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Post CM, McDonough C, Lawrence BP. Binary and quaternary mixtures of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) differentially affect the immune response to influenza A virus infection. J Immunotoxicol 2024; 21:2340495. [PMID: 38946256 PMCID: PMC11219007 DOI: 10.1080/1547691x.2024.2340495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are anthropogenic organofluorine compounds that persist indefinitely in the environment and bioaccumulate throughout all trophic levels. Biomonitoring efforts have detected multiple PFAS in the serum of most people. Immune suppression has been among the most consistent effects of exposure to PFAS. PFAS often co-occur as mixtures in the environment, however, few studies have examined immunosuppression of PFAS mixtures or determined whether PFAS exposure affects immune function in the context of infection. In this study, mixtures containing two or four different PFAS and a mouse model of infection with influenza A virus (IAV) were used to assess immunotoxicity of PFAS mixtures. PFAS were administered via the drinking water as either a binary mixture of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or quaternary mixture of PFOS, PFOA, perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA). The results indicated that the binary mixture affected the T-cell response, while the quaternary mixture affected the B-cell response to infection. These findings indicate that the immunomodulatory effects of PFAS mixtures are not simply additive, and that the sensitivity of immune responses to PFAS varies by cell type and mixture. The study also demonstrates the importance of studying adverse health effects of PFAS mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M. Post
- University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester NY
| | | | - B. Paige Lawrence
- University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester NY
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Pomazal R, Malecki K, Stanton N, Shelton B, Lange M, Irving R, Meiman J, Remucal CK, Cochran A, Schultz AA. Determinants of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure among Wisconsin residents. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 254:119131. [PMID: 38759771 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) include thousands of manufactured compounds with growing public health concerns due to their potential for widespread human exposure and adverse health outcomes. While PFAS contamination remains a significant concern, especially from ingestion of contaminated food and water, determinants of the variability in PFAS exposure among regional and statewide populations in the United States remains unclear. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to leverage The Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW), the only statewide representative cohort in the US, to assess and characterize the variability of PFAS exposure in a general population. METHODS This study sample included a sub-sample of 605 adult participants from the 2014-2016 tri-annual statewide representative sample. Geometric means for PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS, PFPeS, PFHpA, and a summed measure of 38 analyzed serum PFAS were presented by demographic, diet, behavioral, and residential characteristics. Multivariate linear regression was used to determine significant predictors of serum PFAS after adjustment. RESULTS Overall, higher serum concentrations of long-chain PFAS were observed compared with short-chain PFAS. Older adults, males, and non-Hispanic White individuals had higher serum PFAS compared to younger adults, females, and non-White individuals. Eating caught fish in the past year was associated with elevated levels of several PFAS. DISCUSSION This is among the first studies to characterize serum PFAS among a representative statewide sample in Wisconsin. Both short- and long-chain serum PFAS were detectable for six prominent PFAS. Age and consumption of great lakes fish were the most significant predictors of serum PFAS. State-level PFAS biomonitoring is important for identifying high risk populations and informing state public health standards and interventions, especially among those not living near known contamination sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Pomazal
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Population Health Sciences, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kristen Malecki
- Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Noel Stanton
- Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Meshel Lange
- Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Roy Irving
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Christina K Remucal
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Amy Cochran
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Population Health Sciences, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Amy A Schultz
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Population Health Sciences, Madison, WI, USA.
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Criswell RL, Simones T, Chatterjee M, Waite J, Diaz S, Smith A. Quantifying levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in water and serum after contamination from agricultural biosolid application. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 190:108850. [PMID: 38941944 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) blood testing for patients with risk of elevated exposure, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) suggests PFAS blood testing based on exposure. Barriers to PFAS blood testing include cost, access to labs, and evolving laboratory methods. We quantify water and serum PFAS levels among a highly-exposed cohort in an area with groundwater contaminated by historical agricultural biosolid application. We compare the gold standard PFAS serum test with a commercial test and results from a one-compartment toxicokinetic model. Participants were adults (n = 30) whose household (n = 19) water had levels of the sum of six PFAS > 500 ng/L. Serum PFAS were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Demographic and water consumption data were collected via telephone. Serum PFAS results from the commercial test were accessed via medical record. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and bivariate plots of serum levels. Perfluorohexanoic acid, perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorobutanesulfonic acid, perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) were detected in 19 wells, and PFHpA, PFOA, PFNA, perfluorodecanoic acid, perfluoroundecanoic acid, PFHxS, and PFOS were detected in at least 19 participants' serum. In well water, PFOA and PFOS levels had geometric means (GMs) of 1749 ng/L (geometric standard deviation [GSD] 2.4) and 887 ng/L (GSD 19.7), respectively. In serum, PFOA and PFOS had GMs of 116.2 µg/L (GSD 13.5) and 58.3 µg/L (GSD 13.8), respectively. Our results are comparable with and had a wider mix of PFAS than other high-exposure cohorts. There was good agreement between the commercial and gold standard tests for PFOA, PFNA, and PFHxS, and mixed agreement between the gold standard test and modeled predictions, suggesting water-based toxicokinetic models of serum PFAS may be inadequate for assessing exposure in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas Simones
- Environmental and Occupational Health Program, Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Augusta, ME USA
| | - Madhumita Chatterjee
- Bureau of Public Health Laboratories, Chemistry Program, New Hampshire Division of Public Health Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Concord, NH USA
| | - Jasmine Waite
- MaineGeneral Medical Center, Augusta, ME, USA; Environmental and Occupational Health Program, Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Augusta, ME USA
| | - Steven Diaz
- MaineGeneral Medical Center, Augusta, ME, USA
| | - Andrew Smith
- Environmental and Occupational Health Program, Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Augusta, ME USA
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Niu Z, Duan Z, He W, Chen T, Tang H, Du S, Sun J, Chen H, Hu Y, Iijima Y, Han S, Li J, Zhao Z. Kidney function decline mediates the adverse effects of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on uric acid levels and hyperuricemia risk. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 471:134312. [PMID: 38640681 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134312] [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: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Previous studies indicated per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were related to uric acid and hyperuricemia risk, but evidence for the exposure-response (E-R) curves and combined effect of PFAS mixture is limited. Moreover, the potential mediation effect of kidney function was not assessed. Hence, we conducted a national cross-sectional study involving 13,979 US adults in NHANES 2003-2018 to examine the associations of serum PFAS with uric acid and hyperuricemia risk, and the mediation effects of kidney function. Generalized linear models and E-R curves showed positive associations of individual PFAS with uric acid and hyperuricemia risk, and nearly linear E-R curves indicated no safe threshold for PFAS. Weighted quantile sum regression found positive associations of PFAS mixture with uric acid and hyperuricemia risk, and PFOA was the dominant contributor to the adverse effect of PFAS on uric acid and hyperuricemia risk. Causal mediation analysis indicated significant mediation effects of kidney function decline in the associations of PFAS with uric acid and hyperuricemia risk, with the mediated proportion ranging from 19 % to 57 %. Our findings suggested that PFAS, especially PFOA, may cause increased uric acid and hyperuricemia risk increase even at low levels, and kidney function decline plays a crucial mediation effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiping Niu
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhizhou Duan
- Preventive Health Service, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, 152 Aiguo Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Weixiang He
- Department of Urology, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, 127 West Changle Road, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Tianyi Chen
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Hao Tang
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Shuang Du
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jin Sun
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Han Chen
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yuanzhuo Hu
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yuka Iijima
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Shichao Han
- Department of Urology, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, 127 West Changle Road, Xi'an 710032, China.
| | - Jiufeng Li
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Zhuohui Zhao
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Shanghai Typhoon Institute/CMA, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Meteorology and Health, Shanghai 200030, China; IRDR International Center of Excellence on Risk Interconnectivity and Governance on Weather/Climate Extremes Impact and Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; WMO/IGAC MAP-AQ Asian Office Shanghai, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China.
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Minucci JM, DeLuca NM, Durant JT, Goodwin B, Kowalski P, Scruton K, Thomas K, Cohen Hubal EA. Linking exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in house dust and biomonitoring data in eight impacted communities. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 188:108756. [PMID: 38795657 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in industry and have been linked to various adverse health effects. Communities adjacent to sites where PFAS are manufactured, stored, or used may be at elevated risk. In these impacted communities, significant exposure often occurs through contaminated drinking water, yet less is known about the role of other pathways such as residential exposure through house dust. We analyzed a paired serum and house dust dataset from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's PFAS Exposure Assessments, which sampled eight United States communities with a history of drinking water contamination due to aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) use at nearby military bases. We found that serum PFAS levels of residents were significantly positively associated with the dust PFAS levels in their homes, for three of seven PFAS analyzed, when accounting for site and participant age. We also found that increased dust PFAS levels were associated with a shift in the relative abundance of PFAS in serum towards those chemicals not strongly linked to AFFF contamination, which may suggest household sources. Additionally, we analyzed participant responses to exposure questionnaires to identify factors associated with dust PFAS levels. Dust PFAS levels for some analytes were significantly elevated in households where participants were older and had lived at the home longer, cleaned less frequently, used stain resistant products, and had carpeted living rooms. Our results suggest that residential exposure to PFAS via dust or other indoor pathways may contribute to overall exposure and body burden, even in communities impacted by AFFF contamination of drinking water, and the magnitude of this exposure may also be influenced by demographic, behavioral, and housing factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey M Minucci
- U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States.
| | - Nicole M DeLuca
- U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States
| | - James T Durant
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Office of Community Health Hazard Assessment, United States
| | - Bradley Goodwin
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Office of Community Health Hazard Assessment, United States
| | - Peter Kowalski
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Office of Community Health Hazard Assessment, United States
| | - Karen Scruton
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Office of Community Health Hazard Assessment, United States
| | - Kent Thomas
- U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States
| | - Elaine A Cohen Hubal
- U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States
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Pan J, Ouyang C, Zhou S, Wang X, Liu H, Zhang J, Wang X, Shi X, Yang A, Hu X. Temporal Trend of Serum Perfluorooctanoic Acid and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid among U.S. Adults with or without Comorbidities in NHANES 1999-2018. TOXICS 2024; 12:314. [PMID: 38787093 PMCID: PMC11125848 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12050314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are associated with adverse health effects. This study examined the trend of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) levels in individuals with and without pre-existing comorbidities. We analyzed the characteristics of 13,887 participants across nine U.S. NHANES cycles (1999-2000 to 2017-2018) and calculated the geometric mean (GM) of PFOA and PFOS levels, standardized by sex and age. A joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the temporal trends of serum PFOA and PFOS levels. We observed declining PFOA and PFOS serum levels among adults in NHANES from 1999-2000 to 2017-2018. Serum PFOA and PFOS concentrations were higher in men, smokers, and individuals with pre-existing CKD, hyperlipidemia, CVD, and cancer. We observed faster decline rates in PFOA levels among individuals with diabetes and CKD and faster decline rates in PFOS levels among individuals with diabetes and those without CKD. This study provided evidence of varying levels and changing trends of PFOA and PFOS between groups with and without established chronic disease, highlighting the role of environmental chemicals in the onset and development of chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhua Pan
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; (J.P.); (C.O.); (S.Z.); (X.W.); (H.L.); (J.Z.); (X.W.); (X.S.)
| | - Changping Ouyang
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; (J.P.); (C.O.); (S.Z.); (X.W.); (H.L.); (J.Z.); (X.W.); (X.S.)
| | - Shengze Zhou
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; (J.P.); (C.O.); (S.Z.); (X.W.); (H.L.); (J.Z.); (X.W.); (X.S.)
| | - Xuemei Wang
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; (J.P.); (C.O.); (S.Z.); (X.W.); (H.L.); (J.Z.); (X.W.); (X.S.)
| | - Heming Liu
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; (J.P.); (C.O.); (S.Z.); (X.W.); (H.L.); (J.Z.); (X.W.); (X.S.)
| | - Jia Zhang
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; (J.P.); (C.O.); (S.Z.); (X.W.); (H.L.); (J.Z.); (X.W.); (X.S.)
| | - Xiao Wang
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; (J.P.); (C.O.); (S.Z.); (X.W.); (H.L.); (J.Z.); (X.W.); (X.S.)
| | - Xiaoru Shi
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; (J.P.); (C.O.); (S.Z.); (X.W.); (H.L.); (J.Z.); (X.W.); (X.S.)
| | - Aimin Yang
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Xiaobin Hu
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; (J.P.); (C.O.); (S.Z.); (X.W.); (H.L.); (J.Z.); (X.W.); (X.S.)
