1
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Wang Y, Gui J, Howe CG, Emond JA, Criswell RL, Gallagher LG, Huset CA, Peterson LA, Botelho JC, Calafat AM, Christensen B, Karagas MR, Romano ME. Association of diet with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in plasma and human milk in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 933:173157. [PMID: 38740209 PMCID: PMC11247473 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173157] [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: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are related to various adverse health outcomes, and food is a common source of PFAS exposure. Dietary sources of PFAS have not been adequately explored among U.S. pregnant individuals. We examined associations of dietary factors during pregnancy with PFAS concentrations in maternal plasma and human milk in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study. PFAS concentrations, including perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), and perfluorodecanoate (PFDA), were measured in maternal plasma collected at ∼28 gestational weeks and human milk collected at ∼6 postpartum weeks. Sociodemographic, lifestyle and reproductive factors were collected from prenatal questionnaires and diet from food frequency questionnaires at ∼28 gestational weeks. We used adaptive elastic net (AENET) to identify important dietary variables for PFAS concentrations. We used multivariable linear regression to assess associations of dietary variables selected by AENET models with PFAS concentrations. Models were adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and reproductive factors, as well as gestational week of blood sample collection (plasma PFAS), postpartum week of milk sample collection (milk PFAS), and enrollment year. A higher intake of fish/seafood, eggs, coffee, or white rice during pregnancy was associated with higher plasma or milk PFAS concentrations. For example, every 1 standard deviation (SD) servings/day increase in egg intake during pregnancy was associated with 4.4 % (95 % CI: 0.6, 8.4), 3.3 % (0.1, 6.7), and 10.3 % (5.6, 15.2) higher plasma PFOS, PFOA, and PFDA concentrations respectively. Similarly, every 1 SD servings/day increase in white rice intake during pregnancy was associated with 7.5 % (95 % CI: -0.2, 15.8) and 12.4 % (4.8, 20.5) greater milk PFOS and PFOA concentrations, respectively. Our study suggests that certain dietary factors during pregnancy may contribute to higher PFAS concentrations in maternal plasma and human milk, which could inform interventions to reduce PFAS exposure for both birthing people and offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03755, USA.
| | - Jiang Gui
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03755, USA
| | - Caitlin G Howe
- Department of Epidemiology, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03755, USA
| | - Jennifer A Emond
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03755, USA
| | - Rachel L Criswell
- Department of Epidemiology, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03755, USA; Skowhegan Family Medicine, Redington-Fairview General Hospital, Skowhegan, ME 04976, USA
| | - Lisa G Gallagher
- Department of Epidemiology, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03755, USA
| | - Carin A Huset
- Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN 55101, USA
| | - Lisa A Peterson
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Julianne Cook Botelho
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
| | - Brock Christensen
- Department of Epidemiology, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03755, USA
| | - Margaret R Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03755, USA
| | - Megan E Romano
- Department of Epidemiology, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03755, USA
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2
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Yadav A, Vuković L, Narayan M. An Atomic and Molecular Insight into How PFOA Reduces α-Helicity, Compromises Substrate Binding, and Creates Binding Pockets in a Model Globular Protein. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:12766-12777. [PMID: 38656109 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c02934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pose significant health risks due to their widespread presence in various environmental and biological matrices. However, the molecular-level mechanisms underlying the interactions between PFAS and biological constituents, including proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and DNA, remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate the interactions between a legacy PFAS, viz. perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and the milk protein β-lactoglobulin (BLG) obtained using a combination of experimental and computational techniques. Circular dichroism studies reveal that PFOA perturbs the secondary structure of BLG, by driving a dose-dependent loss of α-helicity and alterations in its β-sheet content. Furthermore, exposure of the protein to PFOA attenuates the on-rate constant for the binding of the hydrophobic probe 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid (ANS), suggesting potential functional impairment of BLG by PFOA. Steered molecular dynamics and umbrella sampling calculations reveal that PFOA binding leads to the formation of an energetically favorable novel binding pocket within the protein, when residues 129-142 are steered to unfold from their initial α-helical structure, wherein a host of intermolecular interactions between PFOA and BLG's residues serve to insert the PFOA into the region between the unfolded helix and beta-sheets. Together, the data provide a novel understanding of the atomic and molecular mechanism(s) by which PFAS modulates structure and function in a globular protein, leading to a beginning of our understanding of altered biological outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anju Yadav
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Lela Vuković
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
- Computational Science Program, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
- Bioinformatics Program, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Mahesh Narayan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
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3
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Ryu S, Burchett W, Zhang S, Modaresi SMS, Agudelo Areiza J, Kaye E, Fischer FC, Slitt AL. Species-Specific Unbound Fraction Differences in Highly Bound PFAS: A Comparative Study across Human, Rat, and Mouse Plasma and Albumin. TOXICS 2024; 12:253. [PMID: 38668476 PMCID: PMC11054487 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12040253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse group of fluorinated compounds which have yet to undergo comprehensive investigation regarding potential adverse health effects and bioaccumulative properties. With long half-lives and accumulative properties, PFAS have been linked to several toxic effects in both non-clinical species such as rat and mouse as well as human. Although biological impacts and specific protein binding of PFAS have been examined, there is no study focusing on the species-specific fraction unbound (fu) in plasma and related toxicokinetics. Herein, a presaturation equilibrium dialysis method was used to measure and validate the binding of 14 individual PFAS with carbon chains containing 4 to 12 perfluorinated carbon atoms and several functional head-groups to albumin and plasma of mouse (C57BL/6 and CD-1), rat, and human. Equivalence testing between each species-matrix combination showed positive correlation between rat and human when comparing fu in plasma and binding to albumin. Similar trends in binding were also observed for mouse plasma and albumin. Relatively high Spearman correlations for all combinations indicate high concordance of PFAS binding regardless of matrix. Physiochemical properties of PFAS such as molecular weight, chain length, and lipophilicity were found to have important roles in plasma protein binding of PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangwoo Ryu
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA; (S.R.); (S.M.S.M.); (J.A.A.); (E.K.)
- Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, Pfizer Worldwide Research & Development, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT 06340, USA; (W.B.); (S.Z.)
| | - Woodrow Burchett
- Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, Pfizer Worldwide Research & Development, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT 06340, USA; (W.B.); (S.Z.)
| | - Sam Zhang
- Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, Pfizer Worldwide Research & Development, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT 06340, USA; (W.B.); (S.Z.)
| | - Seyed Mohamad Sadegh Modaresi
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA; (S.R.); (S.M.S.M.); (J.A.A.); (E.K.)
| | - Juliana Agudelo Areiza
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA; (S.R.); (S.M.S.M.); (J.A.A.); (E.K.)
| | - Emily Kaye
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA; (S.R.); (S.M.S.M.); (J.A.A.); (E.K.)
| | - Fabian Christoph Fischer
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA; (S.R.); (S.M.S.M.); (J.A.A.); (E.K.)
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Angela L. Slitt
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA; (S.R.); (S.M.S.M.); (J.A.A.); (E.K.)
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Alesio J, Bothun GD. Differential scanning fluorimetry to assess PFAS binding to bovine serum albumin protein. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6501. [PMID: 38499613 PMCID: PMC10948889 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57140-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The rapid screening of protein binding affinity for poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) benefits risk assessment and fate and transport modelling. PFAS are known to bioaccumulate in livestock through contaminated food and water. One excretion pathway is through milk, which may be facilitated by binding to milk proteins such as bovine serum albumin (BSA). We report a label-free differential scanning fluorimetry approach to determine PFAS-BSA binding over a broad temperature range. This method utilizes the tryptophan residue within the protein binding pocket as an intrinsic fluorophore, eliminating the need for fluorophore labels that may influence binding. BSA association constants were determined by (a) an equilibrium-based model at the melting temperature of BSA and (b) the Hill adsorption model to account for temperature dependent binding and binding cooperativity. Differences in binding between PFAS and fatty acid analogs revealed that a combination of size and hydrophobicity drives PFAS binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Alesio
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Geoffrey D Bothun
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA.
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5
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Zhang J, Hu L, Xu H. Dietary exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances: Potential health impacts on human liver. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:167945. [PMID: 37871818 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167945] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), dubbed "forever chemicals", are widely present in the environment. Environmental contamination and food contact substances are the main sources of PFAS in food, increasing the risk of human dietary exposure. Numerous epidemiological studies have established the link between dietary exposure to PFAS and liver disease. Correspondingly, PFAS induced-hepatotoxicity (e.g., hepatomegaly, cell viability, inflammation, oxidative stress, bile acid metabolism dysregulation and glycolipid metabolism disorder) observed from in vitro models and in vivo rodent studies have been extensively reported. In this review, the pertinent literature of the last 5 years from the Web of Science database was researched. This study summarized the source and fate of PFAS, and reviewed the occurrence of PFAS in food system (natural and processed food). Subsequently, the characteristics of human dietary exposure PFAS (population characteristics, distribution trend, absorption and distribution) were mentioned. Additionally, epidemiologic evidence linking PFAS exposure and liver disease was alluded, and the PFAS-induced hepatotoxicity observed from in vitro models and in vivo rodent studies was comprehensively reviewed. Lastly, we highlighted several critical knowledge gaps and proposed future research directions. This review aims to raise public awareness about food PFAS contamination and its potential risks to human liver health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, China
| | - Liehai Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, China
| | - Hengyi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, China; International Institute of Food Innovation, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330299, China.
