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Hron LMC, Wöckner M, Fuchs V, Fembacher L, Aschenbrenner B, Herr C, Schober W, Heinze S, Völkel W. Monitoring of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in human blood samples collected in three regions with known PFAS releases in the environment and three control regions in South Germany. Arch Toxicol 2024:10.1007/s00204-024-03843-x. [PMID: 39167139 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-024-03843-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are known as persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals. The present paper describes the analysis of 969 human blood samples collected in South Germany aiming to determine whether there are statistic significant differences in internal PFAS burden between three regions with known PFAS releases in the environment (study regions) and three regions without known PFAS releases in the environment (control regions). Nine environmental relevant PFAS were analyzed, including the perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) substitute 3H-perfluoro-3-[(3-methoxy-propoxy)propanoic acid] ammonium salt (ADONA). We found that concentrations of PFOA and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were higher than for all other PFAS in all of the six regions, but all medians of PFOA (between 0.8 and 0.9 ng/ml for the study and control regions) and PFOS (between 1.3 and 1.5 ng/ml for the study regions and between 1.4 and 1.5 ng/ml for the control regions) were below the human biomonitoring values (HBM) I for PFOA (2 ng/ml) und for PFOS (5 ng/ml) derived by the German HBM Commission. Concentrations of ADONA were below the limit of quantification in all samples. Minor differences were observed in PFAS blood levels between study and control regions. Especially for PFOS and PFOA the medians for women are slightly lower compared to men. In summary, individuals living in regions with known environmental PFAS contaminations show no higher internal PFAS exposure to controls and in comparison to other studies in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena M Cursino Hron
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health Protection and Product Safety, Pfarrstrasse 3, 80538, Munich, Germany.
| | - Mandy Wöckner
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health Protection and Product Safety, Pfarrstrasse 3, 80538, Munich, Germany
| | - Veronika Fuchs
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health Protection and Product Safety, Pfarrstrasse 3, 80538, Munich, Germany
| | - Ludwig Fembacher
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health Protection and Product Safety, Pfarrstrasse 3, 80538, Munich, Germany
| | - Bettina Aschenbrenner
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health Protection and Product Safety, Pfarrstrasse 3, 80538, Munich, Germany
| | - Caroline Herr
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health Protection and Product Safety, Pfarrstrasse 3, 80538, Munich, Germany
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstrasse 1, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Schober
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health Protection and Product Safety, Pfarrstrasse 3, 80538, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefanie Heinze
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health Protection and Product Safety, Pfarrstrasse 3, 80538, Munich, Germany
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstrasse 1, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Völkel
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health Protection and Product Safety, Pfarrstrasse 3, 80538, Munich, Germany
- Department of Toxicology, University of Würzburg, Versbacher Strasse 9, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
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Rasmusson K, Fagerlund F. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as contaminants in groundwater resources - A comprehensive review of subsurface transport processes. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 362:142663. [PMID: 38908440 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent contaminants in the environment. An increased awareness of adverse health effects related to PFAS has further led to stricter regulations for several of these substances in e.g. drinking water in many countries. Groundwater constitutes an important source of raw water for drinking water production. A thorough understanding of PFAS subsurface fate and transport mechanisms leading to contamination of groundwater resources is therefore essential for management of raw water resources. A review of scientific literature on the subject of processes affecting subsurface PFAS fate and transport was carried out. This article compiles the current knowledge of such processes, mainly focusing on perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA), in soil- and groundwater systems. Further, a compilation of data on transport parameters such as solubility and distribution coefficients, as well as, insight gained and conclusions drawn from the reviewed material are presented. As the use of certain fire-fighting foams has been identified as the major source of groundwater contamination in many countries, research related to this type of pollution source has been given extra focus. Uptake of PFAS in biota is outside the scope of this review. The review showed a large spread in the magnitude of distribution coefficients and solubility for individual PFAS. Also, it is clear that the influence of multiple factors makes site-specific evaluation of distribution coefficients valuable. This article aims at giving the reader a comprehensive overview of the subject, and providing a base for further work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Rasmusson
- Uppsala Water and Waste AB, Virdings allé 32B, SE-75450, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Fritjof Fagerlund
- Uppsala University, Department of Earth Sciences, Villavägen 16, 75236, Uppsala, Sweden
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Lahne H, Gerstner D, Völkel W, Schober W, Aschenbrenner B, Herr C, Heinze S, Quartucci C. Human biomonitoring follow-up study on PFOA contamination and investigation of possible influencing factors on PFOA exposure in a German population originally exposed to emissions from a fluoropolymer production plant. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 259:114387. [PMID: 38703464 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the past, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was produced and applied as an emulsifier in a fluoropolymer production plant in the Altötting district, southern Bavaria (Germany). This chemical was released directly into the environment, resulting in the contamination of the local drinking water. During a human biomonitoring (HBM) survey in 2018, increased median PFOA blood serum levels, compared to a normally exposed control group with no known source of PFOA exposure from Munich, Germany, were detected in the resident population (23.18 μg/l in the general population, 20.71 μg/l in the children's group). The follow-up study aimed to investigate whether purification of the drinking water as the main PFOA exposure source has been successful in reducing internal PFOA exposure and to estimate the association of internal PFOA exposure with possible influencing factors. METHODS Only individuals who had already participated in the HBM study in 2018 were included. For the determination of the PFOA serum concentration, 5 ml of blood was drawn from each participating person. Blood samples were collected in the period from June to August 2022. Furthermore, information on sociodemographic characteristics, health status, dietary behaviour and other lifestyle factors were collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire. To examine the association of PFOA blood serum levels with possible influencing factors, such as age, gender and consumption of fish and game meat, a logistic regression model with a PFOA value > 10 μg/l as outcome was used. RESULTS A total of 764 individuals participated in the follow-up study in 2022. Analyses were performed separately for the general population (n = 559), women of reproductive age (15-49 years old) (n = 120), and children under 12 years old (n = 30). Median PFOA blood levels have decreased by 56.9% in the general population, by 59.8% in the group of women of reproductive age and by 73.4% in the group of children under 12 years old. In the general population, a higher probability of a PFOA value > 10 μg/l was found for those aged 40-59 years (Odds ratio (OR) = 2.33 (95%CI: 1.23 to 4.43, p = 0.01) and those aged 60 years and older (OR = 5.32, 95%CI: 2.78 to 10.19, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS In all study groups, the median PFOA serum levels decreased as expected after a half-life of four years, which confirms that contamination via drinking water has ceased. Furthermore, our study identified age as a significant predictor of internal PFOA exposure, while no influence was found for the consumption of fish and game meat. Further investigations are needed to quantify in a more detailed way the influence of dietary habits on PFOA exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Lahne
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute for Occupational Health and Product Safety, Environmental Health, Munich, Germany.