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7
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Schlezinger JJ, Gokce N. Perfluoroalkyl/Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: Links to Cardiovascular Disease Risk. Circ Res 2024; 134:1136-1159. [PMID: 38662859 PMCID: PMC11047059 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.124.323697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Conservative estimates by the World Health Organization suggest that at least a quarter of global cardiovascular diseases are attributable to environmental exposures. Associations between air pollution and cardiovascular risk have garnered the most headlines and are strong, but less attention has been paid to other omnipresent toxicants in our ecosystem. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are man-made chemicals that are extensively used in industrial and consumer products worldwide and in aqueous film-forming foam utilized in firefighting. As such, our exposure to PFAS is essentially ubiquitous. Given the long half-lives of these degradation-resistant chemicals, virtually, all people are carrying a body burden of PFAS. Health concerns related to PFAS are growing such that the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine has recommended standards for clinical follow-up of individuals with high PFAS blood levels, including prioritizing screening for dyslipidemia. The link between PFAS and dyslipidemia has been extensively investigated, and evidence for associations is compelling. However, dyslipidemia is not the only cardiovascular risk factor with which PFAS is associated. Here, we review the epidemiological evidence for links between PFAS of concern identified by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine and risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including overweight/obesity, glucose intolerance, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperuricemia. Moreover, we review the potential connections of PFAS with vascular disease and atherosclerosis. While observational data support associations between the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine PFAS and selected cardiac risk factors, additional research is needed to establish causation and better understand how exposure to PFAS leads to the development of these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Noyan Gokce
- Evans Department of Medicine and Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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8
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Pineda S, Lignell S, Gyllenhammar I, Lampa E, Benskin JP, Lundh T, Lindh C, Kiviranta H, Glynn A. Socio-demographic inequalities influence differences in the chemical exposome among Swedish adolescents. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 186:108618. [PMID: 38593688 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108618] [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: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Relatively little is known about the relationship between socio-demographic factors and the chemical exposome in adolescent populations. This knowledge gap hampers global efforts to meet certain UN sustainability goals. The present work addresses this problem in Swedish adolescents by discerning patterns within the chemical exposome and identify demographic groups susceptible to heightened exposures. Enlisting the Riksmaten Adolescents 2016-17 (RMA) study population (N = 1082) in human-biomonitoring, and using proportional odds ordinal logistic regression models, we examined the associations between concentrations of a diverse array of substances (N = 63) with the determinants: gender, age, participant/maternal birth country income per capita level, parental education levels, and geographic place of living (longitude/latitude). Participant/maternal birth country exhibited a significant association with the concentrations of 46 substances, followed by gender (N = 41), and longitude (N = 37). Notably, individuals born in high-income countries by high-income country mothers demonstrated substantially higher estimated adjusted means (EAM) concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) compared to those born in low-income countries by low-income country mothers. A reverse trend was observed for cobalt (Co), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), aluminium (Al), chlorinated pesticides, and phthalate metabolites. Males exhibited higher EAM concentrations of chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), Pb, PCBs, chlorinated pesticides, BFRs and PFASs than females. In contrast, females displayed higher EAM concentrations of Mn, Co, Cd and metabolites of phthalates and phosphorous flame retardants, and phenolic substances. Geographical disparities, indicative of north-to-south or west-to-east substance concentrations gradients, were identified in Sweden. Only a limited number of lifestyle, physiological and dietary factors were identified as possible drivers of demographic inequalities for specific substances. This research underscores birth country, gender, and geographical disparities as contributors to exposure differences among Swedish adolescents. Identifying underlying drivers is crucial to addressing societal inequalities associated with chemical exposure and aligning with UN sustainability goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Pineda
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Sanna Lignell
- Division of Risk and Benefit Assessment, Swedish Food Agency, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Irina Gyllenhammar
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden; Division of Risk and Benefit Assessment, Swedish Food Agency, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Erik Lampa
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jonathan P Benskin
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas Lundh
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christian Lindh
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Hannu Kiviranta
- Environmental Health Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Anders Glynn
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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9
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Mokra K, Kaczmarska I, Bukowska B. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and its selected analogs induce various cell death types in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 354:141664. [PMID: 38485001 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141664] [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: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
The perfluoalkyl substance (PFASs) perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) has been widely used in industry. However, PFOS is a persistent organic pollutant and has been gradually replaced by its short-chain analogs, perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) and perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS). PFASs are extremely persistent and are very frequently detected among the general population. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of selected PFASs on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the mechanisms of their action. PBMCs were exposed to PFOS, PFBS and PFHxS at concentrations ranging from 0.02 to 400 μM for 24 h, they were then tested for viability, apoptosis (changes in cytosolic calcium ions level and caspase-3, -8 and -9 activation), ferroptosis (changes in chelatable iron ions level and lipid peroxidation), and autophagy (LC3-II and Raptor level assay). PFOS exposure decreased cell viability, increased calcium ion level and caspase-8 activation; it also enhanced lipid peroxidation and increased the intracellular pool of chelatable iron ions as well as LC3-II protein content. In contrast, short-chain PFBS and PFHxS induced significant changes in the markers of apoptosis but had no substantial impact on ferroptosis or autophagy markers over a wide range of concentrations. Our results indicate that only PFOS demonstrated pro-ferroptotic and pro-autophagic potential but observed changes occurred at relatively high exposure. A short-chain substitute (PFBS) exhibited strong pro-apoptotic potential at concentrations related to occupational exposure. While the short-chain PFASs strongly affected the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis, apoptosis itself was only induced by PFBS via the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. It seems that the length of the carbon chain in PFASs appears to determine the cell death mechanisms activated in human PBMCs following exposure. Our findings provide a new insight into the immune toxicity mechanism induced by these compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Mokra
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Biophysics of Environmental Pollution, 141/143 Pomorska St., 90-236, Lodz, Poland.
| | - Izabela Kaczmarska
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Biophysics of Environmental Pollution, 141/143 Pomorska St., 90-236, Lodz, Poland
| | - Bożena Bukowska
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Biophysics of Environmental Pollution, 141/143 Pomorska St., 90-236, Lodz, Poland
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10
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Du B, Wang Q, Xu Z, Wang H, Li Z, Wu Y, Niu Y, Zhang Q, Zhang X, Sun K, Wang J. Exploring the impact of prenatal perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances exposure on blood pressure in early childhood: A longitudinal analysis. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 274:116220. [PMID: 38513531 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Previous research investigating the correlation between prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and subsequent blood pressure (BP) in offspring has yielded limited and contradictory findings. This study was conducted to investigate the potential relationship between maternal PFAS levels during pregnancy and subsequent BP in early childhood. A total of 129 expectant mothers from the Shanghai Birth Cohort were included in the study. Using high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry, we measured ten PFAS compounds in maternal plasma throughout the pregnancy. When the children reached the age of 4, we examined their systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP), along with mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse pressure (PP). Data interpretation employed multiple linear and logistic regression models, complemented by Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR).We found that the majority of PFAS concentrations remained stable during pregnancy. The linear and BKMR models indicated a positive relationship between the PFAS mixture in maternal plasma and offspring's DBP and MAP, with perfluorohexanesulphonic acid (PFHxS) having the most significant influence (PFHxS and DBP [first trimester:β=3.03, 95%CI: (1.01,5.05); second trimester: β=2.35, 95%CI: (0.94,3.75); third trimester: β=2.57, 95%CI:(0.80,4.34)]; MAP [first trimester:β=2.55, 95%CI: (0.64,4.45); second trimester: β=2.28, 95%CI: (0.95,3.61); third trimester: β=2.35, 95%CI:(0.68,4.01)]). Logistic regression highlighted an increased risk of prehypertension and hypertension in offspring with higher maternal PFHxS concentrations during all three trimesters [first trimester: OR=2.53, 95%CI:(1.11,5.79), second trimester: OR=2.05, 95%CI:(1.11,3.78), third trimester: OR=3.08, 95%CI:(1.40,6.79)]. A positive correlation was identified between the half-lives of PFAS and the odds ratio (OR) of prehypertension and hypertension in childhood (β=0.139, P=0.010). In conclusion, this research found maternal plasma PFAS concentrations to be positively associated with BP in offspring, with PFHxS showing the most significant influence. This correlation remained consistent throughout pregnancy, and this effect was proportional to the half-lives of PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Du
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.1665, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200092,China
| | - Qianchuo Wang
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.1665, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200092,China
| | - Zhikang Xu
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.1665, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200092,China; Institute For Development And Regenerative Cardiovascular Medicine, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hualin Wang
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.1665, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200092,China
| | - Zhuoyan Li
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.1665, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200092,China; Institute For Development And Regenerative Cardiovascular Medicine, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yujian Wu
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.1665, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200092,China
| | - Yiwei Niu
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.1665, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200092,China
| | - Qianlong Zhang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Clinical Research Unit, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Kun Sun
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.1665, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200092,China; Institute For Development And Regenerative Cardiovascular Medicine, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.1665, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200092,China; Institute For Development And Regenerative Cardiovascular Medicine, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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11
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Ou J, Song Y, Zhong X, Dai L, Chen J, Zhang W, Yang C, Wang J, Zhang W. Perfluorooctanoic acid induces Leydig cell injury via inhibition of autophagosomes formation and activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:169861. [PMID: 38185161 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169861] [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: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a man-made chemical broadly distributed in various ecological environment and human bodies, which poses potential health risks. Its toxicity, especially the male reproduction toxicity has drawn increasing attention due to declining birth rates in recent years. However, how PFOA induces male reproductive toxicity remains unclear. Here, we characterize PFOA-induced cell injury and reveal the underlying mechanism in mouse Leydig cells, which are critical to spermatogenesis in the testes. We show that PFOA induces cell injury as evidenced by reduced cell viability, cell morphology changes and apoptosis induction. RNA-sequencing analysis reveals that PFOA-induced cell injury is correlated with compromised autophagy and activated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, two conserved biological processes required for regulating cellular homeostasis. Mechanistic analysis shows that PFOA inhibits autophagosomes formation, and activation of autophagy rescues PFOA-induced apoptosis. Additionally, PFOA activates ER stress, and pharmacological inhibition of ER stress attenuates PFOA-induced cell injury. Taken together, these results demonstrate that PFOA induces cell injury through inhibition of autophagosomes formation and induction of ER stress in Leydig cells. Thus, our study sheds light on the cellular mechanisms of PFOA-induced Leydig cell injury, which may be suggestive to human male reproductive health risk assessment and prevention from PFOA exposure-induced reproductive toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhuan Ou
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Disease, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital; the First Affiliated Hospital of South University of Science and Technology of China; the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yali Song
- Dongguan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Postdoctoral Innovation Practice Base of Southern Medical University, Dongguan 523125, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoru Zhong
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Disease, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital; the First Affiliated Hospital of South University of Science and Technology of China; the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lingyun Dai
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Disease, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital; the First Affiliated Hospital of South University of Science and Technology of China; the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Junhui Chen
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Disease, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital; the First Affiliated Hospital of South University of Science and Technology of China; the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wenqiao Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, 25 Taiping Street, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Chuanbin Yang
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Disease, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital; the First Affiliated Hospital of South University of Science and Technology of China; the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Jigang Wang
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Disease, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital; the First Affiliated Hospital of South University of Science and Technology of China; the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China; Dongguan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Postdoctoral Innovation Practice Base of Southern Medical University, Dongguan 523125, Guangdong, China; Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, 25 Taiping Street, Luzhou 646000, China; State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
| | - Wei Zhang
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Disease, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital; the First Affiliated Hospital of South University of Science and Technology of China; the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China.
