should also include the possibility for derogation of essential use. It should address the issue of suitable substitutes to avoid unintended health consequences; and it should mention that existing persistent environmental contamination calls for developing innovation in remediation techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Monika Batke
- University of Applied Sciences Hochschule Emden/Leer, Emden, Germany
| | - Georg Damm
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Visceral Transplantation, University Hospital, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alexius Freyberger
- Research and Development, Translational Sciences-Toxicology, Bayer AG, Wuppertal, Germany
| | | | - Aswin Mangerich
- Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jan G Hengstler
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | | | - Thomas Schupp
- Chemical Engineering, University of Applied Sciences Muenster, Steinfurt, Germany
| | - Anna Sonnenburg
- Department Pesticides Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heidi Foth
- Foth: Institute of Environmental Toxicology, University of Halle, Halle/Saale, Germany
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15
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Kim Y, Pike KA, Gray R, Sprankle JW, Faust JA, Edmiston PL. Non-targeted identification and semi-quantitation of emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in US rainwater. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2023; 25:1771-1787. [PMID: 36341487 DOI: 10.1039/d2em00349j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
High-resolution mass spectrometry was used to screen for emerging per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in precipitation samples collected in summer 2019 at seven sites in the United States. We previously quantified the concentration of ten PFAS in the rainwater samples using the method of isotopic dilution (Pike et al., 2021). Nine of these targeted analytes belonged to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Screening Level list, herein referred to as EPA-monitored analytes. In this new work, we identify emerging PFAS compounds by liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Several emerging PFAS were detected across all samples, with the most prevalent compounds being C3-C8 hydrogen-substituted perfluorocarboxylic acids (H-PFCAs) and fluorotelomer carboxylic acids (FTCAs). Concentrations of emerging PFAS were in the 10-1000 ng L-1 range (approximately 1-2 orders of magnitude greater than EPA-monitored PFAS) at all sites except Wooster, OH, where concentrations were even higher, with a maximum estimated ΣPFAS of 16 400 ng L-1. The elevated levels of emerging PFAS in the Wooster samples were predominantly even and odd chain-length H-PFCAs and FTCAs comprised of complex mixtures of branched isomers. This unique composition did not match any known manufactured PFAS formulation reported to date, but it could represent thermally transformed by-products emitted by a local point source. Overall, the results indicate that PFAS outside of the standard analyte lists make up a significant and previously unappreciated fraction of contaminants in rainwater collected within the central U.S.-and potentially world-wide-especially in proximity to localized point sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubin Kim
- Department of Chemistry, College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, USA.
| | - Kyndal A Pike
- Department of Chemistry, College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, USA.
- Department of Mathematical & Computational Sciences, College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, USA
| | - Rebekah Gray
- Department of Chemistry, College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, USA.
| | - Jameson W Sprankle
- Department of Chemistry, College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, USA.
- Department of Earth Sciences, College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, USA
| | | | - Paul L Edmiston
- Department of Chemistry, College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, USA.
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16
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Cohen NJ, Yao M, Midya V, India-Aldana S, Mouzica T, Andra SS, Narasimhan S, Meher AK, Arora M, Chan JKY, Chan SY, Loy SL, Minguez-Alarcon L, Oulhote Y, Huang J, Valvi D. Exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and women's fertility outcomes in a Singaporean population-based preconception cohort. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 873:162267. [PMID: 36801327 PMCID: PMC10234267 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Experimental models have demonstrated a link between exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and decreased fertility and fecundability; however, human studies are scarce. We assessed the associations between preconception plasma PFAS concentrations and fertility outcomes in women. METHODS In a case-control study nested within the population-based Singapore Preconception Study of Long-Term Maternal and Child Outcomes (S-PRESTO), we measured PFAS in plasma collected in 2015-2017 from 382 women of reproductive age trying to conceive. Using Cox proportional hazards regression (fecundability ratios [FRs]) and logistic regression (odds ratios [ORs]) models, we assessed the associations of individual PFAS with time-to-pregnancy (TTP), and the likelihoods of clinical pregnancy and live birth, respectively, over one year of follow-up, adjusting for analytical batch, age, education, ethnicity, and parity. We used Bayesian weighted quantile sum (BWQS) regression to assess the associations of the PFAS mixture with fertility outcomes. RESULTS We found a 5-10 % reduction in fecundability per quartile increase of exposure to individual PFAS (FRs [95 % CIs] for clinical pregnancy = 0.90 [0.82, 0.98] for PFDA; 0.88 [0.79, 0.99] for PFOS; 0.95 [0.86, 1.06] for PFOA; 0.92 [0.84, 1.00] for PFHpA). We observed similar decreased odds of clinical pregnancy (ORs [95 % CIs] = 0.74 [0.56, 0.98] for PFDA; 0.76 [0.53, 1.09] for PFOS; 0.83 [0.59, 1.17] for PFOA; 0.92 [0.70, 1.22] for PFHpA) and live birth per quartile increases of individual PFAS and the PFAS mixture (ORs [95 % CIs] = 0.61 [0.37, 1.02] for clinical pregnancy, and 0.66 [0.40, 1.07] for live birth). Within the PFAS mixture, PFDA followed by PFOS, PFOA, and PFHpA were the biggest contributors to these associations. We found no evidence of association for PFHxS, PFNA, and PFHpS and the fertility outcomes examined. CONCLUSIONS Higher PFAS exposures may be associated with decreased fertility in women. The potential impact of ubiquitous PFAS exposures on infertility mechanisms requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan J Cohen
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States of America
| | - Meizhen Yao
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States of America
| | - Vishal Midya
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States of America
| | - Sandra India-Aldana
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States of America
| | - Tomer Mouzica
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States of America
| | - Syam S Andra
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States of America
| | - Srinivasan Narasimhan
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States of America
| | - Anil K Meher
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States of America
| | - Manish Arora
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States of America
| | - Jerry Kok Yen Chan
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore; Academic Clinical Program in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Shiao-Yng Chan
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Singapore; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - See Ling Loy
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore; Academic Clinical Program in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Lidia Minguez-Alarcon
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, United States of America
| | - Youssef Oulhote
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, United States of America
| | - Jonathan Huang
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Singapore; Centre for Quantitative Medicine, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Damaskini Valvi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States of America.