| | - Doris Gerstner
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute for Occupational Health and Product Safety, Environmental Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Völkel
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute for Occupational Health and Product Safety, Environmental Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Schober
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute for Occupational Health and Product Safety, Environmental Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Bettina Aschenbrenner
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute for Occupational Health and Product Safety, Environmental Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Caroline Herr
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute for Occupational Health and Product Safety, Environmental Health, Munich, Germany; Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 5, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefanie Heinze
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute for Occupational Health and Product Safety, Environmental Health, Munich, Germany; Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 5, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Caroline Quartucci
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Institute for Occupational Health and Product Safety, Environmental Health, Munich, Germany; Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 5, 80336, Munich, Germany
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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: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [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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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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Göen T, Abballe A, Bousoumah R, Godderis L, Iavicoli I, Ingelido AM, Leso V, Müller J, Ndaw S, Porras SP, Verdonck J, Santonen T. HBM4EU chromates study - PFAS exposure in electroplaters and bystanders. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 346:140613. [PMID: 37944767 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The study aims to reveal the exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in workers in different industry sectors with exposures to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)). The PFAS exposure of in total 172 individuals from 4 countries was assessed by the determination of 8 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and 4 perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids in plasma samples. The participants were 52 chrome plating workers, 43 welders, 3 surface treating workers and 74 workers without any occupational Cr exposure as controls. Significant differences between workers with Cr exposure and controls were found for the perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids, particularly for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). The median and maximum levels were, respectively, 4.83 and 789 μg/l for chrome plating workers, 4.97 and 1513 μg/l for welders, and 3.65 and 13.9 μg/l for controls. The considerably high PFOS exposure in Cr platers and welders can be explained by the former application of PFOS as mist suppressants in electroplating baths, which resulted in an exposure of the directly involved operators, but also of welders performing maintenance and repair service at these workplaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Göen
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Annalisa Abballe
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Department of Environment and Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Radia Bousoumah
- French National Research and Safety Institute (INRS), Vandœuvre-Lès-Nancy, France
| | - Lode Godderis
- Catholic University Leuven, Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leuven, Belgium; IDEWE, External Service for Prevention and Protection at Work, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Ivo Iavicoli
- University of Naples Federico II, Department of Public Health, Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Ingelido
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Department of Environment and Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Veruscka Leso
- University of Naples Federico II, Department of Public Health, Naples, Italy
| | - Johannes Müller
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sophie Ndaw
- French National Research and Safety Institute (INRS), Vandœuvre-Lès-Nancy, France
| | - Simo P Porras
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jelle Verdonck
- Catholic University Leuven, Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tiina Santonen
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH), Helsinki, Finland
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India-Aldana S, Yao M, Midya V, Colicino E, Chatzi L, Chu J, Gennings C, Jones DP, Loos RJF, Setiawan VW, Smith MR, Walker RW, Barupal D, Walker DI, Valvi D. PFAS Exposures and the Human Metabolome: A Systematic Review of Epidemiological Studies. CURRENT POLLUTION REPORTS 2023; 9:510-568. [PMID: 37753190 PMCID: PMC10520990 DOI: 10.1007/s40726-023-00269-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review There is a growing interest in understanding the health effects of exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) through the study of the human metabolome. In this systematic review, we aimed to identify consistent findings between PFAS and metabolomic signatures. We conducted a search matching specific keywords that was independently reviewed by two authors on two databases (EMBASE and PubMed) from their inception through July 19, 2022 following PRISMA guidelines. Recent Findings We identified a total of 28 eligible observational studies that evaluated the associations between 31 different PFAS exposures and metabolomics in humans. The most common exposure evaluated was legacy long-chain PFAS. Population sample sizes ranged from 40 to 1,105 participants at different stages across the lifespan. A total of 19 studies used a non-targeted metabolomics approach, 7 used targeted approaches, and 2 included both. The majority of studies were cross-sectional (n = 25), including four with prospective analyses of PFAS measured prior to metabolomics. Summary Most frequently reported associations across studies were observed between PFAS and amino acids, fatty acids, glycerophospholipids, glycerolipids, phosphosphingolipids, bile acids, ceramides, purines, and acylcarnitines. Corresponding metabolic pathways were also altered, including lipid, amino acid, carbohydrate, nucleotide, energy metabolism, glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, and metabolism of cofactors and vitamins. We found consistent evidence across studies indicating PFAS-induced alterations in lipid and amino acid metabolites, which may be involved in energy and cell membrane disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra India-Aldana
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health,
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New
York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Meizhen Yao
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health,
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New
York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Vishal Midya
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health,
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New
York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Elena Colicino
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health,
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New
York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Leda Chatzi
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck
School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jaime Chu
- Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount
Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chris Gennings
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health,
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New
York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Dean P. Jones
- Clinical Biomarkers Laboratory, Division of Pulmonary,
Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ruth J. F. Loos
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health,
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New
York, NY 10029, USA
- Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine, Icahn
School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Novo Nordisk
Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen,
Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Veronica W. Setiawan
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck
School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mathew Ryan Smith
- Clinical Biomarkers Laboratory, Division of Pulmonary,
Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA, USA
| | - Ryan W. Walker
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health,
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New
York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Dinesh Barupal
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health,
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New
York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Douglas I. Walker
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health,
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New
York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Damaskini Valvi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health,
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New
York, NY 10029, USA
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Lee BS, Kim Y, Park H, Im WJ, Han HY, Kim YB, Lim S, Yoo MH. Long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylates induce cytoskeletal abnormalities and activate epithelial-mesenchymal transition in both renal cell carcinoma 3D cultures and Caki-1 xenografted mouse model. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 178:108093. [PMID: 37459689 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to perfluorooctanoate (PFOA; a type of perfluoroalkyl carboxylates [PFACs]) may be correlated with the incidence of kidney cancer in individuals exposed to high levels of PFOA. However, mechanistic studies on the influence of PFACs on renal cell carcinoma (RCC) development are lacking. We explored the effects of five types of PFACs on RCC using in vitro and in vivo models to fill this knowledge gap and provide information for environmental/usage regulations. Using 2D/3D cultures of Caki-1 cells, a human clear cell RCC line, we examined the effects of short-chain (SC) PFACs and long-chain (LC) PFACs on RCC physio/pathological markers, including the cytoskeleton, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins, and Na+/K+-ATPase. We also administered three different PFACs orally to mice harboring Caki-1 xenografts to assess the impact of these compounds on engrafted RCC in vivo. Compared with the effects of SCPFACs, mice with Caki-1 xenografts treated with LCPFACs showed increased EMT-related protein expression and exhibited liver toxicity. Therefore, LCPFACs induced EMT, influencing cancer metastasis activity, and displayed higher toxicity in vivo compared with SCPFACs. These findings improve our understanding of the effects of PFACs on RCC development and their corresponding in vivo toxicity, which is crucial for regulating these substances to protect public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byoung-Seok Lee
- Department of Advanced Toxicology Research, Korea Institute of Toxicology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea.
| | - Younhee Kim
- Department of Advanced Toxicology Research, Korea Institute of Toxicology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea.
| | - Heejin Park
- Department of Advanced Toxicology Research, Korea Institute of Toxicology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea.
| | - Wan-Jung Im
- Department of Advanced Toxicology Research, Korea Institute of Toxicology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hyoung-Yun Han
- Department of Predictive Toxicology Research, Korea Institute of Toxicology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yong-Bum Kim
- Department of Advanced Toxicology Research, Korea Institute of Toxicology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea.
| | - SunHwa Lim
- Department of Advanced Toxicology Research, Korea Institute of Toxicology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea.
| | - Min Heui Yoo
- Department of Advanced Toxicology Research, Korea Institute of Toxicology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea.