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12
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Møller JJ, Lyngberg AC, Hammer PEC, Flachs EM, Mortensen OS, Jensen TK, Jürgens G, Andersson A, Soja AMB, Lindhardt M. Substantial decrease of PFAS with anion exchange resin treatment - A clinical cross-over trial. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 185:108497. [PMID: 38367552 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108497] [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: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are heat and stain resisting chemicals. They are persistent, bioaccumulating and spread ubiquitously. Many hotspots where humans are exposed to high levels of PFAS have been reported. A few small observational studies in humans suggest that treatment with an Anion Exchange Resin (AER) decreases serum PFAS. This first clinical controlled crossover study aimed to assess whether AER decreases perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in highly exposed adults. METHODS An open label 1:1 randomized treatment sequence crossover study with allocation to oral AER (cholestyramine 4 g three times daily) or observation for 12 weeks was conducted among citizens from a PFAS hotspot. Main inclusion criteria was serum PFOS > 21 ng/mL. Primary endpoint was change in serum PFOS levels between treatment and observational period. RESULTS In total, 45 participants were included with a mean age of 50 years (SD 13). Serum PFOS baseline median was 191 ng/mL (IQR: 129-229) and decreased with a mean of 115 ng/mL (95 % CI: 89-140) on treatment, and 4.3 ng/mL in observation period corresponding to a decrease of 60 % (95 % CI: 53-67; p < 0.0001). PFHxS, PFOA, PFNA and PFDA decreased during treatment between 15 and 44 %. No serious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS Oral treatment with AER significantly lowered serum PFOS concentrations suggesting a possible treatment for enhancing elimination of PFOS in highly exposed adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janne Julie Møller
- Department of Occupational and Social Medicine, University Hospital of Holbaek, Denmark
| | | | | | | | - Ole Steen Mortensen
- Department of Occupational and Social Medicine, University Hospital of Holbaek, Denmark; Department of Public Health, Section of Social Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tina Kold Jensen
- Department of Public Health, Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, The Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Gesche Jürgens
- Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Axel Andersson
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anne Merete Boas Soja
- Department of Internal Medicine 1, University Hospital - Holbaek, Holbaek, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten Lindhardt
- Department of Internal Medicine 1, University Hospital - Holbaek, Holbaek, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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13
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Ayodele A, Obeng-Gyasi E. Exploring the Potential Link between PFAS Exposure and Endometrial Cancer: A Review of Environmental and Sociodemographic Factors. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:983. [PMID: 38473344 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16050983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
This exploratory narrative review paper delves into the intricate interplay between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure, sociodemographic factors, and the influence of stressors in the context of endometrial cancer. PFAS, ubiquitous environmental contaminants notorious for their persistence in the ecosystem, have garnered attention for their potential to disrupt endocrine systems and provoke immune responses. We comprehensively examine the various sources of PFAS exposure, encompassing household items, water, air, and soil, thus shedding light on the multifaceted routes through which individuals encounter these compounds. Furthermore, we explore the influence of sociodemographic factors, such as income, education, occupation, ethnicity/race, and geographical location and their relationship to endometrial cancer risk. We also investigated the role of stress on PFAS exposure and endometrial cancer risk. The results revealed a significant impact of sociodemographic factors on both PFAS levels and endometrial cancer risk. Stress emerged as a notable contributing factor influencing PFAS exposure and the development of endometrial cancer, further emphasizing the importance of stress management practices for overall well-being. By synthesizing evidence from diverse fields, this review underscores the need for interdisciplinary research and targeted interventions to comprehensively address the complex relationship between PFAS, sociodemographic factors, stressors, and endometrial cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aderonke Ayodele
- Department of Built Environment, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
- Environmental Health and Disease Laboratory, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
| | - Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi
- Department of Built Environment, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
- Environmental Health and Disease Laboratory, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
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14
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Rosato I, Bonato T, Fletcher T, Batzella E, Canova C. Estimation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) half-lives in human studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 242:117743. [PMID: 38008199 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117743] [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: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) constitute a heterogeneous group of synthetic compounds widely used in industrial applications. The estimation of PFAS half-life (t1/2) is essential to quantify their persistence, their toxicity and mechanism of action in humans. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this review is to summarize the evidence on PFAS half-lives in humans from the available literature, and to investigate the limitations and uncertainties characterizing half-life estimation. METHODS The search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases up to July 03, 2023 and was aimed at identifying all papers that estimated PFAS half-life in human populations. We excluded studies on temporal trends or providing estimates of half-life based solely on renal clearance. As persistent and ongoing exposures can influence half-life estimation, we decided to include only studies that were conducted after the main source of exposure to PFAS had ceased. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted on studies that reported perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) or perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) half-life estimation. Risk of bias was evaluated using the OHAT tool. RESULTS A total of 13 articles were included in the review, with 5 studies conducted in exposed general populations and 8 studies conducted in exposed workers; the estimated mean half-life ranged from 1.48 to 5.1 years for PFOA, from 3.4 to 5.7 years for total PFOS, and from 2.84 to 8.5 years for PFHxS. High heterogeneity among studies was observed; potential reasons include the variability among the investigated populations, discrepancies in considering ongoing exposures, variability in PFAS isomeric compositions, accounting for background exposure, time since exposure stopped and methods used for half-life estimation. DISCUSSION Despite the efforts made to better understand PFAS toxicokinetics, further studies are needed to identify important characteristics of these persistent chemicals. Biomonitoring studies should focus on persistent and unaccounted sources of exposure to PFAS and on individual characteristics potentially determining half-life, to ensure accurate estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Rosato
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Padova, Italy
| | - Tiziano Bonato
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Padova, Italy
| | - Tony Fletcher
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Erich Batzella
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Padova, Italy
| | - Cristina Canova
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Padova, Italy.
