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Dai C, Peng L, Li Y, Li Z, Chen D, Wang F, Lin N. Distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in blood, serum, and urine of patients with liver cancer and associations with liver function biomarkers. J Environ Sci (China) 2024; 139:418-427. [PMID: 38105065 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2023.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Studies have shown that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) may be hepatotoxic in animals or humans. However, data on clinical epidemiology are very limited. In this study, 21 PFASs were determined in patients with liver diseases, with the highest median concentrations detected in the serum sample (26.7 ng/mL), followed by blood (10.7 ng/mL) and urine (5.02 ng/mL). Higher total PFAS concentrations were found in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients compared to non-HCC patients, with significant discrepancies in serum and blood samples. Besides, significant correlations were also found among PFAS concentrations and age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and liver function biomarkers levels. For example, PFAS concentrations are significantly higher in males than in females; Several serum PFASs concentrations increase with age and BMI, while the serum perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) concentrations are negatively correlated with age. In addition, multiple regression models adjusted for age, gender and BMI found that increased serum perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS) and perfluorohexylphosphonic acid (PFHxPA) conentrations are correlated with elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (p < 0.05). Our results provide epidemiological support for the future study on the potential clinical hepatotoxicity of PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cao Dai
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Lin Peng
- School of Environment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Yanjie Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Zhendong Li
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, MEE, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Da Chen
- School of Environment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Fei Wang
- School of Environment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Nan Lin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China.
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Qin C, Xiang L, Wang YZ, Yu PF, Meng C, Li YW, Zhao HM, Hu X, Gao Y, Mo CH. Binding interaction of environmental DNA with typical emerging perfluoroalkyl acids and its impact on bioavailability. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167392. [PMID: 37758138 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167392] [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: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
As the replacement compounds of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), emerging PFAAs generally exhibit equal or more hazardous toxicity than legacy PFAAs. Numerous DNA as environmental organic matters coexists with emerging PFAAs, but their interactions and the resulting interaction impacts on the bioavailability of emerging PFAAs remain insufficiently understood. Here, we studied the binding strength and mechanism between DNA and emerging PFAAs (perfluorobutyric acid, perfluorobutylsulfonic acid, and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid) using perfluorooctanoic acid as the control, and further investigated the impacts of DNA binding on the bioavailability of the emerging PFAAs. Isothermal titration calorimetry and quantum chemical calculation found that the emerging PFAAs could bind with DNA bases (main thymine) by van der Waals force and halogen-bond, showing the binding affinities in the range of 7.87 × 104 to L/mol to 6.54 × 106 L/mol. The PFAAs-DNA binding significantly decreased the bioavailability of the PFAAs in both seedlings and plants of pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.), with little differences in bioavailability change extent among PFAAs. The findings highlight the universality and similarity of the DNA binding effects on PFAAs bioavailability, which can be the natural detoxification mechanism for response to the PFAAs pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Qin
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Lei Xiang
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yi-Ze Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Peng-Fei Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Can Meng
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yan-Wen Li
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Hai-Ming Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xiaojie Hu
- Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yanzheng Gao
- Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Ce-Hui Mo
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
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Associations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and alternatives with reproductive hormones in women of childbearing age. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 250:114158. [PMID: 36934548 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Experimental studies suggested that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may have endocrine-disrupting effects. However, the epidemiological evidence on the associations of PFAS with female reproductive hormones is sparse and limited to perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). OBJECTIVE To evaluate effects of legacy and emerging PFAS alternatives on female reproductive hormones. METHODS A total of 433 reproductive-aged females were recruited from 2014 to 2016. Information on age, age at menarche, gravity, menstrual cycle, BMI, education, and income was obtained from medical records and questionnaires. Serum samples were collected for reproductive hormones, and plasma samples for PFAS measurement by ultraperformance liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS). Multiple linear regression and quantile g-computation (q-gcomp) were used to examine the associations of individual PFAS and their mixture with reproductive hormones. RESULTS Multiple linear regression analysis showed significant effects of certain PFAS on total testosterone (TT): adjusted estimate (β) for perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) was 0.57 (95% CI: 0.18, 0.97). Moreover, a positive association was detected between PFAS mixture and TT in the q-gcomp model. Higher concentrations of 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonic acid (6:2 Cl-PFESA) were associated with significantly lower prolactin level (β = -0.07, 95% CI: -0.14, -0.001). CONCLUSION Our study found that exposure to PFAS alternatives was associated with altered levels of reproductive hormones in women of childbearing age.