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6
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Peng M, Xu Y, Wu Y, Cai X, Zhang W, Zheng L, Du E, Fu J. Binding Affinity and Mechanism of Six PFAS with Human Serum Albumin: Insights from Multi-Spectroscopy, DFT and Molecular Dynamics Approaches. TOXICS 2024; 12:43. [PMID: 38250999 PMCID: PMC10819430 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12010043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) bioaccumulate in the human body, presenting potential health risks and cellular toxicity. Their transport mechanisms and interactions with tissues and the circulatory system require further investigation. This study investigates the interaction mechanisms of six PFAS with Human Serum Albumin (HSA) using multi-spectroscopy, DFT and a molecular dynamics approach. Multi-spectral analysis shows that perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) has the best binding capabilities with HSA. The order of binding constants (298 K) is as follows: "Perfluorononanoic Acid (PFNA, 7.81 × 106 L·mol-1) > Perfluoro-2,5-dimethyl-3,6-dioxanonanoic Acid (HFPO-TA, 3.70 × 106 L·mol-1) > Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA, 2.27 × 105 L·mol-1) > Perfluoro-3,6,9-trioxadecanoic Acid (PFO3DA, 1.59 × 105 L·mol-1) > Perfluoroheptanoic Acid (PFHpA, 4.53 × 103 L·mol-1) > Dodecafluorosuberic Acid (DFSA, 1.52 × 103 L·mol-1)". Thermodynamic analysis suggests that PFNA and PFO3DA's interactions with HSA are exothermic, driven primarily by hydrogen bonds or van der Waals interactions. PFHpA, DFSA, PFOA, and HFPO-TA's interactions with HSA, on the other hand, are endothermic processes primarily driven by hydrophobic interactions. Competitive probe results show that the main HSA-PFAS binding site is in the HSA structure's subdomain IIA. These findings are also consistent with the findings of molecular docking. Molecular dynamics simulation (MD) analysis further shows that the lowest binding energy (-38.83 kcal/mol) is fund in the HSA-PFNA complex, indicating that PFNA binds more readily with HSA. Energy decomposition analysis also indicates that van der Waals and electrostatic interactions are the main forces for the HSA-PFAS complexes. Correlation analysis reveals that DFT quantum chemical descriptors related to electrostatic distribution and characteristics like ESP and ALIE are more representative in characterizing HSA-PFAS binding. This study sheds light on the interactions between HSA and PFAS. It guides health risk assessments and control strategies against PFAS, serving as a critical starting point for further public health research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingguo Peng
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China;
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China; (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (W.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Yang Xu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China; (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (W.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Yao Wu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China; (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (W.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Xuewen Cai
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China; (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (W.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Weihua Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China; (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (W.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Lu Zheng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China; (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (W.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Erdeng Du
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China; (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (X.C.); (W.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Jiajun Fu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China;
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7
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Pye ES, Wallace SE, Marangoni DG, Foo ACY. Albumin Proteins as Delivery Vehicles for PFAS Contaminants into Respiratory Membranes. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:44036-44043. [PMID: 38027323 PMCID: PMC10666230 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c06239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of chemicals that have been used in a wide range of commercial products. While their use is declining, the prevalence of PFAS, combined with their chemical longevity, ensures that detectable levels will remain in the environment for years to come. As such, there is a pressing need to understand how PFAS contaminants interact with other elements of the human exposome and the consequences of these interactions for human health. Using serum albumin as a model system, we show that proteins can bind PFAS contaminants and facilitate their incorporation into model pulmonary surfactant systems and lipid bilayers. Protein-mediated PFAS delivery significantly altered the structure and function of both model membrane systems, potentially contributing to respiratory dysfunction and airway diseases in vivo. These results provide valuable insights into the synergistic interaction between PFAS contaminants and other elements of the human exposome and their potential consequences for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan S. Pye
- Dept. of Chemistry, St. Francis Xavier University, 2321 Notre Dame Avenue, Antigonish B2G 2W5, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Shannon E. Wallace
- Dept. of Chemistry, St. Francis Xavier University, 2321 Notre Dame Avenue, Antigonish B2G 2W5, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - D. Gerrard Marangoni
- Dept. of Chemistry, St. Francis Xavier University, 2321 Notre Dame Avenue, Antigonish B2G 2W5, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Alexander C. Y. Foo
- Dept. of Chemistry, St. Francis Xavier University, 2321 Notre Dame Avenue, Antigonish B2G 2W5, Nova Scotia, Canada
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8
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Lewis R, Huang CH, White JC, Haynes CL. Using 19F NMR to Investigate Cationic Carbon Dot Association with Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). ACS NANOSCIENCE AU 2023; 3:408-417. [PMID: 37868224 PMCID: PMC10588439 DOI: 10.1021/acsnanoscienceau.3c00022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
There is much concern about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) based on their environmental persistence and toxicity, resulting in an urgent need for remediation technologies. This study focused on determining if nanoscale polymeric carbon dots are a viable sorbent material for PFAS and developing fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (19F NMR) methods to probe interactions between carbon dots and PFAS at the molecular scale. Positively charged carbon dots (PEI-CDs) were synthesized using branched polyethyleneimine to target anionic PFAS by promoting electrostatic interactions. PEI-CDs were exposed to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) to assess their potential as a PFAS sorbent material. After exposure to PFOA, the average size of the PEI-CDs increased (1.6 ± 0.5 to 7.8 ± 1.8 nm) and the surface charge decreased (+38.6 ± 1.1 to +26.4 ± 0.8 mV), both of which are consistent with contaminant sorption. 19F NMR methods were developed to gain further insight into PEI-CD affinity toward PFAS without any complex sample preparation. Changes in PFOA peak intensity and chemical shift were monitored at various PEI-CD concentrations to establish binding curves and determine the chemical exchange regime. 19F NMR spectral analysis indicates slow-intermediate chemical exchange between PFOA and CDs, demonstrating a high-affinity interaction. The α-fluorine had the greatest change in chemical shift and highest affinity, suggesting electrostatic interactions are the dominant sorption mechanism. PEI-CDs demonstrated affinity for a wide range of analytes when exposed to a mixture of 24-PFAS, with a slight preference toward perfluoroalkyl sulfonates. Overall, this study shows that PEI-CDs are an effective PFAS sorbent material and establishes 19F NMR as a suitable method to screen for novel sorbent materials and elucidate interaction mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley
E. Lewis
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Minnesota-Twin
Cities, 207 Pleasant Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Cheng-Hsin Huang
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Minnesota-Twin
Cities, 207 Pleasant Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Jason C. White
- The
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Christy L. Haynes
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Minnesota-Twin
Cities, 207 Pleasant Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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9
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Point AD, Crimmins BS, Holsen TM, Fernando S, Hopke PK, Darie CC. Can blood proteome diversity among fish species help explain perfluoroalkyl acid trophodynamics in aquatic food webs? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 875:162337. [PMID: 36848995 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse family of industrially significant synthetic chemicals infamous for extreme environmental persistence and global environmental distribution. Many PFAS are bioaccumulative and biologically active mainly due to their tendency to bind with various proteins. These protein interactions are important in determining the accumulation potential and tissue distribution of individual PFAS. Trophodynamics studies including aquatic food webs present inconsistent evidence for PFAS biomagnification. This study strives to identify whether the observed variability in PFAS bioaccumulation potential among species could correspond with interspecies protein composition differences. Specifically, this work compares the perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) serum protein binding potential and the tissue distribution of ten perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) detected in alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), deepwater sculpin (Myoxocephalus thompsonii), and lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) of the Lake Ontario aquatic piscivorous food web. These three fish sera and fetal bovine reference serum all had unique total serum protein concentrations. Serum protein-PFOS binding experiments showed divergent patterns between fetal bovine serum and fish sera, suggesting potentially two different PFOS binding mechanisms. To identify interspecies differences in PFAS-binding serum proteins, fish sera were pre-equilibrated with PFOS, fractionated by serial molecular weight cut-off filter fractionation, followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of the tryptic protein digests and the PFOS extracts of each fraction. This workflow identified similar serum proteins for all fish species. However, serum albumin was only identified in lake trout, suggesting apolipoproteins are likely the primary PFAA transporters in alewife and deepwater sculpin sera. PFAA tissue distribution analysis provided supporting evidence for interspecies variations in lipid transport and storage, which may also contribute to the varied PFAA accumulation in these species. Proteomics data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD039145.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam D Point
- Institute for a Sustainable Environment, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, United States of America.