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17
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Szabo D, Marchiandi J, Samandra S, Johnston JM, Mulder RA, Green MP, Clarke BO. High-resolution temporal wastewater treatment plant investigation to understand influent mass flux of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 447:130854. [PMID: 36701979 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to identify sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and reveals previously undescribed variability in daily PFAS concentrations by measuring their occurrence in WWTP influent each hour over the course of a week. ∑50PFAS concentrations ranged between 89 ± 38 on Monday and 173 ± 110 ng L-1 on Friday, where perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), disubstituted phosphate esters (diPAPs), and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs) contributed the largest proportion to overall weekly concentrations 37%, 30%, and 17% respectively. Simultaneous pulse events of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS; 400 ng L-1) and perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS; 18 ng L-1) indicate significant industrial or commercial waste discharge that persists for up to 3 h. The minimum number of hourly grab samples required to detect variation of PFOS and PFHpS concentrations are 7 and 9 samples respectively, indicating a high degree of variability in PFAS concentrations between days. Overall, the risk of sampling bias from grab samples is high given the variability in PFAS concentrations and more frequent sampling campaigns must be balanced against the cost of analysis carefully to avoid the mischaracterisation of mass flux to receiving surface waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew Szabo
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia; Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm 11418, Sweden
| | - Jaye Marchiandi
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Subharthe Samandra
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Julia M Johnston
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Raoul A Mulder
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Mark P Green
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Bradley O Clarke
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
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18
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Kaur K, Lesseur C, Chen L, Andra SS, Narasimhan S, Pulivarthi D, Midya V, Ma Y, Ibroci E, Gigase F, Lieber M, Lieb W, Janevic T, De Witte LD, Bergink V, Rommel AS, Chen J. Cross-sectional associations of maternal PFAS exposure on SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody levels during pregnancy. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 219:115067. [PMID: 36528042 PMCID: PMC9747685 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) are man-made, persistent organic compounds with immune-modulating potentials. Given that pregnancy itself represents an altered state of immunity, PFAS exposure-related immunotoxicity is an important environmental factor to consider in SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy as it may further affect humoral immune responses. AIM To investigate the relationship between maternal plasma PFAS concentrations and SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in a NYC-based pregnancy cohort. METHODS Maternal plasma was collected from 72 SARS-CoV-2 IgG + participants of the Generation C Study, a birth cohort established at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City. Maternal SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike IgG antibody levels were measured using ELISA. A panel of 16 PFAS congeners were measured in maternal plasma using a targeted UHPLC-MS/MS-based assay. Spearman correlations and linear regressions were employed to explore associations between maternal IgG antibody levels and plasma PFAS concentrations. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression was also used to evaluate mixture effects of PFAS. Models were adjusted for maternal age, gestational age at which SARS-CoV-2 IgG titer was measured, COVID-19 vaccination status prior to IgG titer measurement, maternal race/ethnicity, parity, type of insurance and pre-pregnancy BMI. RESULTS Our study population is ethnically diverse with an average maternal age of 32 years. Of the 16 PFAS congeners measured, nine were detected in more than 60% samples. Importantly, all nine congeners were negatively correlated with SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike IgG antibody levels; n-PFOA and PFHxS, PFHpS, and PFHxA reached statistical significance (p < 0.05) in multivariable analyses. When we examined the mixture effects using WQS, a quartile increase in the PFAS mixture-index was significantly associated with lower maternal IgG antibody titers (beta [95% CI] = -0.35 [-0.52, -0.17]). PFHxA was the top contributor to the overall mixture effect. CONCLUSIONS Our study results support the notion that PFAS, including short-chain emerging PFAS, act as immunosuppressants during pregnancy. Whether such compromised immune activity leads to downstream health effects, such as the severity of COVID-19 symptoms, adverse obstetric outcomes or neonatal immune responses remains to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirtan Kaur
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Corina Lesseur
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lixian Chen
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Syam S Andra
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Srinivasan Narasimhan
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Divya Pulivarthi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vishal Midya
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yula Ma
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Erona Ibroci
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Frederieke Gigase
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Molly Lieber
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Whitney Lieb
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Teresa Janevic
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Population Health Science & Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lotje D De Witte
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Veerle Bergink
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anna-Sophie Rommel
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jia Chen
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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19
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Dong B, Wu J, Zhuang Y, Wang F, Zhang Y, Zhang X, Zheng H, Yang L, Peng L. Trace Analysis Method Based on UPLC-MS/MS for the Determination of (C2-C18) Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Its Application to Tap Water and Bottled Water. Anal Chem 2023; 95:695-702. [PMID: 36598765 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c02436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
As the usage of long-chain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) may be gradually restricted, short-chain and even ultra-short-chain PFASs have been widely produced and used, which has put forward new requirements for the simultaneous analysis of the above substances. Using solid phase extraction two-fraction elution and ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), an experimental method was established for the simultaneous analysis of ultrashort-chain, short-chain, and long-chain PFASs and the precursor perfluorohexanesulfonamide (FHxSA) in low-concentration water, such as tap water and bottled water. By optimizing the volume of methanol in the first-fraction elution, the concentration of ammonia in the second-fraction elution, and the concentration of ammonium acetate in the mobile phase, the high recovery and low detection limit (0.01-3 ng/L) were obtained. In addition, this method was used to measure nine tap water samples and six bottled water samples for validation, and the results showed that the concentration of PFASs in bottled water was lower than that in tap water. This study first reported the trifluoroacetic acid concentration in bottled water (6.61 ± 9.60 ng/L), which was lower than that in tap water (1712 ± 174 ng/L). The main substances in tap water and bottled water are both ultrashort-chain PFASs (C2-C3), accounting for more than 50%. There are few reports on the simultaneous analysis of ultrashort-chain, short-chain, and long-chain PFASs (C2-C18) and the precursor FHxSA in low-concentration water samples, and the new method can be further developed for different environmental media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingqi Dong
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Resource and Environmental System Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, PR China
| | - Jing Wu
- Institute of Transport Energy and Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China.,School of Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Yiru Zhuang
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Resource and Environmental System Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, PR China
| | - Fan Wang
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Resource and Environmental System Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, PR China
| | - Yueling Zhang
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Resource and Environmental System Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, PR China
| | - Xiaona Zhang
- Hebei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shijiazhuang 050021, China
| | - Hui Zheng
- Hebei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shijiazhuang 050021, China
| | - Lixin Yang
- Hebei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shijiazhuang 050021, China
| | - Lin Peng
- Institute of Transport Energy and Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China.,School of Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
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20
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Riaz R, Junaid M, Rehman MYA, Iqbal T, Khan JA, Dong Y, Yue L, Chen Y, Xu N, Malik RN. Spatial distribution, compositional profile, sources, ecological and human health risks of legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in freshwater reservoirs of Punjab, Pakistan. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 856:159144. [PMID: 36183770 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a large group of chemicals reported in global environment and are responsible for various adverse impacts on humans and environment. We report a comprehensive study on occurrence of PFASs, including legacy, substitute and emerging ones, from Pakistan. Surface water samples were collected from five ecologically important freshwater reservoirs in Pakistan, namely, Head Panjnad (HP), Head Trimmu (HT), Chashma Barrage (CB), Head Blloki (HB), and Head Qadirabad (HQ). The detection frequencies of PFASs ranged between 37 %-100 %. The highest concentration of ∑15PFASs was detected at HP (114.1 ng L-1), whereas the lowest at HQ (19.9 ng L-1). Among the analyzed PFASs, 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) showed maximum mean concentrations of 9.1 ng L-1 and 7 ng L-1 at HP, followed by Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) with level of 0.99 ng L-1 at HT. The ecological risk assessment for selected species i.e., daphnid, mysid, fish and green algae showed that PFOS, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) exhibited moderate risk i.e., Hazard Quotients (HQs) < 1 to the modeled organisms, whereas perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) showed the high risk to green algae (HQs = 8.6) and PFOA presented a high risk to all the organisms (HQs ranged between 1.04 and 7.38). The level of ∑PFASs at HP (114.1 ng L-1) exceed the EU guideline value of ∑PFASs in water (100 ng L-1), however the risk quotient (RQmix) values of all age groups were < 1 implying that the detected PFASs in water do not pose risk to human health. Source apportionment through Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) showed that industrial effluent is the main source of PFASs in freshwater reservoirs. Comparable concentrations of legacy and substitute PFASs in this study indicate that legacy PFASs are still in use adjacent to ecologically important water reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahat Riaz
- Environmental Health Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Junaid
- Key Laboratory for Heavy Metal Pollution Control and Reutilization, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China; Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510641, China
| | - Muhammad Yasir Abdur Rehman
- Environmental Health Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Taimoor Iqbal
- Environmental Health Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Jawad Aslam Khan
- Environmental Health Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Yanran Dong
- Key Laboratory for Heavy Metal Pollution Control and Reutilization, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Linxia Yue
- Key Laboratory for Heavy Metal Pollution Control and Reutilization, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yupeng Chen
- Key Laboratory for Heavy Metal Pollution Control and Reutilization, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Nan Xu
- Key Laboratory for Heavy Metal Pollution Control and Reutilization, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Riffat Naseem Malik
- Environmental Health Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
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21
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Exposure to Environmentally Relevant Levels of PFAS Causes Metabolic Changes in the Freshwater Amphipod Austrochiltonia subtenuis. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12111135. [DOI: 10.3390/metabo12111135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are of concern to environmental regulators due to their widespread occurrence, persistence and reported toxicity. However, little data exist on the effects of PFAS at environmentally relevant concentrations. The development of molecular markers for PFAS exposure would therefore be useful to better understand the environmental risks of these compounds. In this study, we assessed if such markers could be developed using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry-based metabolomics. We exposed the freshwater amphipod Austrochiltonia subtenuis to a range of environmentally relevant concentrations of perfluoro-octane sulfonic acid (PFOS), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX) and perfluorohexanesulphonic acid (PFHxS) for 7 days at five concentrations. A metabolic response was detected in all concentrations and treatments even though the survival rates only differed significantly at the highest exposure levels. The metabolic response differed between compounds but all three PFAS induced changes in the levels of amino acids, fatty acids, and cholesterol, in line with the literature. PFOS was found to bioaccumulate. Both GenX and PFHxS were eliminated from the amphipods, but PFHxS was eliminated at a slower rate than GenX. This information improves our understanding of the sublethal effects of PFAS as well as their environmental fate and behaviour.