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Qin W, Henneberger L, Huchthausen J, König M, Escher BI. Role of bioavailability and protein binding of four anionic perfluoroalkyl substances in cell-based bioassays for quantitative in vitro to in vivo extrapolations. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 173:107857. [PMID: 36881956 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent and pose a risk to human health. High throughput screening (HTS) cell-based bioassays may inform risk assessment of PFAS provided that quantitative in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (QIVIVE) can be developed. The QIVIVE ratio is the ratio of nominal (Cnom) or freely dissolved concentration (Cfree) in human blood to Cnom or Cfree in the bioassays. Considering that the concentrations of PFAS in human plasma and in vitro bioassays may vary by orders of magnitude, we tested the hypothesis that anionic PFAS bind to proteins concentration-dependently and therefore the binding differs substantially between human plasma and bioassays, which has an impact on QIVIVE. Solid phase microextraction (SPME) with C18-coated fibers served to quantify the Cfree of four anionic PFAS (perfluorobutanoate (PFBA), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)) in the presence of proteins and lipid, medium components, cells and human plasma over five orders of magnitude in concentrations. The C18-SPME method was used to quantify the non-linear binding to proteins, human plasma and medium, and the partition constants to cells. These binding parameters were used to predict Cfree of PFAS in cell bioassays and human plasma by a concentration-dependent mass balance model (MBM). The approach was illustrated with a reporter gene assay indicating activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ-GeneBLAzer). Blood plasma levels were collected from literature for occupational exposure and the general population. The QIVIVEnom ratios were higher than the QIVIVEfree ratios due to the strong affinity to proteins and large differences in protein contents between human blood and bioassays. For human health risk assessment, the QIVIVEfree ratios of many in vitro assays need to be combined to cover all health relevant endpoints. If Cfree cannot be measured, they can be estimated with the MBM and concentration-dependent distribution ratios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiping Qin
- Department of Cell Toxicology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Environmental Toxicology, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstr, 94-96, DE-72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Luise Henneberger
- Department of Cell Toxicology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Julia Huchthausen
- Department of Cell Toxicology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Environmental Toxicology, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstr, 94-96, DE-72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Maria König
- Department of Cell Toxicology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Beate I Escher
- Department of Cell Toxicology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Environmental Toxicology, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstr, 94-96, DE-72076 Tübingen, Germany.
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Peng L, Xu W, Zeng Q, Sun F, Guo Y, Zhong S, Wang F, Chen D. Exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances in waste recycling workers: Distributions in paired human serum and urine. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:106963. [PMID: 34717172 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106963] [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] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Occupational exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is an emerging public health concern, because of their potential adverse health effects. In this study, concentrations of 21 legacy and alternative PFASs in paired serum and urine samples collected from 163 workers (from five waste recycling plants) were analyzed. The results showed that the average concentration of 21 PFASs in urine samples (66.6 ng mL-1) were higher than in serum (31.3 ng mL-1). Concentrations of perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs) in urine were also considerably higher than perfluorosulfonates (PFSAs), especially for short-chain PFCAs. Demographic factors (such as sex, age, working age, and job assignment) on PFAS exposure were also assessed based on the obtained results. PFAS concentrations in serum samples from males were significantly higher than in females, and working age was positively (p < 0.05) associated with most PFAS serum levels. Higher levels of PFAS were found in sorters than in workers with other job assignments, such as managers, suggesting that sorters may be directly exposed to PFASs. Interestingly, perfluorophosphonates (PFPAs) were first to be detected in human urine with >80% detection frequency. The average level of three PFPAs in the serum (7.58 ng mL-1) and urine (1.45 ng mL-1) samples appeared to be higher in comparison with most PFCAs and PFSAs. Thus, the toxicity of PFPAs in human beings needs to be further studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Peng
- School of Environment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Wang Xu
- Shenzhen Environmental Monitoring Center, Shenzhen 518049, Guangdong, China
| | - Qinghuai Zeng
- Shenzhen Environmental Monitoring Center, Shenzhen 518049, Guangdong, China
| | - Feiyun Sun
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Water Resource Application and Environmental Pollution Control, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Ying Guo
