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Phelps DW, Connors AM, Ferrero G, DeWitt JC, Yoder JA. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances alter innate immune function: evidence and data gaps. J Immunotoxicol 2024; 21:2343362. [PMID: 38712868 PMCID: PMC11249028 DOI: 10.1080/1547691x.2024.2343362] [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: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a large class of compounds used in a variety of processes and consumer products. Their unique chemical properties make them ubiquitous and persistent environmental contaminants while also making them economically viable and socially convenient. To date, several reviews have been published to synthesize information regarding the immunotoxic effects of PFASs on the adaptive immune system. However, these reviews often do not include data on the impact of these compounds on innate immunity. Here, current literature is reviewed to identify and incorporate data regarding the effects of PFASs on innate immunity in humans, experimental models, and wildlife. Known mechanisms by which PFASs modulate innate immune function are also reviewed, including disruption of cell signaling, metabolism, and tissue-level effects. For PFASs where innate immune data are available, results are equivocal, raising additional questions about common mechanisms or pathways of toxicity, but highlighting that the innate immune system within several species can be perturbed by exposure to PFASs. Recommendations are provided for future research to inform hazard identification, risk assessment, and risk management practices for PFASs to protect the immune systems of exposed organisms as well as environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drake W. Phelps
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - Ashley M. Connors
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Toxicology Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Genetics and Genomics Academy, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - Giuliano Ferrero
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - Jamie C. DeWitt
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
| | - Jeffrey A. Yoder
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Toxicology Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Genetics and Genomics Academy, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
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2
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Jackson TW, Lambright CS, Evans N, Wehmas LC, MacMillan DK, Bangma J, Gray LE, Conley JM. Exploring maternal and developmental toxicity of perfluoroalkyl ether acids PFO4DA and PFO5DoA using hepatic transcriptomics and serum metabolomics. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 953:175978. [PMID: 39226966 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2024] [Revised: 08/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
Production of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has shifted from long-chain perfluoroalkyl acids to short-chain compounds and those with ether bonds in the carbon chain. Next-generation perfluoroalkylether PFAS include HFPO-DA ("GenX chemicals"), Nafion Byproducts, and the PFOx homologous series that includes perfluoro-3,5,7,9-butaoxadecanoic acid (PFO4DA) and perfluoro-3,5,7,9,11-pentaoxadodecanoic acid (PFO5DoA). PFO4DA and PFO5DoA have been detected in serum and/or tissues from humans and wildlife proximal to contamination point sources. However, toxicity data are extremely limited, with no in vivo developmental toxicology data. To address these data gaps, pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed via oral gavage to vehicle, PFO4DA, or PFO5DoA across a series of doses (0.1 to 62.5 mg/kg/day) from gestation day (GD) 18-22. Hepatic transcriptomics were assayed in dams and fetuses, and serum metabolomics in dams. These data were overlaid with serum PFO4DA and PFO5DoA concentrations to perform dose-response modeling. Both dams and fetuses exhibited dose-responsive disruption of hepatic gene expression in response to PFO4DA or PFO5DoA, with fetal expression disrupted at lower doses than dams. Several differentially expressed genes were upregulated by every dose of PFO5DoA in both maternal and fetal samples, including genes encoding enzymes that hydrolyze acyl-coA to free fatty acids. Maternal serum metabolomics revealed PFO4DA exposure did not induce significant changes at any tested dose, whereas PFO5DoA exposure resulted in dose-dependent differential metabolite abundance for 149 unique metabolites. Multi-omics pathway analyses of integrated maternal liver transcriptomics and serum metabolomics revealed significant convergent changes as low as 3 mg/kg/d PFO4DA and 0.3 mg/kg/d PFO5DoA exposure. Overall, transcriptomic and metabolomic effects of PFO4DA and PFO5DoA appear consistent with other carboxylic acid PFAS, with primary changes related to lipid metabolism, bile acids, cholesterol, and cellular stress. Importantly, PFO5DoA exposure more potently induced changes in maternal and fetal hepatic gene expression and maternal circulating metabolites, despite high structural similarity. Further, we report in vitro PPARα and PPARγ receptor activation for both compounds as putative molecular mechanisms. This work demonstrates the potential developmental toxicity of alternative moiety perfluoroethers and highlights the developing liver as particularly vulnerable to transcriptomic disruption. Synopsis: Developmental exposure to fluoroether carboxylic acids PFO4DA and PFO5DoA result in differential impacts on hepatic transcriptome in dams and offspring and circulating metabolome in dams, with PFO5DoA exhibiting higher potency than PFO4DA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Jackson
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA.
| | - Christy S Lambright
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Nicola Evans
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Leah C Wehmas
- Chemical Characterization and Exposure Division, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Denise K MacMillan
- Chemical Characterization and Exposure Division, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Jacqueline Bangma
- Watershed and Ecosystem Characterization Division, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - L Earl Gray
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Justin M Conley
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
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3
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Yang Y, Yang Z, Pang X, Cao H, Sun Y, Wang L, Zhou Z, Wang P, Liang Y, Wang Y. Molecular designing of potential environmentally friendly PFAS based on deep learning and generative models. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 953:176095. [PMID: 39245376 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2024] [Revised: 09/03/2024] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used across a spectrum of industrial and consumer goods. Nonetheless, their persistent nature and tendency to accumulate in biological systems pose substantial environmental and health threats. Consequently, striking a balance between maximizing product efficiency and minimizing environmental and health risks by tailoring the molecular structure of PFAS has become a pivotal challenge in the fields of environmental chemistry and sustainable development. To address this issue, a computational workflow was proposed for designing an environmentally friendly PFAS by incorporating deep learning (DL) and molecular generative models. The hybrid DL architecture MolHGT+ based on heterogeneous graph neural network with transformer-like attention was applied to predict the surface tension, bioaccumulation, and hepatotoxicity of the molecules. Through virtual screening of the PFAS master database using MolHGT+, the findings indicate that incorporating the siloxane group and betaine fragment can effectively decrease both the bioaccumulation and hepatotoxicity of PFAS while preserving low surface tension. In addition, molecular generative models were employed to create a structurally diverse pool of novel PFASs with the aforementioned hit molecules serving as the initial template structures. Overall, our study presents a promising AI-driven method for advancing the development of environmentally friendly PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Yang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Zeguo Yang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Xudi Pang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Huiming Cao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China.
| | - Yuzhen Sun
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Zhen Zhou
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Pu Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Yong Liang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China.
| | - Yawei Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
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4
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Wang Y, Good KD. Microplastics and PFAS air-water interaction and deposition. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 954:176247. [PMID: 39277013 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 08/08/2024] [Accepted: 09/11/2024] [Indexed: 09/17/2024]
Abstract
Although microplastics (MPs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have received tremendous attention separately, understanding their ubiquitous presence in the environment, persistence and toxicity requires comprehensive study of the fate and transport of co-existing MPs and PFAS. MPs may have large sorption capacity and can serve as vectors for PFAS to undergo long-range transport in water. Atmospheric deposition of both PFAS and MPs has been reported in urban, rural, and remote areas. This review identifies types and levels of PFAS and MPs in air, their interactions, and environmental factors contributing to their air-water deposition. MPs in combination with PFAS may carry combined toxicity and pose elevated risks to ecosystems and human health. Our review shows that air-water deposition of MPs and PFAS can be governed by environmental factors including precipitation, humidity, UV, wind, and particulate matter levels in the air. Increasing humidity may increase MP particle size due to hygroscopic growth, which affects its distribution and deposition rate. Humidity has been observed to have both positive and negative impacts on PFAS partitioning onto MPs. More attention should be paid to MPs and PFAS co-occurrence when addressing their transport behavior in air and deposition to aquatic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Wang
- Systems Science and Industrial Engineering, State University of New York at Binghamton, United States of America.
| | - Kelly D Good
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Villanova University, United States of America.
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5
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Tansel B, Katsenovich Y, Quinete NS, Ocheje J, Nasir Z, Manzano MM. PFAS in biosolids: Accumulation characteristics and fate profiles after land application. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 370:122395. [PMID: 39243652 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2024] [Revised: 08/24/2024] [Accepted: 08/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
The land application of biosolids as a management practice is considered a beneficial use for improving crop yield and reducing the need for other fertilizers. PFAS enter wastewater treatment plants through collection networks, including industrial discharges, the use of PFAS-containing products, and runoff. Therefore, PFAS may be present in biosolids derived from sewage sludge. The objectives of this study were to evaluate PFAS levels in biosolids samples collected at two wastewater treatment plants operated by the Miami Dade Water and Sewer Department (MDWASD): (1) the South District Wastewater Treatment Plant (SDWWTP) which received landfill leachate and (2) the Central District Wastewater Treatment Plant (CDWWTP). Sludge samples were collected after thickening, anaerobic digestion, and dewatering processes. The samples were subjected to batch leaching tests for 30 days. After the leaching tests, the PFAS levels in the liquid and solid fractions were analyzed for 40 PFAS. The findings show that during the aeration process (i.e., activated sludge process), PFAS are removed from the wastewater and accumulate on the solids. When the thickened sludge is digested, some PFAS are released to the liquid phase as the volatile solids decompose. During the dewatering process by centrifugation, PFAS that are partitioned to the liquid phase are removed, reducing PFAS content in the dewatered biosolids. Of the 40 PFAS analyzed, 24 were detected in leachate or solid residue samples. Samples from the SDWWTP had higher levels of PFAS due to the contribution from landfill leachate discharged to this facility. The partitioning of PFAS between the liquid phase and solid residue after 30 days of mixing indicates that the majority of PFAS in the biosolids are highly soluble and have a high tendency to be mobilized (by runoff, irrigation, precipitation) after land application. The fate profiles of PFAS biosolids were evaluated in terms of their solubility and retardation characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berrin Tansel
- Florida International University, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, USA.
| | | | - Natalia Soares Quinete
- Florida International University, Environmental and Bioanalytical Chemistry Department, USA
| | - Joshua Ocheje
- Florida International University, Environmental and Bioanalytical Chemistry Department, USA
| | - Zariah Nasir
- Florida International University, Applied Research Center, USA
| | - Maria Mendoza Manzano
- Florida International University, Environmental and Bioanalytical Chemistry Department, USA
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6
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Bangma J, Pu S, Robuck A, Boettger J, Guillette T, McCord J, Rock KD, Sobus J, Jackson TW, Belcher SM. Combined screening and retroactive data mining for emerging perfluoroethers in wildlife and pets in the Cape Fear region of North Carolina. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 363:142898. [PMID: 39032729 PMCID: PMC11335432 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142898] [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: 05/22/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
The recent application of non-targeted analysis (NTA) techniques in environmental monitoring has revealed numerous novel fluorinated species in surface water, wildlife, and humans in the Cape Fear River (CFR) region of North Carolina. In this study, we have re-examined archived alligator, striped bass, horse, and dog serum as well as archived seabird tissue data from previously reported exposure studies in order to extend the panel of detected novel PFAS. In this study, the compounds CF3-(OCF2)x-COOH, x = 6, 7, 8 (Abbreviated PFO6TeDA, PFO7HxDA, PFO8OcDA, respectively), and 6H-Perfluoro-3-oxa,4-methylhexanesulfonic acid (Nafion byproduct 6) were detected for the first time in environmental tissues even though these analytes were not previously detected in the CFR. Analytical standards were available for PFO6TeDA and Nafion Byproduct 6, and therefore, were quantitated in investigated tissues. PFO7HxDA and PFO8OcDA had no available standards and were semi-quantitated using NTA techniques. Of note, PFO6TeDA, PFO7HxDA, and PFO8OcDA were observed in alligator, bass, and seabird but not horse and dog. PFO6TeDA was detected at the highest frequency in all investigated tissues with PFO7HxDA and PFO8OcDA detected at lower frequencies. No Nafion Byproduct 6 values are reported in serum due to poor analytical reproducibility of the measurements. Seabird tissue to blood ratios suggests PFO6TeDA is highest in the heart, kidney, and liver and lowest in the brain. Overall, additional studies are needed to fully understand the potential impact of these additional novel PFAS on both wildlife and humans in the CFR region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Bangma
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, US Environmental Protection Agency, USA.
| | - Shirley Pu
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US Environmental Protection Agency, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA.
| | - Anna Robuck
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, US Environmental Protection Agency, USA.
| | - Jason Boettger
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, USA.
| | | | - James McCord
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, US Environmental Protection Agency, USA.
| | - Kylie D Rock
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA.
| | - Jon Sobus
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US Environmental Protection Agency, USA.
| | - Thomas W Jackson
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, USA.
| | - Scott M Belcher
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA.