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Lin J, Chin SY, Tan SPF, Koh HC, Cheong EJY, Chan ECY, Chan JCY. Mechanistic Middle-Out Physiologically Based Toxicokinetic Modeling of Transporter-Dependent Disposition of Perfluorooctanoic Acid in Humans. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:6825-6834. [PMID: 37072124 PMCID: PMC10157889 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c05642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is an environmental toxicant exhibiting a years-long biological half-life (t1/2) in humans and is linked with adverse health effects. However, limited understanding of its toxicokinetics (TK) has obstructed the necessary risk assessment. Here, we constructed the first middle-out physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) model to mechanistically explain the persistence of PFOA in humans. In vitro transporter kinetics were thoroughly characterized and scaled up to in vivo clearances using quantitative proteomics-based in vitro-to-in vivo extrapolation. These data and physicochemical parameters of PFOA were used to parameterize our model. We uncovered a novel uptake transporter for PFOA, highly likely to be monocarboxylate transporter 1 which is ubiquitously expressed in body tissues and may mediate broad tissue penetration. Our model was able to recapitulate clinical data from a phase I dose-escalation trial and divergent half-lives from clinical trial and biomonitoring studies. Simulations and sensitivity analyses confirmed the importance of renal transporters in driving extensive PFOA reabsorption, reducing its clearance and augmenting its t1/2. Crucially, the inclusion of a hypothetical, saturable renal basolateral efflux transporter provided the first unified explanation for the divergent t1/2 of PFOA reported in clinical (116 days) versus biomonitoring studies (1.3-3.9 years). Efforts are underway to build PBTK models for other perfluoroalkyl substances using similar workflows to assess their TK profiles and facilitate risk assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieying Lin
- Innovations in Food and Chemical Safety (IFCS) Programme, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 30 Biopolis Street, Matrix #07-01, Singapore 138671, Republic of Singapore
- A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos #06-06, Singapore 138648 , Republic of Singapore
| | - Sheng Yuan Chin
- Innovations in Food and Chemical Safety (IFCS) Programme, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 30 Biopolis Street, Matrix #07-01, Singapore 138671, Republic of Singapore
- Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 31 Biopolis Way, Nanos #01-02, Singapore 138669, Republic of Singapore
| | - Shawn Pei Feng Tan
- Innovations in Food and Chemical Safety (IFCS) Programme, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 30 Biopolis Street, Matrix #07-01, Singapore 138671, Republic of Singapore
- A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos #06-06, Singapore 138648 , Republic of Singapore
| | - Hor Cheng Koh
- Innovations in Food and Chemical Safety (IFCS) Programme, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 30 Biopolis Street, Matrix #07-01, Singapore 138671, Republic of Singapore
- A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos #06-06, Singapore 138648 , Republic of Singapore
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 18 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Republic of Singapore
| | - Eleanor Jing Yi Cheong
- A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos #06-06, Singapore 138648 , Republic of Singapore
- Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 31 Biopolis Way, Nanos #01-02, Singapore 138669, Republic of Singapore
| | - Eric Chun Yong Chan
- Innovations in Food and Chemical Safety (IFCS) Programme, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 30 Biopolis Street, Matrix #07-01, Singapore 138671, Republic of Singapore
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 18 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Republic of Singapore
| | - James Chun Yip Chan
- Innovations in Food and Chemical Safety (IFCS) Programme, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 30 Biopolis Street, Matrix #07-01, Singapore 138671, Republic of Singapore
- A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos #06-06, Singapore 138648 , Republic of Singapore
- Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 31 Biopolis Way, Nanos #01-02, Singapore 138669, Republic of Singapore
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10
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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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11
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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] [Grants] [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
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12
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Harrall KK, Muller KE, Starling AP, Dabelea D, Barton KE, Adgate JL, Glueck DH. Power and sample size analysis for longitudinal mixed models of health in populations exposed to environmental contaminants: a tutorial. BMC Med Res Methodol 2023; 23:12. [PMID: 36635621 PMCID: PMC9835314 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-022-01819-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND When evaluating the impact of environmental exposures on human health, study designs often include a series of repeated measurements. The goal is to determine whether populations have different trajectories of the environmental exposure over time. Power analyses for longitudinal mixed models require multiple inputs, including clinically significant differences, standard deviations, and correlations of measurements. Further, methods for power analyses of longitudinal mixed models are complex and often challenging for the non-statistician. We discuss methods for extracting clinically relevant inputs from literature, and explain how to conduct a power analysis that appropriately accounts for longitudinal repeated measures. Finally, we provide careful recommendations for describing complex power analyses in a concise and clear manner. METHODS For longitudinal studies of health outcomes from environmental exposures, we show how to [1] conduct a power analysis that aligns with the planned mixed model data analysis, [2] gather the inputs required for the power analysis, and [3] conduct repeated measures power analysis with a highly-cited, validated, free, point-and-click, web-based, open source software platform which was developed specifically for scientists. RESULTS As an example, we describe the power analysis for a proposed study of repeated measures of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in human blood. We show how to align data analysis and power analysis plan to account for within-participant correlation across repeated measures. We illustrate how to perform a literature review to find inputs for the power analysis. We emphasize the need to examine the sensitivity of the power values by considering standard deviations and differences in means that are smaller and larger than the speculated, literature-based values. Finally, we provide an example power calculation and a summary checklist for describing power and sample size analysis. CONCLUSIONS This paper provides a detailed roadmap for conducting and describing power analyses for longitudinal studies of environmental exposures. It provides a template and checklist for those seeking to write power analyses for grant applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kylie K Harrall
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA.
| | - Keith E Muller
- Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Anne P Starling
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Dana Dabelea
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Kelsey E Barton
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - John L Adgate
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Deborah H Glueck
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
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13
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Nilsson S, Smurthwaite K, Aylward LL, Kay M, Toms LM, King L, Marrington S, Kirk MD, Mueller JF, Bräunig J. Associations between serum perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) concentrations and health related biomarkers in firefighters. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 215:114370. [PMID: 36174755 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114370] [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: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Firefighters who used aqueous film forming foam in the past have experienced elevated exposures to perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs). The objective of this study was to examine the associations between clinical chemistry endpoints and serum concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluoroheptane sulfonate (PFHpS) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in firefighters. Multiple linear regression was used to assess relationships between PFAA serum concentrations and biochemical markers for cardiovascular disease, kidney-, liver- and thyroid function, in a cross-sectional survey of 783 firefighters with elevated levels of PFHxS, PFHpS and PFOS in relation to the most recently reported levels in the general Australian population. Linear logistic regression was used to assess the odds ratios for selected self-reported health outcomes. Repeated measures linear mixed models were further used to assess relationships between PFAAs and biomarkers for cardiovascular disease and kidney function longitudinally in a subset of the firefighters (n = 130) where serum measurements were available from two timepoints, five years apart. In the cross-sectional analysis, higher levels of all PFAAs were significantly associated with higher levels of biomarkers for cardiovascular disease (total-cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol). For example, doubling in PFOS serum concentration were associated with increases in total cholesterol (β:0.111, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 0.026, 0.195 mmol/L) and LDL-cholesterol (β: 0.104, 95%CI:0.03, 0.178 mmol/L). Doubling in PFOA concentration, despite not being elevated in the study population, were additionally positively associated with kidney function marker urate (e.g., β: 0.010, 95%CI; 0.004, 0.016 mmol/L) and thyroid function marker TSH (e.g., β: 0.087, 95%CI: 0.014, 0.161 mIU/L). PFAAs were not associated with any assessed self-reported health conditions. No significant relationships were observed in the longitudinal analysis. Findings support previous studies, particularly on the association between PFAAs and serum lipids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Nilsson
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, 4102, QLD, Australia.