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15
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Batzella E, Rosato I, Pitter G, Da Re F, Russo F, Canova C, Fletcher T. Determinants of PFOA Serum Half-Life after End of Exposure: A Longitudinal Study on Highly Exposed Subjects in the Veneto Region. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2024; 132:27002. [PMID: 38306197 PMCID: PMC10836585 DOI: 10.1289/ehp13152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used, ubiquitous, and highly persistent man-made chemicals. Groundwater of a vast area of the Veneto Region (northeastern Italy) was found to be contaminated by PFAS from a manufacturing plant active since the late 1960s. As a result, residents were overexposed to PFAS through drinking water until 2013, mainly to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study was to estimate the rates of decline in serum PFOA and their corresponding serum half-lives, while characterizing their determinants. METHODS We investigated 5,860 subjects more than 14 years of age who enrolled in the second surveillance round of the regional health surveillance program. Two blood samples were collected between 2017 and 2022 (average time between measurements: 4 years). Serum PFOA excretion rates and half-lives were estimated based on linear mixed effect models, modeling subject-specific serum PFOA concentrations over time and correcting for background concentrations. For modeling determinants of half-life [age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking-habit, alcohol consumption, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)], we added interaction terms between each covariate and the elapsed time between measurements. Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) apparent half-lives were also estimated. A separate analysis was conducted in children (n = 480 ). All analyses were stratified by sex. RESULTS Median initial serum concentrations of PFOA was 49 ng / mL (range: 0.5-1,090), with a median reduction of 62.45%. The mean estimated PFOA half-life was 2.36 years [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.33, 2.40], shorter in women (2.04; 95% CI: 2.00, 2.08) compared to men (2.83; 95% CI: 2.78, 2.89). Half-lives varied when stratified by some contributing factors, with faster excretion rates in nonsmokers and nonalcohol drinkers (especially in males). CONCLUSIONS This study, to our knowledge the largest on PFOA half-life, provides precise estimates in young adults whose exposure via drinking water has largely ceased. For other PFAS, longer half-lives than reported in other studies can be explained by some ongoing exposure to PFAS via other routes. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13152.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erich Batzella
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Isabella Rosato
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Gisella Pitter
- Screening Unit, Azienda Zero-Veneto Region, Padova, Italy
| | - Filippo Da Re
- Directorate of Prevention, Food Safety, and Veterinary Public Health-Veneto Region, Venice, Italy
| | - Francesca Russo
- Directorate of Prevention, Food Safety, and Veterinary Public Health-Veneto Region, Venice, Italy
| | - Cristina Canova
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Tony Fletcher
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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16
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Fischer FC, Ludtke S, Thackray C, Pickard HM, Haque F, Dassuncao C, Endo S, Schaider L, Sunderland EM. Binding of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) to Serum Proteins: Implications for Toxicokinetics in Humans. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:1055-1063. [PMID: 38166384 PMCID: PMC11149785 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c07415] [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: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse class of highly persistent anthropogenic chemicals that are detectable in the serum of most humans. PFAS exposure has been associated with many adverse effects on human health including immunotoxicity, increased risk of certain cancers, and metabolic disruption. PFAS binding to the most abundant blood serum proteins (human serum albumin [HSA] and globulins) is thought to affect transport to active sites, toxicity, and elimination half-lives. However, few studies have investigated the competitive binding of PFAS to these proteins in human serum. Here, we use C18 solid-phase microextraction fibers to measure HSA-water and globulin-water distribution coefficients (DHSA/w, Dglob/w) for PFAS with carbon chains containing 4 to 13 perfluorinated carbons (ηpfc = 4-13) and several functional head-groups. PFAS with ηpfc < 7 were highly bound to HSA relative to globulins, whereas PFAS with ηpfc ≥ 7 showed a greater propensity for binding to globulins. Experimentally measured DHSA/w and Dglob/w and concentrations of serum proteins successfully predicted the variability in PFAS binding in human serum. We estimated that the unbound fraction of serum PFAS varied by up to a factor of 2.5 among individuals participating in the 2017-2018 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. These results suggest that serum HSA and globulins are important covariates for epidemiological studies aimed at understanding the effects of PFAS exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Christoph Fischer
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Sophia Ludtke
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Colin Thackray
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Heidi M Pickard
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Faiz Haque
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Clifton Dassuncao
- Eastern Research Group, Inc. (ERG), Arlington, Virginia 22201, United States
| | - Satoshi Endo
- National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Health and Environmental Risk Division, Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
| | - Laurel Schaider
- Silent Spring Institute, Newton, Massachusetts 02460, United States
| | - Elsie M Sunderland
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
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17
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Sabovic I, Lupo MG, Rossi I, Pedrucci F, Di Nisio A, Dall’Acqua S, Ferri N, Ferlin A, Foresta C, De Toni L. Legacy perfluoro-alkyl substances impair LDL-cholesterol uptake independently from PCSK9-function. Toxicol Rep 2023; 11:288-294. [PMID: 37818225 PMCID: PMC10560979 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2023.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Perfluoro-alkyl substances (PFAS) are pollutants, whose exposure was associated with altered levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) in humans. Here we investigated this clinical outcome in two groups of young male adults residing in areas of respectively low and high environmental exposure to perfluoro-octanoic-acid (PFOA). From the Regional Authority data on pollution areas, 38 not-exposed and 59 exposed age-matched participants were evaluated for serum levels of total cholesterol (Total-Chol), LDL-Chol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-Chol), triglycerides (Tgl) and chromatography quantified PFOA. Human hepato-carcinoma cell line HepG2 was exposed to PFOA or perfluoro-octane-sulfonate (PFOS), as legacy PFAAs, and C6O4 as new generation compound. Fluorimetry was used to evaluate the cell-uptake of labelled-LDL. Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin 9 (PCSK9)-mediated LDL-receptor (LDL-R) degradation and sub-cellular localization of LDL-R were evaluated by western blot analysis. Serum levels of PFOA, were positively and significantly correlated with Total-Chol (ρ = 0.312, P = 0.002), LDL-Chol (ρ = 0.333, P = 0.001) and Tgl (ρ = 0.375, P < 0.001). Participants with high serum LDL-Chol and Tgl levels, according to the cardiovascular risk, were more prevalent in exposed compared to not-exposed subjects (respectively: 23.7% vs 5.3%, P = 0.023 and 18,6% vs 0%, P = 0.006). Exposure of HepG2 cells to PFOA or C6O4 100 ng/mL was associated with a significantly lower LDL uptake than controls but no major impact of any PFAAs on PCSK9-mediated LDL-R degradation was observed. Compared to controls, exposure to PFAS showed an unbalanced LDL-R partition between membrane and cytoplasm. Endocytosis inducer sphingosine restored LDL-R partition only in samples exposed to C6O4. These data suggest a novel endocytosis-based mechanism of altered lipid trafficking associated with the exposure to legacy PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iva Sabovic
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Ilaria Rossi
- Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Federica Pedrucci
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Di Nisio
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Stefano Dall’Acqua
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Nicola Ferri
- Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova, Italy
| | - Alberto Ferlin
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Carlo Foresta
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Luca De Toni
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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18
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Wallis DJ, Kotlarz N, Knappe DRU, Collier DN, Lea CS, Reif D, McCord J, Strynar M, DeWitt JC, Hoppin JA. Estimation of the Half-Lives of Recently Detected Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Ethers in an Exposed Community. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:15348-15355. [PMID: 37801709 PMCID: PMC10790670 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
To estimate half-lives for novel fluoroethers, the GenX Exposure Study obtained two serum measurements for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for 44 participants of age 12-86 years from North Carolina, collected 5 and 11 months after fluoroether discharges into the drinking water source were controlled. The estimated half-lives for these compounds were 127 days (95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 86, 243 days) for perfluorotetraoxadecanoic acid (PFO4DA), 296 days for Nafion byproduct 2 (95% CI = 176, 924 days), and 379 days (95% CI = 199, 3870 days) for perfluoro-3,5,7,9,11-pentaoxadodecanoic acid (PFO5DoA). Using these estimates and the literature values, a model was built that predicted PFAS half-lives using structural properties. Three chemical properties predicted 55% of the variance of PFAS half-lives based on 15 PFAS. A model with only molecular weight predicted 69% of the variance. Some properties can predict the half-lives of PFAS, but a deeper understanding is needed. These fluoroethers had biological half-lives longer than published half-lives for PFHxA and PFHpA (30-60 days) but shorter than those for PFOA and PFOS (800-1200 days). These are the first and possibly only estimates of human elimination half-lives of these fluoroethers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan J Wallis
- North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Nadine Kotlarz
- North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, NC State, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Detlef R U Knappe
- North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, NC State, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - David N Collier
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, NC State, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
- East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, United States
| | - C Suzanne Lea
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, NC State, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
- East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, United States
| | - David Reif
- North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, NC State, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - James McCord
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Triangle Research Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Mark Strynar
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Triangle Research Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Jamie C DeWitt
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, NC State, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
- East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, United States
| | - Jane A Hoppin
- North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, NC State, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
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19
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Perera ND, Betancourt J, Miksovska J, O'Shea KE. Detail study on the interaction between perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) with human hemoglobin (Hb). Curr Res Toxicol 2023; 5:100130. [PMID: 37822784 PMCID: PMC10563006 DOI: 10.1016/j.crtox.2023.100130] [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: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) are often referred to as legacy perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Human exposure to PFAS leads to severe negative health impacts including cancers, infertility, and dysfunction in the kidneys. Steady-state absorbance, fluorescence, and circular dichroism (CD) methods were used to study the interactions between PFOA and Hb. The results demonstrate the presence of multiple PFOA binding sites on the Hb protein. The detailed analysis of the ferric hemoglobin protein (met Hb) absorbance data as a function of PFOA concentration indicates the presence of at least two binding sites with equilibrium dissociation constants of 0.8 ± (0.2) × 10-6 M and 63 ± (15) × 10-5 M. A competitive binding study with 1,8-ANS showed PFOA can bind to the same binding site as 1,8-ANS on the Hb protein. The titration curve for PFOA binding to Hb in its CO bound form (CO-Hb) yields a single equilibrium dissociation constant of 139 ± (20) × 10-6 M. PFOA binding at low concentrations occurs at the high-affinity sites leading to the destabilization of the protein structure as reflected by changes in the CD spectrum. PFOA interactions with Hb also interfere with the kinetics of CO association to this protein. The rate for CO association to Hb increases at low PFOA concentrations, whereas at elevated PFOA concentrations, the ligand association is biphasic as a new kinetic process with a different rate constant was observed. Overall, this study provides a detailed explanation of PFOA-induced structural and conformational changes to the Hb protein based on the spectroscopy data.
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Affiliation(s)
- N.L. Dilani Perera
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8 Street, Miami, FL 33199, United States
| | - Jovany Betancourt
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8 Street, Miami, FL 33199, United States
| | - Jaroslava Miksovska
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8 Street, Miami, FL 33199, United States
| | - Kevin E. O'Shea
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8 Street, Miami, FL 33199, United States
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20
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Nyström-Kandola J, Ahrens L, Glynn A, Johanson G, Benskin JP, Gyllenhammar I, Lignell S, Vogs C. Low concentrations of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in municipal drinking water associated with serum PFAA concentrations in Swedish adolescents. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 180:108166. [PMID: 37708812 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
While highly contaminated drinking water (DW) is a major source of exposure to perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), the contribution of low-level contaminated DW (i.e. < 10 ng/L of individual PFAAs) to PFAA body burdens has rarely been studied. To address this knowledge gap, we evaluated the association between concentrations of perflurooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and their sum (∑4PFAAs) in DW and serum in Swedish adolescents using weighted least squares regression. We paired serum PFAA concentrations in adolescents (age 10-21 years, n = 790) from the dietary survey Riksmaten Adolescents 2016-17 (RMA) with mean PFAA concentrations in water samples collected in 2018 from waterworks (n = 45) supplying DW to the participant residential and school addresses. The median concentrations of individual PFAAs in DW were < 1 ng/L. Median concentrations of PFNA and PFHxS in serum were < 1 ng/g, while those of PFOA and PFOS were 1-2 ng/g. Significant positive associations between PFAA concentrations in DW and serum were found for all four PFAAs and ∑4PFAAs, with estimated serum/DW concentration ratios ranging from 210 (PFOA) to 670 (PFHxS), taking exposure from sources other than DW (background) into consideration. The mean concentrations of PFHxS and ∑4PFAA in DW that would likely cause substantially elevated serum concentrations above background variation were estimated to 0.9 ng/L and 2.4 ng/L, respectively. The European Food Safety Authority has determined a health concern concentration of 6.9 ng ∑4PFAAs/mL serum. This level was to a large degree exceeded by RMA participants with DW ∑4PFAA concentrations above the maximum limits implemented in Denmark (2 ng ∑4PFAAs/L) and Sweden (4 ng ∑4PFAAs/L) than by RMA participants with DW concentrations below the maximum limits. In conclusion, PFAA exposure from low-level contaminated DW must be considered in risk assessment for adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Nyström-Kandola
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7028, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Lutz Ahrens
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7050, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anders Glynn
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7028, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gunnar Johanson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7028, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden; Unit of Integrative Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, P.O. Box 210, SE 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jonathan P Benskin
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Irina Gyllenhammar
- Department of Risk and Benefit Assessment, Swedish Food Agency, P.O. Box 622, SE-751 26 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sanna Lignell
- Department of Risk and Benefit Assessment, Swedish Food Agency, P.O. Box 622, SE-751 26 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Carolina Vogs
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7028, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
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21
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Li H, Yang M, Yang J, Seery S, Ma C, Liu Y, Zhang X, Li A, Guo H. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and the associated thyroid cancer risk: A case-control study in China. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 337:139411. [PMID: 37419160 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139411] [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: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
The role of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as thyroid carcinogens is unclear. Therefore, we intended to identify associations between each PFAS congener and their mixture with thyroid cancer risk. This case-control study of thyroid cancer was conducted in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China. Three hundred participants were recruited from January to May 2022 and were matched according to sex and age. Twelve PFAS were assessed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Associations between PFAS congeners and thyroid cancer risk were considered under conditional logistic regression analysis and a restricted cubic spline model. Mixture effects were also assessed with quantile g-computation and a Bayesian kernel machine regression model. Compared to the first tertile, third tertile PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS, PFDA, and PFUnDA concentrations were associated with lower thyroid cancer risk (ORPFOA: 0.32, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15-0.69; ORPFNA: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.07-0.46; ORPFHxS: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.15-0.92; ORPFDA: 0.07, 95% CI: 0.02-0.23; ORPFUnDA: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.05-0.30) after adjusting for confounding factors. PFNA, PFDA, and PFUnDA had a negative dose-response relationship with thyroid cancer risk. Mixture analysis also showed that thyroid cancer risk is negatively associated with the overall mixture and carboxylates. In the overall mixture, PFOS and PFDA contributed most to positive and negative changes in thyroid cancer risk, respectively. However, PFOS, PFNA, PFDA, and PFUnDA were of equally high importance. This study is the first to confirm the effects of the PFAS mixture on thyroid cancer, and further large-scale prospective studies are still warranted to test these inverse associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Li
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China; Department of Pharmacy, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000, PR China
| | - Ming Yang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, PR China; Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, PR China
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Samuel Seery
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, Division of Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YW, UK; School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, PR China
| | - Chaoying Ma
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Xiaoguang Zhang
- Core Facilities and Centers of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Ang Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, PR China; Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, PR China.
| | - Huicai Guo
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China.