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22
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Beale DJ, Sinclair GM, Shah R, Paten AM, Kumar A, Long SM, Vardy S, Jones OAH. A review of omics-based PFAS exposure studies reveals common biochemical response pathways. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 845:157255. [PMID: 35817100 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a diverse group of man-made chemicals with a range of industrial applications and which are widespread in the environment. They are structurally diverse but comprise a common chemical feature of at least one (though usually more) perfluorocarbon moiety (-CnF2n-) attached to a functional group such as a carboxylic or sulphonic acid. The strength of the Carbon-Fluorine bond means the compounds do not break down easily and can thus bioaccumulate. PFAS are of high concern to regulators and the public due to their potential toxicity and high persistence. At high exposure levels, PFAS have been implicated in a range of harmful effects on human and environmental health, particularly problems in/with development, cholesterol and endocrine disruption, immune system function, and oncogenesis. However, most environmental toxicology studies use far higher levels of PFAS than are generally found in the environment. Additionally, since the type of exposure, the PFAS used, and the organisms tested all vary between studies, so do the results. Traditional ecotoxicology studies may thus not identify PFAS effects at environmentally relevant exposures. Here we conduct a review of omics-based PFAS exposure studies using laboratory ecotoxicological methodologies and environmentally relevant exposure levels and show that common biochemical response pathways are identified in multiple studies. A major pathway identified was the pentose phosphate shunt pathway. Such molecular markers of sublethal PFAS exposure will greatly benefit accurate and effective risk assessments to ensure that new PFAS regulations can consider the full effects of PFAS exposure on environmental and human health receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Beale
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - Georgia M Sinclair
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Rohan Shah
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia; Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Science, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
| | - Amy M Paten
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Black Mountain, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Anupama Kumar
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia
| | - Sara M Long
- Aquatic Environmental Stress Research Group (AQUEST), School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Suzanne Vardy
- Water Quality and Investigation, Science and Technology Division, Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Oliver A H Jones
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
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23
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Koronaiou LA, Nannou C, Xanthopoulou N, Seretoudi G, Bikiaris D, Lambropoulou DA. High-resolution mass spectrometry-based strategies for the target analysis and suspect screening of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in aqueous matrices. Microchem J 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2022.107457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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24
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Wu C, Wang Q, Chen H, Li M. Rapid quantitative analysis and suspect screening of per-and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) and municipal wastewater samples by Nano-ESI-HRMS. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 219:118542. [PMID: 35550967 PMCID: PMC10492922 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A rapid analytical method for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) combining nano-electrospray ionization and high-resolution mass spectrometry (Nano-ESI-HRMS) was developed and applied to aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) and wastewater samples collected from three local wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This method exhibited high sensitivity with lower limits of detection (LODs) of 3.2∼36.2 ng/L for 22 target PFAS analytes. In AFFF formulations, Nano-ESI-HRMS enabled the first-time detection of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFMS), perfluoroethyl cyclohexanesulfonate (PFECHS), 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonyl amido sulfonic acid (6:2 FTSAS-SO2), N-ammoniopropyl perfluoroalkanesulfonamidopropylsulfonate (N-AmP-FASAPS, n = 3-6), ketone-perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (Keto-PFOS), fluorotelomer unsaturated amide sulfonic acid (FTUAmS, n = 7), and 6:2 fluorotelomer amide (6:2 FTAm). Their structures were verified by the tandem MS analysis using collision-induced dissociation. Further, the combination of absolute and semi-quantification results revealed 16 PFASs from 9 PFAS classes as dominant AFFF constituents, accounting for 88.2∼96.5% of the total detected anionic and zwitterionic PFASs, including perfluorinated sulfonic acids (PFSAs, n = 1,4∼8), 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonates (6:2 FTS), fluorotelomer thioether amido sulfonic acid (FTSAS, n = 6,8), fluorotelomer sulfinyl amido sulfonic acid (FTSAS-SO, n = 6,8), N-AmP-FASAPS (n = 6), 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide alkylbetaine (6:2 FTAB), perfluoroalkylsulfonamido amino carboxylate (PFASAC, n = 6), 2-((perfluorooctyl)thio)acetatic acid (Thio-8:2 FTCA), and 6:2 FTAm. At WWTPs, aerobic and anaerobic biotransformation of PFAS precursors at the aeration tanks and secondary clarifiers were evident by the generation of mid/short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids, such as perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA), as well as the emergence of ultrashort trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and TFMS and several novel fluorotelomer carboxylic acids (FTCAs). Overall, Nano-ESI-HRMS enabled comprehensive PFAS quantitative analysis and suspect screening, applicable for rapid investigation and assessment of PFAS-related exposure and treatment in environmental matrixes. Our results also revealed that AFFFs and municipal wastewaters are two key sources contributing to the prevalent detection of ultrashort-chain PFASs (e.g., TFMS and TFA) in water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Wu
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, United States.
| | - Mengyan Li
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, United States.
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25
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Celma A, Gago-Ferrero P, Golovko O, Hernández F, Lai FY, Lundqvist J, Menger F, Sancho JV, Wiberg K, Ahrens L, Bijlsma L. Are preserved coastal water bodies in Spanish Mediterranean basin impacted by human activity? Water quality evaluation using chemical and biological analyses. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 165:107326. [PMID: 35696846 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Spanish Mediterranean basin is particularly susceptible to climate change and human activities, making it vulnerable to the influence of anthropogenic contaminants. Therefore, conducting comprehensive and exhaustive water quality assessment in relevant water bodies of this basin is pivotal. In this work, surface water samples from coastal lagoons or estuaries were collected across the Spanish Mediterranean coastline and subjected to target and suspect screening of 1,585 organic micropollutants by liquid chromatography coupled to ion mobility separation and high resolution mass spectrometry. In total, 91 organic micropollutants could be confirmed and 5 were tentatively identified, with pharmaceuticals and pesticides being the most prevalent groups of chemicals. Chemical analysis data was compared with data on bioanalysis of those samples (recurrent aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation, and estrogenic receptor (ER) inhibition in wetland samples affected by wastewater streams). The number of identified organic contaminants containing aromatic rings could explain the AhR activation observed. For the ER antagonistic effects, predictions on estrogenic inhibition potency for the detected compounds were used to explain the activities observed. The integration of chemical analysis with bioanalytical observations allowed a comprehensive overview of the quality of the water bodies under study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Celma
- Environmental and Public Health Analytical Chemistry, Research Institute for Pesticides and Water, University Jaume I, Castelló E-12071, Spain
| | - Pablo Gago-Ferrero
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA) Severo Ochoa Excellence Center, Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, E-08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Oksana Golovko
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Félix Hernández
- Environmental and Public Health Analytical Chemistry, Research Institute for Pesticides and Water, University Jaume I, Castelló E-12071, Spain
| | - Foon Yin Lai
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Johan Lundqvist
- Department of Biomedicine and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7028, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Frank Menger
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Juan V Sancho
- Environmental and Public Health Analytical Chemistry, Research Institute for Pesticides and Water, University Jaume I, Castelló E-12071, Spain
| | - Karin Wiberg
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lutz Ahrens
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Lubertus Bijlsma
- Environmental and Public Health Analytical Chemistry, Research Institute for Pesticides and Water, University Jaume I, Castelló E-12071, Spain.
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26
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Szabo D, Moodie D, Green MP, Mulder RA, Clarke BO. Field-Based Distribution and Bioaccumulation Factors for Cyclic and Aliphatic Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in an Urban Sedentary Waterbird Population. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:8231-8244. [PMID: 35678721 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The field-based distribution and bioaccumulation factor (BAF) for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were determined in residential Black Swans (Cygnus atratus) from an urban lake (Melbourne, Australia). The concentrations of 46 aliphatic and cyclic PFASs were determined by HPLC-MS/MS in serum and excrement from swans, and water, sediment, aquatic macrophytes, soil, and grass samples in and around the lake. Elevated concentrations of ∑46PFASs were detected in serum (120 ng mL-1) and excrement (110 ng g-1 dw) were strongly related indicating a potential noninvasive sampling methodology. Environmental concentrations of PFASs were consistent with a highly impacted ecosystem and notably high concentrations of perfluoro-4-ethylcyclohexanesulfonate (PFECHS, 67584-42-3; C8HF15SO3) were detected in water (27 ng L-1) and swan serum (16 ng mL-1). In the absence of credible putative alternative sources of PFECHS input to the lake, we propose that the use of high-performance motorsport vehicles is a likely source of contamination to this ecosystem. The BAF of perfluorocarboxylic acids increased with each additional CF2 moiety from PFOA (15.7 L kg-1 ww) to PFDoDA (3615 L kg-1 ww). The BAF of PFECHS was estimated as 593 L kg-1 ww, which is lower compared with that of PFOS (1097 L kg-1 ww).