| | - Kayla Smurthwaite
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Cnr of Eggleston and Mills Roads Acton 2600, Australia
| | - Lesa 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
| | - Margaret Kay
- General Practice Clinical Unit, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Health Sciences Building, RBWH Complex, Herston, 4029, QLD, Australia
| | - Leisa-Maree Toms
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, 4059, QLD, Australia
| | - Leisa King
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, 4102, QLD, Australia
| | - Shelby Marrington
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, 4102, QLD, Australia
| | - Martyn D Kirk
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Cnr of Eggleston and Mills Roads Acton 2600, Australia
| | - Jochen F Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, 4102, QLD, Australia
| | - Jennifer Bräunig
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, 4102, QLD, Australia
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14
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Nübler S, Esteban López M, Castaño A, Mol HGJ, Haji-Abbas-Zarrabi K, Schäfer M, Müller J, Hajslova J, Dvorakova D, Antignac JP, Koch HM, Haug LS, Vorkamp K, Göen T. Interlaboratory Comparison Investigations (ICIs) and External Quality Assurance Schemes (EQUASs) for human biomonitoring of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in serum as part of the quality assurance programme under HBM4EU. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 847:157481. [PMID: 35868372 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are of very high concern due to their persistence and accumulative behaviour as well as their manifold adverse health effects. Human biomonitoring (HBM) based on the determination of PFASs in serum samples is an adequate and established strategy for exposure and risk assessment of the population. The suspected health risks associated with exposure levels in the general population call for reliable HBM data verified by Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) measures. PFASs were among the chemicals selected as priority substances in HBM4EU, a pan-European project to harmonize and advance HBM within 30 European countries. For this purpose, the analytical comparability and accuracy of PFASs-analysing laboratories was assessed in a QA/QC programme comprising Interlaboratory Comparison Investigations (ICIs) and External Quality Assurance Schemes (EQUASs). This paper presents the evaluation process and discusses the results of four ICI/EQUAS rounds for the determination of eight perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and four perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFBS, PFHxS, PFHpS, PFOS) in serum. All 21 participating laboratories achieved satisfactory results for at least six of these biomarkers, although low limits of quantification (of about 0.1 μg/L) were required to quantify serum PFAS levels at general population exposure levels. The mean relative standard deviation of the participants' results (study RSDR) significantly improved from 22 % to 13 % over all PFAS biomarkers in the course of the four rounds. This QA/QC programme succeeded in establishing a network of laboratories with high analytical comparability and accuracy for the analysis of PFASs across 12 European countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Nübler
- Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Henkestraße 9-11, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Marta Esteban López
- National Center for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ctra. Majadahonda a Pozuelo km2,2, 28220 Madrid, Spain
| | - Argelia Castaño
- National Center for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ctra. Majadahonda a Pozuelo km2,2, 28220 Madrid, Spain
| | - Hans G J Mol
- Wageningen Food Safety Research, part of Wageningen University and Research, Akkermaalsbos 2, 6708 WB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Karin Haji-Abbas-Zarrabi
- Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Henkestraße 9-11, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Moritz Schäfer
- Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Henkestraße 9-11, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Johannes Müller
- Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Henkestraße 9-11, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jana Hajslova
- University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, Technicka 5, 16028 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Darina Dvorakova
- University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, Technicka 5, 16028 Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Holger M Koch
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany
| | - Line Småstuen Haug
- Department of Food Safety, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Katrin Vorkamp
- Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Thomas Göen
- Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Henkestraße 9-11, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
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15
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Sinioja T, Bodin J, Duberg D, Dirven H, Berntsen HF, Zimmer K, Nygaard UC, Orešič M, Hyötyläinen T. Exposure to persistent organic pollutants alters the serum metabolome in non-obese diabetic mice. Metabolomics 2022; 18:87. [PMID: 36329300 PMCID: PMC9633531 DOI: 10.1007/s11306-022-01945-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes (T1D) are believed to be caused by the interplay between several genetic and environmental factors. Elucidation of the role of environmental factors in metabolic and immune dysfunction leading to autoimmune disease is not yet well characterized. OBJECTIVES Here we investigated the impact of exposure to a mixture of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on the metabolome in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, an experimental model of T1D. The mixture contained organochlorides, organobromides, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). METHODS Analysis of molecular lipids (lipidomics) and bile acids in serum samples was performed by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS, while polar metabolites were analyzed by GC-Q-TOF/MS. RESULTS Experimental exposure to the POP mixture in these mice led to several metabolic changes, which were similar to those previously reported as associated with PFAS exposure, as well as risk of T1D in human studies. This included an increase in the levels of sugar derivatives, triacylglycerols and lithocholic acid, and a decrease in long chain fatty acids and several lipid classes, including phosphatidylcholines, lysophosphatidylcholines and sphingomyelins. CONCLUSION Taken together, our study demonstrates that exposure to POPs results in an altered metabolic signature previously associated with autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Sinioja
- School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, 702 81, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Johanna Bodin
- Division of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0456, Oslo, Norway
| | - Daniel Duberg
- School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, 702 81, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Hubert Dirven
- Division of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0456, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hanne Friis Berntsen
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1432, Ås, Norway
- National Institute of Occupational Health, 0363, Oslo, Norway
| | - Karin Zimmer
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1432, Ås, Norway
| | - Unni C Nygaard
- Division of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0456, Oslo, Norway
| | - Matej Orešič
- School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, 702 81, Örebro, Sweden
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Tuulia Hyötyläinen
- School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, 702 81, Örebro, Sweden.
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16
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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: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [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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17
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Ragnarsdóttir O, Abdallah MAE, Harrad S. Dermal uptake: An important pathway of human exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances? ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 307:119478. [PMID: 35588958 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been produced and used in a broad range of products since the 1950s. This class, comprising of thousands of chemicals, have been used in many different products ranging from firefighting foam to personal care products and clothes. Even at relatively low levels of exposure, PFAS have been linked to various health effects in humans such as lower birth weight, increased serum cholesterol levels, and reduced antibody response to vaccination. Human biomonitoring data demonstrates ubiquitous exposure to PFAS across all age groups. This has been attributed to PFAS-contaminated water and dietary intake, as well as inadvertent ingestion of indoor dust for adults and toddlers. In utero exposure and breast milk have been indicated as important exposure pathways for foetuses and nursing infants. More recently, PFAS have been identified in a wide range of products, many of which come in contact with skin (e.g., cosmetics and fabrics). Despite this, few studies have evaluated dermal uptake as a possible route for human exposure and little is known about the dermal absorption potential of different PFAS. This article critically investigates the current state-of-knowledge on human exposure to PFAS, highlighting the lack of dermal exposure data. Additionally, the different approaches for dermal uptake assessment studies are discussed and the available literature on human dermal absorption of PFAS is critically reviewed and compared to other halogenated contaminants, e.g., brominated flame retardants and its implications for dermal exposure to PFAS. Finally, the urgent need for dermal permeation and uptake studies for a wide range of PFAS and their precursors is highlighted and recommendations for future research to advance the current understanding of human dermal exposure to PFAS are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oddný Ragnarsdóttir
- School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
| | | | - Stuart Harrad
- School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
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18