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22
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Rhee J, Chang VC, Cheng I, Calafat AM, Botelho JC, Shearer JJ, Sampson JN, Setiawan VW, Wilkens LR, Silverman DT, Purdue MP, Hofmann JN. Serum concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and risk of renal cell carcinoma in the Multiethnic Cohort Study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 180:108197. [PMID: 37741007 PMCID: PMC11093414 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108197] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmentally persistent organic pollutants detectable in the serum of most U.S. adults. We previously reported a positive association between serum perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) concentrations and risk of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) within the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial, comprising predominantly White individuals enrolled in 1993-2001. To extend our investigations to a larger and more racially and ethnically diverse population, we conducted a nested case-control study of serum PFAS concentrations and RCC within the Multiethnic Cohort Study. We measured pre-diagnostic serum concentrations of nine PFAS among 428 RCC cases and 428 individually matched controls. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for risk of RCC in relation to each PFAS using conditional logistic regression, adjusting for RCC risk factors and other PFAS. PFOA was not associated with RCC risk overall [doubling in serum concentration, ORcontinuous = 0.89 (95 %CI = 0.67, 1.18)]. However, we observed suggestive positive associations among White participants [2.12 (0.87, 5.18)] and among participants who had blood drawn before 2002 [1.49 (0.77, 2.87)]. Furthermore, higher perfluorononanoate (PFNA) concentration was associated with increased risk of RCC overall [fourth vs. first quartile, OR = 1.84 (0.97, 3.50), Ptrend = 0.04; ORcontinuous = 1.29 (0.97, 1.71)], with the strongest association observed among African American participants [ORcontinuous = 3.69 (1.33, 10.25)], followed by Native Hawaiian [2.24 (0.70, 7.19)] and White [1.98 (0.92, 4.25)] participants. Most other PFAS were not associated with RCC. While PFOA was not associated with RCC risk overall in this racially and ethnically diverse population, the positive associations observed among White participants and those with sera collected before 2002 are consistent with previous PLCO findings. Our study also provided new evidence of a positive association between PFNA and RCC risk that was strongest in African American participants. These findings highlight the need for additional epidemiologic research investigating PFAS exposures and RCC in large racially and ethnically diverse populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jongeun Rhee
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Vicky C Chang
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Iona Cheng
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- Organic Analytical Toxicology Branch, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Julianne Cook Botelho
- Organic Analytical Toxicology Branch, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Joseph J Shearer
- Heart Disease Phenomics Laboratory, Epidemiology and Community Health Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Joshua N Sampson
- Biostatistics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Veronica Wendy Setiawan
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences and Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, CA, USA
| | - Lynne R Wilkens
- Population Sciences in the Pacific Program (Cancer Epidemiology), University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Debra T Silverman
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Mark P Purdue
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Jonathan N Hofmann
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.
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23
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Zango ZU, Ethiraj B, Al-Mubaddel FS, Alam MM, Lawal MA, Kadir HA, Khoo KS, Garba ZN, Usman F, Zango MU, Lim JW. An overview on human exposure, toxicity, solid-phase microextraction and adsorptive removal of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) from water matrices. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 231:116102. [PMID: 37196688 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116102] [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] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) are sub-class of perfluoroalkyl substances commonly detected in water matrices. They are persistent in the environment, hence highly toxic to living organisms. Their occurrence at trace amount, complex nature and prone to matrix interference make their extraction and detection a challenge. This study consolidates current advancements in solid-phase extraction (SPE) techniques for the trace-level analysis of PFCAs from water matrices. The advantages of the methods in terms of ease of applications, low-cost, robustness, low solvents consumption, high pre-concentration factors, better extraction efficiency, good selectivity and recovery of the analytes have been emphasized. The article also demonstrated effectiveness of some porous materials for the adsorptive removal of the PFCAs from the water matrices. Mechanisms of the SPE/adsorption techniques have been discussed. The success and limitations of the processes have been elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zakariyya Uba Zango
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Applied Science, Al-Qalam University Katsina, 2137, Katsina, Nigeria; Institute of Semi-Arid Zone Studies, Al-Qalam University Katsina, 2137, Katsina, Nigeria.
| | - Baranitharan Ethiraj
- Department of Biotechnology, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, 602105, India
| | - Fahad S Al-Mubaddel
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia; Fellow, King Abdullah City for Renewable and Atomic Energy: Energy Research and Innovation Center, (ERIC), Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Mahtab Alam
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Applied Medical Science, King Khalid University, Abha, 61421, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Haliru Aivada Kadir
- Department of Quality Assurance and Control, Dangote Cement Plc, Kogi State, Nigeria
| | - Kuan Shiong Khoo
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
| | | | - Fahad Usman
- Institute of Semi-Arid Zone Studies, Al-Qalam University Katsina, 2137, Katsina, Nigeria
| | - Muttaqa Uba Zango
- Department of Civil Engineering, Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, P.M.B. 3244, Kano, Nigeria
| | - Jun Wei Lim
- HICoE-Centre for Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Institute of Self-Sustainable Building, Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia
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24
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Andersson AG, Lundgren A, Xu Y, Nielsen C, Lindh CH, Pineda D, Cederlund J, Pataridou E, Søgaard Tøttenborg S, Ugelvig Petersen K, Fletcher T, Lagging M, Bemark M, Jakobsson K, Li Y. High Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Antibody Responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccine-an Observational Study in Adults from Ronneby, Sweden. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:87007. [PMID: 37578904 PMCID: PMC10424820 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used, environmentally ubiquitous, and stable chemicals that have been associated with lower vaccine-induced antibody responses in children; however, data on adults are limited. The drinking water from one of the two waterworks in Ronneby, Sweden, was heavily contaminated for decades with PFAS from firefighting foams, primarily perfluorohexane sulfonic acid and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 offered a unique opportunity to investigate antibody responses to primary vaccination in adults who had been exposed to PFAS. OBJECTIVES Our objective was to evaluate associations between PFAS, across a wide range of exposure levels, and antibody responses in adults 5 wk and 6 months after a two-dose vaccination regime against SARS-CoV-2. METHODS Adults age 20-60 y from Ronneby (n = 309 , median PFOS serum level 47 ng / mL , fifth to 95th percentile 4 - 213 ng / mL ) and a group with background exposure (n = 47 , median PFOS serum level 4 ng / mL ) received two doses of the Spikevax (Moderna) mRNA vaccine. The levels of seven PFAS were measured in serum before vaccination. Serum immunoglobulin G antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen (S-Abs) were measured before vaccination and at 5 wk (n = 350 ) and 6 months (n = 329 ) after the second vaccine dose. Linear regression analyses were fitted against current, historical, and prenatal exposure to PFAS, adjusting for sex, age, and smoking, excluding individuals with previous SARS-CoV-2-infection. RESULTS PFAS exposure, regardless of how it was estimated, was not negatively associated with antibody levels 5 wk [current PFOS: - 0.5 % S-Abs/PFOS interquartile range (IQR); 95% confidence interval (CI): - 8 , 7] or 6 months (current PFOS: 3% S-Abs/PFOS IQR; 95% CI: - 6 , 12) after COVID-19 vaccination. DISCUSSION Following a strict study protocol, rigorous study design, and few dropouts, we found no indication that PFAS exposure negatively affected antibody responses to COVID-19 mRNA vaccination for up to 6 months after vaccination. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11847.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel G Andersson
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anna Lundgren
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Yiyi Xu
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Christel Nielsen
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Christian H Lindh
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Daniela Pineda
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | | | - Sandra Søgaard Tøttenborg
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital -Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kajsa Ugelvig Petersen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital -Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tony Fletcher
- Department of Public Health, Environments & Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Martin Lagging
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mats Bemark
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Kristina Jakobsson
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ying Li
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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25
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He Y, Hu C, Zhang Y, Fan X, Gao W, Fang J, Wang Y, Xu Y, Jin L. Association of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances with sex hormones in children and adolescents 6-19 Years of age. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 329:121707. [PMID: 37098366 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have raised concerns regarding sex hormones homeostasis disruption in critical windows including childhood and adolescence, but epidemiological evidence is limited. We aimed to explore the associations of total testosterone (TT), estradiol (E2), and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in children and adolescents with PFAS in 921 participants 6-19 years of age from NHANES 2013 to 2016. Multiple linear regression models and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) models stratified by sex-age and sex-puberty-status groups were performed to explore the associations of the associations of individual or mixture of PFAS with sex hormone levels, respectively. Inverse associations were observed between n-PFOA and SHBG in female adolescents when the exposure was modeled as continuous (β = -0.20, 95% CI -0.33, -0.07) or categorized variable (P for trend = 0.005). In children, inverse associations were observed by BKMR in 6-11-year-old girls of high concentration, and in boys of low concentration of the PFAS mixture with TT. A positive association of PFAS mixture with SHBG was observed in boys. PFOS and PFNA were identified as major contributors to the associations in girls and boys, respectively. Although the 95% credible intervals included the null in adolescents, suggestive negative associations of PFAS mixture with TT and SHBG levels in adolescents aged 12-19 years were found by BKMR. Results by sex-puberty status presented a similar pattern, where significantly inverse associations between PFAS mixture and E2 were observed in the pubertal. Our findings suggested the associations of either individual or mixture PFAS with decreased TT levels, and increased SHBG levels in U.S. children and adolescents, and with decreased E2 levels in pubertal individuals. The associations were evident in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue He
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Chengxiang Hu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Xiaoting Fan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Wenhui Gao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Jiaxin Fang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Yanfang Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Yan Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Lina Jin
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
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Groisman L, Berman T, Quinn A, Pariente G, Rorman E, Karakis I, Gat R, Sarov B, Novack L. Levels of PFAS concentrations in the placenta and pregnancy complications. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 262:115165. [PMID: 37348217 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent research has raised concerns about the potential health effects of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure, particularly during critical periods of development such as pregnancy. In this study, we sought to investigate the presence and potential impacts of PFAS in the placenta. METHODS We measured 13 PFAS compounds in placental tissue samples among 50 women who gave birth at a tertiary medical center in southern Israel. The sample comprised of 10 women with pregnancy-related complications (preterm birth, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes or small-for-gestational age) and 40 women without complications individually matched to cases by age. RESULTS For five (5) out of 13 PFAS compounds (Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorohexanesulphonic acid (PFHxS), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)) median concentrations were lower or comparable to placental measurements in different international populations. Geometric mean was estimated at 0.09 ng/g (90%CI:0.07;0.10) for PFOA, 0.05 ng/g for PFNA (90%CI:0.04;0.07), 0.03 ng/g for PFDA (90%CI:0.01;0.03), 0.06 ng/g for PFHxS (90%CI:0.05;0.07), 0.23 ng/g for PFOS linear measurement (90%CI:0.20;0.26) and 0.25 ng/g (90%CI:0.22;0.30) for PFOS summed concentrations that included non-linear isomers. Composite outcome of pregnancy-related complications was associated with elevated PFOA placental concentrations at an odds ratio (OR)= 1.82 (90%CI:1.06;3.13) for an increase of one quintile of PFOA value and adjusted to maternal gravidity in a conditional logistic regression. CONCLUSION This pilot study indicates a widespread exposure to multiple PFAS compounds in placental tissue of pregnant women in Israel. These findings warrant further validation through comprehensive national human biomonitoring initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luda Groisman
- National Public Health Laboratory, Israel Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Tamar Berman
- Department of Health Promotion, Tel Aviv University, Israel; Department of Environmental Health, Israel Ministry of Health, Israel, Tel Aviv University, Israel
| | - Anna Quinn
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Faculty of Health Sciences, Israel
| | - Gali Pariente
- The Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, Israel
| | - Efrat Rorman
- National Public Health Laboratory, Israel Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Isabella Karakis
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Faculty of Health Sciences, Israel; Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Israel Ministry of Health, Israel
| | - Roni Gat
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Faculty of Health Sciences, Israel; Soroka University Medical Center, Negev Environmental Health Research Institute, Israel
| | - Batia Sarov
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Faculty of Health Sciences, Israel
| | - Lena Novack
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Faculty of Health Sciences, Israel; Soroka University Medical Center, Negev Environmental Health Research Institute, Israel.