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew Szabo
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3010
| | - Damien Moodie
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3010
- School of Science, RMIT University, Victoria, Australia 3001
| | - Mark P Green
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3010
| | - Raoul A Mulder
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3010
| | - Bradley O Clarke
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3010
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27
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Simon F, Gehrenkemper L, von der Au M, Wittwer P, Roesch P, Pfeifer J, Cossmer A, Meermann B. A fast and simple PFAS extraction method utilizing HR-CS-GFMAS for soil samples. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 295:133922. [PMID: 35143867 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Here, we describe an optimized fast and simple extraction method for the determination of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) in soils utilizing high resolution-continuum source-graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-GFMAS). To omit the bias of the solid phase extraction (SPE) step commonly used during the analysis of extractable organically bound fluorine (EOF) we optimized a fast and simple SPE-free extraction method. The developed extraction method consists of a liquid-solid extraction using acidified methanol without any additional SPE. Four extraction steps were representative to determine a high proportion of the EOF (>80% of eight extractions). Comparison of the optimized method with and without an additional SPE clean-up step revealed a drastic underestimation of EOF concentrations using SPE. Differences of up to 94% were observed which were not explainable by coextracted inorganic fluoride. Therefore, not only a more accurate but also a more economic as well as ecologic method (bypassing of unnecessary SPE) was developed. The procedural limit of quantification (LOQ) of the developed method was 10.30 μg/kg which was sufficient for quantifying EOF concentrations in all tested samples. For future PFAS monitoring and potential regulative decisions the herein presented optimized extraction method can offer a valuable contribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Simon
- Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Division 1.1 - Inorganic Trace Analysis, Richard-Willstätter-Straße 11, 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lennart Gehrenkemper
- Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Division 1.1 - Inorganic Trace Analysis, Richard-Willstätter-Straße 11, 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcus von der Au
- Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Division 1.1 - Inorganic Trace Analysis, Richard-Willstätter-Straße 11, 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Philipp Wittwer
- Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Division 4.3 - Contaminant Transfer and Environmental Technologies, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205, Berlin, Germany
| | - Philipp Roesch
- Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Division 4.3 - Contaminant Transfer and Environmental Technologies, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jens Pfeifer
- Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Division 1.1 - Inorganic Trace Analysis, Richard-Willstätter-Straße 11, 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Antje Cossmer
- Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Division 1.1 - Inorganic Trace Analysis, Richard-Willstätter-Straße 11, 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Björn Meermann
- Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Division 1.1 - Inorganic Trace Analysis, Richard-Willstätter-Straße 11, 12489, Berlin, Germany.
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28
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Sims JL, Stroski KM, Kim S, Killeen G, Ehalt R, Simcik MF, Brooks BW. Global occurrence and probabilistic environmental health hazard assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in groundwater and surface waters. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 816:151535. [PMID: 34762945 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been used in consumer and military products since the 1950s but are increasingly scrutinized worldwide because of inherent chemical properties, environmental contamination, and risks to public health and the environment. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) identified 24 PFASs of interest for further study and possible regulation. We examined 371 peer-reviewed studies published since 2001 to understand the occurrence and distribution of 24 priority PFASs in global surface waters and groundwater. We identified 77,541 and 16,246 data points for surface waters and groundwater, respectively, with total PFAS concentrations ranging from low pg/L to low mg/L levels. Most data were from Asia, Europe, and North America with some reports from Oceania. PFAS information from other geographic regions is lacking. PFASs levels are consistently higher in rivers and streams followed by lakes and reservoirs and then coastal and marine systems. When sufficient data were available, probabilistic environmental hazard assessments (PEHAs) were performed from environmental exposure distributions (EEDs) to identify potential exceedances of available guideline values for each compound by matrix, region, and aquatic system. Specifically, exceedances of USEPA drinking water lifetime health advisory levels were up to 74% for PFOS in groundwater from Oceania and 69% for PFOA in North American groundwater. Our findings support selection of environmentally relevant experimental treatment levels for future toxicology, ecotoxicology and bioaccumulation studies, and potable source water exposure investigations, while highlighting PFASs and major geographic locations requiring additional study and inclusion in global monitoring and surveillance campaigns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaylen L Sims
- Department of Environmental Science, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Kevin M Stroski
- Department of Environmental Science, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Sujin Kim
- Department of Environmental Science, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Grace Killeen
- Department of Environmental Science, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Ricardo Ehalt
- Department of Environmental Science, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Matt F Simcik
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Bryan W Brooks
- Department of Environmental Science, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA; Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA.
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29
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Szabo D, Nuske MR, Lavers JL, Shimeta J, Green MP, Mulder RA, Clarke BO. A baseline study of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in waterfowl from a remote Australian environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 812:152528. [PMID: 34954161 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Elevated concentrations of PFASs in the liver may pose a toxicological risk to bird species and humans that consume them. This study aimed to determine concentrations of 43 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in livers (n = 80) of Australian Shelducks (Tadorna tadornoides), Pacific Black Ducks (Anas superciliosa), and Teals (Anas sp.), as well as water and sediment from a remote Australian environment. Maximum concentrations of PFBA (1.9 ng L-1), PFOA (1.7 ng L-1) and PFOS (0.99 ng L-1) in water were consistent with long-range atmospheric and oceanic transport. PFOS (30%) and PFNA (22%) were the most frequently detected PFASs in Australian Shelduck livers (0.31 ± 0.68 ng g-1 ww and 0.16 ± 0.15 ng g-1 ww respectively). Maximum concentrations of PFOS in Pacific Black Ducks (50%) and Teals (44%) was 2.4 ng g-1 ww and 5.3 ng g-1 ww respectively. While PFAS levels in birds from this remote environment were below current animal consumption guidelines, continued monitoring of this ecosystem is recommended to assess the human health risk of consumption of wild game.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew Szabo
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Madison R Nuske
- School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Jennifer L Lavers
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, 7004, Australia
| | - Jeff Shimeta
- School of Science, RMIT University, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Mark P Green
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Raoul A Mulder
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Bradley O Clarke
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
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30
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Evaluation and validation of methodologies for the extraction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in serum of birds and mammals. Anal Bioanal Chem 2022; 414:3017-3032. [PMID: 35182167 PMCID: PMC8934760 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-022-03962-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Advances in analytical techniques have allowed greater detection of environmental contaminants from small volumes of sample. Four methodologies were evaluated for the extraction of 53 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) from eight classes in 200 µL of avian and mammal serum. Spiked serums at four concentrations (0, 0.5, 5.0 and 25 ng mL−1) were prepared by protein precipitation (PPT), enhanced matrix removal (EMR), weak anion exchange (WAX), and hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) solid-phase extraction cartridges. The extract from each methodology was analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS), and concentrations were compared with known concentrations in the spiked media. EMR performed the best overall, with 40 of 53 compounds effectively recovered at 5 ng mL−1. Furthermore, EMR was effective overall at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 25 ng mL−1 for 39 out of 53. Similarly, PPT was effective for 35 of 53 compounds at all spiked serum concentrations. There was a negative correlation between internal standard recovery for compounds with increasing octanol–water coefficients (Kow) for WAX (R = − 0.65, p = 0.0043) and HLB (R = − 0.62, p = 0.0077) extractions, indicating methanol may not be a suitable solvent for long-chain PFAS extraction from protein-rich tissues. EMR and PPT represent fast and effective methodologies for the extraction of PFASs from low volumes of serum which allows greater accuracy and precision that can be applied to future human and wildlife biomonitoring programmes.