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Hoyeck MP, Matteo G, MacFarlane EM, Perera I, Bruin JE. Persistent organic pollutants and β-cell toxicity: a comprehensive review. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2022; 322:E383-E413. [PMID: 35156417 PMCID: PMC9394781 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00358.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a diverse family of contaminants that show widespread global dispersion and bioaccumulation. Humans are continuously exposed to POPs through diet, air particles, and household and commercial products; POPs are consistently detected in human tissues, including the pancreas. Epidemiological studies show a modest but consistent correlation between exposure to POPs and increased diabetes risk. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of epidemiological evidence and an in-depth evaluation of the in vivo and in vitro evidence that POPs cause β-cell toxicity. We review evidence for six classes of POPs: dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), organophosphate pesticides (OPPs), flame retardants, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The available data provide convincing evidence implicating POPs as a contributing factor driving impaired glucose homeostasis, β-cell dysfunction, and altered metabolic and oxidative stress pathways in islets. These findings support epidemiological data showing that POPs increase diabetes risk and emphasize the need to consider the endocrine pancreas in toxicity assessments. Our review also highlights significant gaps in the literature assessing islet-specific endpoints after both in vivo and in vitro POP exposure. In addition, most rodent studies do not consider the impact of biological sex or secondary metabolic stressors in mediating the effects of POPs on glucose homeostasis and β-cell function. We discuss key gaps and limitations that should be assessed in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam P Hoyeck
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Geronimo Matteo
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Erin M MacFarlane
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ineli Perera
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jennifer E Bruin
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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19
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Li Y, Andersson A, Xu Y, Pineda D, Nilsson CA, Lindh CH, Jakobsson K, Fletcher T. Determinants of serum half-lives for linear and branched perfluoroalkyl substances after long-term high exposure-A study in Ronneby, Sweden. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 163:107198. [PMID: 35447437 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent substances with surfactant and repellent properties. Municipal drinking water contaminated with PFAS had been distributed for decades to one third of households in Ronneby, Sweden. The source was firefighting foam used in a nearby airfield since the mid-1980s. Clean water was provided from December 16, 2013. AIMS The purpose was to estimate serum half-lives and their determinants in the study population for different PFAS. METHODS Up to ten blood samples were collected between 2014 and 2018 from 114 participants (age 4-84 years at entry, 53% female). 19 PFAS were analysed. Linear mixed models were used to estimate the half-lives. RESULTS Eight PFAS were increased in Ronneby: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluoropentane sulfonate (PFPeS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluoroheptane sulfonate (PFHpS), linear perfluorooctane sulfonate (L-PFOS) and three branched perfluorooctane sulfonates (1 m-PFOS, 3/4/5m-PFOS and 2/6m-PFOS). The mean estimated half-lives (in years) were 0.94 (95 %CI 0.86-1.02) for PFPeS, 2.47 (2.27-2.7) for PFOA, 2.67 (2.51-2.85) for 2/6m-PFOS, 2.73 (2.55-2.92) for L-PFOS, 3.43 (3.19-3.71) for 3/4/5m-PFOS, 4.52 (4.14-4.99) for PFHxS, 4.55 (4.14-5.06) for PFHpS, and 5.01 (4.56-5.55) for 1 m-PFOS. The most important determinants of a shorter half-life were young age, and better kidney function measured by estimated glomerular filtration rate and ratio of paired urine and serum PFAS levels, followed by female sex during their fertile period aged 15-50. Markers of gut inflammation and reduced permeability i.e. zonulin and calprotectin were also possibly associated with shorter half-life. The results also suggested a time-dependent PFAS elimination process, with more rapid elimination in the first year after the end of exposure. CONCLUSION The half-life estimates are in line with past estimates for some PFAS such as PFOA, and the novel results for different PFOS isomers. These results provide observational support for elimination routes - renal, fecal and maternal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Axel Andersson
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Yiyi Xu
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Daniela Pineda
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Carina A Nilsson
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christian H Lindh
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kristina Jakobsson
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tony Fletcher
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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20
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Li K, Zhao Q, Fan Z, Jia S, Liu Q, Liu F, Liu S. The toxicity of perfluorodecanoic acid is mainly manifested as a deflected immune function. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:4365-4376. [PMID: 35233679 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07272-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) is a type of perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA). PFDA has toxicity similar to dioxin; its effect on the body is not through a single target or a single pathway. However, the mechanism at the global level is still unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS We treated mice with PFDA and characterized the global changes in gene expression in the liver using microarray analyses. The enriched KEGG pathways and GO analyses revealed that PFDA greatly affected the immune response, which was different from the response of gastric cells previously studied. As a proof of principle, the expressions of IL-1β and IL-18 were both decreased after PFDA treatment, and qRT-PCR and ELISAs verified the reduction of IL-1β and IL-18 in liver tissues. Mechanistic investigations indicated that PFDA inhibited caspase-1 activation, and decreased the mRNA levels of NLRP1, NLRP3, and NLRC4; thus, suggesting that inflammasome assemblies were suppressed. Further microarray data revealed that cIAP2 and its binding proteins, which are critical for regulating inflammasome assembly, were also repressed by PFDA. In addition, flow cytometry results revealed a significant inhibition of Th1 cell differentiation in the livers of PFDA-treated mice. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggested that one of the main toxic effects of PFDA on livers was the inhibition of immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keming Li
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Science & Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Academy of Chinese Medicine, No. 7 Yanzishanxi Road, Jinan, 250013, Shandong, China
| | - Qian Zhao
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Science & Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Ziyan Fan
- China National Tobacco Quality Supervision and Test Center, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Shouyin Jia
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Science & Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Shandong Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Fengyan Liu
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Shili Liu
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Science & Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
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21
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Pierozan P, Cattani D, Karlsson O. Tumorigenic activity of alternative per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): Mechanistic in vitro studies. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 808:151945. [PMID: 34843762 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Environmental contaminants including long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been linked to cancer, which is a central cause of mortality in humans and many wildlife species. Today shorter-chain PFAS are extensively used as replacement compounds and commonly found in the environment. Mechanistic studies are important for a better understanding of their toxicological potential and possible role in cancer etiology. Here, we treated normal human breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A) with 500 pM to 500 μM of perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (GenX), perfluoro 3,6 dioxaoctanoic acid (PFO2OA), heptafluorobutyric acid (HFBA) and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) for 72 h to investigate potential effects on cell proliferation and neoplastic transformation. PFHxA, GenX, PFO2OA, HFBA and PFBS induced no alterations compared to controls at any of the concentrations tested. Exposure to 100 μM PFHxS on the other hand was shown to affect important regulatory cell-cycle proteins (cyclin D1, CDK6, p27, p53 and ERK) and induced cell proliferation, at least in part through activation of the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα). PFHxS also altered histone modifications and induced cell malignance by reducing the levels of adhesion proteins (E-cadherin and β-integrin) and promoting cell migration and invasion. These results demonstrate that five out of six alternative PFAS tested are clearly less harmful to MCF-10A cells than previously studied PFOS and PFOA, but raise concerns about PFHxS that also has been associated with breast cancer in epidemiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Pierozan
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm 114 18, Sweden
| | - Daiane Cattani
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm 114 18, Sweden
| | - Oskar Karlsson
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm 114 18, Sweden.
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22
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Velarde MC, Chan AFO, Sajo MEJV, Zakharevich I, Melamed J, Uy GLB, Teves JMY, Corachea AJM, Valparaiso AP, Macalindong SS, Cabaluna ND, Dofitas RB, Giudice LC, Gerona RR. Elevated levels of perfluoroalkyl substances in breast cancer patients within the Greater Manila Area. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 286:131545. [PMID: 34293563 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Several studies have reported exposure of humans to various endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) worldwide. However, there is a lack of data regarding EDC exposures in humans living in Southeast Asian countries, such as the Philippines. Hence, this study measured levels of 41 EDCs in women residing in the Greater Manila Area, home to the second largest city in Southeast Asia. Urine samples from women with versus without breast cancer were analyzed for 11 phthalate metabolites, 8 environmental phenols, and 10 bisphenols, while serum samples were analyzed for 12 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Out of the four groups of EDCs analyzed, PFAS were significantly associated with breast cancer (adjusted OR = 13.63, 95% CI: 3.24-94.88 p-trend = 0.001 for PFDoA; adjusted OR = 9.26, 95% CI 2.54-45.10, p-trend = 0.002 for PFDA; and adjusted OR = 2.66, 95% CI: 0.95-7.66, p-trend = 0.004 for PFHxA). Long-chain PFAS levels were positively correlated with age and were significantly higher in women from Region IV-A, a heavily industrialized region, than from the National Capital Region. Overall, this study showed baseline information regarding the level of EDCs in Filipinas, providing a glimpse of EDC exposure in women living in a megalopolis city in Southeast Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Velarde
- Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.