| | - Bernard S Crimmins
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, United States of America; AEACS, LLC, New Kensington, PA, United States of America
| | - Thomas M Holsen
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, United States of America; Center for Air and Aquatic Resources Engineering and Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, United States of America
| | - Sujan Fernando
- Center for Air and Aquatic Resources Engineering and Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, United States of America
| | - Philip K Hopke
- Institute for a Sustainable Environment, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, United States of America; Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Costel C Darie
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Group, Department of Chemistry & Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, United States of America
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10
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Zhao L, Teng M, Zhao X, Li Y, Sun J, Zhao W, Ruan Y, Leung KMY, Wu F. Insight into the binding model of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances to proteins and membranes. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 175:107951. [PMID: 37126916 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have elicited much concern because of their ubiquitous distribution in the environment and the potential hazards they pose to wildlife and human health. Although an increasing number of effective PFAS alternatives are available in the market, these alternatives bring new challenges. This paper comprehensively reviews how PFASs bind to transport proteins (e.g., serum albumin, liver fatty acid transport proteins and organic acid transporters), nuclear receptors (e.g., peroxisome proliferator activated receptors, thyroid hormone receptors and reproductive hormone receptors) and membranes (e.g., cell membrane and mitochondrial membrane). Briefly, the hydrophobic fluorinated carbon chains of PFASs occupy the binding cavities of the target proteins, and the acid groups of PFASs form hydrogen bonds with amino acid residues. Various structural features of PFAS alternatives such as chlorine atom substitution, oxygen atom insertion and a branched structure, introduce variations in their chain length and hydrophobicity, which potentially change the affinity of PFAS alternatives for endogenous proteins. The toxic effects and mechanisms of action of legacy PFASs can be demonstrated and compared with their alternatives using binding models. In future studies, in vitro experiments and in silico quantitative structure-activity relationship modeling should be better integrated to allow more reliable toxicity predictions for both legacy and alternative PFASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Miaomiao Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Xiaoli Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yunxia Li
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaqi Sun
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Wentian Zhao
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuefei Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Kenneth M Y Leung
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Fengchang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China.
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11
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Crisalli AM, Cai A, Cho BP. Probing the Interactions of Perfluorocarboxylic Acids of Various Chain Lengths with Human Serum Albumin: Calorimetric and Spectroscopic Investigations. Chem Res Toxicol 2023; 36:703-713. [PMID: 37001030 PMCID: PMC11091765 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.3c00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Despite an exponential increase in PFAS research over the past two decades, the mechanisms behind how PFAS cause adverse health effects are still poorly understood. Protein interactions are considered a significant driver of bioaccumulation and subsequent toxicity from re-exposure; however, most of the available literature is limited to legacy PFAS. We utilized microcalorimetric and spectroscopic methods to systematically investigate the binding between human serum albumin (HSA) and perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) of varying chain lengths and their nonfluorinated fatty acid (FA) counterparts. The results reveal the optimal chain length for significant PFCA-HSA binding and some fundamental interactions, i.e., the polar carboxylic head of PFCA is countered by ionizable amino acids such as arginine, and the fluorocarbon tails stabilized by hydrophobic residues like leucine and valine. Additionally, fluorine's unique polarizability contributes to PFCA's stronger binding affinities relative to the corresponding fatty acids. Based on these observations, we posit that PFCAs likely bind to HSA in a "cavity-filling" manner, provided they have an appropriate size and shape to accommodate the electrostatic interactions. The results reported herein widen the pool of structural information to explain PFAS bioaccumulation patterns and toxicity and support the development of more accurate computational modeling of protein-PFAS interactions. TOC graphic created with Biorender.com.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia M Crisalli
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, United States
| | - Ang Cai
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, United States
| | - Bongsup P Cho
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, United States
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12
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Wang H, Hu D, Wen W, Lin X, Xia X. Warming Affects Bioconcentration and Bioaccumulation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances by Pelagic and Benthic Organisms in a Water-Sediment System. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:3612-3622. [PMID: 36808967 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07631] [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] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Warming and exposure to emerging global pollutants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are significant stressors in the aquatic ecosystem. However, little is known about the warming effect on the bioaccumulation of PFAS in aquatic organisms. In this study, the pelagic organisms Daphnia magna and zebrafish, and the benthic organism Chironomus plumosus were exposed to 13 PFAS in a sediment-water system with a known amount of each PFAS at different temperatures (16, 20, and 24 °C). The results showed that the steady-state body burden (Cb-ss) of PFAS in pelagic organisms increased with increasing temperatures, mainly attributed to increased water concentrations. The uptake rate constant (ku) and elimination rate constant (ke) in pelagic organisms increased with increasing temperature. In contrast, warming did not significantly change or even mitigate Cb-ss of PFAS in the benthic organism Chironomus plumosus, except for PFPeA and PFHpA, which was consistent with declined sediment concentrations. The mitigation could be explained by the decreased bioaccumulation factor due to a more significant percent increase in ke than ku, especially for long-chain PFAS. This study suggests that the warming effect on the PFAS concentration varies among different media, which should be considered for their ecological risk assessment under climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haotian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Diexuan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Wu Wen