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31
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Gauthier JR, Mabury SA. Noise-Reduced Quantitative Fluorine NMR Spectroscopy Reveals the Presence of Additional Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances in Environmental and Biological Samples When Compared with Routine Mass Spectrometry Methods. Anal Chem 2022; 94:3278-3286. [PMID: 35148065 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c05107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous throughout the environment. Analysis of PFAS is commonly performed using both targeted and nontargeted mass spectrometry methods. However, it has been demonstrated that measurements of fluorinated compounds in the environment by mass spectrometry often fall short of the total fluorine concentration. In the present study, we employ a 19F NMR technique, which is capable of detailing fluorinated compounds in a sample while providing both quantitative and structural information. Inclusion of a noise-reduction strategy involving the acquisition of arrays of spectra with an increasing number of transients addresses the sensitivity challenges of environmental nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), improving signal to noise. When this technique is applied to environmental and biological samples including rainwater, lake water, wastewater effluent, serum, and urine, the presence of PFAS, which may have been missed by routine mass spectrometric methods, is revealed. Important resonances in the 19F NMR spectrum such as that of trifluoroacetic acid are brought above the limit of quantification in all samples, allowing detection limits as low as 389 pg/L in rainwater. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method, which was used to analyze 47 PFAS compounds, accounts for only 3.7-27% of the total fluorine concentration as determined by the NMR strategy in the present study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy R Gauthier
- Department of Chemistry, Lash Miller Chemical Labs, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Scott A Mabury
- Department of Chemistry, Lash Miller Chemical Labs, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
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32
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Li X, Fatowe M, Cui D, Quinete N. Assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in Biscayne Bay surface waters and tap waters from South Florida. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:150393. [PMID: 34562756 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent anthropogenic pollutants present in many environmental media worldwide due to their extensive uses in many industrial and commercial products combined with their high thermal and chemical stabilities. Its ubiquitous presence in surface and drinking water supply and significant adverse health effects observed in wildlife and humans, associated with its bioaccumulation potential, pose big concerns. In this study, we have developed and validated a semi-automated solid phase extraction (SPE) followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the determination of legacy and emerging short-chain PFAS substitutes in surface and tap water at low parts-per-trillion (ppt) levels in South Florida environments. Surface waters from Biscayne Bay and adjacent canals (n = 15) and tap waters from different counties (Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County) (n = 21) were collected between October 2020 (wet season) and February 2021 (dry season). Total PFAS concentrations up to 242 ng L-1 (average of 168 ng L-1) were found in tap water from Grapeland Heights, which is the closest location to the Miami international airport that was sampled. The highest average total PFAS level of 106 ng L-1 was observed in surface water from the Biscayne Canal C-8 for the wet and dry season. In general, average total PFAS was higher in tap water (86.3 ng L-1) than in surface waters (46.3 ng L-1), whereas the most predominant and frequently detected PFAS were PFBA, PFBS, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFOA and PFOS. PFAS levels found could represent a high human health risk, and ecological risk based on PFOS levels above recommended thresholds are also noted. Such knowledge on PFAS occurrence, distribution and sources in South Florida will provide essential information for local and regional regulatory agencies related to water quality, further facilitating the development of guidelines and procedures for PFAS pollution control and reduction in Florida.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuerong Li
- Institute of Environment, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Modesto A. Maidique Campus, Miami, FL 33199, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st street, Biscayne Bay Campus, North Miami, FL 33181, USA
| | - Morgan Fatowe
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st street, Biscayne Bay Campus, North Miami, FL 33181, USA
| | - Danni Cui
- Institute of Environment, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Modesto A. Maidique Campus, Miami, FL 33199, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st street, Biscayne Bay Campus, North Miami, FL 33181, USA
| | - Natalia Quinete
- Institute of Environment, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Modesto A. Maidique Campus, Miami, FL 33199, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st street, Biscayne Bay Campus, North Miami, FL 33181, USA.
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33
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Gallen C, Bignert A, Taucare G, O'Brien J, Braeunig J, Reeks T, Thompson J, Mueller JF. Temporal trends of perfluoroalkyl substances in an Australian wastewater treatment plant: A ten-year retrospective investigation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 804:150211. [PMID: 34798742 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a problematic group of chemicals used in various industrial and household products. They have been extensively detected in wastewater as a result of day-to-day product usage. Due to concerns about their safety, voluntary and regulatory action to limit the manufacture and use of some individual PFAS has occurred since the year 2000. The impact that this intervention has had on the use and potential exposure of Australians has not been measured. Wastewater serves as a powerful tool to assess the chemical use or consumption patterns of a population over time. We accessed a ten-year wastewater archiving program to conduct a temporal analysis of PFAS trends in an urban Australian population between the years 2010 and 2020. Results showed a decline in the concentrations for most PFAS, and a change in the PFAS profile from perfluorosulfonic acids and long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, to the short-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids and PFOS-replacement degradation products such as 5:3 FTCA. Intermittent pulses of PFAS that were significantly higher than 'background' levels (i.e., representing the PFAS input from primarily households) were observed, suggesting continuing industrial PFAS input within the wastewater catchment. This study highlights the long-term consequences of the diffuse use of persistent chemicals in products, and their ability to continue to enter the wastewater stream for decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Gallen
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, 20 Cornwall St, Woolloongabba 4102, Australia.
| | - A Bignert
- Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Frescativägen 40, 114 18 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - G Taucare
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, 20 Cornwall St, Woolloongabba 4102, Australia.
| | - J O'Brien
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, 20 Cornwall St, Woolloongabba 4102, Australia.
| | - J Braeunig
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, 20 Cornwall St, Woolloongabba 4102, Australia.
| | - T Reeks
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, 20 Cornwall St, Woolloongabba 4102, Australia.
| | - J Thompson
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, 20 Cornwall St, Woolloongabba 4102, Australia.
| | - J F Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, 20 Cornwall St, Woolloongabba 4102, Australia.
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34
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Göckener B, Fliedner A, Rüdel H, Badry A, Koschorreck J. Long-Term Trends of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Suspended Particular Matter from German Rivers Using the Direct Total Oxidizable Precursor (dTOP) Assay. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:208-217. [PMID: 34910874 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Suspended particulate matter (SPM) from 13 riverine sampling sites of the German Environmental Specimen Bank collected between 2005 and 2019 was retrospectively investigated for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The samples were analyzed both by target analysis for 41 PFAS and by a modified total oxidizable precursor (dTOP) assay to capture also unknown precursors. Temporal trends and spatial differences were investigated by generalized linear modeling (GLM). Time trend analysis across all rivers showed decreasing trends for ∑PFCA and ∑PFSA concentrations in SPM. Trends based on target analysis (∑PFCAtarget: -10.0%, ∑PFSAtarget: -8.2%) were more pronounced than in the dTOP analysis (∑PFCAdTOP: -4.2%; ∑PFSAdTOP: -5.3%), suggesting that conventional target analysis overestimated actual decreases as precursors are not considered. ∑PFAS concentrations determined by dTOP assay were 1.3-145 times higher as compared to target analysis, indicating substantial amounts of unknown precursors in the samples. The ∑PFASdTOP/∑PFAStarget ratio increased at all sites between 2005 and 2019. Contamination was highest in SPM from the Elbe tributary Mulde downstream of a large industrial park. The results underscore the need to go beyond conventional target analysis and include precursors when assessing PFAS contamination in the environment. The dTOP assay is a suitable tool for this purpose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Göckener
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (Fraunhofer IME), 57392 Schmallenberg, Germany
| | - Annette Fliedner
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (Fraunhofer IME), 57392 Schmallenberg, Germany
| | - Heinz Rüdel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (Fraunhofer IME), 57392 Schmallenberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Badry
- German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt), 06813 Dessau-Rosslau, Germany
| | - Jan Koschorreck
- German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt), 06813 Dessau-Rosslau, Germany
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35