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7
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Dudášová S, Wurz J, Berger U, Reemtsma T, Fu Q, Lechtenfeld OJ. An automated and high-throughput data processing workflow for PFAS identification in biota by direct infusion ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem 2024; 416:4833-4848. [PMID: 39090266 PMCID: PMC11330400 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-024-05426-2] [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: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
The increasing recognition of the health impacts from human exposure to per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) has surged the need for sophisticated analytical techniques and advanced data analyses, especially for assessing exposure by food of animal origin. Despite the existence of nearly 15,000 PFAS listed in the CompTox chemicals dashboard by the US Environmental Protection Agency, conventional monitoring and suspect screening methods often fall short, covering only a fraction of these substances. This study introduces an innovative automated data processing workflow, named PFlow, for identifying PFAS in environmental samples using direct infusion Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (DI-FT-ICR MS). PFlow's validation on a bream liver sample, representative of low-concentration biota, involves data pre-processing, annotation of PFAS based on their precursor masses, and verification through isotopologues. Notably, PFlow annotated 17 PFAS absent in the comprehensive targeted approach and tentatively identified an additional 53 compounds, thereby demonstrating its efficiency in enhancing PFAS detection coverage. From an initial dataset of 30,332 distinct m/z values, PFlow thoroughly narrowed down the candidates to 84 potential PFAS compounds, utilizing precise mass measurements and chemical logic criteria, underscoring its potential in advancing our understanding of PFAS prevalence and of human exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Dudášová
- Department of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Johann Wurz
- Department of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Urs Berger
- Department of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
- Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry and Metabolism, Department of General Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine and Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Reemtsma
- Department of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute for Analytical Chemistry, University of Leipzig, Linnéstrasse 3, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Qiuguo Fu
- Department of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Oliver J Lechtenfeld
- Department of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.
- ProVIS - Centre for Chemical Microscopy, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.
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8
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Schumann S, Negrato E, Piva E, Pietropoli E, Bonato M, Irato P, Marion A, Santovito G, Bertotto D. Cortisol levels reveal species-specific stress condition in fish from PFAS polluted rivers. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 363:142925. [PMID: 39053782 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142925] [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: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
In the context of increasing environmental contamination, our study employed fish as bioindicators, focusing on non-invasive cortisol measurements in scales and fins in response to severe PFAS pollution in the Veneto area of Italy. Our preliminary findings showed species-specific stress responses, as observed in Squalius cephalus and Padogobius bonelli, suggesting the need for broader biomonitoring to capture the complex impact of environmental stressors on aquatic organisms. Moreover, due to the unusual characteristics of the rivers selected for the biomonitoring activity, a possible link between PFAS exposure and cortisol levels in S. cephalus demonstrates the method's potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Schumann
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35122, Padova, PD, Italy
| | - Elena Negrato
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, 35122, Padova, PD, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Piva
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35122, Padova, PD, Italy
| | - Edoardo Pietropoli
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, 35122, Padova, PD, Italy
| | - Marco Bonato
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35122, Padova, PD, Italy
| | - Paola Irato
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35122, Padova, PD, Italy
| | - Andrea Marion
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, 35122, Padova, PD, Italy
| | | | - Daniela Bertotto
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, 35122, Padova, PD, Italy
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9
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Adewuyi A, Li Q. Emergency of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water: Status, regulation, and mitigation strategies in developing countries. ECO-ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH 2024; 3:355-368. [PMID: 39281067 PMCID: PMC11399586 DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2024.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/18/2024]
Abstract
The detection of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water presents a significant challenge for developing countries, requiring urgent attention. This review focuses on understanding the emergence of PFAS in drinking water, health concerns, and removal strategies for PFAS in water systems in developing countries. This review indicates the need for more studies to be conducted in many developing nations due to limited information on the environmental status and fate of PFAS. The health consequences of PFAS in water are enormous and cannot be overemphasized. Efforts are ongoing to legislate a national standard for PFAS in drinking water. Currently, there are few known mitigation efforts from African countries, in contrast to several developing nations in Asia. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop economically viable techniques that could be integrated into large-scale operations to remove PFAS from water systems in the region. However, despite the success achieved with removing long-chain PFAS from water, more studies are required on strategies for eliminating short-chain moieties in water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adewale Adewuyi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Qilin Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
- NSF Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Nano Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
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10
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Robarts DR, Paine-Cabrera D, Kotulkar M, Venneman KK, Gunewardena S, Foquet L, Bial G, Apte U. Identifying novel mechanisms of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance-induced hepatotoxicity using FRG humanized mice. Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:3063-3075. [PMID: 38782768 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-024-03789-0] [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: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic acid (GenX), the new replacement PFAS, are major environmental contaminants. In rodents, these PFAS induce several adverse effects on the liver, including increased proliferation, hepatomegaly, steatosis, hypercholesterolemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and liver cancers. Activation of peroxisome proliferator receptor alpha by PFAS is considered the primary mechanism of action in rodent hepatocyte-induced proliferation. However, the human relevance of this mechanism is uncertain. We investigated human-relevant mechanisms of PFAS-induced adverse hepatic effects using FRG liver-chimeric humanized mice with livers repopulated with functional human hepatocytes. Male FRG humanized mice were treated with 0.067 mg/L of PFOA, 0.145 mg/L of PFOS, or 1 mg/L of GenX in drinking water for 28 days. PFOS caused a significant decrease in total serum cholesterol and LDL/VLDL, whereas GenX caused a significant elevation in LDL/VLDL with no change in total cholesterol and HDL. All three PFAS induced significant hepatocyte proliferation. RNA-sequencing with alignment to the human genome showed a total of 240, 162, and 619 differentially expressed genes after PFOA, PFOS, and GenX exposure, respectively. Upstream regulator analysis revealed that all three PFAS induced activation of p53 and inhibition of androgen receptor and NR1D1, a transcriptional repressor important in circadian rhythm. Further biochemical studies confirmed NR1D1 inhibition and in silico modeling indicated potential interaction of all three PFAS with the DNA-binding domain of NR1D1. In conclusion, our studies using FRG humanized mice have revealed new human-relevant molecular mechanisms of PFAS including their previously unknown effect on circadian rhythm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dakota R Robarts
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., MS1018, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Diego Paine-Cabrera
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., MS1018, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Manasi Kotulkar
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., MS1018, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Kaitlyn K Venneman
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., MS1018, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Sumedha Gunewardena
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | | | - Greg Bial
- Yecuris Corporation, Tualatin, OR, USA
| | - Udayan Apte
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., MS1018, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA.
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11
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Amorim VE, Silva Ferreira AC, Cruzeiro C, Cardoso PG. Enhancement of per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) quantification on surface waters from marinas in the douro river, Portugal. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 262:119805. [PMID: 39159776 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024]
Abstract
PFAS, known as "forever" compounds, are prevalent in various environments, including soils and aquatic systems, due to extensive usage. Surface waters in several European countries, especially marinas and ports with high boat traffic, require further study as potential contamination sources. Reliable methods for the extraction and quantification of these emergent compounds are essential. This study aimed to improve an existent solid phase extraction method to analyse marinas and ports' surface waters with variable salinities (2, 9 and 17 PSU). The objectives were to: 1) optimise the solid phase extraction method, considering matrix salinity effects and cross-contaminations, 2) validate the extraction and quantification method of 18 EPA 537.1 PFAS in estuarine surface waters, using the Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography - Quadrupole Time - Of - Flight - Tandem Mass spectrometry, and 3) apply the optimised method for PFAS quantification in three Portuguese marinas. All ICH criteria were successfully validated considering 9 PSU. Limits of quantification ranged from 117.80 ng/L to 385 ng/L, except for PFHpA (645.85 ng/L). PFAS levels (PFOA, HFPO-DA, PFBS, PFHxS and PFOS) were relatively low, reaching a maximum of 0.32 ng/L only for the PFOA. In Freixo marina, total average concentrations were slightly higher (∑PFAS = 1.02 ng/L) when compared to the ones found in Cais da Ribeira Port (∑PFAS = 0.94 ng/L) and Afurada marina (∑PFAS = 0.81 ng/L). PFOS concentrations are below the limit values set by the Environmental Quality Standards (36000 ng/L of PFOS for inland surface water, respectively), similar to other Portuguese river studies. This study enabled the development of a precise and reliable extraction and quantification method to quantify PFAS in estuarine surface waters, particularly from marinas. This method can be readily applied to analyse PFAS in other estuarine samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- V E Amorim
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Matosinhos, Portugal; Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - A C Silva Ferreira
- Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina (CBQF), Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal; Institute for Wine Biotechnology (IWBT), Department of Viticulture and Oenology (DVO), University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag XI, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Cork Supply Portugal, S.A., Rua Nova do Fial 102, 4535 São Paio de Oleiros, Portugal
| | - C Cruzeiro
- Unit Environmental Simulation (EUS), Helmholtz Zentrum München GmbH, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - P G Cardoso
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Matosinhos, Portugal.