| | - Alison Faye O Chan
- Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
| | - Ma Easter Joy V Sajo
- Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines; Department of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Baguio, Baguio City, Philippines
| | - Igor Zakharevich
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan Melamed
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Gemma Leonora B Uy
- Department of Surgery, Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines
| | - Joji Marie Y Teves
- Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
| | - Allen Joy M Corachea
- Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
| | - Apple P Valparaiso
- Department of Surgery, Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines
| | - Shiela S Macalindong
- Department of Surgery, Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines
| | - Nelson D Cabaluna
- Department of Surgery, Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines
| | - Rodney B Dofitas
- Department of Surgery, Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines
| | - Linda C Giudice
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Roy R Gerona
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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23
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Lin PID, Cardenas A, Hauser R, Gold DR, Kleinman KP, Hivert MF, Calafat AM, Webster TF, Horton ES, Oken E. Temporal trends of concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances among adults with overweight and obesity in the United States: Results from the Diabetes Prevention Program and NHANES. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 157:106789. [PMID: 34333293 PMCID: PMC8490287 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the temporal trends and change of concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is important to evaluate the health impact of PFAS at both the individual- and population-level, however, limited information is available for pre-diabetic adults in the U.S. OBJECTIVES Determine trends and rate of change of plasma PFAS concentrations in overweight or obese U.S. adults and evaluate variation by sex, race/ethnicity, and age. METHODS We described temporal trends of plasma PFAS concentrations using samples collected in 1996-1998, 1999-2001, and 2011-2012 from 957 pre-diabetic adults enrolled in the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) trial and Outcomes Study (DPPOS) and compared to serum concentrations from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999-2000, 2003-2016, adults with BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2). We examined associations between participants' characteristics and PFAS concentrations and estimated the rate of change using repeated measures in DPP/DPPOS assuming a first-order elimination model. RESULTS Longitudinal measures of PFAS concentrations in DPP/DPPOS individuals were comparable to NHANES cross-sectional populational means. Plasma concentrations of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), N-ethyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid (EtFOSAA), and N-methylperfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid (MeFOSAA) started to decline after the year 2000 and concentrations of perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) increased after 2000 and, for NHANES, decreased after 2012. We consistently observed higher PFOS, PFHxS and PFNA among male, compared to female, and higher PFOS and PFNA among Black, compared to white, participants. The estimated time for concentrations to decrease by half ranged from 3.39 years for EtFOSAA to 17.56 years for PFHxS. DISCUSSION We observed a downward temporal trend in plasma PFOS concentrations that was consistent with the timing for U.S. manufacturers' phaseout. Male and Black participants consistently showed higher PFOS and PFNA than female and white participants, likely due to differences in exposure patterns, metabolism or elimination kinetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pi-I D Lin
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Russ Hauser
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Diane R Gold
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Ken P Kleinman
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Human Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Marie-France Hivert
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Diabetes Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Thomas F Webster
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Edward S Horton
- Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Emily Oken
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
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24
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Drew R, Hagen TG, Champness D, Sellier A. Half-lives of several polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in cattle serum and tissues. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2021; 39:320-340. [PMID: 34732107 DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2021.1991004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Cattle that were at steady-state serum polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) concentrations due to several years of exposure to water contaminated by residues of Aqueous Film-Forming (AFFF) firefighting foam had perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) isomers, perfluoroheptane sulphonate (PFHpS), perfluorohexane sulphonate (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) in serum. Elimination serum half-lives were determined in five heifers from serial blood sampling over 215 days. Eleven additional animals that had blood sampled on day 19 (d19) were euthanised on d63. PFAS half-life estimates from the serial blood sampling and from d19/d63 data were not significantly different. The combined (n = 16) serum half-lives (in days) were: total PFOS (tPFOS, 74.1 ± 13.4), PFHpS (45.7 ± 9.4), PFHxS (9.3 ± 1.3), PFNA (12.3 ± 3.2) and PFDA (60.4 ± 10.4). The half-lives of linear PFOS (L-PFOS, 69.4 ± 11.6) and mono branched PFOS isomers (m-PFOS, 83.6 ± 19) were not significantly different from tPFOS, but for the di-branched isomers (di-PFOS), the serum half-life was significantly lower (29.9 ± 5.8). Animal age (1.4-12.3 years old) and serum concentration at the start of depuration did not influence half-lives, and there was no difference between steers and heifers. Consideration of serum and tissue PFAS concentrations at d63 and d215 indicated there was no difference in tPFOS depuration from serum or muscle, but elimination from liver and kidney may be slightly longer. Depuration of PFHpS is essentially the same in serum, kidney and liver, and it is expected depletion from muscle would be comparable. The short half-life of di-PFOS, PFHxS and PFNA did not allow an assessment of clearance from tissues because they were not measurable at d215 but based on the results for PFOS and PFHpS, elimination of PFHxS from tissues is expected to mirror that from serum. Human health risk assessment implications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger Drew
- ToxConsult Pty Ltd, Malvern East, Australia
| | | | - David Champness
- Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (now known as the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions), Agriculture Victoria, Hamilton, Australia
| | - Amelie Sellier
- Wellington - Laboratory, AsureQuality, Auckland, New Zealand
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25
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The Dilemma of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) human half-life. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2021; 126:105025. [PMID: 34400261 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2021.105025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Disparity in the results from human observational and clinical studies is not uncommon, but risk assessment efforts often judge one set of data more relevant with the loss of valuable information. The assessment for perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) is a good example of this problem. The estimation of its safe dose is disparate among government groups due in part to differences in understanding of its half-life in humans. These differences are due in part to incomplete information on sources of exposure in the human observational half-life studies, which have been routinely acknowledged, but until recently not well understood. Exposure information is thus critical in understanding, and possibly resolving, this disparity in PFOA safe dose, and potentially for disparities with similar chemistries when both human observational and clinical findings are available. We explore several hypotheses to explain this disparity in PFOA half-life from human observational studies in light of findings of a clinical study in humans and relevant exposure information from a recent international meeting of the Society of Toxicology and Environmental Chemistry (SETAC). Based on information from both human observational studies and clinical data, we proposed a range for the half-life for PFOA of 0.5-1.5 years, which would likely raise many existing regulatory safe levels if all other parameters stayed the same.
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26
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Biomonitoring: A tool to assess PFNA body burdens and evaluate the effectiveness of drinking water intervention for communities in New Jersey. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2021; 235:113757. [PMID: 33962122 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Elevated perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) levels, one of many manmade per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), were detected in public water systems/private wells in New Jersey communities. Interventions to end exposure through drinking water were carried out from 2014 to 2016. To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, a community biomonitoring study was conducted for the communities between 2017 and 2020. A convenience sampling design was used with 120 participants in Year 1 between ages of 20-74 who consumed PFNA-contaminated water. Three blood samples, one year apart, were drawn from each participant and completed for 99 participants. Separated serum samples were measured for 12 PFAS including PFNA. Questionnaires were administered to collect information on demographics and potential sources. Drinking water and house dust collected at the first visit were analyzed for 14 PFAS including PFNA. The PFNA sera levels (Year 1) found 84 out of 120 (70%) participants were higher than the 95th percentile of a nationally representative sample of US adults (NHANES2015-16). Current drinking water and house dust were not significant contributing sources for the study participants. On average, PFNA sera levels were 12 ± 16% (Year 2) and 27 ± 16% (Year 3) lower than the level measured in Year 1 (p < 0.01). The PFNA half-life was estimated around 3.52 years, using a mixed model from 68 high-exposed participants (>95th percentile of NHANES2015-16) with controlling for physiological covariates. The decline in adult serum PFNA levels seen in the years following a community drinking water intervention suggests the intervention effectively reduced PFNA exposure via drinking water.