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Kaiser AM, Saracevic E, Schaar HP, Weiss S, Hornek-Gausterer R. Ozone as oxidizing agent for the total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay and as a preceding step for activated carbon treatments concerning per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance removal. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 300:113692. [PMID: 34509127 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Several thousands of highly persistent per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exist and it is therefore challenging to analytically determine a larger spectrum of these compounds simultaneously in one sample. It is even more difficult to efficiently remove mobile PFAS in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to protect the receiving waters. The total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay is an approach that enables the detection of the total PFAS content in a sample via oxidation of precursors, followed by subsequent analysis of the perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) concentration before and after oxidative processes. Activated carbon combined with a preceding ozonation step is considered a promising tool for the removal of micropollutants but considering PFAS removal efficiencies in effluents for this process combination more information is required. The focus of the study was to implement and assess the TOP assay with ozone as oxidizing agent to estimate the total PFAS content in a WWTP effluent. Additionally, granular activated carbon (GAC) and powdered activated carbon (PAC) with a preceding ozonation step was tested for the removal efficiencies for 22 PFAS. For the TOP assay the obtained accordance in molarity using spiked tap water as quality control was 95.2% (15 mg O3/L) and 99.1% (6 mg O3/L). Applying the TOP assay, an estimated total PFAS content of 840 ng/L was determined in the respective effluent, which was 91.1% higher than obtained by target PFAS analysis, implying the presence of unknown precursors not included in common monitoring. While all treatment techniques that included ozone or a preceding ozonation step solely transformed precursors and long-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA, i.e., >C9) to shorter congeners, PAC was the only tested water treatment application that was able to remove 19.3% of the total PFAS molarity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ernis Saracevic
- TU Wien, Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management, Karlsplatz 12/226-1, Vienna, Austria
| | - Heidemarie Paula Schaar
- TU Wien, Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management, Karlsplatz 12/226-1, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan Weiss
- Environment Agency Austria, Spittelauer Lände 5, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
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36
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Hemida M, Ghiasvand A, Gupta V, Coates LJ, Gooley AA, Wirth HJ, Haddad PR, Paull B. Small-Footprint, Field-Deployable LC/MS System for On-Site Analysis of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Soil. Anal Chem 2021; 93:12032-12040. [PMID: 34436859 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c02193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are emerging environmental pollutants of global concern. For rapid field site evaluation, there are very few sensitive, field-deployable analytical techniques. In this work, a portable lightweight capillary liquid chromatography (capLC) system was coupled with a small footprint portable mass spectrometer and configured for field-based applications. Further, an at-site ultrasound-assisted extraction (pUAE) methodology was developed and applied with a portable capLC/mass spectrometry (MS) system for on-site analysis of PFASs in real soil samples. The influential variables on the integration of capLC with MS and on the resolution and signal intensity of the capLC/MS setup were investigated. The important parameters affecting the efficiency of the pUAE method were also studied and optimized using the response surface methodology based on a central composite design. The mean recovery for 11 PFASs ranged between 70 and 110%, with relative standard deviations ranging from 3 to 12%. In-field method sensitivity for 12 PFASs ranged from 0.6 to 0.1 ng/g, with wide dynamic ranges (1-600 ng/g) and excellent linearities (R2 > 0.991). The in-field portable system was benchmarked against a commercial lab-based LC-tandem MS (MS/MS) system for the analysis of PFASs in real soil samples, with the results showing good agreement. When deployed to a field site, 12 PFASs were detected and identified in real soil samples at concentrations ranging from 8.1 ng/g (for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) to 2935.0 ng/g (perfluorohexanesulfonic acid).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Hemida
- ARC Training Centre for Portable Analytical Separation Technologies (ASTech), School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.,Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Alireza Ghiasvand
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Vipul Gupta
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Lewellwyn J Coates
- ARC Training Centre for Portable Analytical Separation Technologies (ASTech), School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.,Trajan Scientific and Medical, 7 Argent Place, Ringwood, Victoria 3134, Australia
| | - Andrew A Gooley
- ARC Training Centre for Portable Analytical Separation Technologies (ASTech), School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.,Trajan Scientific and Medical, 7 Argent Place, Ringwood, Victoria 3134, Australia
| | - Hans-Jürgen Wirth
- ARC Training Centre for Portable Analytical Separation Technologies (ASTech), School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.,Trajan Scientific and Medical, 7 Argent Place, Ringwood, Victoria 3134, Australia
| | - Paul R Haddad
- ARC Training Centre for Portable Analytical Separation Technologies (ASTech), School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.,Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Brett Paull
- ARC Training Centre for Portable Analytical Separation Technologies (ASTech), School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.,Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
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37
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Borthakur A, Wang M, He M, Ascencio K, Blotevogel J, Adamson DT, Mahendra S, Mohanty SK. Perfluoroalkyl acids on suspended particles: Significant transport pathways in surface runoff, surface waters, and subsurface soils. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 417:126159. [PMID: 34229412 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Eroded particles from the source zone could transport a high concentration of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) to sediments and water bodies. Yet, the contribution of suspended particles has not been systematically reviewed. Analyzing reported studies, we quantitatively demonstrate that suspended particles in surface water can contain significantly higher concentrations of PFAAs than the sediment below, indicating the source of suspended particles are not the sediment but particles eroded and carried from the source zone upstream. The affinity of PFAAs to particles depends on the particle composition, including organic carbon fraction and iron or aluminum oxide content. In soils, most PFAAs are retained within the top 5 m below the ground surface. The distribution of PFAAs in the subsurface varies based on site properties and local weather conditions. The depth corresponding to the maximum concentration of PFAA in soil decreases with an increase in soil organic carbon or rainfall amount received in the catchment areas. We attribute a greater accumulation of PFAAs near the upper layer of the subsurface to an increase in the accumulation of particles eroded from source zones upstream receiving heavy rainfall. Precursor transformation in the aerobic zone is significantly higher than in the anaerobic zone, thereby making the aerobic subsurface zone serve as a long-term source of groundwater pollution. Collectively, these results suggest that suspended particles, often an overlooked vector for PFAAs, can be a dominant pathway for the transport of PFAAs in environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annesh Borthakur
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Meng Wang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Meng He
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Katia Ascencio
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jens Blotevogel
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | - Shaily Mahendra
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sanjay K Mohanty
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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38
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Molnar BT, Shelley JT. MODERN PLASMA-BASED DESORPTION/IONIZATION: FROM ATOMS AND MOLECULES TO CHEMICAL SYNTHESIS. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2021; 40:609-627. [PMID: 32770688 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Since the first mass spectrometry (MS) experiments were conducted by Thomson and Aston, plasmas have been used as ionization sources. Historically, plasma ion sources were used for these experiments because they were one of the few known sources of gas-phase ions at the time and they were relatively simple to setup and operate. Since then, developments in plasma ionization have continued to inform and motivate advances in other areas of MS. For example, plasma-desorption MS demonstrated ionization of large peptides and polymers more than 10 years before the first descriptions of electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). As a result, significant effort was placed on development of ionization approaches, mass analysis, and detection approaches for very large molecules: even before the advent of ESI and MALDI. Since then, new analytical challenges and opportunities in plasma ionization have arisen. In this review, the emerging trends in plasma-based ionization for several areas of MS will be discussed, including molecular ionization, elemental ionization, hybrid elemental and molecular ion sources, and unique chemical transformations. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Mass Spec Rev.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian T Molnar
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY, 12180
| | - Jacob T Shelley
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY, 12180
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39
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Liu L, Liu Y, Che N, Gao B, Li C. Electrochemical adsorption of perfluorooctanoic acid on a novel reduced graphene oxide aerogel loaded with Cu nanoparticles and fluorine. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 416:125866. [PMID: 33894436 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is widely concerned because its serious toxicity to the environment and ecosystems. In order to effectively and conveniently remove PFOA from aqueous solutions, reduced graphene oxide aerogel modified by Cu nanoparticles and fluorine (Cu/F-rGA) was prepared by the microbubble template method as an electrode in electrosorption. The removal capacity of Cu/F-rGA electrode to PFOA was 489% and 45.9% higher at + 0.8 V than that of open circuit and unmodified electrode, respectively. These significant improvements can be attributed to the advantages of Cu/F-rGA in ligand exchange reaction and electrostatic attraction under voltage assistance. The regeneration of Cu/F-rGA electrode maintained 75.51% capacity after 10 times electrosorption-desorption by applying reverse voltage. These properties provided potential for the reuse and application of Cu/F-rGA electrode. The electrosorption isotherm and model results showed that PFOA tended to be parallel to the adsorption site at low temperature and perpendicular at high temperature. The number of PFOA molecules connected to each adsorption site was 0.72-1.76, and the number of adsorption layers of PFOA on the electrode was between 1.46 and 2.87. Findings from this study provide a green and effective strategy to remove PFOA from aqueous solutions with low energy consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longfei Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Yanli Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Naiju Che
- National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Bin Gao
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States
| | - Chengliang Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China.