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12
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Singh S, Gautam K, Mir SS, Anbumani S. Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity assessment of 'forever chemicals' in zebrafish (Danio rerio). MUTATION RESEARCH. GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS 2024; 897:503788. [PMID: 39054005 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2024.503788] [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: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) comprise many chemicals with strong carbon-carbon and carbon-fluorine bonds and have extensive industrial applications in manufacturing several consumer products. The solid covalent bonding makes them more persistent in the environment and stays away from all types of degradation, naming them 'forever chemicals.' Zebrafish (Danio rerio) was used to evaluate the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of legacy PFAS, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and its alternatives, such as Perfluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic acid ammonium (GenX) and 7H-Perfluoro-3,6-dioxa-4-methyl-octane-1-sulfonic acid (Nafion by-product 2 [NBP2]) upon single and combined exposure at an environmental concentration of 10 µg/L for 48-h. Erythrocyte micronucleus cytome assay (EMNCA) revealed an increased frequency of micronuclei (MN) in fish erythrocytes with a significant increase in NBP2-treated fish. The order of genotoxicity noticed was NBP2 > PFOS > Mixture > GenX in D. rerio. Fish exposed to PFOS and its alternatives in single and combined experiments did not cause any significant difference in nuclear abnormalities. However, PFOS and combined exposure positively inhibit cytokinesis, resulting in an 8.16 and 7.44-fold-change increase of binucleated cells. Besides, statistically, increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content indicate oxidative stress in D. rerio. In addition, 'forever chemicals' resulted in cytotoxicity, as evident through changes in nucleus width to the erythrocyte length in NBP2 and mixture exposure groups. The findings revealed that PFAS alternative NBP2 is more toxic than PFOS in inducing DNA damage and cytotoxicity. In addition, all three tested 'forever chemicals' induced ROS and lipid peroxidation after individual and combined exposure. The present work is the first to concern the genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of 'forever chemicals' in the aquatic vertebrate D. rerio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaloo Singh
- Ecotoxicology Laboratory, REACT Division, C.R. Krishnamurti (CRK) Campus, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226008, India; Department of Biosciences, Integral University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226026, India
| | - Krishna Gautam
- Ecotoxicology Laboratory, REACT Division, C.R. Krishnamurti (CRK) Campus, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Snober S Mir
- Department of Biosciences, Integral University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226026, India
| | - Sadasivam Anbumani
- Ecotoxicology Laboratory, REACT Division, C.R. Krishnamurti (CRK) Campus, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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13
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Seewoo BJ, Wong EV, Mulders YR, Goodes LM, Eroglu E, Brunner M, Gozt A, Toshniwal P, Symeonides C, Dunlop SA. Impacts associated with the plastic polymers polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and polybutadiene across their life cycle: A review. Heliyon 2024; 10:e32912. [PMID: 39022097 PMCID: PMC11253235 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Polymers are the main building blocks of plastic, with the annual global production volume of fossil carbon-based polymers reaching over 457 million metric tons in 2019 and this figure is anticipated to triple by 2060. There is potential for environmental harm and adverse human health impacts associated with plastic, its constituent polymers and the chemicals therein, at all stages of the plastic life cycle, from extraction of raw materials, production and manufacturing, consumption, through to ultimate disposal and waste management. While there have been considerable research and policy efforts in identifying and mitigating the impacts associated with problematic plastic products such as single-use plastics and hazardous chemicals in plastics, with national and/or international regulations to phase out their use, plastic polymers are often overlooked. In this review, the polymer dimension of the current knowledge on environmental release, human exposure and health impacts of plastic is discussed across the plastic life cycle, including chemicals used in production and additives commonly used to achieve the properties needed for applications for which the polymers are generally used. This review focuses on polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and polybutadiene, four common plastic polymers made from the hazardous monomers, bisphenol, styrene, vinyl chloride and 1,3-butadiene, respectively. Potential alternative polymers, chemicals, and products are considered. Our findings emphasise the need for a whole system approach to be undertaken for effective regulation of plastics whereby the impacts of plastics are assessed with respect to their constituent polymers, chemicals, and applications and across their entire life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhedita J. Seewoo
- Minderoo Foundation, 171 - 173 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Enoch V.S. Wong
- Minderoo Foundation, 171 - 173 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Yannick R. Mulders
- Minderoo Foundation, 171 - 173 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Louise M. Goodes
- Minderoo Foundation, 171 - 173 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Ela Eroglu
- Minderoo Foundation, 171 - 173 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
| | - Manuel Brunner
- Minderoo Foundation, 171 - 173 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
| | - Aleksandra Gozt
- Minderoo Foundation, 171 - 173 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
| | - Priyanka Toshniwal
- Minderoo Foundation, 171 - 173 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Christos Symeonides
- Minderoo Foundation, 171 - 173 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, 50 Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Sarah A. Dunlop
- Minderoo Foundation, 171 - 173 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
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14
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O’Rourke E, Losada S, Barber JL, Scholey G, Bain I, Pereira MG, Hailer F, Chadwick EA. Persistence of PFOA Pollution at a PTFE Production Site and Occurrence of Replacement PFASs in English Freshwaters Revealed by Sentinel Species, the Eurasian Otter ( Lutra lutra). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:10195-10206. [PMID: 38800846 PMCID: PMC11171452 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09405] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Concentrations of 33 PFASs were determined in 20 Eurasian otters, sampled 2015-2019, along a transect away from a factory, which used PFOA in PTFE manufacture. Despite cessation of usage in 2012, PFOA concentrations remained high near the factory (>298 μg/kg ww <20 km from factory) and declined with increasing distance (<57 μg/kg ww >150 km away). Long-chain legacy PFASs dominated the Σ33PFAS profile, particularly PFOS, PFOA, PFDA, and PFNA. Replacement compounds, PFECHS, F-53B, PFBSA, PFBS, PFHpA, and 8:2 FTS, were detected in ≥19 otters, this being the first report of PFBSA and PFECHS in the species. Concentrations of replacement PFASs were generally lower than legacy compounds (max: 70.3 μg/kg ww and 4,640 μg/kg ww, respectively). Our study underscores the utility of otters as sentinels for evaluating mitigation success and highlights the value of continued monitoring to provide insights into the longevity of spatial associations with historic sources. Lower concentrations of replacement, than legacy, PFASs likely reflect their lower bioaccumulation potential, and more recent introduction. Continued PFAS use will inevitably lead to increased environmental and human exposure if not controlled. Further research is needed on fate, toxicity, and bioaccumulation of replacement compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily O’Rourke
- School
of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, U.K.
| | - Sara Losada
- Centre
for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Suffolk, Lowestoft NR33
0HT, U.K.
| | - Jonathan L. Barber
- Centre
for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Suffolk, Lowestoft NR33
0HT, U.K.
| | - Graham Scholey
- Environment
Agency, Red Kite House, Howbery Park, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BD, U.K.
| | - Isobel Bain
- Environment
Agency, Red Kite House, Howbery Park, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BD, U.K.
| | - M. Glória Pereira
- Lancaster
Environment Centre, UK Centre for Ecology
and Hydrology, Library
Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, U.K.
| | - Frank Hailer
- School
of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, U.K.
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15
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Witt CC, Gadek CR, Cartron JLE, Andersen MJ, Campbell ML, Castro-Farías M, Gyllenhaal EF, Johnson AB, Malaney JL, Montoya KN, Patterson A, Vinciguerra NT, Williamson JL, Cook JA, Dunnum JL. Extraordinary levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in vertebrate animals at a New Mexico desert oasis: Multiple pathways for wildlife and human exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 249:118229. [PMID: 38325785 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118229] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment pose persistent and complex threats to human and wildlife health. Around the world, PFAS point sources such as military bases expose thousands of populations of wildlife and game species, with potentially far-reaching implications for population and ecosystem health. But few studies shed light on the extent to which PFAS permeate food webs, particularly ecologically and taxonomically diverse communities of primary and secondary consumers. Here we conducted >2000 assays to measure tissue-concentrations of 17 PFAS in 23 species of mammals and migratory birds at Holloman Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico, USA, where wastewater catchment lakes form biodiverse oases. PFAS concentrations were among the highest reported in animal tissues, and high levels have persisted for at least three decades. Twenty of 23 species sampled at Holloman AFB were heavily contaminated, representing middle trophic levels and wetland to desert microhabitats, implicating pathways for PFAS uptake: ingestion of surface water, sediments, and soil; foraging on aquatic invertebrates and plants; and preying upon birds or mammals. The hazardous long carbon-chain form, perfluorooctanosulfonic acid (PFOS), was most abundant, with liver concentrations averaging >10,000 ng/g wet weight (ww) in birds and mammals, respectively, and reaching as high 97,000 ng/g ww in a 1994 specimen. Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) averaged thousands of ng/g ww in the livers of aquatic birds and littoral-zone house mice, but one order of magnitude lower in the livers of upland desert rodent species. Piscivores and upland desert songbirds were relatively uncontaminated. At control sites, PFAS levels were strikingly lower on average and different in composition. In sum, legacy PFAS at this desert oasis have permeated local aquatic and terrestrial food webs across decades, severely contaminating populations of resident and migrant animals, and exposing people via game meat consumption and outdoor recreation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher C Witt
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA; Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA.
| | - Chauncey R Gadek
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA; Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA; Environmental Stewardship, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - Jean-Luc E Cartron
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA; Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA; Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc., 6020 Academy Road NE, Suite 100, Albuquerque, NM, 87109, USA
| | - Michael J Andersen
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA; Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Mariel L Campbell
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA; Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Marialejandra Castro-Farías
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA; Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Ethan F Gyllenhaal
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA; Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Andrew B Johnson
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA; Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Jason L Malaney
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA; New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Albuquerque, NM, 87104, USA
| | - Kyana N Montoya
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA; Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Andrew Patterson
- Eurofins Environment Testing America, West Sacramento, CA, 95605, USA
| | - Nicholas T Vinciguerra
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA; Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Jessie L Williamson
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA; Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA; Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Joseph A Cook
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA; Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Jonathan L Dunnum
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA; Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
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16
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Starnes HM, Jackson TW, Rock KD, Belcher SM. Quantitative cross-species comparison of serum albumin binding of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from five structural classes. Toxicol Sci 2024; 199:132-149. [PMID: 38518100 PMCID: PMC11057469 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfae028] [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] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of over 8000 chemicals, many of which are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic to humans, livestock, and wildlife. Serum protein binding affinity is instrumental in understanding PFAS toxicity, yet experimental binding data is limited to only a few PFAS congeners. Previously, we demonstrated the usefulness of a high-throughput, in vitro differential scanning fluorimetry assay for determination of relative binding affinities of human serum albumin for 24 PFAS congeners from 6 chemical classes. In the current study, we used this assay to comparatively examine differences in human, bovine, porcine, and rat serum albumin binding of 8 structurally informative PFAS congeners from 5 chemical classes. With the exception of the fluorotelomer alcohol 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctanol (6:2 FTOH), each PFAS congener bound by human serum albumin was also bound by bovine, porcine, and rat serum albumin. The critical role of the charged functional headgroup in albumin binding was supported by the inability of albumin of each species tested to bind 6:2 FTOH. Significant interspecies differences in serum albumin binding affinities were identified for each of the bound PFAS congeners. Relative to human albumin, perfluoroalkyl carboxylic and sulfonic acids were bound with greater affinity by porcine and rat serum albumin, and the perfluoroalkyl ether acid congener bound with lower affinity to porcine and bovine serum albumin. These comparative affinity data for PFAS binding by serum albumin from human, experimental model, and livestock species reduce critical interspecies uncertainty and improve accuracy of predictive bioaccumulation and toxicity assessments for PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M Starnes
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, USA
| | - Thomas W Jackson
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, USA
| | - Kylie D Rock
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, USA
| | - Scott M Belcher
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, USA
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17
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Yang C, Xie W, Fu H, Zhi M, Zhang H, Guo Y, Wang J. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the heterogeneity of hepatic non-parenchymal cell responses to chronic PFO5DoDA exposure in male mice. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 347:123721. [PMID: 38462192 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acids (PFECA) have emerged as novel alternatives to legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Existing research has revealed hepatoxicity induced by various PFAS, including PFECA. However, these studies have primarily focused on overall changes in whole liver tissue, particularly in hepatocytes, with the impact of PFAS on diverse liver non-parenchymal cells (NPCs) still inadequately understood. In the present study, we examined the heterogeneous responses of hepatic NPCs following exposure to perfluoro-3,5,7,9,11-pentaoxadodecanoic acid (PFO5DoDA), a type of PFECA, by administering PFO5DoDA (5 μg/L)-contaminated water to male mice for one year. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of 15 008 cells from the liver identified 10 distinct NPC populations. Notably, although relative liver weight remained largely unchanged following exposure to 5 μg/L PFO5DoDA, there was an observed increase in proliferating cells, indicating that proliferating NPCs may contribute to the hepatomegaly frequently noted in PFAS-exposed livers. There was also a considerable alteration in the composition of hepatic NPCs. Specifically, the total number of B cells decreased substantially, while many other cells, such as monocytes and macrophages, increased after PFO5DoDA exposure. In addition, interactions among the hepatic NPC populations changed variously after PFO5DoDA exposure. The findings emphasize the heterogeneity in the responses of hepatic NPCs to PFO5DoDA exposure. Taken together, the changes in immune cell populations and their intercellular interactions suggest that PFO5DoDA disrupts immune homeostasis in the liver. These findings offer new insights into the cellular mechanisms of PFAS-induced liver damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyu Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Wei Xie
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Huayu Fu
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Mengxue Zhi
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Hongxia Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yong Guo
- Key Laboratory of Organofluorine Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jianshe Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China.