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Fragki S, Dirven H, Fletcher T, Grasl-Kraupp B, Bjerve Gützkow K, Hoogenboom R, Kersten S, Lindeman B, Louisse J, Peijnenburg A, Piersma AH, Princen HMG, Uhl M, Westerhout J, Zeilmaker MJ, Luijten M. Systemic PFOS and PFOA exposure and disturbed lipid homeostasis in humans: what do we know and what not? Crit Rev Toxicol 2021; 51:141-164. [PMID: 33853480 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2021.1888073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Associations between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and increased blood lipids have been repeatedly observed in humans, but a causal relation has been debated. Rodent studies show reverse effects, i.e. decreased blood cholesterol and triglycerides, occurring however at PFAS serum levels at least 100-fold higher than those in humans. This paper aims to present the main issues regarding the modulation of lipid homeostasis by the two most common PFASs, PFOS and PFOA, with emphasis on the underlying mechanisms relevant for humans. Overall, the apparent contrast between human and animal data may be an artifact of dose, with different molecular pathways coming into play upon exposure to PFASs at very low versus high levels. Altogether, the interpretation of existing rodent data on PFOS/PFOA-induced lipid perturbations with respect to the human situation is complex. From a mechanistic perspective, research on human liver cells shows that PFOS/PFOA activate the PPARα pathway, whereas studies on the involvement of other nuclear receptors, like PXR, are less conclusive. Other data indicate that suppression of the nuclear receptor HNF4α signaling pathway, as well as perturbations of bile acid metabolism and transport might be important cellular events that require further investigation. Future studies with human-relevant test systems would help to obtain more insight into the mechanistic pathways pertinent for humans. These studies shall be designed with a careful consideration of appropriate dosing and toxicokinetics, so as to enable biologically plausible quantitative extrapolations. Such research will increase the understanding of possible perturbed lipid homeostasis related to PFOS/ PFOA exposure and the potential implications for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Styliani Fragki
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Hubert Dirven
- Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tony Fletcher
- Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England (PHE), Chilton, UK
| | - Bettina Grasl-Kraupp
- Institute of Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8a, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Ron Hoogenboom
- Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sander Kersten
- Nutrition, Metabolism and Genomics Group, Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Birgitte Lindeman
- Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jochem Louisse
- Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ad Peijnenburg
- Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Aldert H Piersma
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.,Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hans M G Princen
- Metabolic Health Research, The Netherlands Organization of Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Gaubius Laboratory, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Uhl
- Environment Agency Austria (EAA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Joost Westerhout
- Risk Analysis for Products In Development, The Netherlands Organization of Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marco J Zeilmaker
- Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Mirjam Luijten
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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Garnick L, Massarsky A, Mushnick A, Hamaji C, Scott P, Monnot A. An evaluation of health-based federal and state PFOA drinking water guidelines in the United States. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 761:144107. [PMID: 33360549 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a synthetic, perfluorinated organic acid previously used in fluoropolymer production in the United States. PFOA has been a recent focal point for regulation because of its ubiquitous presence in drinking water throughout the United States. In 2016, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) issued a lifetime drinking water Health Advisory (HA) for PFOA of 0.07 μg/L; several states have also implemented their own drinking water guidelines for PFOA. The current study aimed to evaluate the basis and derivation of state and federal guidelines for PFOA in drinking water, with particular emphasis on the exposure parameters utilized. Twelve distinct PFOA drinking water standards were identified ranging from 0.0051 to 2 μg/L. The US EPA HA assumptions were evaluated using a Monte Carlo analysis that included distributions for drinking water intake (DWI) rate and the relative source contribution (RSC). We determined that US EPA's HA of 0.07 μg/L is protective of 99% of the population of lactating women. We also demonstrated that the health-based guidelines were highly variable across states and that the actual RSC of PFOA from drinking water is likely greater than 20%, based on studies of actual PFOA exposures from dust, water, and food. A sensitivity analysis was performed using the same equations as the US EPA, while substituting the RSC and DWI variables; resulting in HAs ranging from 0.074 to 0.346 μg/L. We also evaluated the contribution of PFOA in drinking water to the systemic PFOA body burden of the general population using an available biokinetic model. We conclude that more rigorous efforts are warranted to establish consistent health-based drinking water guidelines for PFOA, given that drinking water is a primary source of human exposure to PFOA in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey Garnick
- Cardno ChemRisk, San Francisco, CA 94104, United States of America
| | - Andrey Massarsky
- Cardno ChemRisk, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656, United States of America
| | - Adam Mushnick
- Cardno ChemRisk, San Francisco, CA 94104, United States of America; Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment, Durham, NC 27705, United States of America
| | - Claire Hamaji
- Cardno ChemRisk, San Francisco, CA 94104, United States of America
| | - Paul Scott
- Cardno ChemRisk, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, United States of America
| | - Andrew Monnot
- Cardno ChemRisk, San Francisco, CA 94104, United States of America.
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Dartey E, Ellingsen DG, Berlinger B, Thomassen Y, Odland JØ, Brox J, Nartey VK, Yeboah FA, Huber S. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Human Serum Samples of Selected Populations from Ghana. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18041581. [PMID: 33567483 PMCID: PMC7914835 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18041581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The aims of this study were to assess serum concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in selected populations from Ghana, including workers engaged in the repair of electronic equipment (ERWs), and to elucidate PFAS concentrations in relation to blood mercury concentrations (B-Hg) as a biomarker of seafood consumption. In all, 219 participants were recruited into the study, of which 26 were women and 64 were ERWs. Overall, the PFAS concentrations were low. The most abundant components were perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS). Women had generally lower PFAS concentration than men. The ERWs had statistically significantly higher concentrations of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), which was associated with the concentration of tin in urine. This could indicate exposure during soldering. The concentration of B-Hg was associated with several of the PFASs such as PFOA, PFOS and perfluoroheptane sulfonate (PFHpS). Additionally, the concentrations of perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and perfluoroundecanoate (PFUnDA) were highly associated with the concentrations of B-Hg. It is noteworthy that the linear isomer of PFHxS was strongly associated with B-Hg while the branched isomers of PFHxS were not. In conclusion, the PFAS concentrations observed in the present study are low compared to other populations previously investigated, which also reflects a lower PFAS exposure within the Ghanaian cohorts. ERWs had significantly higher PFOA concentrations than the other participants. Several PFASs were associated with B-Hg, indicating that seafood consumption may be a source of PFAS exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Dartey
- Faculty of Science and Environment Education, University of Education, Winneba, Mampong-Ashanti AM-0030-2291, Ghana
- Correspondence: (E.D.); (D.G.E.); (Y.T.)
| | - Dag G. Ellingsen
- National Institute of Occupational Health, N-0363 Oslo, Norway;
- Correspondence: (E.D.); (D.G.E.); (Y.T.)
| | | | - Yngvar Thomassen
- National Institute of Occupational Health, N-0363 Oslo, Norway;
- Correspondence: (E.D.); (D.G.E.); (Y.T.)
| | - Jon Ø. Odland
- Department of Community Medicine, NTNU, The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway;
| | - Jan Brox
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, N-9038 Tromsø, Norway; (J.B.); (S.H.)
| | - Vincent K. Nartey
- Department of Chemistry, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra GA-490-6862, Ghana;
| | - Francis A. Yeboah
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah, University of Science and Technology, Kumasi AK-448-9252, Ghana;
| | - Sandra Huber
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, N-9038 Tromsø, Norway; (J.B.); (S.H.)
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Legacy and Emerging Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: Analytical Techniques, Environmental Fate, and Health Effects. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22030995. [PMID: 33498193 PMCID: PMC7863963 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22030995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to their unique chemical properties, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used extensively as industrial surfactants and processing aids. While several types of PFAS have been voluntarily phased out by their manufacturers, these chemicals continue to be of ecological and public health concern due to their persistence in the environment and their presence in living organisms. Moreover, while the compounds referred to as “legacy” PFAS remain in the environment, alternative compounds have emerged as replacements for their legacy predecessors and are now detected in numerous matrices. In this review, we discuss the historical uses of PFAS, recent advances in analytical techniques for analysis of these compounds, and the fate of PFAS in the environment. In addition, we evaluate current biomonitoring studies of human exposure to legacy and emerging PFAS and examine the associations of PFAS exposure with human health impacts, including cancer- and non-cancer-related outcomes. Special focus is given to short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and ether-substituted, polyfluoroalkyl alternatives including hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA; tradename GenX), 4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (DONA), and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluoroethersulfonic acid (6:2 Cl-PFESA; tradename F-53B).