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40
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Menger RF, Funk E, Henry CS, Borch T. Sensors for detecting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): A critical review of development challenges, current sensors, and commercialization obstacles. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL (LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND : 1996) 2021; 417:129133. [PMID: 37539085 PMCID: PMC10398537 DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2021.129133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of compounds that have become environmental contaminants of emerging concern. They are highly persistent, toxic, bioaccumulative, and ubiquitous which makes them important to detect to ensure environmental and human health. Multiple instrument-based methods exist for sensitive and selective detection of PFAS in a variety of matrices, but these methods suffer from expensive costs and the need for a laboratory and highly trained personnel. There is a big need for fast, inexpensive, robust, and portable methods to detect PFAS in the field. This would allow environmental laboratories and other agencies to perform more frequent testing to comply with regulations. In addition, the general public would benefit from a fast method to evaluate the drinking water in their homes for PFAS contamination. A PFAS sensor would provide almost real-time data on PFAS concentrations that can also provide actionable information for water quality managers and consumers around the planet. In this review, we discuss the sensors that have been developed up to this point for PFAS detection by their molecular detection mechanism as well as the goals that should be considered during sensor development. Future research needs and commercialization challenges are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth F Menger
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, 1872 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Emily Funk
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado State University, 1370 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Charles S Henry
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, 1872 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado State University, 1370 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Thomas Borch
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, 1872 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, 1170 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
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41
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Lenka SP, Kah M, Padhye LP. A review of the occurrence, transformation, and removal of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater treatment plants. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 199:117187. [PMID: 34010737 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 193] [Impact Index Per Article: 64.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) comprise more than 4,000 anthropogenically manufactured compounds with widescale consumer and industrial applications. This critical review compiles the latest information on the worldwide distribution of PFAS and evaluates their fate in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). A large proportion (>30%) of monitoring studies in WWTPs were conducted in China, followed by Europe (30%) and North America (16%), whereas information is generally lacking for other parts of the world, including most of the developing countries. Short and long-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) were widely detected in both the influents (up to 1,000 ng/L) and effluents (15 to >1,500 ng/L) of WWTPs. To date, limited data is available regarding levels of PFAS precursors and ultra-short chain PFAS in WWTPs. Most WWTPs exhibited low removal efficiencies for PFAS, and many studies reported an increase in the levels of PFAAs after wastewater treatment. The analysis of the fate of various classes of PFAS at different wastewater treatment stages (aerobic and/aerobic biodegradation, photodegradation, and chemical degradation) revealed biodegradation as the primary mechanism responsible for the transformation of PFAS precursors to PFAAs in WWTPs. Remediation studies at full scale and laboratory scale suggest advanced processes such as adsorption using ion exchange resins, electrochemical degradation, and nanofiltration are more effective in removing PFAS (~95-100%) than conventional processes. However, the applicability of such treatments for real-world WWTPs faces significant challenges due to the scaling-up requirements, mass-transfer limitations, and management of treatment by-products and wastes. Combining more than one technique for effective removal of PFAS, while addressing limitations of the individual treatments, could be beneficial. Considering environmental concentrations of PFAS, cost-effectiveness, and ease of operation, nanofiltration followed by adsorption using wood-derived biochar and/or activated carbons could be a viable option if introduced to conventional treatment systems. However, the large-scale applicability of the same needs to be further verified.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Melanie Kah
- School of Environment, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Lokesh P Padhye
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
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42
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Marchiandi J, Szabo D, Dagnino S, Green MP, Clarke BO. Occurrence and fate of legacy and novel per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in freshwater after an industrial fire of unknown chemical stockpiles. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 278:116839. [PMID: 33740602 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
An industrial warehouse illegally storing a large quantity of unknown chemical and industrial waste ignited in an urban area in Melbourne, Australia. The multiday fire required firefighters to use large amounts of fluorine-free foam that carried contaminated firewater runoff into an adjacent freshwater creek. In this study, the occurrence and fate of 42 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) was determined from triplicate surface water samples (n = 45) from five locations (upstream, point-source, downstream; 8 km) over three sampling campaigns from 2018 to 2020. Out of the 42 target PFASs, perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs: C4-C14), perfluoroalkane sulfonates (PFSAs: C4-C10), and perfluoroalkyl acid precursors (e.g. 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTSA)) were ubiquitously detected in surface waters (concentration ranges: <0.7-3000 ng/L). A significant difference in ΣPFAS concentration was observed at the point-source (mean 5500 ng/L; 95% CI: 4800, 6300) relative to upstream sites (mean 100 ng/L; 95% CI: 90, 110; p ≤ 0.001). The point-source ΣPFAS concentration decreased from 5500 ± 1200 ng/L to 960 ± 42 ng/L (-83%) after two months and to 430 ± 15 ng/L (-98%) two years later. 6:2 FTSA and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) dominated in surface water, representing on average 31% and 20% of the ΣPFAS, respectively. Emerging PFASs including a cyclic perfluoroalkanesulfonate (PFECHS) and a C4 perfluoroalkane sulfonamide (FBSA) were repeatedly present in surface water (concentration ranges <0.3-77 ng/L). According to the updated Australian PFAS guidelines for ecological conservation, the water samples collected at the time of monitoring may have posed a short-term risk to aquatic organisms in regard to PFOS levels. These results illustrate that acute high dose exposure to PFASs can result from industrial fires at sites storing or stockpiling PFAS-based waste products. Continued monitoring will be crucial to evaluate potential long-term risk to wildlife in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaye Marchiandi
- School of Chemistry, Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Drew Szabo
- School of Chemistry, Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Sonia Dagnino
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Mark P Green
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Bradley O Clarke
- School of Chemistry, Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
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43
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Moodie D, Coggan T, Berry K, Kolobaric A, Fernandes M, Lee E, Reichman S, Nugegoda D, Clarke BO. Legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in Australian biosolids. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 270:129143. [PMID: 33429237 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Biosolids samples were collected from 19 Australian WWTPs during 2018 that cover a range of catchment types (urban, rural, industrial waste discharges) and treatment technologies. Samples were analysed for 44 PFAS using isotope dilution and alkaline extraction coupled with quantification with LC-MS/MS. The Σ44PFAS mean concentration was 260 ng/g dry weight (dw) and ranged between 4.2 and 910 ng/g dw. The dominant compound class detected were the di-substituted phosphate esters (Σ3PAPs mean 140 ng/g dw; range ND - 730 ng/g dw) which contributed 45% of the total mean Σ44PFAS mass, followed by perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (Σ11PFCAs mean 39 ng/g dw; range 2.3-120 ng/g dw) contributing 17%, and the perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (Σ8PFSAs mean 28 ng/g dw; range 0.9-220 ng/g) which contributed 16%. Using the population data supplied by the participating WWTPs, the mean annual estimated biosolids-associated PFAS contribution is 6 mg per person per year and ranged between 0.6 mg and 15 mg. A similar population normalised concentration regardless of WWTP, region or capacity suggests that the domestic environment provides the baseline PFAS loading. Statistically significant higher Σ44PFAS and PFOS concentrations were observed at urban locations. A weak correlation was observed between annual mass of PFAS associated with each individual WWTP and their percentage industrial waste contribution. This may be important for elevated PFAS concentrations observed in WWTPs with higher industrial waste inputs and requires further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Moodie
- School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, Victoria, 3001, Australia; Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Timothy Coggan
- School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, Victoria, 3001, Australia
| | - Kathryn Berry
- School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, Victoria, 3001, Australia
| | - Adam Kolobaric
- School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, Victoria, 3001, Australia
| | - Milena Fernandes
- SA Water, GPO Box 1751, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia; College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Elliot Lee
- Water Corporation, Leederville, Western Australia, 6007, Australia
| | - Suzie Reichman
- Centre for Anthropogenic Pollution Impact and Management (CAPIM), School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Dayanthi Nugegoda
- School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, Victoria, 3001, Australia
| | - Bradley O Clarke
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
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44
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Liu L, Che N, Wang S, Liu Y, Li C. Copper Nanoparticle Loading and F Doping of Graphene Aerogel Enhance Its Adsorption of Aqueous Perfluorooctanoic Acid. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:7073-7085. [PMID: 33748621 PMCID: PMC7970550 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c00044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) persists in the environment for a long time due to its stable physical and chemical properties, and it is harmful to the environment and biological system. In order to effectively remove PFOA from aqueous solution, Cu nanoparticles and fluorine-modified graphene aerogel (Cu/F-rGA) were fabricated by the microbubble template method. Compared with unmodified aerogels (rGA), the adsorption rate of PFOA on Cu/F-rGA was enhanced 2.68-fold. These significant improvements were assumed to benefit from the ligand exchange reaction and hydrophobic and F-F interactions. The regeneration of Cu/F-rGA maintained 73.26% with ethanol as the desorption solvent after 10 times adsorption-desorption. The fitting results of the statistical physics model showed that PFOA tended to be parallel to the adsorption site at low temperature and perpendicular at high temperature. The number of PFOA molecules connected to each adsorption site was 0.53 to 1.41, and the number of adsorption layers of PFOA on the Cu/F-rGA was between 1.63 and 2.51. Compared with the response surface methodology and artificial neural network, an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system had more accurate analysis and prediction results. These results provide an effective and alternative strategy to remove PFOA from aqueous solution with environment-friendly consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longfei Liu
- National
Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer
Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Naiju Che
- National
Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer
Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Shengsen Wang
- College
of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China
| | - Yanli Liu
- National
Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer
Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Chengliang Li
- National
Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer
Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
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45
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Szabo D, Lavers JL, Shimeta J, Green MP, Mulder RA, Clarke BO. Correlations between Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Body Morphometrics in Fledgling Shearwaters Impacted by Plastic Consumption from a Remote Pacific Island. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2021; 40:799-810. [PMID: 33170512 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the concentrations of 45 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in fledgling flesh-footed shearwater (Ardenna carneipes; n = 33) and wedge-tailed shearwater (A. pacifica; n = 9) livers via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and their relationship to body morphometrics and ingested plastic mass recorded in 2019 on Lord Howe Island (NSW, Australia). Sixteen PFASs were detected, of which perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) was the dominant compound, detected in 100% of birds (1.34-13.4 ng/g wet wt). Long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, including perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA; <0.04-0.79 ng/g wet wt) and perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA; <0.05-1.6 ng/g wet wt) were detected in >50% of birds. There was a positive correlation between PFDA and PFTrDA concentrations and wing chord length (Rs = 0.36, p = 0.0204; Rs = 0.44, p = 0.0037, respectively), and between PFDA concentrations and total body mass (Rs = 0.33, p = 0.032), suggesting that these compounds may impact shearwater fledgling morphometrics. Plastic was present in the intestinal tract of 79% of individuals (<7.6 g), although there was no correlation between PFAS concentrations and plastic mass, indicating that ingested plastic is not the likely primary exposure source. The widespread occurrence of PFASs in fledgling marine birds from a relatively pristine location in the Southern Hemisphere suggests that further studies in adult shearwaters and other marine birds are warranted to investigate whether there are any long-term physiological effects on bird species. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:799-810. © 2020 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew Szabo
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jennifer L Lavers
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Jeff Shimeta
- School of Science, RMIT University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mark P Green
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Raoul A Mulder
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Bradley O Clarke
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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46
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Parry E, Anumol T. Ultra-Sensitive and Rapid Analysis of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Water. LCGC NORTH AMERICA 2021. [DOI: 10.56530/lcgc.na.xl8575w4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A method is described using a triple quadrupole LC–MS instrument with isotopic dilution to obtain the highest accuracy and confidence for analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water. Excellent method spike recoveries and robustness were found in wastewater.