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18
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Liu Z, Jin B, Rao D, Bentel MJ, Liu T, Gao J, Men Y, Liu J. Oxidative Transformation of Nafion-Related Fluorinated Ether Sulfonates: Comparison with Legacy PFAS Structures and Opportunities of Acidic Persulfate Digestion for PFAS Precursor Analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:6415-6424. [PMID: 38528735 PMCID: PMC11008247 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c06289] [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: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
The total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay has been extensively used for detecting PFAS pollutants that do not have analytical standards. It uses hydroxyl radicals (HO•) from the heat activation of persulfate under alkaline pH to convert H-containing precursors to perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) for target analysis. However, the current TOP assay oxidation method does not apply to emerging PFAS because (i) many structures do not contain C-H bonds for HO• attack and (ii) the transformation products are not necessarily PFCAs. In this study, we explored the use of classic acidic persulfate digestion, which generates sulfate radicals (SO4-•), to extend the capability of the TOP assay. We examined the oxidation of Nafion-related ether sulfonates that contain C-H or -COO-, characterized the oxidation products, and quantified the F atom balance. The SO4-• oxidation greatly expanded the scope of oxidizable precursors. The transformation was initiated by decarboxylation, followed by various spontaneous steps, such as HF elimination and ester hydrolysis. We further compared the oxidation of legacy fluorotelomers using SO4-• versus HO•. The results suggest novel product distribution patterns, depending on the functional group and oxidant dose. The general trends and strategies were also validated by analyzing a mixture of 100000- or 10000-fold diluted aqueous film-forming foam (containing various fluorotelomer surfactants and organics) and a spiked Nafion precursor. Therefore, (1) the combined use of SO4-• and HO• oxidation, (2) the expanded list of standard chemicals, and (3) further elucidation of SO4-• oxidation mechanisms will provide more critical information to probe emerging PFAS pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zekun Liu
- Department
of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
- Claros
Technologies Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota 55413, United States
| | - Bosen Jin
- Department
of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Dandan Rao
- Department
of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Michael J. Bentel
- Department
of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Tianchi Liu
- Department
of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Jinyu Gao
- Department
of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Yujie Men
- Department
of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Jinyong Liu
- Department
of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
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19
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Wan G, Zhang Z, Chen J, Li M, Li J. GenX caused liver injury and potential hepatocellular carcinoma of mice via drinking water even at environmental concentration. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 346:123574. [PMID: 38365076 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX) is an alternative to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), whose environmental concentration is close to its maximum allowable value established by the US Environmental Protection Agency, so its effects on human health are of great concern. The liver is one of the most crucial target organ for GenX, but whether GenX exposure induces liver cancer still unclear. In this research project, male C57 mice were disposed to GenX in drinking water at environmental concentrations (0.1 and 10 μg/L) and higher concentrations (1 and 100 mg/L) for 14 weeks to explore its effects on liver injury and potential carcinogenicity in mice. GenX was found to cause a dose-dependent increase in the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TG). As the content of GenX in drinking water increased, so did the concentrations of Glypican-3 (GPC-3) and detachment gamma-carboxyprothrombin (DCP), indicators of early hepatocellular cancer. GenX destroyed the boundaries and arrangements of hepatocytes, in which monocyte infiltration, balloon-like transformation, and obvious lipid vacuoles were observed between cells. Following exposure to GenX, Masson sections revealed a significant quantity of collagen deposition in the liver. Alpha-feto protein (AFP), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Ki67, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) gene expression increased in a dose-dependent manner in the treatment group relative to the control group. In general, drinking water GenX exposure induced liver function impairment, elevated blood lipid level, caused liver pathological structure damage and liver fibrosis lesions, changed the liver inflammatory microenvironment, and increased the concentration of liver-related tumor indicator even in the environmental concentration, suggesting GenX is a potential carcinogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guojun Wan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Zengli Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Jingsi Chen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Mei Li
- School of Civil Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, 215011, China
| | - Jiafu Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
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20
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Humphrey CP, Iverson G, Hvastkovs E, Pradhan S. Occurrence and concentrations of traditional and emerging contaminants in onsite wastewater systems and water supply wells in eastern North Carolina, USA. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2024; 22:550-564. [PMID: 38557570 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2024.299] [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: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTSs) and private wells are commonly used in Eastern North Carolina, USA. Water from private wells is not required to be tested after the initial startup, and thus persons using these wells may experience negative health outcomes if their water is contaminated with waste-related pollutants including bacteria, nitrate or synthetic chemicals such as hexafluoropropylne oxide dimer acid and its ammonium salt (GenX). Water samples from 18 sites with OWTSs and groundwater wells were collected for nitrate, Escherichia coli (E. coli), total coliform, and GenX concentration analyses. Results showed that none of the 18 water supplies were positive for E. coli, nitrate concentrations were all below the maximum contaminant level of 10 mg L-1, and one well had 1 MPN 100 mL-1 of total coliform. However, GenX was detected in wastewater collected from all 18 septic tanks and 22% of the water supplies tested had concentrations that exceeded the health advisory levels for GenX. Water supplies with low concentrations of traditionally tested for pollutants (nitrate, E. coli) may still pose health risks due to elevated concentrations of emerging contaminants like GenX and thus more comprehensive and routine water testing is suggested for this and similar persistent compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles P Humphrey
- Department of Health Education and Promotion, East Carolina University, 200 Curry Ct, Greenville, NC 27858, USA E-mail:
| | - Guy Iverson
- Department of Health Education and Promotion, East Carolina University, 200 Curry Ct, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Eli Hvastkovs
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, 512 Science and Technology Bldg, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Sushama Pradhan
- NC Division of Public Health, Environmental Health Section, 5605 Six Forks Rd, 1632 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1632, USA
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21
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Zhu B, Sheng N, Dai J. Adverse effects of gestational exposure to hexafluoropropylene oxide trimer acid (HFPO-TA) homologs on maternal, fetal, and placental health in mice. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169151. [PMID: 38065497 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
In an effort to identify and develop potential alternatives for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), PFDMO2HpA and PFDMO2OA have been engineered by reducing the -CF2 content in the molecular structure of hexafluoropropylene oxide trimer acid (HFPO-TA). Yet, despite their subsequent presence in environmental samples, there is a paucity of information regarding their toxicity, particularly on pregnancy. Here, pregnant CD-1 mice were exposed to PFDMO2HpA (0, 0.04, 0.16, 0.63, 2.5, or 10 mg/kg/day) or PFDMO2OA (0, 0.01, 0.04, 0.16, 0.63, or 2.5 mg/kg/day) via oral gavage from gestational days 2 (GD2) to 12 or 18 to evaluate the detrimental effects on dams and embryo-placenta units. Both two chemicals can transfer across the placenta, with a higher transfer ratio in late-pregnancy (GD18) than in mid-pregnancy (GD12), and PFDMO2OA being transferred at a higher rate than PFDMO2HpA. PFDMO2HpA/PFDMO2OA exposure caused maternal hepatotoxicity and fetal hepatomegaly, showing the lowest no-observed-adverse-effect level among all observed endpoints, which were used for calculating their reference dose (13.33 ng/kg/day). In the 2.5 and 10 mg/kg/day PFDMO2HpA groups as well as 2.5 mg/kg/day PFDMO2OA group at GD18, besides the abnormally high abortion rates exceeding 5 %, survival fetal weight was notably reduced (2.33 %, 6.44 %, and 5.59 % decrease relative to corresponding controls, respectively). Concurrently, placentas exhibited significant enlargement following PFDMO2HpA or PFDMO2OA exposure at doses of 0.63 mg/kg/day or higher, resulting in diminished placental efficiency. The deleterious effects of two chemicals on dams, fetuses, and placentas were stronger than that of PFOA or HFPO-DA, suggesting that neither PFDMO2HpA nor PFDMO2OA is suitable PFOA alternative. Bioinformatics analyses revealed significant alterations in the expression of genes involved in inflammation and immunity in the placenta upon exposure to 10 mg/kg/day PFDMO2HpA and 2.5 mg/kg/day PFDMO2OA at GD18, potentially elucidating mechanism behind the observed decrease in placental efficiency and increase in abortion rates after exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao Zhu
- School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Nan Sheng
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
| | - Jiayin Dai
- School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.
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22
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Li ZM, Roos A, Serfass TL, Lee C, Kannan K. Concentrations of 45 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in North American River Otters ( Lontra canadensis) from West Virginia, USA. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:2089-2101. [PMID: 38231021 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
North American river otters (Lontra canadensis) are top predators in riverine ecosystems and are vulnerable to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure. Little is known about the magnitude of exposure and tissue distribution of PFAS in river otters. We measured 45 PFAS in various tissues of 42 river otters collected from several watersheds in the state of West Virginia, USA. The median concentrations of ∑All (sum concentration of 45 PFAS) varied among tissues in the following decreasing order: liver (931 ng/g wet weight) > bile > pancreas > lung > kidney > blood > brain > muscle. Perfluoroalkylsulfonates (PFSAs) were the predominant compounds accounting for 58-75% of the total concentrations, followed by perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs; 21-35%). 8:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (8:2 FTS), 10:2 FTS, and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonate were frequently found in the liver (50-90%) and bile (96-100%), whereas hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) was rarely found. The hepatic concentrations of ∑All in river otters collected downstream of a fluoropolymer production facility located along the Ohio River were 2-fold higher than those in other watersheds. The median whole body burden of ∑All was calculated to be 1580 μg. PFOS and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) concentrations in whole blood of some river otters exceeded the human toxicity reference values, which warrant further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong-Min Li
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health and Department of Environmental Health Sciences, State University of New York at Albany, Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12237, United States
| | - Anna Roos
- Department of Environmental Monitoring and Research, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm SE-10405, Sweden
| | - Thomas L Serfass
- Department of Biology and Natural Resources, Frostburg State University, Frostburg, Maryland 21532, United States
| | - Conner Lee
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health and Department of Environmental Health Sciences, State University of New York at Albany, Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12237, United States
| | - Kurunthachalam Kannan
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health and Department of Environmental Health Sciences, State University of New York at Albany, Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12237, United States
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23
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Shi W, Zhang Z, Li X, Chen J, Liang X, Li J. GenX Disturbs the Indicators of Hepatic Lipid Metabolism Even at Environmental Concentration in Drinking Water via PPARα Signaling Pathways. Chem Res Toxicol 2024; 37:98-108. [PMID: 38150050 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.3c00342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA; trade name GenX), as a substitute for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), has been attracting increasing attention. However, its impact and corresponding mechanism on hepatic lipid metabolism are less understood. To investigate the possible mechanisms of GenX for hepatotoxicity, a series of in vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted. In in vivo experiment, male mice were exposed to GenX in drinking water at environmental concentrations (0.1 and 10 μg/L) and high concentrations (1 and 100 mg/L) for 14 weeks. In in vitro experiments, human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) were exposed to GenX at 10, 160, and 640 μM for 24 and 48 h. GenX exposure via drinking water resulted in liver damage and disruption of lipid metabolism even at environmental concentrations. The results of triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) in this study converged with the results of the population study, for which TG increased in the liver but unchanged in the serum, whereas TC increased in both liver and serum concentrations. KEGG and GO analyses revealed that the hepatotoxicity of GenX was associated with fatty acid transport, synthesis, and oxidation pathways and that Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor (PPARα) contributed significantly to this process. PPARα inhibitors significantly reduced the expression of CD36, CPT1β, PPARα, SLC27A1, ACOX1, lipid droplets, and TC, suggesting that GenX exerts its toxic effects through PPARα signaling pathway. In general, GenX at environmental concentrations in drinking water causes abnormal lipid metabolism via PPARα signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenshan Shi
- School of Public Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Zengli Zhang
- School of Public Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xinyu Li
- School of Public Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jingsi Chen
- School of Public Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xiaojun Liang
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Kunshan, Kunshan 215301, China
| | - Jiafu Li
- School of Public Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
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24
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Kotlarz N, Guillette T, Critchley C, Collier D, Lea CS, McCord J, Strynar M, Cuffney M, Hopkins ZR, Knappe DRU, Hoppin JA. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether acids in well water and blood serum from private well users residing by a fluorochemical facility near Fayetteville, North Carolina. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2024; 34:97-107. [PMID: 38195989 PMCID: PMC10976930 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-023-00626-x] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A fluorochemical facility near Fayetteville, North Carolina, emitted per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether acids (PFEAs), a subgroup of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), to air. OBJECTIVE Analyze PFAS in private wells near the facility and in blood from well users to assess relationships between PFEA levels in water and serum. METHODS In 2019, we recruited private well users into the GenX Exposure Study and collected well water and blood samples. We targeted 26 PFAS (11 PFEAs) in water and 27 PFAS (9 PFEAs) in serum using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. We used regression modeling to explore relationships between water and serum PFAS. For the only PFEA detected frequently in water and serum, Nafion byproduct 2, we used generalized estimating equation (GEE) models to assess well water exposure metrics and then adjusted for covariates that may influence Nafion byproduct 2 serum concentrations. RESULTS We enrolled 153 participants ages 6 and older (median = 56 years) using 84 private wells. Most wells (74%) had ≥6 detectable PFEAs; median ∑PFEAs was 842 ng/L (interquartile range = 197-1760 ng/L). Low molecular weight PFEAs (PMPA, HFPO-DA [GenX], PEPA, PFO2HxA) were frequently detected in well water, had the highest median concentrations, but were not detectable in serum. Nafion byproduct 2 was detected in 73% of wells (median = 14 ng/L) and 56% of serum samples (median = 0.2 ng/mL). Cumulative dose (well concentration × duration at address) was positively associated with Nafion byproduct 2 serum levels and explained the most variability (10%). In the adjusted model, cumulative dose was associated with higher Nafion byproduct 2 serum levels while time outside the home was associated with lower levels. IMPACT PFAS are a large class of synthetic, fluorinated chemicals. Fluorochemical facilities are important sources of environmental PFAS contamination globally. The fluorochemical industry is producing derivatives of perfluoroalkyl acids, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether acids (PFEAs). PFEAs have been detected in various environmental samples but information on PFEA-exposed populations is limited. While serum biomonitoring is often used for PFAS exposure assessment, serum biomarkers were not good measures of long-term exposure to low molecular weight PFEAs in a private well community. Environmental measurements and other approaches besides serum monitoring will be needed to better characterize PFEA exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Kotlarz
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh, NC, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, NC State, Raleigh, NC, USA.