- Instrumentation and Service Center for Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, China
| | - Xiaohan Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Xinghui Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
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13
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Feng Y, Fu M, Guan X, Wang C, Meng H, Zhou Y, He M, Guo H. Associations of exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances with serum uric acid change and hyperuricemia among Chinese women: Results from a longitudinal study. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 308:136438. [PMID: 36116625 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cross-sectional studies have reported associations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) with concurrent serum uric acid (UA) levels. However, the prospective associations of other commonly detected perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) with serum UA and hyperuricemia remain unclear. METHODS A total of 654 females from the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort, who were followed up from 2008 to 2018, were included in this study. We measured their baseline plasma concentrations of six PFASs [including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), PFOA, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)], as well as their serum UA levels at both baseline and follow-up visits. General linear and logistic regression models were constructed to explore the associations of each PFAS with annual change of serum UA and incident hyperuricemia. Mixture effects of PFASs were further assessed by using the quantile g-computation approach. RESULTS Compared to participants with low PFNA exposure (≤50th), those with high PFNA exposure (>75th) had significantly increased annual increment of serum UA [β(95%CI) = 2.58 (0.60, 4.55)]. No significant associations of PFOS, PFOA, PFDA, PFHxS, or PFHpA with serum UA change were observed. Besides, females with high PFOA or PFHpA (>75th) exposure had higher incident risk of hyperuricemia than those with low exposure (<50th) [OR (95%CI) = 1.94 (1.00, 3.76) and 1.86 (1.03, 3.36), respectively]. No significant associations of PFOS, PFNA, PFDA, and PFHxS with hyperuricemia risk were observed. Quantile g-computation approach didn't find significant effects of PFAS co-exposure on serum UA change or hyperuricemia incidence. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggested exposure to PFASs as a risk factor for hyperuricemia and shed light on hyperuricemia prevention for elderly females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Feng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ming Fu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xin Guan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chenming Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hua Meng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuhan Zhou
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Meian He
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Huan Guo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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14
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Lasters R, Groffen T, Eens M, Coertjens D, Gebbink WA, Hofman J, Bervoets L. Home-produced eggs: An important human exposure pathway of perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS). CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 308:136283. [PMID: 36075366 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136283] [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: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Humans are generally exposed to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) through their diet. Whilst plenty of data are available on commercial food products, little information exists on the contribution of self-cultivated food, such as home-produced eggs (HPE), to the dietary PFAS intake in humans. The prevalence of 17 legacy and emerging PFAS in HPE (N = 70) from free-ranging laying hens was examined at 35 private gardens, situated within a 10 km radius from a fluorochemical plant in Antwerp (Belgium). Potential influences from housing conditions (feed type and number of individuals) and age of the chickens on the egg concentrations was examined, and possible human health risks were evaluated. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were detected in all samples. PFOS was the dominant compound and concentrations (range: 0.13-241 ng/g wet weight) steeply decreased with distance from the fluorochemical plant, while there was no clear distance trend for other PFAS. Laying hens receiving an obligate diet of kitchen leftovers, exhibited higher PFOS and PFOA concentrations in their eggs than hens feeding only on commercial food, suggesting that garden produce may be a relevant exposure pathway to both chickens and humans. The age of laying hens affected egg PFAS concentrations, with younger hens exhibiting significantly higher egg PFOA concentrations. Based on a modest human consumption scenario of two eggs per week, the European health guideline was exceeded in ≥67% of the locations for all age classes, both nearby and further away (till 10 km) from the plant site. These results indicate that PFAS exposure via HPE causes potential human health risks. Extensive analysis in other self-cultivated food items on a larger spatial scale is highly recommended, taking into account potential factors that may affect PFAS bioavailability to garden produce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Lasters
- ECOSPHERE, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium; Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Thimo Groffen
- ECOSPHERE, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium; Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Marcel Eens
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Dries Coertjens
- Centre for Research on Environmental and Social Change, Department of Sociology, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | | | - Jelle Hofman
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium.
| | - Lieven Bervoets
- ECOSPHERE, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium.