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Xu Y, Jakobsson K, Harari F, Andersson EM, Li Y. Exposure to high levels of PFAS through drinking water is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes-findings from a register-based study in Ronneby, Sweden. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 225:115525. [PMID: 36813069 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115525] [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: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epidemiological studies linking type 2 diabetes (T2D) and exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are limited and have yielded conflicting results. This register-based study aimed to investigate the risk of T2D among Swedish adults who had been exposed to PFAS from highly contaminated drinking water for decades. METHODS The study included 55,032 adults (aged ≥18 years) from the Ronneby Register Cohort, who ever lived in Ronneby during 1985-2013. Exposure was assessed using the yearly residential address and the absence ("never-high") or presence ("ever-high") of high PFAS contamination in the municipal drinking water supply; the latter was subdivided into "early-high" and "late-high" exposure with cut-off at 2005. Incident T2D cases were retrieved from the National Patient Register and the Prescription Register. Cox proportional hazard models with time-varying exposure were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs). Stratified analyses were performed based on age (18-45 vs > 45). RESULTS Elevated HRs for T2D were observed when comparing "ever-high" to "never-high" exposure (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.03-1.35), as well as when comparing "early-high" (HR 1.12, 95% CI 0.98-1.50) or "late-high" (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.00-1.37) to "never-high", after adjusting for age and sex. Individuals aged 18-45 years had even higher HRs. Adjusting for the highest-achieved education level attenuated the estimates, but the directions of associations remained. Elevated HRs were also found among those who had lived in areas with a heavily contaminated water supply for 1-5 years (HR 1.26, 95% CI 0.97-1.63) and 6-10 years (HR 1.25, 95% CI 0.80-1.94). CONCLUSION This study suggests an increased risk of T2D after long-term high PFAS exposure through drinking water. In particular, a higher risk of early onset diabetes was found, indicating increased susceptibility to PFAS-related health effects at younger ages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyi Xu
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Kristina Jakobsson
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Florencia Harari
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Eva M Andersson
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ying Li
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; SSORG-Scandinavian Surgical Outcomes Research Group, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Nguyen HTM, Nilsson S, Mueller AAR, Toms LM, Kennedy C, Langguth D, Hobson P, Mueller JF. First indication of perfluoroalkyl substances in human serum from Papua New Guinea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 870:161749. [PMID: 36690112 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161749] [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: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Human biomonitoring programs of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been conducted around the world to assess human exposure and health risk. Inquiry into population PFAS levels in a socioeconomically and geographically unique region such as the Pacific Island Papua New Guinea, may provide new insights into PFAS exposure pathways and sources. This study presented the first indication of PFAS exposure in the Papua New Guinea population. De-identified serum samples were pooled from surplus pathology serum samples collected between 2019 and 2020. A total of 11 PFAS were detected in the serum pools including 10 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) and 9Cl-F53B (a perfluorooctane sulfonic acid - PFOS alternative). The observed PFAA profile was somewhat similar to that observed for general population data of other countries such as Australia, Malaysia, and Canada suggesting similar exposure sources and/or pathways. However, PFAS concentrations were consistently lower than concentrations in the serum measured in pools obtained from Australia. The detection of 9Cl-F53B in all pools was a new finding which might be related to exposure from locally industrial sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong T M Nguyen
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - Sandra Nilsson
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Ava A R Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Leisa-Maree Toms
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia
| | - Carl Kennedy
- Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, 24 Hurworth St, Bowen Hills 4006, QLD, Australia
| | - Daman Langguth
- Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, 24 Hurworth St, Bowen Hills 4006, QLD, Australia
| | - Peter Hobson
- Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, 24 Hurworth St, Bowen Hills 4006, QLD, Australia
| | - Jochen F Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
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Hvizdak M, Kandel SE, Work HM, Gracey EG, McCullough RL, Lampe JN. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) inhibit cytochrome P450 CYP3A7 through direct coordination to the heme iron and water displacement. J Inorg Biochem 2023; 240:112120. [PMID: 36638633 PMCID: PMC10016736 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2023.112120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a chemical class of highly stable, fluorinated compounds popular for use in a variety of consumer products. PFAS environmental persistence in drinking water contributes to acute exposure in humans and subsequent bioaccumulation of the compounds in the liver and lung tissue. Prenatal PFAS exposure has been associated with lowered birth weight, premature birth, and developmental defects including cranio-facial abnormalities. The cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP3A7 is responsible for facilitating a variety of reactions essential for proper fetal development in humans. In addition to drug metabolism, CYP3A7 is responsible for metabolizing endogenous ligands in the developing human liver, including the steroid precursor dehydroepiandrosterone 3-sulfate (DHEA-S), essential for estriol synthesis during pregnancy, along with the morphogen all-trans-retinoic acid (atRA). Interference with estriol synthesis during pregnancy, as well as atRA clearance, is known to result in similar effects associated with prenatal PFAS exposure including lowered birth weight, premature birth, and developmental defects. We hypothesized that PFAS compounds bind to the CYP3A7 enzyme resulting in its inhibition. We implemented a series of binding studies using spectral characterization of six PFAS compounds (PFOA, PFOS, GenX, PFNA, PFNS, and PFHxS), and evaluated their interactions with recombinant CYP3A7. In addition, we screened PFAS for their ability to inhibit CYP3A7 oxidative activity using dibenzylfluorescein, a fluorescent probe, and DHEA-S, an endogenous substrate of CYP3A7. Our data demonstrate that of the six PFAS tested, PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, and PFHxS bind to and inhibit CYP3A7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Hvizdak
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States of America
| | - Sylvie E Kandel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States of America
| | - Hannah M Work
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States of America
| | - Emily G Gracey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States of America
| | - Rebecca L McCullough
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States of America
| | - Jed N Lampe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States of America; Structural Biology and Biochemistry Program, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States of America.
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Rosenfeld PE, Spaeth KR, Remy LL, Byers V, Muerth SA, Hallman RC, Summers-Evans J, Barker S. Perfluoroalkyl substances exposure in firefighters: Sources and implications. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 220:115164. [PMID: 36584840 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Firefighters are at risk of occupational exposure to long-chain per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), most notably from PFASs present in Class B aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). Firefighters have been found to have elevated serum levels of long-chain PFASs. Due to the persistence of PFAS chemicals in the human body and their ability to bioaccumulate, firefighters experience the latent and cumulative effects of PFAS-containing AFFF exposure that occurs throughout their careers. This article summarizes the history of AFFF use by firefighters and current AFFF use practices. In addition, this paper describes PFAS levels in firefighter serum, PFAS serum removal pathways, PFAS exposure pathways, and occupational factors affecting PFAS levels in firefighters. International, national, and state agencies have concluded that PFOA, a long-chain PFAS, is potentially carcinogenic and that carcinogens have an additive effect. From the cancer types that may be associated with PFAS exposure, studies on cancer risk among firefighters have shown an elevated risk for thyroid, kidney, bladder, testicular, prostate, and colon cancer. Thus, exposure to PFAS-containing AFFF may contribute to firefighter cancer risk and warrants further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul E Rosenfeld
- Soil Water Air Protection Enterprise (SWAPE), 2656 29th Street, Suite 201, Santa Monica, CA, 90405, USA.
| | - Kenneth R Spaeth
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, NY, USA.
| | - Linda L Remy
- Family Health Outcomes Project, Family and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, 500 Parnassus Ave. Room MU-337, San Francisco, CA, 94143-0900, USA.
| | - Vera Byers
- Immunology Inc. PO Box 4703, Incline Village, NV, 89450, USA.
| | - Stuart A Muerth
- Soil Water Air Protection Enterprise (SWAPE), 2656 29th Street, Suite 201, Santa Monica, CA, 90405, USA.
| | - Ryan C Hallman
- Soil Water Air Protection Enterprise (SWAPE), 2656 29th Street, Suite 201, Santa Monica, CA, 90405, USA.
| | - Jasmine Summers-Evans
- University of California, Los Angeles, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. LaKretz Hall, 619 Charles E Young Dr E #300, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA.
| | - Sofia Barker
- Soil Water Air Protection Enterprise (SWAPE), 2656 29th Street, Suite 201, Santa Monica, CA, 90405, USA.