| | - Theresa Guillette
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Research Participation Program, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | | | - David Collier
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh, NC, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University (ECU), Greenville, NC, USA
| | - C Suzanne Lea
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh, NC, USA
- Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, ECU, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - James McCord
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mark Strynar
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Michael Cuffney
- Department of Biological Sciences, NC State, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Zachary R Hopkins
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, NC State, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Detlef R U Knappe
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh, NC, USA
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, NC State, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Jane A Hoppin
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh, NC, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, NC State, Raleigh, NC, USA
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25
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Wasel O, King H, Choi YJ, Lee LS, Freeman JL. Differential Developmental Neurotoxicity and Tissue Uptake of the Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Alternatives, GenX and PFBS. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:19274-19284. [PMID: 37943624 PMCID: PMC11299994 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic chemicals with several applications. Multiple adverse health effects are reported for longer carbon chain (≤C8) PFAS. Shorter carbon chain PFAS, [e.g., hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA; GenX) and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)] were introduced as alternatives. Past studies indicate that longer-chain PFAS are neurotoxic targeting the dopamine pathway, but it is not known if shorter-chain PFAS act similarly. This study aimed to evaluate developmental neurotoxicity and tissue uptake of GenX and PFBS using the zebrafish (Danio rerio). First, acute toxicity was assessed by measuring LC50 at 120 h postfertilization (hpf). Body burden was determined after embryonic exposure (1-72 hpf) to sublethal concentrations of GenX or PFBS by LC-ESI-MS/MS. Locomotor activity using a visual motor response assay at 120 hpf and dopamine levels at 72 hpf was assessed after embryonic exposure. PFBS was more acutely toxic and bioaccumulative than GenX. GenX and PFBS caused hyperactivity at 120 hpf, but stronger behavioral alterations were observed for PFBS. An increase in whole organism dopamine occurred at 40 ppb of GenX, while a decrease was observed at 400 ppb of PFBS. Differences detected in dopamine for these two PFAS indicate differential mechanisms of developmental neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ola Wasel
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Hanna King
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Youn J Choi
- Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Linda S Lee
- Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Jennifer L Freeman
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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26
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Barragan EM, Hoskins TD, Allmon EB, McQuigg JL, Hamilton MT, Christian EN, Coogan GSM, Searle CL, Choi YJ, Lee LS, Hoverman JT, Sepúlveda MS. Toxicities of Legacy and Current-Use PFAS in an Anuran: Do Larval Exposures Influence Responses to a Terrestrial Pathogen Challenge? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:19180-19189. [PMID: 37962853 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Legacy polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) [perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)] are being replaced by various other fluorinated compounds, such as hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX). These alternatives are thought to be less bioaccumulative and, therefore, less toxic than legacy PFAS. Contaminant exposures occur concurrently with exposure to natural stressors, including the fungal pathogen Batrachocytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Despite evidence that other pollutants can increase the adverse effects of Bd on anurans, no studies have examined the interactive effects of Bd and PFAS. This study tested the growth and developmental effects of PFOS, PFOA, and GenX on gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor) tadpoles, followed by a Bd challenge after metamorphosis. Despite PFAS exposure only occurring during the larval stage, carry-over effects on growth were observed post metamorphosis. Further, PFAS interacted with Bd exposure to influence growth; Bd-exposed animals had significantly shorter SVL [snout-vent length (mm)] with significantly increased body condition, among other time-dependent effects. Our data suggest that larval exposure to PFAS can continue to impact growth in the juvenile stage after exposure has ended. Contrary to predictions, GenX affected terrestrial performance more consistently than its legacy congener, PFOA. Given the role of Bd in amphibian declines, further investigation of interactions of PFAS with Bd and other environmentally relevant pathogens is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn M Barragan
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Tyler D Hoskins
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Elizabeth B Allmon
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Jessica L McQuigg
- Department of Biology, Drew University, Madison, New Jersey 07940, United States
| | - Matthew T Hamilton
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Erin N Christian
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Grace S M Coogan
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Catherine L Searle
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Youn Jeong Choi
- Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Linda S Lee
- Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Jason T Hoverman
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Maria S Sepúlveda
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Sustainability Research Center and PhD in Conservation Medicine, Life Sciences Faculty, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 7550196, Chile
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27
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Akhbarizadeh R, Dobaradaran S, Mazzoni M, Pascariello S, Nabipour I, Valsecchi S. Occurrence and risk characterization of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in seafood from the Persian Gulf. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:124182-124194. [PMID: 37996593 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31129-9] [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: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Potential exposure to 14 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) through seafood consumption was investigated in widely consumed seafood (Platycephalus indicus, Lethrinus nebulosus, and Penaeus semisulcatus) from the Persian Gulf. A total of 61 samples of fish and prawns were purchased from local fishers at Bushehr port (Persian Gulf, South-West of Iran) and were analyzed for PFAS compounds. In addition, potential factors influencing factor of PFAS bioaccumulation in fish and invertebrates such as age, sex, and habitat, were investigated. ƩPFAS concentrations were in the range of 2.3- 6.1 ng/g-d.w (mean = 3.9 ± 1.9) in studied species which are equal to 0.46-1.2 ng/g-w.w according to their conversion factor. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) was the most abundant perfluorinated compound in studied organisms and tissues. The results of correlation analysis showed that the bioaccumulation of PFAS in aquatic organisms is significantly correlated to the length of the compound's carbon chain, the identity of anionic group, and organism's age, sex, and habitant. The risk assessment using hazard index calculation and Monte-Carlo simulation indicated that weekly consumption of prawn and fish fillets does not pose a health risk to adults but might threaten children's health. However, the risk posed by PFAS exposure via entire fish or fish liver intake is an important issue for wild marine mammals (i.e., dolphins). So, accurate and routine monitoring of PFAS in aquatic environments seems mandatory to preserve wildlife and human health in the Persian Gulf.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razegheh Akhbarizadeh
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran.
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B1, Canada.
| | - Sina Dobaradaran
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
- Instrumental Analytical Chemistry and Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Michela Mazzoni
- Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy (IRSA-CNR), Brugherio, Italy
| | - Simona Pascariello
- Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy (IRSA-CNR), Brugherio, Italy
| | - Iraj Nabipour
- The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Sara Valsecchi
- Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy (IRSA-CNR), Brugherio, Italy
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28
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Gui W, Guo H, Wang C, Li M, Jin Y, Zhang K, Dai J, Zhao Y. Comparative developmental toxicities of zebrafish towards structurally diverse per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 902:166569. [PMID: 37633367 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166569] [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: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
Structurally diverse per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are increasingly detected in ecosystems and humans. Therefore, the clarification of their ecological and health risks is urgently required. In the present study, the toxicity of a series of PFASs, including PFOS, PFBS, Nafion BP1, Nafion BP2, F53B, OBS, PFOA, PFUnDA, PFO5DoDA, HFPO-TA was investigated. Similarities and differences in the developmental toxicity potentials were revealed. Our results demonstrated that PFUnDA exhibited the highest toxicity with the lowest EC50 value of 4.36 mg/L (for morphological abnormality); this was followed by F53B (5.58 mg/L), PFOS (6.15 mg/L), and OBS (10.65 mg/L). Positive correlations with volatility/solubility and chemotypes related to specific biological activity, including the bioconcentration factor (LogBCF), and negative correlations with lipid solubility and carbon chain component-related chemotypes, including the number of carbon and fluorine atoms, provided a reasonable explanation in the view of molecular structures. Furthermore, comparative transcriptome analysis provided molecular evidence for the relationship between PFASs exposure and malformations. Common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in spine curve development, pericardial edema, and cell/organism growth-related pathways presented common targets, leading to toxic effects. Therefore, the present results provide novel insights into the potential environmental risks of structurally diverse PFASs and contribute to the selection of safer PFAS replacements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanying Gui
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hua Guo
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Congcong Wang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Minjia Li
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yuanxiang Jin
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jiayin Dai
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yanbin Zhao
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China.
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29
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Robarts DR, Dai J, Lau C, Apte U, Corton JC. Hepatic Transcriptome Comparative In Silico Analysis Reveals Similar Pathways and Targets Altered by Legacy and Alternative Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Mice. TOXICS 2023; 11:963. [PMID: 38133364 PMCID: PMC10748317 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11120963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large class of fluorinated carbon chains that include legacy PFAS, such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS). These compounds induce adverse health effects, including hepatotoxicity. Potential alternatives to the legacy PFAS (HFPO-DA (GenX), HFPO4, HFPO-TA, F-53B, 6:2 FTSA, and 6:2 FTCA), as well as a byproduct of PFAS manufacturing (Nafion BP2), are increasingly being found in the environment. The potential hazards of these new alternatives are less well known. To better understand the diversity of molecular targets of the PFAS, we performed a comparative toxicogenomics analysis of the gene expression changes in the livers of mice exposed to these PFAS, and compared these to five activators of PPARα, a common target of many PFAS. Using hierarchical clustering, pathway analysis, and predictive biomarkers, we found that most of the alternative PFAS modulate molecular targets that overlap with legacy PFAS. Only three of the 11 PFAS tested did not appreciably activate PPARα (Nafion BP2, 6:2 FTSA, and 6:2 FTCA). Predictive biomarkers showed that most PFAS (PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, HFPO-TA, F-53B, HFPO4, Nafion BP2) activated CAR. PFNA, PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS, HFPO4, HFPO-TA, F-53B, Nafion BP2, and 6:2 FTSA suppressed STAT5b, activated NRF2, and activated SREBP. There was no apparent relationship between the length of the carbon chain, type of head group, or number of ether linkages and the transcriptomic changes. This work highlights the similarities in molecular targets between the legacy and alternative PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dakota R. Robarts
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Jiayin Dai
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Christopher Lau
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Udayan Apte
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - J. Christopher Corton
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
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30
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Andrews DQ, Stoiber T, Temkin AM, Naidenko OV. Discussion. Has the human population become a sentinel for the adverse effects of PFAS contamination on wildlife health and endangered species? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 901:165939. [PMID: 37769722 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165939] [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: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Global contamination with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) poses a threat to both human health and the environment, with significant implications for ecological conservation policies. A growing list of peer-reviewed publications indicates that PFAS can harm wildlife health and that the adverse effects associated with PFAS exposure in wildlife are in concordance with human epidemiological studies. The correlation of cross-species data supports a unique perspective that humans can be regarded as a sentinel for PFAS effects in other species. The health harms due to PFAS are potentially most concerning for populations of endangered and threatened species that are simultaneously exposed to PFAS and other toxic pollutants, and also face threats to their survival due to habitat loss, degradation of ecosystems, and over-harvesting. Human epidemiological studies on the PFAS doses associated with health harm present a rich source of information about potential impacts on wildlife health due to PFAS. Our analysis suggests that national and international efforts to restrict the discharges of PFAS into the environment and to clean up PFAS-contaminated sites present an opportunity to protect wildlife from chemical pollution and to advance species conservation worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Q Andrews
- Environmental Working Group, 1250 I Street NW Suite 1000, Washington DC 20005, United States of America.