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15
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Qin C, Lu YX, Borch T, Yang LL, Li YW, Zhao HM, Hu X, Gao Y, Xiang L, Mo CH, Li QX. Interactions between Extracellular DNA and Perfluoroalkyl Acids (PFAAs) Decrease the Bioavailability of PFAAs in Pakchoi ( Brassica chinensis L.). JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022; 70:14622-14632. [PMID: 36375011 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c04597] [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] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are emerging ionic organic pollutants worldwide. Great amounts of extracellular DNA (∼mg/kg) coexist with PFAAs in the environment. However, PFAA-DNA interactions and effects of such interactions have not been well studied. Herein, we used isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), spectroscopy, and computational simulations to investigate the PFAA-DNA interactions. ITC assays showed that specific binding affinities of PFHxA-DNA, PFOA-DNA, PFNA-DNA, and PFOS-DNA were 5.14 × 105, 3.29 × 105, 1.99 × 105, and 2.18 × 104 L/mol, respectively, which were about 1-2 orders of magnitude stronger than those of PFAAs with human serum albumin. Spectral analysis suggested interactions of PFAAs with adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T), among which grooves associated with thymine were the major binding sites. Molecular dynamics simulations and quantum chemical calculations suggested that hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces were the main interaction forces. Such a PFAA-DNA binding decreased the bioavailability of PFAAs in plant seedlings. The findings will help to improve the current understanding of the interaction between PFAAs and biomacromolecules, as well as how such interactions affect the bioavailability of PFAAs.
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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, Guangzhou510632, China
- Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing210095, China
| | - Ying-Xin Lu
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou510632, China
| | - Thomas Borch
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, 1872 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, Colorado80523, United States
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, 1170 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, Colorado80523, United States
| | - Ling-Ling Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou510632, China
| | - Yan-Wen Li
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou510632, China
| | - Hai-Ming Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou510632, China
| | - Xiaojie Hu
- Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing210095, China
| | - Yanzheng Gao
- Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing210095, China
| | - Lei Xiang
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou510632, China
| | - Ce-Hui Mo
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou510632, China
| | - Qing X Li
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii96822, United States
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16
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Feng Y, Bai Y, Lu Y, Chen M, Fu M, Guan X, Cao Q, Yuan F, Jie J, Li M, Meng H, Wang C, Hong S, Zhou Y, Zhang X, He M, Guo H. Plasma perfluoroalkyl substance exposure and incidence risk of breast cancer: A case-cohort study in the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 306:119345. [PMID: 35472559 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Experimental studies have suggested perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) as mammary toxicants, but few studies evaluated the prospective associations of PFASs with breast cancer risk. We performed a case-cohort study within the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort, including incident breast cancer cases (n = 226) and a random sub-cohort (n = 990). Baseline plasma concentrations of four perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) [perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)] and two perfluorinated sulfonic acids (PFSAs) [perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS)] were measured. Barlow-weighted Cox regression models revealed that each 1-unit increase in ln-transformed PFOA and PFHpA was associated with a separate 35% and 20% elevated incident risk of breast cancer [HR(95%CI) = 1.35(1.03, 1.78) and 1.20(1.02, 1.40), respectively], which were also significant among postmenopausal females [HR(95%CI) = 1.34(1.01, 1.77) and 1.23 (1.02, 1.48), respectively]. Quantile g-computation analysis observed a 19% increased incident risk of breast cancer along with each simultaneous quartile increase in all ln-transformed PFCA concentrations [HR(95%CI) = 1.19(1.01, 1.41)], with PFOA accounting for 56% of the positive effect. Our findings firstly revealed the impact of short-chain PFHpA on increased incident risk of breast cancer, suggested exposure to PFASs as a risk factor for breast cancer, and shed light on breast cancer prevention by regulating PFASs as a chemical class.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Feng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yansen Bai
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanjun Lu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengshi Chen
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ming Fu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xin Guan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiang Cao
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fangfang Yuan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiali Jie
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengying Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hua Meng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chenming Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shiru Hong
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuhan Zhou
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaomin Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Meian He
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Huan Guo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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17
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Fan X, Jiang Y, Guan X, Bao Y, Gu M, Mumtaz M, Huang J, Yu G. Determination of total reducible organofluorine in PFAS-impacted aqueous samples based on hydrated electron defluorination. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 829:154548. [PMID: 35288136 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is a large group of thousands of anthropogenic chemicals. Recently, measurement of total organic fluorine (TOF) to reflect the total PFASs has been recommended in limits and advisories. In this study, a total reducible organofluorine (TROF) assay is developed based on hydrated electron (eaq-) conversion of PFASs into inorganic fluorine combined with ion chromatograph, which is a common and widespread instrument. The eaq- is generated in UV/sulfite system with alkaline condition, and the concentration of TROF (CF_TROF) is the difference of fluoride concentration before and after assay. Method validation uses perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, perfluorooctanoic acid and their main alternatives, and F- recoveries are 76.6%-101%, except for perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (48.5%). Method application of TROF assay uses industrial surfactant products and fluorochemical industry-contaminated water, meanwhile, target PFAS analysis and total oxidizable precursors (TOP) assay are concurrently conducted. Concentrations of PFASs detected in target analysis and TOP assay were converted to fluorine equivalents concentrations (CF_Target and CF_TOP). ∑CF_Target and ∑CF_TOP account for 0.80%-36% of CF_TROF in industrial samples, 0.12%-54% in environmental water and 9.7%-14% in wastewater. The TROF assay can be used to initially judge whether PFASs contamination occurred near a hotspot with known sources. The CF_TROF could infer the extent of PFAS contamination in PFAS-impacted samples and estimate the fraction of uncharacterized PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueqi Fan