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47
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Legacy and Emerging Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: Analytical Techniques, Environmental Fate, and Health Effects. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22030995. [PMID: 33498193 PMCID: PMC7863963 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22030995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to their unique chemical properties, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used extensively as industrial surfactants and processing aids. While several types of PFAS have been voluntarily phased out by their manufacturers, these chemicals continue to be of ecological and public health concern due to their persistence in the environment and their presence in living organisms. Moreover, while the compounds referred to as “legacy” PFAS remain in the environment, alternative compounds have emerged as replacements for their legacy predecessors and are now detected in numerous matrices. In this review, we discuss the historical uses of PFAS, recent advances in analytical techniques for analysis of these compounds, and the fate of PFAS in the environment. In addition, we evaluate current biomonitoring studies of human exposure to legacy and emerging PFAS and examine the associations of PFAS exposure with human health impacts, including cancer- and non-cancer-related outcomes. Special focus is given to short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and ether-substituted, polyfluoroalkyl alternatives including hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA; tradename GenX), 4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (DONA), and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluoroethersulfonic acid (6:2 Cl-PFESA; tradename F-53B).
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48
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Dodds JN, Alexander NLM, Kirkwood KI, Foster MR, Hopkins ZR, Knappe DRU, Baker ES. From Pesticides to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: An Evaluation of Recent Targeted and Untargeted Mass Spectrometry Methods for Xenobiotics. Anal Chem 2021; 93:641-656. [PMID: 33136371 PMCID: PMC7855838 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c04359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- James N Dodds
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Nancy Lee M Alexander
- Department of Civil, Construction, & Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Kaylie I Kirkwood
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - MaKayla R Foster
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Zachary R Hopkins
- Department of Civil, Construction, & Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Detlef R U Knappe
- Department of Civil, Construction, & Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Erin S Baker
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
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49
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Calvert L, Green MP, De Iuliis GN, Dun MD, Turner BD, Clarke BO, Eamens AL, Roman SD, Nixon B. Assessment of the Emerging Threat Posed by Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances to Male Reproduction in Humans. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:799043. [PMID: 35356147 PMCID: PMC8959433 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.799043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Per-fluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse group of synthetic fluorinated chemicals used widely in industry and consumer products. Due to their extensive use and chemical stability, PFAS are ubiquitous environmental contaminants and as such, form an emerging risk factor for male reproductive health. The long half-lives of PFAS is of particular concern as the propensity to accumulate in biological systems prolong the time taken for excretion, taking years in many cases. Accordingly, there is mounting evidence supporting a negative association between PFAS exposure and an array of human health conditions. However, inconsistencies among epidemiological and experimental findings have hindered the ability to definitively link negative reproductive outcomes to specific PFAS exposure. This situation highlights the requirement for further investigation and the identification of reliable biological models that can inform health risks, allowing sensitive assessment of the spectrum of effects of PFAS exposure on humans. Here, we review the literature on the biological effects of PFAS exposure, with a specific focus on male reproduction, owing to its utility as a sentinel marker of general health. Indeed, male infertility has increasingly been shown to serve as an early indicator of a range of co-morbidities such as coronary, inflammatory, and metabolic diseases. It follows that adverse associations have been established between PFAS exposure and the incidence of testicular dysfunction, including pathologies such as testicular cancer and a reduction in semen quality. We also give consideration to the mechanisms that render the male reproductive tract vulnerable to PFAS mediated damage, and discuss novel remediation strategies to mitigate the negative impact of PFAS contamination and/or to ameliorate the PFAS load of exposed individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah Calvert
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Newcastle NSW, Australia
| | - Mark P. Green
- School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Geoffry N. De Iuliis
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Newcastle NSW, Australia
| | - Matthew D. Dun
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Newcastle NSW, Australia
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Brett D. Turner
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Priority Research Centre for Geotechnical Science and Engineering, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Bradley O. Clarke
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew L. Eamens
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Newcastle NSW, Australia
| | - Shaun D. Roman
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Newcastle NSW, Australia
- Priority Research Centre for Drug Development, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Brett Nixon
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Newcastle NSW, Australia
- *Correspondence: Brett Nixon,
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50
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Gehrenkemper L, Simon F, Roesch P, Fischer E, von der Au M, Pfeifer J, Cossmer A, Wittwer P, Vogel C, Simon FG, Meermann B. Determination of organically bound fluorine sum parameters in river water samples-comparison of combustion ion chromatography (CIC) and high resolution-continuum source-graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-GFMAS). Anal Bioanal Chem 2020; 413:103-115. [PMID: 33164152 PMCID: PMC8473383 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-020-03010-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we compare combustion ion chromatography (CIC) and high resolution-continuum source-graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-GFMAS) with respect to their applicability for determining organically bound fluorine sum parameters. Extractable (EOF) and adsorbable (AOF) organically bound fluorine as well as total fluorine (TF) were measured in samples from river Spree in Berlin, Germany, to reveal the advantages and disadvantages of the two techniques used as well as the two established fluorine sum parameters AOF and EOF. TF concentrations determined via HR-CS-GFMAS and CIC were comparable between 148 and 270 μg/L. On average, AOF concentrations were higher than EOF concentrations, with AOF making up 0.14–0.81% of TF (determined using CIC) and EOF 0.04–0.28% of TF (determined using HR-CS-GFMAS). The results obtained by the two independent methods were in good agreement. It turned out that HR-CS-GFMAS is a more sensitive and precise method for fluorine analysis compared to CIC. EOF and AOF are comparable tools in risk evaluation for the emerging pollutants per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances; however, EOF is much faster to conduct. Graphical abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennart Gehrenkemper
- Division 1.1 - Inorganic Trace Analysis, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Richard-Willstätter-Straße 11, 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fabian Simon
- Division 1.1 - Inorganic Trace Analysis, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Richard-Willstätter-Straße 11, 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Philipp Roesch
- Division 4.3 - Contaminant Transport and Environmental Technologies, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Unter den Eichen 87, 12205, Berlin, Germany
| | - Emily Fischer
- Department G2 - Aquatic Chemistry, Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG), Am Mainzer Tor 1, 56068, Koblenz, Germany
| | - Marcus von der Au
- Division 1.1 - Inorganic Trace Analysis, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Richard-Willstätter-Straße 11, 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jens Pfeifer
- Division 1.1 - Inorganic Trace Analysis, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Richard-Willstätter-Straße 11, 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Antje Cossmer
- Division 1.1 - Inorganic Trace Analysis, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Richard-Willstätter-Straße 11, 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Philipp Wittwer
- Division 4.3 - Contaminant Transport and Environmental Technologies, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Unter den Eichen 87, 12205, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Vogel
- Division 4.3 - Contaminant Transport and Environmental Technologies, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Unter den Eichen 87, 12205, Berlin, Germany
| | - Franz-Georg Simon
- Division 4.3 - Contaminant Transport and Environmental Technologies, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Unter den Eichen 87, 12205, Berlin, Germany
| | - Björn Meermann
- Division 1.1 - Inorganic Trace Analysis, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Richard-Willstätter-Straße 11, 12489, Berlin, Germany.
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