| | - Tasha Stoiber
- Environmental Working Group, 1250 I Street NW Suite 1000, Washington DC 20005, United States of America
| | - Alexis M Temkin
- Environmental Working Group, 1250 I Street NW Suite 1000, Washington DC 20005, United States of America
| | - Olga V Naidenko
- Environmental Working Group, 1250 I Street NW Suite 1000, Washington DC 20005, United States of America
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31
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Kwon H, Ali ZA, Wong BM. Harnessing Semi-Supervised Machine Learning to Automatically Predict Bioactivities of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS 2023; 10:1017-1022. [PMID: 38025956 PMCID: PMC10653214 DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.2c00530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Many per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) pose significant health hazards due to their bioactive and persistent bioaccumulative properties. However, assessing the bioactivities of PFASs is both time-consuming and costly due to the sheer number and expense of in vivo and in vitro biological experiments. To this end, we harnessed new unsupervised/semi-supervised machine learning models to automatically predict bioactivities of PFASs in various human biological targets, including enzymes, genes, proteins, and cell lines. Our semi-supervised metric learning models were used to predict the bioactivity of PFASs found in the recent Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report list, which contains 4730 PFASs used in a broad range of industries and consumers. Our work provides the first semi-supervised machine learning study of structure-activity relationships for predicting possible bioactivities in a variety of PFAS species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyuna Kwon
- Department
of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Zulfikhar A. Ali
- Department
of Physics & Astronomy, University of
California-Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Bryan M. Wong
- Department
of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, United States
- Department
of Physics & Astronomy, University of
California-Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, United States
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32
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Starnes HM, Jackson TW, Rock KD, Belcher SM. Quantitative Cross-Species Comparison of Serum Albumin Binding of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Five Structural Classes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.10.566613. [PMID: 38014292 PMCID: PMC10680784 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.10.566613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of over 8,000 chemicals that are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic to humans, livestock, and wildlife. Serum protein binding affinity is instrumental in understanding PFAS toxicity, yet experimental binding data is limited to only a few PFAS congeners. Previously, we demonstrated the usefulness of a high-throughput, in vitro differential scanning fluorimetry assay for determination of relative binding affinities of human serum albumin for 24 PFAS congeners from 6 chemical classes. In the current study, we used this differential scanning fluorimetry assay to comparatively examine differences in human, bovine, porcine, and rat serum albumin binding of 8 structurally informative PFAS congeners from 5 chemical classes. With the exception of the fluorotelomer alcohol 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctanol (6:2 FTOH), each PFAS congener bound by human serum albumin was also bound by bovine, porcine, and rat serum albumin. The critical role of the charged functional headgroup in albumin binding was supported by the inability of serum albumin of each species tested to bind 6:2 FTOH. Significant interspecies differences in serum albumin binding affinities were identified for each of the bound PFAS congeners. Relative to human albumin, perfluoroalkyl carboxylic and sulfonic acids were bound with greater affinity by porcine and rat serum albumin, and perfluoroalkyl ether congeners bound with lower affinity to porcine and bovine serum albumin. These comparative affinity data for PFAS binding by serum albumin from human, experimental model and livestock species reduce critical interspecies uncertainty and improve accuracy of predictive toxicity assessments for PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M. Starnes
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Thomas W. Jackson
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
- Current address: Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Kylie D. Rock
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
- Current address: Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Scott M. Belcher
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
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Fan Y, Guo L, Wang R, Xu J, Fang Y, Wang W, Lv J, Tang W, Wang H, Xu DX, Tao L, Huang Y. Low transplacental transfer of PFASs in the small-for-gestational-age (SGA) new-borns: Evidence from a Chinese birth cohort. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 340:139964. [PMID: 37633609 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
Early life in utero exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and infiltration through the placenta into cord blood pose significant risk to fetal development. Accumulating knowledge suggests that PFASs pass through the placenta in multiple transportation ways, not limiting to passive transport but also active transport or facilitated diffusion. Therefore, we propose that the transplacental transfer efficiency (TTE) could be re-evaluated as traditional cord to maternal ratio-based method might overlook certain biological or health information from the mother and fetus. In this study, we investigated 30 PFAS chemicals in paired maternal and cord serum from 195 births classified as small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and matched appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA). PFASs were ubiquitously detected in the maternal and serum samples, with PFOA, PFOS, 6:2 Cl-PFESA and other dominant compounds. We adopted a modified TTE estimation method (TTEm), taking into consideration of the total burden mass of PFASs in the blood from mother to fetus. Using the modified TTEm, a significant (p < 0.05) decrease was observed in the PFAS transplacental transfer potential in SGA (1.6%-11.3%) compared to AGA (2.3%-21.1%), suggesting a reverse association between TTE and SGA birth risk. This is the first study attempted to re-evaluate the TTE of PFAS and indicates that TTEm might be more advantageous to reflect the transplacental transfer potency of chemicals particularly when transportation mechanisms are multi-faceted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijun Fan
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Liyan Guo
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ruolan Wang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jingjing Xu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yuanyuan Fang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wenxin Wang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jia Lv
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Weitian Tang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - De-Xiang Xu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Lin Tao
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
| | - Yichao Huang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
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34
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Kirkwood-Donelson KI, Dodds JN, Schnetzer A, Hall N, Baker ES. Uncovering per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) with nontargeted ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry analyses. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadj7048. [PMID: 37878714 PMCID: PMC10599621 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj7048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Because of environmental and health concerns, legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been voluntarily phased out, and thousands of emerging PFAS introduced as replacements. Traditional analytical methods target a limited number of mainly legacy PFAS; therefore, many species are not routinely assessed in the environment. Nontargeted approaches using high-resolution mass spectrometry methods have therefore been used to detect and characterize unknown PFAS. However, their ability to elucidate chemical structures relies on generation of informative fragments, and many low concentration species are not fragmented in typical data-dependent acquisition approaches. Here, a data-independent method leveraging ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) and size-dependent fragmentation was developed and applied to characterize aquatic passive samplers deployed near a North Carolina fluorochemical manufacturer. From the study, 11 PFAS structures for various per- and polyfluorinated ether sulfonic acids and multiheaded perfluorinated ether acids were elucidated in addition to 36 known PFAS. Eight of these species were previously unreported in environmental media, and three suspected species were validated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - James N. Dodds
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Astrid Schnetzer
- Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC,, USA
| | - Nathan Hall
- Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Morehead City, NC, USA
| | - Erin S. Baker
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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35
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Zhang C, Xu Y, Liu W, Zhou H, Zhang N, Fang Z, Gao J, Sun X, Feng D, Sun X. New insights into the degradation mechanism and risk assessment of HFPO-DA by advanced oxidation processes based on activated persulfate in aqueous solutions. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 263:115298. [PMID: 37499385 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115298] [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: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) is widely used as a substitute for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). HFPO-DA exhibits high water solubility and low adsorption potential, conferring significant fluidity in aquatic environments. Given that the toxicity of HFPO-DA is similar to PFOA, it is necessary to control its content in aquatic environments. Electrochemical and thermally-activated persulfates have been successfully used to degrade HFPO-DA, but UV-activated persulfates cannot degrade the compound. Given that research on degradation mechanisms is still incomplete and lacks kinetic research, the mechanism and kinetic calculations of oxidative degradation were studied in detail using DFT calculations. And the toxicity of HFPO-DA degradation intermediates and products was evaluated to reveal the feasibility of using advanced oxidation process (AOP) technology based on persulfate to degrade HFPO-DA in wastewater. The results showed that the committed step of HFPO-DA degradation was initiated by the electron transfer reaction of SO4•- radicals. This reaction is not spontaneous at room temperature and requires sufficient electrical or thermal energy to be absorbed from the external environment. The perfluoroalcohol produced during this reaction can subsequently undergo four possible reactions: H atom abstraction from alcohol groups by an OH radical; H atom abstraction by SO4•-; direct HF removal; and HF removal with water as the catalyst. The final degradation products of HFPO-DA mainly include CO2, CF3CF2COOH, CF3COOH, FCOOH and HF, which has been identified through previous experimental analysis. Ecotoxicity assessment indicates that degradation does not produce highly toxic intermediates, and that the final products are non-toxic, supporting the feasibility of persulfate-based AOP technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxi Zhang
- Shandong Facility Horticulture Bioengineering Research Center, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang 262700, China; Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Youxin Xu
- Shandong Facility Horticulture Bioengineering Research Center, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang 262700, China; Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Wenyan Liu
- School of agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
| | - Huaiyu Zhou
- Shandong Facility Horticulture Bioengineering Research Center, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang 262700, China
| | - Ningning Zhang
- Shandong Facility Horticulture Bioengineering Research Center, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang 262700, China
| | - Zhihao Fang
- Shandong Facility Horticulture Bioengineering Research Center, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang 262700, China
| | - Junping Gao
- Shandong Facility Horticulture Bioengineering Research Center, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang 262700, China
| | - Xiaoan Sun
- Shandong Facility Horticulture Bioengineering Research Center, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang 262700, China
| | - Di Feng
- Shandong Facility Horticulture Bioengineering Research Center, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang 262700, China.
| | - Xiaomin Sun
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China.
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36
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Shu Y, Wang Q, Hong P, Ruan Y, Lin H, Xu J, Zhang H, Deng S, Wu H, Chen L, Leung KMY. Legacy and Emerging Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Surveillance in Bufo gargarizans from Inlet Watersheds of Chaohu Lake, China: Tissue Distribution and Bioaccumulation Potential. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:13148-13160. [PMID: 37565447 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c02660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Amphibians are sensitive biomonitors of environmental pollutants but reports regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of synthetic organofluorine substances, are limited. In this study, samples of water and Chinese toads (Bufo gargarizans) were collected in Chaohu Lake, China. Tissue-specific bioaccumulation characteristics of 39 PFAS, including 19 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), 8 emerging PFAS, and 12 PFAA precursors, were investigated, and the levels of some biochemical indicators were determined. The highest PFAS concentrations were found in the liver [215.97 ng/g dry weight (dw)] of Chinese toads, followed by gonads (135.42 ng/g dw) and intestine (114.08 ng/g dw). A similar tissue distribution profile was found between legacy and emerging PFAS in the toads, and the occurrence of two emerging PFAS, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-propanoate (HFPO-DA) and 6:2 hydrogen-substituted polyfluorooctane ether sulfonate (6:2 H-PFESA) in the amphibians were for the first time reported. Field-based bioaccumulation factors of HFPO-DA were higher than perfluorooctanoic acid, indicating the higher bioaccumulation potential of this emerging PFAS than the legacy C8 compound. Males had significantly higher gonad PFAS levels than females while estradiol levels in gonads increased with increasing concentrations of certain PFAS (e.g., 6:2 H-PFESA), implying that PFAS may trigger estrogenic effects in the toads, especially for male toads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilin Shu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Qi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Pei Hong
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Yuefei Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Huiju Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Jing Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Huijuan Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Shuaitao Deng
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
- Shanghai Wildlife and Protected Natural Areas Research Center, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Hailong Wu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Lianguo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Kenneth Mei Yee Leung
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
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37
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Huang RG, Li XB, Wang YY, Wu H, Li KD, Jin X, Du YJ, Wang H, Qian FY, Li BZ. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals and autoimmune diseases. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 231:116222. [PMID: 37224951 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) widely exist in people's production and life which have great potential to damage human and animal health. Over the past few decades, growing attention has been paid to the impact of EDCs on human health, as well as immune system. So far, researchers have proved that EDCs (such as bisphenol A (BPA), phthalate, tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD), etc.) affect human immune function and promotes the occurrence and development of autoimmune diseases (ADs). Therefore, in order to better understand how EDCs affect ADs, we summarized the current knowledge about the impact of EDCs on ADs, and elaborated the potential mechanism of the impact of EDCs on ADs in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong-Gui Huang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xian-Bao Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yi-Yu Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hong Wu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Kai-Di Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xue Jin
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yu-Jie Du
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | | | - Bao-Zhu Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, China.