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control (SKLESPC), Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control (BKLEOC), Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies (BLEFT), School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yiming Jiang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control (SKLESPC), Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control (BKLEOC), Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies (BLEFT), School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xiaoyu Guan
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control (SKLESPC), Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control (BKLEOC), Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies (BLEFT), School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yixiang Bao
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control (SKLESPC), Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control (BKLEOC), Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies (BLEFT), School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Mengbin Gu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control (SKLESPC), Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control (BKLEOC), Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies (BLEFT), School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Mehvish Mumtaz
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control (SKLESPC), Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control (BKLEOC), Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies (BLEFT), School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jun Huang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control (SKLESPC), Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control (BKLEOC), Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies (BLEFT), School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Gang Yu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control (SKLESPC), Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control (BKLEOC), Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies (BLEFT), School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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18
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Lewis AJ, Yun X, Spooner DE, Kurz MJ, McKenzie ER, Sales CM. Exposure pathways and bioaccumulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in freshwater aquatic ecosystems: Key considerations. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 822:153561. [PMID: 35101505 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Due to the bioaccumulative behavior, toxicity, and recalcitrance to degradation, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a focus for many researchers investigating freshwater aquatic ecosystems. PFAS are a diverse set of chemicals that accumulate and transport quite differently in the environment depending on the length of their fluoroalkyl chains and their functional groups. This diversity in PFAS chemical characteristics combined with varying environmental factors also impact the bioaccumulation of these compounds in different organisms. In this review, we evaluate environmental factors (such as organic carbon, proteins, lipids, and dissolved cations) as well as PFAS characteristics (head group, chain-length, and concentration) that contribute to the significant variation seen in the literature of bioaccumulation metrics reported for organisms in aquatic ecosystems. Of the factors evaluated, it was found that PFAS concentration, dissolved organic matter, sediment organic matter, and biotransformation of precursor PFAS tended to significantly impact reported bioaccumulation metrics the most. Based on this review, it is highly suggested that future studies provide sufficient details of important environmental factors, specific organism traits/ behavior, and PFAS concentrations/compounds when reporting on bioaccumulation metrics to further fill data gaps and improve our understanding of PFAS in aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asa J Lewis
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Xiaoyan Yun
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Daniel E Spooner
- Department of Biology, Lock Haven University, Lock Haven, PA 17745, USA
| | - Marie J Kurz
- Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA
| | - Erica R McKenzie
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Christopher M Sales
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Wackett LP. Nothing lasts forever: understanding microbial biodegradation of polyfluorinated compounds and perfluorinated alkyl substances. Microb Biotechnol 2022; 15:773-792. [PMID: 34570953 PMCID: PMC8913905 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Poly- and perfluorinated chemicals, including perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), are pervasive in today's society, with a negative impact on human and ecosystem health continually emerging. These chemicals are now subject to strict government regulations, leading to costly environmental remediation efforts. Commercial polyfluorinated compounds have been called 'forever chemicals' due to their strong resistance to biological and chemical degradation. Environmental cleanup by bioremediation is not considered practical currently. Implementation of bioremediation will require uncovering and understanding the rare microbial successes in degrading these compounds. This review discusses the underlying reasons why microbial degradation of heavily fluorinated compounds is rare. Fluorinated and chlorinated compounds are very different with respect to chemistry and microbial physiology. Moreover, the end product of biodegradation, fluoride, is much more toxic than chloride. It is imperative to understand these limitations, and elucidate physiological mechanisms of defluorination, in order to better discover, study, and engineer bacteria that can efficiently degrade polyfluorinated compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence P. Wackett
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and BiophysicsUniversity of MinnesotaSt. PaulMN55108USA
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Alesio JL, Slitt A, Bothun GD. Critical new insights into the binding of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to albumin protein. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 287:131979. [PMID: 34450368 PMCID: PMC8612954 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
With an increasing number of health-related impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) being reported, there is a pressing need to understand PFAS transport within both the human body and the environment. As proteins can serve as a primary transport mechanism for PFAS, understanding PFAS binding to proteins is essential for predictive physiological models where accurate values of protein binding constants are vital. In this work we present a critical analysis of three common models for analyzing PFAS binding to bovine serum albumin (BSA) based on fluorescence quenching: the Stern-Volmer model, the modified Stern-Volmer model, and the Hill equation. The PFAS examined include perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and the replacement compound 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)propanoate (HFPO-DA or GenX). While all three models capture the general effects of hydrophobicity and steric limitations to PFAS binding, the Hill equation highlighted a unique relationship between binding cooperativity and the number of fluorinated carbons, with PFOA exhibiting the greatest binding cooperativity. The significance of steric limitations was confirmed by comparing results obtained by fluorescence quenching, which is an indirect method based on specific binding, to those obtained by equilibrium dialysis where PFAS binding directly correlated with traditional measures of hydrophobicity. Finally, the binding constants were correlated with PFAS physicochemical properties where van der Waals volume best described the steric limitations observed by fluorescence quenching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Alesio
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Rhode Island, 2 East Alumni Ave, Kingston, RI, 02881, United States
| | - Angela Slitt
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, 7 Greenhouse Rd, Kingston, RI, 02881, United States
| | - Geoffrey D Bothun
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Rhode Island, 2 East Alumni Ave, Kingston, RI, 02881, United States.