- School of Environment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Shan Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Fei Wang
- School of Environment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Da Chen
- School of Environment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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Shen M, Xiao Y, Huang Y, Jing D, Su J, Luo D, Duan Y, Xiao S, Li J, Chen X. Perfluoroalkyl substances are linked to incident chronic spontaneous urticaria: A nested case-control study. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 287:132358. [PMID: 34583294 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies suggested immunotoxicity of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), but contradictory findings were reported for the associations of PFASs with allergies. The current study aimed to investigate the association of serum PFASs with incident chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) in adults. A nested case-control study within a longitudinal cohort of 7051 government employees in China was conducted. Participants with urticaria at the baseline were excluded. During the first follow-up, 70 incident CSU cases were included, and 70 matched healthy controls were randomly selected. In serum samples collected at the baseline, eight PFASs were determined using the UHPLC-MS/MS approach. The median serum concentrations of perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) were significantly higher in participants with incident CSU. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.714 (95% CI: 0.60-0.83) based on the joint prediction by PFBA and PFHpA. The Bayesian kernel machine regression showed a nonlinear positive overall effect of the mixture of PFASs, and identified significant single effects of PFBA and PFHpA. Serum interleukin-4 was significantly higher in the case group at baseline, and was positively associated with PFHpA (r = 0.24). Causal mediation analysis indicated interleukin-4 as a partial mediator (14.8%) in the association of PFHpA with CSU. In conclusion, serum PFASs are associated with an increased risk of incident CSU, and PFBA and PFHpA might be the effective compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minxue Shen
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease Xiangya Hospital, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Central South University, Changsha, China; Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Yi Xiao
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease Xiangya Hospital, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuzhou Huang
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease Xiangya Hospital, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Danrong Jing
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease Xiangya Hospital, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Juan Su
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease Xiangya Hospital, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Dan Luo
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yanying Duan
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shuiyuan Xiao
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease Xiangya Hospital, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease Xiangya Hospital, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Central South University, Changsha, China.
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Bangma JT, Reiner J, Fry RC, Manuck T, McCord J, Strynar MJ. Identification of an Analytical Method Interference for Perfluorobutanoic Acid in Biological Samples. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS 2021; 8:1085-1090. [PMID: 35127964 PMCID: PMC8811701 DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The investigation of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in environmental and biological samples relies on both high- and low-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) techniques. While high-resolution MS (HRMS) can be used for identification and quantification of novel compounds, low-resolution MS is the more commonly used and affordable approach for studies examining previously identified PFAS. Of note, perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) is one of the smaller PFAS observed in biological and environmental samples and has only one major MS/MS transition, preventing the use of qualitative transitions for verification. Recently, our laboratories undertook a targeted investigation of PFAS in the human placenta from high-risk pregnancies utilizing low-resolution, targeted MS/MS. Examination of placental samples revealed a widespread (n = 93/122 (76%)) chemical interferent in the quantitative ion channel for PFBA (213 → 169). PFBA concentrations were influenced by up to ∼3 ng/g. Therefore, additional chromatographic and HRMS/MS instrumentation was utilized to investigate the suspect peak and putatively assign the identity of the interfering compound as the saturated oxo-fatty acid (SOFA) 3-oxo-dodecanoic acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline T Bangma
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Jessica Reiner
- Chemical Sciences Division, Hollings Marine Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, South Carolina 29412, United States
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516, United States; Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States; Curriculum in Toxicology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Tracy Manuck
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - James McCord
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States
| | - Mark J Strynar
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States
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