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Zhang F, Liu L, Hu J, Fu H, Li H, Chen J, Yang C, Guo Q, Liang X, Wang L, Guo Y, Dai J, Sheng N, Wang J. Accumulation and glucocorticoid signaling suppression by four emerging perfluoroethercarboxylic acids based on animal exposure and cell testing. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 178:108092. [PMID: 37463541 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108092] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Various perfluoroethercarboxylic acids (PFECA) have emerged as next-generation replacements of legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, there is a paucity of information regarding their bioaccumulation ability and hazard characterization. Here, we explored the accumulation and hepatotoxicity of four PFECA compounds (HFPO-DA, HFPO-TA, PFO4DA, and PFO5DoDA) in comparison to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) after chronic low-dose exposure in mice. Except for HFPO-DA, the levels of all tested PFAS in the liver exceeded that in serum. High molecular weight PFECA compounds (PFO5DoDA and HFPO-TA) showed stronger accumulation capacity and longer half-lives (t1/2) than low molecular weight PFECA compounds (HFPO-DA and PFO4DA) and even legacy PFOA. Although hepatomegaly is a common apical end point of PFAS exposure, the differentially expressed gene (DEG) profiles in the liver suggested significant differences between PFOA and the four PFECA compounds. Gene enrichment analysis supported a considerable inhibitory effect of PFECA, but not PFOA, on the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling pathway. Both HFPO-TA and PFO5DoDA demonstrated a more pronounced ability to perturb RNA expression profiles in vivo and to suppress GR signaling in vitro compared to HFPO-DA and PFO4DA. Calculated reference doses (RfDs) emphasized the potential hazard of PFECA to human health. Overall, our findings indicate that PFECA alternatives do not ease the concerns raised from legacy PFAS pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenghong Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Lei Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Jianglin Hu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Huayu Fu
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Hongyuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jiamiao Chen
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Chunyu Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Qingrong Guo
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Xiaotian Liang
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Lin Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Yong Guo
- Key Laboratory of Organofluorine Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jiayin Dai
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Nan Sheng
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
| | - Jianshe Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China.
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Rock KD, Polera ME, Guillette TC, Starnes HM, Dean K, Watters M, Stevens-Stewart D, Belcher SM. Domestic Dogs and Horses as Sentinels of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Exposure and Associated Health Biomarkers in Gray's Creek North Carolina. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:9567-9579. [PMID: 37340551 PMCID: PMC10802174 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c01146] [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] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Central North Carolina (NC) is highly contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in part due to local fluorochemical production. Little is known about the exposure profiles and long-term health impacts for humans and animals that live in nearby communities. In this study, serum PFAS concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry and diagnostic clinical chemistry endpoints were assessed for 31 dogs and 32 horses that reside in Gray's Creek NC at households with documented PFAS contamination in their drinking water. PFAS were detected in every sample, with 12 of the 20 PFAS detected in ≥50% of samples from each species. The average total PFAS concentrations in horses were lower compared to dogs who had higher concentrations of PFOS (dogs 2.9 ng/mL; horses 1.8 ng/mL), PFHxS (dogs 1.43 ng/mL, horses < LOD), and PFOA (dogs 0.37 ng/mL; horses 0.10 ng/mL). Regression analysis highlighted alkaline phosphatase, glucose, and globulin proteins in dogs and gamma glutamyl transferase in horses as potential biomarkers associated with PFAS exposure. Overall, the results of this study support the utility of companion animal and livestock species as sentinels of PFAS exposure differences inside and outside of the home. As in humans, renal and hepatic health in domestic animals may be sensitive to long-term PFAS exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kylie D Rock
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Madison E Polera
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Theresa C Guillette
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Research Participation Program, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Hannah M Starnes
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Kentley Dean
- Southern Oaks Animal Hospital, Hope Mills, North Carolina 28348, United States
| | - Mike Watters
- Gray's Creek Residents United against PFAS in Our Wells & Rivers, Gray's Creek, North Carolina 28348, United States
| | - Debra Stevens-Stewart
- Gray's Creek Residents United against PFAS in Our Wells & Rivers, Gray's Creek, North Carolina 28348, United States
| | - Scott M Belcher
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
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Niu S, Cao Y, Chen R, Bedi M, Sanders AP, Ducatman A, Ng C. A State-of-the-Science Review of Interactions of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) with Renal Transporters in Health and Disease: Implications for Population Variability in PFAS Toxicokinetics. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:76002. [PMID: 37418334 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in the environment and have been shown to cause various adverse health impacts. In animals, sex- and species-specific differences in PFAS elimination half-lives have been linked to the activity of kidney transporters. However, PFAS molecular interactions with kidney transporters are still not fully understood. Moreover, the impact of kidney disease on PFAS elimination remains unclear. OBJECTIVES This state-of-the-science review integrated current knowledge to assess how changes in kidney function and transporter expression from health to disease could affect PFAS toxicokinetics and identified priority research gaps that should be addressed to advance knowledge. METHODS We searched for studies that measured PFAS uptake by kidney transporters, quantified transporter-level changes associated with kidney disease status, and developed PFAS pharmacokinetic models. We then used two databases to identify untested kidney transporters that have the potential for PFAS transport based on their endogenous substrates. Finally, we used an existing pharmacokinetic model for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in male rats to explore the influence of transporter expression levels, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and serum albumin on serum half-lives. RESULTS The literature search identified nine human and eight rat kidney transporters that were previously investigated for their ability to transport PFAS, as well as seven human and three rat transporters that were confirmed to transport specific PFAS. We proposed a candidate list of seven untested kidney transporters with the potential for PFAS transport. Model results indicated PFOA toxicokinetics were more influenced by changes in GFR than in transporter expression. DISCUSSION Studies on additional transporters, particularly efflux transporters, and on more PFAS, especially current-use PFAS, are needed to better cover the role of transporters across the PFAS class. Remaining research gaps in transporter expression changes in specific kidney disease states could limit the effectiveness of risk assessment and prevent identification of vulnerable populations. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11885.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Niu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yuexin Cao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ruiwen Chen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Megha Bedi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Alison P Sanders
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Alan Ducatman
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Carla Ng
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Brown AS, Yun X, McKenzie ER, Heron CG, Field JA, Salice CJ. Spatial and temporal variability of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in environmental media of a small pond: Toward an improved understanding of PFAS bioaccumulation in fish. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 880:163149. [PMID: 37011692 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly fluorinated compounds with many industrial applications, for instance as ingredients in fire-suppressing aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF). Several PFAS have been demonstrated to be persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic. This study better characterizes the bioaccumulation of PFAS in freshwater fish through a spatial and temporal analysis of surface water and sediment from a stormwater pond in a former Naval air station (NAS) with historic AFFF use. We sampled environmental media from four locations twice per week for five weeks and sampled fish at the end of the sampling effort. The primary PFAS identified in surface water, sediment, and biota were perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) followed by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in environmental media and perfluoroheptane sulfonate (PFHpS) in biota. We observed significant temporal variability in surface water concentrations at the pond headwaters following stochastic events such as heavy rainfall for many compounds, particularly PFHxS. Sediment concentrations varied most across sampling locations. In fish, liver tissue presented the highest concentrations for all compounds except PFHxS, which was highest in muscle tissue, suggesting the influence of fine-scale aqueous PFAS fluctuations on tissue distribution. Calculated log bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) ranged from 0.13 to 2.30 for perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCA) and 0.29-4.05 for perfluoroalkane sulfonates (PFSA) and fluctuated greatly with aqueous concentrations. The variability of PFAS concentrations in environmental media necessitates more frequent sampling efforts in field-based studies to better characterize PFAS contamination in aquatic ecosystems as well as exercising caution when considering single time-point BAFs due to uncertainty of system dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbi S Brown
- Environmental Science and Studies Program, Towson University, Towson, MD, USA
| | - Xiaoyan Yun
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Erica R McKenzie
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Christopher G Heron
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Jennifer A Field
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
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Ehsan MN, Riza M, Pervez MN, Khyum MMO, Liang Y, Naddeo V. Environmental and health impacts of PFAS: Sources, distribution and sustainable management in North Carolina (USA). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 878:163123. [PMID: 37001657 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of manufactured chemicals that have recently attracted a great deal of attention from environmental regulators and the general public because of their high prevalence, resistance to degradation, and potential toxicity. This review summarizes the current state of PFAS and its effects on the environment of North Carolina, USA. Specific emphasis has been placed to identify i) the sources of PFAS in North Carolina ii) distribution of PFAS in different environmental segments of North Carolina, including surface water, groundwater, air, and sediment iii) drinking water contamination iv) impact of PFAS on human health v) PFAS accumulation in fish and other biota vi) status of PFAS removal from drinking water and finally vi) socioeconomic impact of PFAS uncertainties. Continuous discharges of PFAS occur in the North Carolina environment from direct and indirect sources, including manufacturing sites, firefighting foam, waste disposal and treatment plants, landfill leachate, and industrial emissions. PFAS are widespread in many environmental segments of North Carolina. They are more likely to be detected in surface and groundwater sediments and can enter aquatic bodies through direct discharge and wet and dry deposition of emissions. Eventually, some adverse effects of PFAS have already been reported in North Carolina residents who could have been exposed to the chemicals through contaminated drinking water. Furthermore, PFAS were also found in blood samples from fish and alligators. PFAS were confirmed to be present in water, sediment, organic compounds, and aquatic species at all levels of the food web. However, there is still a substantial amount of work to be done to understand the actual contamination by PFAS in North Carolina comprehensively.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mumtahina Riza
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27695-7617, USA.
| | - Md Nahid Pervez
- Sanitary Environmental Engineering Division (SEED), Department of Civil Engineering, 66 University of Salerno, Fisciano 84084, Italy; Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | | | - Yanna Liang
- Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Vincenzo Naddeo
- Sanitary Environmental Engineering Division (SEED), Department of Civil Engineering, 66 University of Salerno, Fisciano 84084, Italy.
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Sohns A. Differential exposure to drinking water contaminants in North Carolina: Evidence from structural topic modeling and water quality data. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 336:117600. [PMID: 36967693 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117600] [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: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
To better understand water security of communities in North Carolina, this research uses structural topic modeling (STM) and geographic mapping to identify the main topics and pollutant categories being researched and the areas exposed to drinking water contaminants. The textual data derived from the journal article abstracts that examined water pollution in North Carolina is from 1964 to present. The STM analysis of textual data is paired with socio-demographic data from the 2015-2019 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates and water pollution data from North Carolina state agencies. The STM findings show that the most discussed topics relate to runoff management, wastewater from concentrated agricultural feeding operations, emerging contaminants, land development, and health impacts as a result of water contamination. The article discusses how the topics especially threaten groundwater resources used by community water systems and private wells. Those communities served by private wells are predominantly low-income and minority populations. As a result, threats to groundwater supplies exacerbate existing issues of environmental justice in North Carolina, especially in the Coastal Plains Region. The STM findings revealed that several key threats to safe drinking water are less covered by academic literature, such as poultry concentrated agricultural feeding operations and climate impacts, which may increase disparities in water access in North Carolina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Sohns
- The Roux Institute, Northeastern University 100 Fore St. Portland, ME USA 04101.