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Johanson G, Gyllenhammar I, Ekstrand C, Pyko A, Xu Y, Li Y, Norström K, Lilja K, Lindh C, Benskin JP, Georgelis A, Forsell K, Jakobsson K, Glynn A, Vogs C. Quantitative relationships of perfluoroalkyl acids in drinking water associated with serum concentrations above background in adults living near contamination hotspots in Sweden. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 219:115024. [PMID: 36535390 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115024] [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: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Contaminated drinking water (DW) is a major source of exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at locations around PFAS production/use facilities and military airports. This study aimed to investigate quantitative relationships between concentrations in DW and serum of nine perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in Swedish adult populations living near contamination hotspots. Short-chained (PFPeA, PFHxA, PFHpA, and PFBS) and long-chained PFAAs (PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFHxS and PFOS) were measured in DW and serum. We matched DW and serum concentrations for a total of 398 subjects living or working in areas receiving contaminated DW and in one non-contaminated area. Thereafter, linear regression analysis with and without adjustments for co-variates was conducted. This enabled to derive (i) serum concentrations at background exposure (CB) from sources other than local DW exposure (i.e. food, dust and textiles) at 0 ng/L DW concentration, (ii) population-mean PFAA serum:water ratios (SWR) and (iii) PFAA concentrations in DW causing observable elevated serum PFAA concentrations above background variability. Median concentrations of the sum of nine PFAAs ranged between 2.8 and 1790 ng/L in DW and between 7.6 and 96.9 ng/mL in serum. DW concentration was the strongest predictor, resulting in similar unadjusted and adjusted regression coefficients. Mean CB ranged from <0.1 (PFPeA, PFHpA, PFBS) to 5.1 ng/mL (PFOS). Serum concentrations increased significantly with increasing DW concentrations for all PFAAs except for PFPeA with SWRs ranging from <10 (PFHxA, PFHpA and PFBS) to 111 (PFHxS). Observed elevated serum concentrations above background variability were reached at DW concentrations between 24 (PFOA) and 357 ng/L (PFHxA). The unadjusted linear regression predictions agreed well with serum concentrations previously reported in various populations exposed to low and high DW levels of PFOA, PFHxS and PFOS. The quantitative relationships derived herein should be helpful to translate PFAA concentrations in DW to concentrations in serum at the population level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunnar Johanson
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7028, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden; Unit of Integrative Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, P.O. Box 210, SE 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Irina Gyllenhammar
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7028, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden; Swedish Food Agency, Box 622, 751 26, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Carl Ekstrand
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7028, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Andrei Pyko
- Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, Region Stockholm, Sweden; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yiyi Xu
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, P.O Box 414, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ying Li
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, P.O Box 414, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Karin Norström
- Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Circular Economy Department, 106 48, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karl Lilja
- Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Circular Economy Department, 106 48, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christian Lindh
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Antonios Georgelis
- Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, Region Stockholm, Sweden; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karl Forsell
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Norrland University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Kristina Jakobsson
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, P.O Box 414, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Box 414, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anders Glynn
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7028, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Carolina Vogs
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7028, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Jain RB. Serum concentrations of perfluoro-1-heptane sulfonate (PFHpS) among US adults: variabilities across different stages of kidney function. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:23184-23191. [PMID: 36316548 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23881-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
For the first time, data (N = 1311) from US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2017-2018 were analyzed for gender and racial/ethnic differences for perfluoro-1-heptane sulfonate (PFHpS) for US adults aged ≥ 20 years. In addition, variability in adjusted concentrations across various stages of glomerular filtration (GF) was also studied. While no racial/ethnic differences were observed, males had statistically significantly higher concentrations of PFHpS than females (0.30 vs. 0.19 ng/mL, p < 0.01). Concentrations of PFHpS across various stages of kidney function were located on inverted U-shaped curves with point of inflection located at GF-3A (45 ≤ eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) for all participants, males, as well as females. After moderate increase from GF-1 (eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) to GF-2 (60 ≤ eGFR < 90 mL/min/1.73 m2), the increase in PFHpS concentration from GF-2 to GF-3A was quite steep. For example, for females, concentration from GF-1 to GF-2 increased from 0.17 ng/mL to 0.23 ng/mL for an increase of 35% but from GF-2 to GF-3A, concentrations of PFHpS increased from 0.23 ng/mL to 0.43 ng/mL for an increase of about 87%. Following this, at GF-3B/4 (15 ≤ eGFR < 45 mL/min/1.73 m2), concentrations decreased sharply to the almost the same levels as for GF-1. For example, for males, the decrease from GF-3A (0.67 ng/mL) to GF-3B/4 (0.21 ng/mL) was about 69%. Concentration curves for each race/ethnicity were also located on inverted U-shaped curves but relatively very small sample sizes for Hispanics and non-Hispanic Asians, and others at GF-3A and GF-3B/4 lead to substantial variability. The balance between reabsorption-excretion in favor of reabsorption at GF-1 and GF-2 switched to in favor of excretion starting at the end of GF-3A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ram B Jain
- , 4331 Kendrick Circle, Loganville, Ga, USA.
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Fustinoni S, Consonni D. Historical Trend of Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Surfactants PFOA, ADV, and cC6O4 and its Management in Two Perfluoroalkyl Polymers Plants, Italy. Ann Work Expo Health 2023; 67:518-535. [PMID: 36715212 PMCID: PMC10119700 DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxac095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Perfluoroalkyl acid surfactants are used in the chemical industry for the synthesis of perfluoroalkyl polymers. In one Italian fluoropolymer plant and in the research and innovation center, two major perfluoroalkyl surfactants have been historically used: PFOA and ADV and a third, cC6O4 substituted PFOA from mid-2013. This work is summarizing occupational exposure to these chemicals in the period 2004-2021, assessed by biological monitoring. Moreover, taking advantage of the phasing out of PFOA, the elimination kinetics of PFOA in humans is investigated. METHODS Workers exposed to PFOA (from beginning of the sixties to 2013), ADV (since 1996), and/or cC6O4 (since 2012) in the production of fluoropolymers, in the synthesis, research, and analysis, were periodically surveyed from 2004, measuring the concentration of perfluoroalkyl acid surfactants in serum. Workers of the same plants, not directly exposed, were surveyed as well. Applying the first-order kinetics model, the half-life of PFOA was calculated. RESULTS 809 Workers were investigated with measurements of PFOA (n = 3692), ADV (n = 4288) and cC6O4 (n = 2272) in serum. In the production plant, median PFOA ranged from 1900 to 14 µg/l from 2004 to 2021; median ADV ranged from 434 to 86 µg/l from 2011 to 2021. For cC6O4 the detection percentage ranged from 9 to 47%; in detected samples median cC6O4 ranged from 3 to 16 µg/l in the period 2013-2021. Adopted mitigation measurements included: the phasing out of PFOA, the improvement of the plastomer and elastomer post-treatments; the reinforcement of the staff involved in prevention. Decreasing trends were observed for all chemicals along years (P value for linear trend of means < 0.01). For PFOA, a half-life of 3.16 (95% CI 2.98-3.37) years was calculated. CONCLUSIONS In the study plants, several initiatives to reduce exposure and the risk associated with perfluoroalkyl surfactants were undertaken; results of biomonitoring show that they were effective, with a 5- to 136-fold reduction in the concentration of perfluoroalkyl compounds in the serum of workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Fustinoni
- Toxicology Lab, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, via S. Barnaba, 8 - 20122, Milano, Italy.,Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Francesco Sforza, 35 - 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Dario Consonni
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Francesco Sforza, 35 - 20122, Milan, Italy
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Liu D, Yan S, Wang P, Chen Q, Liu Y, Cui J, Liang Y, Ren S, Gao Y. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) exposure in relation to the kidneys: A review of current available literature. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1103141. [PMID: 36776978 PMCID: PMC9909492 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1103141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid is an artificial and non-degradable chemical. It is widely used due to its stable nature. It can enter the human body through food, drinking water, inhalation of household dust and contact with products containing perfluorooctanoic acid. It accumulates in the human body, causing potential harmful effects on human health. Based on the biodegradability and bioaccumulation of perfluorooctanoic acid in the human body, there are increasing concerns about the adverse effects of perfluorooctanoic acid exposure on kidneys. Research shows that kidney is the main accumulation organ of Perfluorooctanoic acid, and Perfluorooctanoic acid can cause nephrotoxicity and produce adverse effects on kidney function, but the exact mechanism is still unknown. In this review, we summarize the relationship between Perfluorooctanoic acid exposure and kidney health, evaluate risks more clearly, and provide a theoretical basis for subsequent research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongge Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Shuqi Yan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Pingwei Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Qianqian Chen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yanping Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiajing Cui
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yujun Liang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Shuping Ren
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ying Gao
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China,*Correspondence: Ying Gao,
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Schillemans T, Iszatt N, Remy S, Schoeters G, Fernández MF, D'Cruz SC, Desalegn A, Haug LS, Lignell S, Lindroos AK, Fábelová L, Murinova LP, Kosjek T, Tkalec Ž, Gabriel C, Sarigiannis D, Pedraza-Díaz S, Esteban-López M, Castaño A, Rambaud L, Riou M, Pauwels S, Vanlarebeke N, Kolossa-Gehring M, Vogel N, Uhl M, Govarts E, Åkesson A. Cross-sectional associations between exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and body mass index among European teenagers in the HBM4EU aligned studies. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 316:120566. [PMID: 36334774 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120566] [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: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread pollutants that may impact youth adiposity patterns. We investigated cross-sectional associations between PFAS and body mass index (BMI) in teenagers/adolescents across nine European countries within the Human Biomonitoring for Europe (HBM4EU) initiative. We used data from 1957 teenagers (12-18 yrs) that were part of the HBM4EU aligned studies, consisting of nine HBM studies (NEBII, Norway; Riksmaten Adolescents 2016-17, Sweden; PCB cohort (follow-up), Slovakia; SLO CRP, Slovenia; CROME, Greece; BEA, Spain; ESTEBAN, France; FLEHS IV, Belgium; GerES V-sub, Germany). Twelve PFAS were measured in blood, whilst weight and height were measured by field nurse/physician or self-reported in questionnaires. We assessed associations between PFAS and age- and sex-adjusted BMI z-scores using linear and logistic regression adjusted for potential confounders. Random-effects meta-analysis and mixed effects models were used to pool studies. We assessed mixture effects using molar sums of exposure biomarkers with toxicological/structural similarities and quantile g-computation. In all studies, the highest concentrations of PFAS were PFOS (medians ranging from 1.34 to 2.79 μg/L). There was a tendency for negative associations with BMI z-scores for all PFAS (except for PFHxS and PFHpS), which was borderline significant for the molar sum of [PFOA and PFNA] and significant for single PFOA [β-coefficient (95% CI) per interquartile range fold change = -0.06 (-0.17, 0.00) and -0.08 (-0.15, -0.01), respectively]. Mixture assessment indicated similar negative associations of the total mixture of [PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS and PFOS] with BMI z-score, but not all compounds showed associations in the same direction: whilst [PFOA, PFNA and PFOS] were negatively associated, [PFHxS] associated positively with BMI z-score. Our results indicated a tendency for associations of relatively low PFAS concentrations with lower BMI in European teenagers. More prospective research is needed to investigate this potential relationship and its implications for health later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Schillemans
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.