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21
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Al Harraq A, Bharti B. Microplastics through the Lens of Colloid Science. ACS ENVIRONMENTAL AU 2021; 2:3-10. [PMID: 37101760 PMCID: PMC10125150 DOI: 10.1021/acsenvironau.1c00016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics are sub-millimeter-sized fragments of plastics and a relatively new class of pollutant increasingly found in the environment. Due to their size and surface area to volume ratio, the physicochemical characteristics of microplastics can diverge from those of their macroscopic counterparts. This is partly why it is challenging to understand their origin, analyze their behavior, and predict their fates in the environment compared to large pollutants. We believe that adopting a view of microplastics as a colloid provides a holistic framework that connects their physical properties and surface chemistries with observations of their dynamics in the environment. In particular, we discuss the role of fundamental principles of colloid science in interpreting phenomena of wetting, adsorption, aggregation, and transport of microplastics. Colloid and interface science can provide the tools to couple or decouple the physicochemical behaviors of microplastics, which may aid in understanding the environmental challenge both from a fundamental perspective and with respect to practical remediation methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Al Harraq
- Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Bhuvnesh Bharti
- Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
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22
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Lasters R, Groffen T, Bervoets L, Eens M. Perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) profile and concentrations in two co-occurring tit species: distinct differences indicate non-generalizable results across passerines. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 761:143301. [PMID: 33183821 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Eggs of terrestrial bird species have often been used to biomonitor both legacy and emerging anthropogenic contaminants, such as perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs). However, few, if any, studies have examined whether results obtained in a given model species can be generalized across bird species. Therefore, we compared potential differences in egg PFAA profile and concentrations between two widely studied passerine species, great tit (Parus major) and blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), which are similar in many aspects of their ecology and life history. Whole clutches of both species were collected from the same breeding season and at the same place (Antwerp, Belgium), enabling us to study laying order effects. Additionally, we evaluated how egg PFAA concentrations for both species changed along a distance gradient from a PFAA point source. Although the sum PFAA concentrations did not significantly differ between great tits and blue tits, large differences in PFAA profile and laying order effects were observed. Great tits showed a more diverse PFAA detection profile, including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and various long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) but no short-chain compounds. Contrarily, short-chain PFCAs (perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)) were only detected in blue tit eggs. The variation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) concentrations within clutches was large in both species, although laying order effects on PFOA concentrations were only found in blue tits. Although egg PFOA concentrations of both species decreased similarly from the fluorochemical point source onwards, more variation in egg PFOA concentrations could be explained by distance from the fluorochemical plant in great tits (60%) than in blue tits (15%). Results showed that both species markedly differed in terms of egg PFAA profile and concentrations, most likely reflecting differences in diet, foraging habits and egg protein composition. Finally, biomonitoring results of PFAAs in eggs are likely not generalizable across bird species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Lasters
- Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium; Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Thimo Groffen
- Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium; Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Lieven Bervoets
- Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Marcel Eens
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
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Zare Jeddi M, Dalla Zuanna T, Barbieri G, Fabricio ASC, Daprà F, Fletcher T, Russo F, Pitter G, Canova C. Associations of Perfluoroalkyl Substances with Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Highly Exposed Young Adult Community Residents-A Cross-Sectional Study in Veneto Region, Italy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:1194. [PMID: 33572770 PMCID: PMC7908308 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18031194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies on the association between perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are limited, and results are inconsistent. We aimed to examine the associations between PFAS serum levels and the prevalence of MetS among highly exposed young adults (ages 20-39) residents of a large area of the Veneto Region (North-Eastern Italy) primarily stemming from PFAS water contamination before September 2013. A total of 15,876 eligible young adult residents living in the investigated municipalities were enrolled in the study from January 2017 to July 2019. METHODS MetS was defined by using a modified harmonized definition requiring the presence of 3 of the following: obesity (body mass index ≥30), elevated triglyceride (TG), reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and hemoglobin A1c ≥ 6.1% or self-reported diabetes mellitus or drug treatment for hyperglycemia. Multivariable generalized additive models were performed to identify the associations between four serum PFAS, including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and risk of MetS controlling for potential confounders. RESULTS A total of 1282 participants (8.1%) met the criteria of MetS with a higher prevalence among men. PFOA, PFHxS, and PFNA were not associated with the risk of MetS, whereas PFOS showed a consistent protective effect against the risk of MetS (OR 0.76, (95% CI: 0.69, 0.85) per ln-PFOS). However, we found statistically significant positive associations between PFAS serum levels and individual components of MetS, mainly elevated blood pressure and elevated TG. CONCLUSION Our results did not support a consistent association between PFAS and MetS and conflicting findings were observed for individual components of MetS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Zare Jeddi
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, 35131 Padova, Italy; (M.Z.J.); (T.D.Z.); (G.B.)
| | - Teresa Dalla Zuanna
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, 35131 Padova, Italy; (M.Z.J.); (T.D.Z.); (G.B.)
| | - Giulia Barbieri
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, 35131 Padova, Italy; (M.Z.J.); (T.D.Z.); (G.B.)
| | | | - Francesca Daprà
- Laboratory Department-Regional Agency for Environmental Prevention and Protection-Veneto Region, 37135 Verona, Italy;
| | - Tony Fletcher
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, UK;
| | - Francesca Russo
- Directorate of Prevention, Food Safety, and Veterinary Public Health-Veneto Region, 30123 Venice, Italy;
| | - Gisella Pitter
- Screening and Health Impact Assessment Unit, Azienda Zero-Veneto Region, 35131 Padova, Italy;
| | - Cristina Canova
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, 35131 Padova, Italy; (M.Z.J.); (T.D.Z.); (G.B.)
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