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Alinezhad A, Shao H, Litvanova K, Sun R, Kubatova A, Zhang W, Li Y, Xiao F. Mechanistic Investigations of Thermal Decomposition of Perfluoroalkyl Ether Carboxylic Acids and Short-Chain Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylic Acids. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:8796-8807. [PMID: 37195265 PMCID: PMC10269594 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c00294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the thermal decomposition mechanisms of perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acids (PFECAs) and short-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) that have been manufactured as replacements for phased-out per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). C-C, C-F, C-O, O-H, and C═C bond dissociation energies were calculated at the M06-2X/Def2-TZVP level of theory. The α-C and carboxyl-C bond dissociation energy of PFECAs declines with increasing chain length and the attachment of an electron-withdrawing trifluoromethyl (-CF3) group to the α-C. Experimental and computational results show that the thermal transformation of hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid to trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) occurs due to the preferential cleavage of the C-O ether bond close to the carboxyl group. This pathway produces precursors of perfluoropropionic acid (PFPeA) and TFA and is supplemented by a minor pathway (CF3CF2CF2OCFCF3COOH → CF3CF2CF2· + ·OCFCF3COOH) through which perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) is formed. The weakest C-C bond in PFPeA and PFBA is the one connecting the α-C and the β-C. The results support (1) the C-C scission in the perfluorinated backbone as an effective PFCA thermal decomposition mechanism and (2) the thermal recombination of radicals through which intermediates are formed. Additionally, we detected a few novel thermal decomposition products of studied PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Alinezhad
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
| | - Heng Shao
- Key
Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences of Ministry of Education,
State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People’s Republic of China
| | - Katerina Litvanova
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202, United States
| | - Runze Sun
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
| | - Alena Kubatova
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202, United States
| | - Wen Zhang
- John
A. Reif, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States
| | - Yang Li
- Key
Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences of Ministry of Education,
State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People’s Republic of China
| | - Feng Xiao
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
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Wang Z, Zang L, Ren W, Guo H, Sheng N, Zhou X, Guo Y, Dai J. Bile acid metabolism disorder mediates hepatotoxicity of Nafion by-product 2 and perfluorooctane sulfonate in male PPARα-KO mice. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 876:162579. [PMID: 36870486 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and Nafion by-product 2 (H-PFMO2OSA) induce hepatotoxicity in male mice via activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) pathway; however, accumulating evidence suggests that PPARα-independent pathways also play a vital role in hepatotoxicity after exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Thus, to assess the hepatotoxicity of PFOS and H-PFMO2OSA more comprehensively, adult male wild-type (WT) and PPARα knockout (PPARα-KO) mice were exposed to PFOS and H-PFMO2OSA (1 or 5 mg/kg/d) for 28 d via oral gavage. Results showed that although elevations in alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were alleviated in PPARα-KO mice, liver injury, including liver enlargement and necrosis, was still observed after PFOS and H-PFMO2OSA exposure. Liver transcriptome analysis identified fewer differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the PPARα-KO mice than in the WT mice, but more DEGs associated with the bile acid secretion pathway after PFOS and H-PFMO2OSA treatment. Total bile acid content in the liver was increased in the 1 and 5 mg/kg/d PFOS-exposed and 5 mg/kg/d H-PFMO2OSA-exposed PPARα-KO mice. Furthermore, in PPARα-KO mice, proteins showing changes in transcription and translation levels after PFOS and H-PFMO2OSA exposure were involved in the synthesis, transportation, reabsorption, and excretion of bile acids. Thus, exposure to PFOS and H-PFMO2OSA in male PPARα-KO mice may disturb bile acid metabolism, which is not under the control of PPARα.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiru Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Lu Zang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Wanlan Ren
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Hua Guo
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Nan Sheng
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xuming Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yong Guo
- Key Laboratory of Organofluorine Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jiayin Dai
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200240, China.
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Wang C, Fu H, Yang J, Liu L, Zhang F, Yang C, Li H, Chen J, Li Q, Wang X, Ye Y, Sheng N, Guo Y, Dai J, Xu G, Liu X, Wang J. PFO5DoDA disrupts hepatic homeostasis primarily through glucocorticoid signaling inhibition. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 447:130831. [PMID: 36696776 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a worldwide health concern due to their potential bioaccumulation and toxicity in humans. A variety of perfluoroether carboxylic acids (PFECAs) have been developed as next-generation replacements of legacy PFASs. However, information regarding their possible environmental and human health risks is limited. In the present study, we explored the effects of PFECAs on mice based on long-term exposure to environmentally relevant doses of perfluoro-3,5,7,9,11-pentaoxadodecanoic acid (PFO5DoDA). Results showed that PFECAs exposure suppressed many cellular stress signals and resulted in hepatomegaly. PFO5DoDA acted as an agonist of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) in vitro and modulated PPAR-dependent gene expression in the liver. Importantly, PFECAs had an inhibitory effect on the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which may contribute to the extensive suppression of stress signals. Of note, the GR suppression induced by PFECAs was not reported by legacy perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). PFO5DoDA-induced changes in both GR and PPAR signals remodeled hepatic metabolic profiles, including decreased fatty acids and amino acids and increased β-oxidation. Mechanistically, PFO5DoDA inhibited GR transactivation by degradation of GR proteins. Our results emphasize the potential risk of PFECAs to human health, which were introduced to ease concerns regarding legacy PFASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Huayu Fu
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Jun Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Lei Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Fenghong Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Chunyu Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Hongyuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jiamiao Chen
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Qi Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Xiaolin Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Yaorui Ye
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Nan Sheng
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yong Guo
- Key Laboratory of Organofluorine Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jiayin Dai
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Guowang Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Xinyu Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China.
| | - Jianshe Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China.
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Gui W, Guo H, Wang J, Wang C, Guo Y, Zhang K, Dai J, Zhao Y. Nafion by-product 2 disturbs lipid homeostasis in zebrafish embryo. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 322:121178. [PMID: 36731735 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
As a novel polyfluoroalkyl substance, Nafion by-product 2 (Nafion BP2) has been detected widely in environmental matrix as well as human samples. However, its toxicity remains poorly recognized. Here, we investigated the toxic effects of Nafion BP2 by use of zebrafish model and highlighted its toxicity on lipid homeostasis. Large sized-lipid droplets (LDs) have been revealed to gather in pericardium and anterior yolk sac region of zebrafish larvae by Oil Red O staining after a 120 h Nafion BP2 exposure. Meanwhile, the total cholesterol (TC) concentrations were significantly disrupted. Lipidomic analysis uncovered a dramatical alterations on lipid profiles. Significant reductions were observed for a set of lipids including phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), sphingolipid (SM) and triglyceride (TG) in zebrafish. Transcriptome analyses further confirmed genes involved in LDs biosynthesis, lipid transportation and lipid metabolism, were significantly disrupted. Especially for APOA4 and CIDEC genes, fold changes (Log2 FC) of gene expression level by up to 17.8 and 3.5, respectively, were observed. Together, these findings demonstrated the disturbance of Nafion BP2 on lipid homeostasis of zebrafish and provided an unprecedented insight into the health risk assessments of emerging fluorochemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanying Gui
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Hua Guo
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jinghua Wang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Congcong Wang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yong Guo
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Key Laboratory of Organofluorine Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Jiayin Dai
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yanbin Zhao
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
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George SE, Baker TR, Baker BB. Nonlethal detection of PFAS bioaccumulation and biomagnification within fishes in an urban- and wastewater-dominant Great Lakes watershed. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 321:121123. [PMID: 36681373 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic endocrine disruptors that are particularly stable and pervasive due to strong carbon-fluorine bonds. They are known to bioaccumulate in protein-rich tissues of fish, and most cannot be eliminated with cooking. Despite studies linking PFAS to adverse health outcomes, there is a lack of international regulations of PFAS as a hazardous material. To investigate PFAS in an aquatic food web and the potential human health implications, we analyzed the concentrations of 40 PFAS from muscle biopsy and serum samples of fish representing different trophic levels along the Lake Huron - Lake Erie Corridor. In Summer (2021), walleye (Sander vitreus; WAE), yellow perch (Perca flavescens; YEP) and round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus; ROG) were collected for analysis from the Detroit River (contaminated site) and St. Clair River (reference site). Eight PFAS congeners were detected in muscle and 15 congeners in serum, leading to the novel detection in Great Lakes fish of 7:3 FTCA in muscle and PFHpS, PFNS, MeFOSAA, and EtFOSAA in serum. PFOS was detected in 100% of muscle and serum pools across all species at concentrations lower than those associated with fish toxicity. Muscle PFOS concentration in DR WAE fell under the 8 meals per month (>13 ng-19 ng) fish consumption advisory according to the State of Michigan. Log bioaccumulation factor was significantly different (p = 0.01) among species in DR, driven by higher log BAF for WAE (3.8 ± 0.1) compared to ROG (3.2± 0.02). Biomagnification factor greater than 1 for all species in both rivers indicates that PFOS is biomagnifying in SCR and DR food webs. Successful detection and quantification of PFAS in the muscle and serum of three fish species demonstrates the potential for using this nonlethal sampling method to monitor PFAS and better understand ecological and human health impacts of PFAS exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena E George
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2015 Linden Dr., Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Tracie R Baker
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, 6135 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI, 48202, USA.
| | - Bridget B Baker
- Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
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Sun Q, Zhang J, Wang T, Xiong Y, Zhan X, Zhao H, Wang J, Fan Y, Bi R, Wang S, Hong S, Khim JS. Cooking methods effectively alter perfluoroalkyl substances and nutrients in cultured and wild bullfrogs. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 445:130555. [PMID: 37055966 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitous distribution of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) poses a threat to the health of aquatic organisms and humans. Bullfrogs are considered a popular aquatic food product in South China, providing high protein and tasty cuisine; however bullfrogs have been shown to contain significant concentrations of PFASs. However, the risk-benefit ratios of PFASs and nutrient contents in cooked bullfrogs are not well understood. PFASs and nutrients were investigated in raw and cooked specimens of cultured and wild bullfrogs in this study. Novel PFASs showed higher detection levels and accumulation in wild bullfrogs than in cultured bullfrogs. Potential factors such as fat and fatty acid ratio affected PFASs accumulation in different tissues and by different cooking methods of bullfrogs. All cooking methods can reduce PFASs in edible tissues while significantly enhancing the nutritive value index (NVI) compared to raw bullfrogs. Steaming was the most effective way to reduce PFASs (rate of reduction was over 66%) and resulted in a lower risk of contributing to arteriosclerosis than other cooking methods assessed by atherogenicity index (AI) values. Cultured bullfrogs instead of wild bullfrogs were recommended for human consumption, and steaming was regarded as a better cooking method in terms of risk-benefit concerns. Overall, this work provides quantitative analysis of cooking methods that alter PFASs and nutrients in bullfrogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiongping Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Jiaer Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Tieyu Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China.
| | - Yonglong Xiong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Xinyi Zhan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Hancheng Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Jianwen Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Yueyao Fan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Ran Bi
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Shuqing Wang
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Seongjin Hong
- Department of Marine Environmental Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Seong Khim
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences & Research Institute of Oceanography, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
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50
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Robarts DR, Paine-Cabrera D, Kotulkar M, Venneman KK, Gunewardena S, Corton JC, Lau C, Foquet L, Bial G, Apte U. Identifying Human Specific Adverse Outcome Pathways of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Using Liver-Chimeric Humanized Mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.01.526711. [PMID: 36778348 PMCID: PMC9915685 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.01.526711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Background Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants with myriad adverse effects. While perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) are the most common contaminants, levels of replacement PFAS, such as perfluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic acid (GenX), are increasing. In rodents, PFOA, PFOS, and GenX have several adverse effects on the liver, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Objective We aimed to determine human-relevant mechanisms of PFAS induced adverse hepatic effects using FRG liver-chimeric humanized mice with livers repopulated with functional human hepatocytes. Methods Male humanized mice were treated with 0.067 mg/L of PFOA, 0.145 mg/L of PFOS, or 1 mg/L of GenX in drinking water for 28 days. Liver and serum were collected for pathology and clinical chemistry, respectively. RNA-sequencing coupled with pathway analysis was used to determine molecular mechanisms. Results PFOS caused a significant decrease in total serum cholesterol and LDL/VLDL, whereas GenX caused a significant elevation in LDL/VLDL with no change in total cholesterol and HDL. PFOA had no significant changes in serum LDL/VLDL and total cholesterol. All three PFAS induced significant hepatocyte proliferation. RNA-sequencing with alignment to the human genome showed a total of 240, 162, and 619 differentially expressed genes after PFOA, PFOS, and GenX exposure, respectively. Upstream regulator analysis revealed inhibition of NR1D1, a transcriptional repressor important in circadian rhythm, as the major common molecular change in all PFAS treatments. PFAS treated mice had significant nuclear localization of NR1D1. In silico modeling showed PFOA, PFOS, and GenX potentially interact with the DNA-binding domain of NR1D1. Discussion These data implicate PFAS in circadian rhythm disruption via inhibition of NR1D1. These studies show that FRG humanized mice are a useful tool for studying the adverse outcome pathways of environmental pollutants on human hepatocytes in situ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dakota R. Robarts
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
| | - Diego Paine-Cabrera
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
| | - Manasi Kotulkar
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
| | - Kaitlyn K. Venneman
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
| | - Sumedha Gunewardena
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
| | - J. Christopher Corton
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC
| | - Christopher Lau
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC
| | | | | | - Udayan Apte
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
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