| | - Nina Iszatt
- Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
| | - Sylvie Remy
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Greet Schoeters
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Mariana F Fernández
- Centre for Biomedical Research (CIBM) and School of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Shereen Cynthia D'Cruz
- Univ Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), Rennes, France
| | - Anteneh Desalegn
- Division of Food Safety, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
| | - Line S Haug
- Division of Food Safety, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
| | | | | | - Lucia Fábelová
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lubica Palkovicova Murinova
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Tina Kosjek
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Žiga Tkalec
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Catherine Gabriel
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece; HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Balkan Center, Bldg. B, 10th Km Thessaloniki-Thermi Road, 57001, Greece
| | - Denis Sarigiannis
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece; HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Balkan Center, Bldg. B, 10th Km Thessaloniki-Thermi Road, 57001, Greece; Environmental Health Engineering, Institute of Advanced Study, Palazzo Del Broletto - Piazza Della Vittoria 15, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Susana Pedraza-Díaz
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Esteban-López
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Argelia Castaño
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Loïc Rambaud
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Santé Publique France, Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Margaux Riou
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Santé Publique France, Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Sara Pauwels
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nik Vanlarebeke
- Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Free University of Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Nina Vogel
- German Environment Agency, Umweltbundesamt (UBA), Berlin, Germany
| | - Maria Uhl
- Environment Agency Austria, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Govarts
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Agneta Åkesson
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
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Li J, Wang L, Zhang X, Liu P, Deji Z, Xing Y, Zhou Y, Lin X, Huang Z. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances exposure and its influence on the intestinal barrier: An overview on the advances. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 852:158362. [PMID: 36055502 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of artificially synthetic organic compounds that are hardly degraded in the natural environment. PFAS have been widely used for many decades, and the persistence and potential toxicity of PFAS are an emerging concern in the world. PFAS exposed via diet can be readily absorbed by the intestine and enter the circulatory system or accumulate directly at intestinal sites, which could interact with the intestine and cause the destruction of intestinal barrier. This review summarizes current relationships between PFAS exposure and intestinal barrier damage with a focus on more recent toxicological studies. Exposure to PFAS could cause inflammation in the gut, destruction of the gut epithelium and tight junction structure, reduction of the mucus layer, and induction of the toxicity of immune cells. PFAS accumulation could also induce microbial disorders and metabolic products changes. In addition, there are limited studies currently, and most available studies converge on the health risk of PFAS exposure for human intestinal disease. Therefore, more efforts are deserved to further understand potential associations between PFAS exposure and intestinal dysfunction and enable better assessment of exposomic toxicology and health risks for humans in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaoyang Li
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Agriculture, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, PR China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Zhuoma Deji
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Yudong Xing
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Xia Lin
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Zhenzhen Huang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, PR China.
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37
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Developmental language disorders in preschool children after high exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances from contaminated drinking water in Ronneby, Sweden. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY (PHILADELPHIA, PA.) 2022; 7:e233. [PMID: 36777530 PMCID: PMC9916036 DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
There are indications that early-life exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can impact neurodevelopment, but results are inconclusive. The objective was to investigate if high early-life exposure to primarily perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) increases the risk of developmental language disorder in children up to seven years of age. Methods A register-based cohort of all children born 1998-2013 in Blekinge county, Sweden, was studied. Maternal residential history, that is, with or without highly PFAS-contaminated drinking water, during the 5-year period before childbirth was used as a proxy for early-life exposure. Exposure was categorized as high (n = 646), intermediate (n = 1,650), or background (n = 9,599). We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for (1) referral to a speech- and language pathologist after routine screening at Child Health Services, and (2) subsequent language disorder diagnosis after clinical assessment. Models were adjusted for parity, maternal age, education level, and smoking, and explored effect modification by sex. Results In children from the high-exposed area, the adjusted HR for referral was 1.23 (95% CI = 1.03, 1.47) and 1.13 (95% CI = 0.97, 1.56) for subsequent diagnosis. There was no increased risk in the intermediate exposure category. Conclusion Children, particularly girls, with high exposure had an increased risk of both referral and confirmed developmental language disorder. Further research is needed on PFAS in the context of general neurodevelopment, for which language development is a proxy.
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38
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Nilsson S, Thompson J, Mueller JF, Bräunig J. Apparent Half-Lives of Chlorinated-Perfluorooctane Sulfonate and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Isomers in Aviation Firefighters. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:17052-17060. [PMID: 36367310 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c04637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Elevated levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and elevated detection frequency of chloro-substituted PFOS have been reported in Australian firefighters with historical exposure to aqueous-film forming foam (AFFF). The aim of this study is to estimate the apparent half-lives of Cl-PFOS and PFOS isomers in firefighters following the end of exposure to 3M-AFFF. Paired serum samples from 120 firefighters, collected approximately five years apart, were analyzed for 8-Cl-PFOS (8-chloroperfluoro-1-octanesulfonic acid) and PFOS isomers via targeted LC-MS/MS. Apparent half-life was estimated by assuming a first order-elimination model. Cl-PFOS was detected in 93% of all initial serum samples (<LOQ-1.09 ng/mL). The average half-life of Cl-PFOS among the firefighters was 5.0 years. Branched PFOS isomers made up 55% of the total isomer concentration at the initial sampling timepoint. Five years later, the proportion of branched PFOS isomers was greater (65%). The longest average half-life (11.5 years) was estimated for "1m-PFOS". Other isomers had average half-lives ranging from 4.0 to 7.5 years. Marked differences in half-lives between PFOS isomers suggest that the elimination rate of "total PFOS" (sum of all PFOS isomers) is non-linear. This is the first study to report the serum concentrations and apparent half-life of Cl-PFOS in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Nilsson
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland4102, Australia
| | - Jack Thompson
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland4102, Australia
- Organic Chemistry, Forensic and Scientific Services, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, Queensland4108, Australia
| | - Jochen F Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland4102, Australia
| | - Jennifer Bräunig
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland4102, Australia
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Moro G, Liberi S, Vascon F, Linciano S, De Felice S, Fasolato S, Foresta C, De Toni L, Di Nisio A, Cendron L, Angelini A. Investigation of the Interaction between Human Serum Albumin and Branched Short-Chain Perfluoroalkyl Compounds. Chem Res Toxicol 2022; 35:2049-2058. [PMID: 36148994 PMCID: PMC9682524 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.2c00211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The current trend dealing with the production of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) involves the shifting toward branched short-chain fluorinated compounds known as new-generation PFASs. A key aspect to be clarified, to address the adverse health effects associated with the exposure to PFASs, is their binding mode to human serum albumin (hSA), the most abundant protein in plasma. In this study, we investigated the interaction between hSA and two representative branched short-chain PFASs, namely, HPFO-DA and C6O4. In-solution studies revealed that both compounds bind hSA with affinities and stoichiometries lower than that of the legacy long-chain perfluoroalkyl compound PFOA. Competition experiments using hSA-binding drugs with known site-selectivity revealed that both HPFO-DA and C6O4 bound to pockets located in subdomain IIIA. The crystal structure of hSA in complex with HPFO-DA unveiled the presence of two binding sites. The characterization and direct comparison of hSA interactions with new-generation PFASs may be key elements for the understanding of the toxicological impact of these compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Moro
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venice, Italy.,Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Stefano Liberi
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Filippo Vascon
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Sara Linciano
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venice, Italy
| | - Sofia De Felice
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Silvano Fasolato
- Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Carlo Foresta
- Department of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Luca De Toni
- Department of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Andrea Di Nisio
- Department of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Laura Cendron
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Alessandro Angelini
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venice, Italy.,European Centre for Living Technology (ECLT), Ca' Bottacin, Dorsoduro 3911, Calle Crosera, 30123 Venice, Italy
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40
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Post GB, Birnbaum LS, DeWitt JC, Goeden H, Heiger-Bernays WJ, Schlezinger JJ. Letter to the editors regarding "The conundrum of the PFOA human half-life, an international collaboration". Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2022; 134:105240. [PMID: 35973622 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2022.105240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gloria B Post
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Trenton, NJ, USA
| | - Linda S Birnbaum
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jamie C DeWitt
- Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Helen Goeden
- Environmental Health Division, Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
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Nilsson S, Smurthwaite K, Aylward LL, Kay M, Toms LM, King L, Marrington S, Barnes C, Kirk MD, Mueller JF, Bräunig J. Serum concentration trends and apparent half-lives of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Australian firefighters. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2022; 246:114040. [PMID: 36162311 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent manmade compounds used in aqueous film forming foam (AFFF). The extensive use of AFFF has led to widespread environmental PFAS contamination and exposures of firefighters. OBJECTIVES To determine PFAS blood serum concentration trends and apparent serum half-lives in firefighters after the replacement of AFFF. METHODS Current and former employees of an Australian corporation providing firefighting services, where AFFF formulations had been used since the 1980s up until 2010, were recruited in 2018-2019 to participate in this study. Special focus was put on re-recruiting participants who had provided blood samples five years prior (2013-2014). Participants were asked to provide a blood sample and fill in a questionnaire. Serum samples were analysed for 40 different PFASs using HP LC-MS/MS. RESULTS A total of 799 participants provided blood samples in 2018-2019. Of these, 130 previously provided blood serum in 2013-2014. In 2018-2019, mean (arithmetic) serum concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS, 27 ng/mL), perfluoroheptane sulfonate (PFHpS, 1.7 ng/mL) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS, 14 ng/mL) were higher than the levels in the general Australian population. Serum concentrations were associated with the use of PFOS/PFHxS based AFFF. Participants who commenced service after the replacement of this foam had serum concentrations similar to those in the general population. Mean (arithmetic) individual apparent half-lives were estimated to be 5.0 years (perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)), 7.8 years (PFHxS), 7.4 years (PFHpS) and 6.5 years (PFOS). CONCLUSION This study shows how workplace interventions such as replacement of AFFF can benefit employees at risk of occupational exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Nilsson
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, 4102, QLD, Australia.
| | - K Smurthwaite
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Cnr of Eggleston and Mills Roads Acton, 2600, Australia
| | - L L Aylward
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, 4102, QLD, Australia; Summit Toxicology, LLP, La Quinta, 92253, CA, USA
| | - M Kay
- General Practice Clinical Unit, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Health Sciences Building, RBWH Complex, Herston, 4029, QLD, Australia
| | - L M Toms
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, 4059, QLD, Australia
| | - L King
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, 4102, QLD, Australia
| | - S Marrington
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, 4102, QLD, Australia
| | - C Barnes
- Airservices Australia, 25 Constitution Ave, Canberra, 2601, ACT, Australia
| | - M D Kirk
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Cnr of Eggleston and Mills Roads Acton, 2600, Australia
| | - J F Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, 4102, QLD, Australia
| | - J Bräunig
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, 4102, QLD, Australia
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