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Hölzer J, Lilienthal H, Schümann M. Human Biomonitoring (HBM)-I values for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) - Description, derivation and discussion. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2021; 121:104862. [PMID: 33444659 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2021.104862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
In 2016, the German Human Biomonitoring Commission (HBM-C) published a statement on its decision to develop HBM-I values for Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) (Bundesgesundheitsbl 2016, 59:1364 DOI 10.1007/s00103-016-2437-1). The HBM-I value corresponds to the concentration of a substance in a human biological material below which no adverse health effects are expected, according to current knowledge and assessment by the HBM-C, and, consequently, there is no need for action. Evidence for associations between PFOA- and PFOS-body burden and health outcomes was found for fertility and pregnancy, weights of newborns at birth, lipid metabolism, immunity, sex hormones and age at puberty/menarche, thyroid hormones, onset of menopause as well as uric acid metabolism. Significant contrasts were reported for human blood plasma concentrations between 1 and 10 ng PFOA/mL, and 1-15 ng PFOS/mL, respectively. Within the reported ranges, the HBM-C has decided to set the HBM-I-values at 2 ng PFOA/mL and 5 ng PFOS/mL blood plasma. The underlying pathomechanisms do not appear to be sufficiently clarified to provide an unambiguous explanation of the effects observed. Consistency of toxicological and epidemiological data has been considered. The available data do not indicate an unequivocal proof of a genotoxicity of PFOA and PFOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Hölzer
- Department for Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, MA 1/31, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Hellmuth Lilienthal
- Department for Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, MA 1/31, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Michael Schümann
- Department for Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, MA 1/31, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
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32
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Ding N, Harlow SD, Randolph Jr JF, Loch-Caruso R, Park SK. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their effects on the ovary. Hum Reprod Update 2020; 26:724-752. [PMID: 32476019 PMCID: PMC7456353 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmaa018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are found widespread in drinking water, foods, food packaging materials and other consumer products. Several PFAS have been identified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals based on their ability to interfere with normal reproductive function and hormonal signalling. Experimental models and epidemiologic studies suggest that PFAS exposures target the ovary and represent major risks for women's health. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE This review summarises human population and toxicological studies on the association between PFAS exposure and ovarian function. SEARCH METHODS A comprehensive review was performed by searching PubMed. Search terms included an extensive list of PFAS and health terms ranging from general keywords (e.g. ovarian, reproductive, follicle, oocyte) to specific keywords (including menarche, menstrual cycle, menopause, primary ovarian insufficiency/premature ovarian failure, steroid hormones), based on the authors' knowledge of the topic and key terms. OUTCOMES Clinical evidence demonstrates the presence of PFAS in follicular fluid and their ability to pass through the blood-follicle barrier. Although some studies found no evidence associating PFAS exposure with disruption in ovarian function, numerous epidemiologic studies, mostly with cross-sectional study designs, have identified associations of higher PFAS exposure with later menarche, irregular menstrual cycles, longer cycle length, earlier age of menopause and reduced levels of oestrogens and androgens. Adverse effects of PFAS on ovarian folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis have been confirmed in experimental models. Based on laboratory research findings, PFAS could diminish ovarian reserve and reduce endogenous hormone synthesis through activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, disrupting gap junction intercellular communication between oocyte and granulosa cells, inducing thyroid hormone deficiency, antagonising ovarian enzyme activities involved in ovarian steroidogenesis or inhibiting kisspeptin signalling in the hypothalamus. WIDER IMPLICATIONS The published literature supports associations between PFAS exposure and adverse reproductive outcomes; however, the evidence remains insufficient to infer a causal relationship between PFAS exposure and ovarian disorders. Thus, more research is warranted. PFAS are of significant concern because these chemicals are ubiquitous and persistent in the environment and in humans. Moreover, susceptible groups, such as foetuses and pregnant women, may be exposed to harmful combinations of chemicals that include PFAS. However, the role environmental exposures play in reproductive disorders has received little attention by the medical community. To better understand the potential risk of PFAS on human ovarian function, additional experimental studies using PFAS doses equivalent to the exposure levels found in the general human population and mixtures of compounds are required. Prospective investigations in human populations are also warranted to ensure the temporality of PFAS exposure and health endpoints and to minimise the possibility of reverse causality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Ding
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Siobán D Harlow
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - John F Randolph Jr
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Rita Loch-Caruso
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Sung Kyun Park
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Xu Y, Fletcher T, Pineda D, Lindh CH, Nilsson C, Glynn A, Vogs C, Norström K, Lilja K, Jakobsson K, Li Y. Serum Half-Lives for Short- and Long-Chain Perfluoroalkyl Acids after Ceasing Exposure from Drinking Water Contaminated by Firefighting Foam. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2020; 128:77004. [PMID: 32648786 PMCID: PMC7351026 DOI: 10.1289/ehp6785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Firefighting foam-contaminated ground water, which contains high levels of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), is frequently found around airports. In 2018 it was detected that employees at a municipal airport in northern Sweden had been exposed to high levels of short-chain PFAS along with legacy PFAS (i.e., PFOA, PFHxS, and PFOS) through drinking water. OBJECTIVES In this study, we aimed to describe the PFAS profile in drinking water and biological samples (paired serum and urine) and to estimate serum half-lives of the short-chain PFAS together with legacy PFAS. METHODS Within 2 weeks after provision of clean water, blood sampling was performed in all 26 airport employees. Seventeen of them were then followed up monthly for 5 months. PFHxA, PFHpA, PFBS, PFPeS, and PFHpS together with legacy PFAS in water and biological samples were quantified using LC/MS/MS. Half-lives were estimated by assuming one compartment, first-order elimination kinetics. RESULTS The proportions of PFHxA, PFHpA, and PFBS were higher in drinking water than in serum. The opposite was found for PFHxS and PFOS. The legacy PFAS accounted for about 50% of total PFAS in drinking water and 90% in serum. Urinary PFAS levels were very low compared with serum. PFBS showed the shortest half-life {average 44 d [95% confidence interval (CI): 37, 55 d]}, followed by PFHpA [62 d (95% CI: 51, 80 d)]. PFPeS and PFHpS showed average half-lives as 0.63 and 1.46 y, respectively. Branched PFOS isomers had average half-lives ranging from 1.05 to 1.26 y for different isomers. PFOA, PFHxS, and linear PFOS isomers showed average half-lives of 1.77, 2.87, and 2.93 y, respectively. DISCUSSION A general pattern of increasing half-lives with increasing chain length was observed. Branched PFOS isomers had shorter half-lives than linear PFOS isomers. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP6785.
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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
| | - Tony Fletcher
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Daniela Pineda
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christian H. Lindh
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Carina Nilsson
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anders Glynn
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Carolina Vogs
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karin Norström
- Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karl Lilja
- Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kristina Jakobsson
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of 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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Duffek A, Conrad A, Kolossa-Gehring M, Lange R, Rucic E, Schulte C, Wellmitz J. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in blood plasma - Results of the German Environmental Survey for children and adolescents 2014-2017 (GerES V). Int J Hyg Environ Health 2020; 228:113549. [PMID: 32502942 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The 5th cycle of the German Environmental Survey (GerES V) investigated the internal human exposure of children and adolescents aged 3-17 years in Germany to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The fieldwork of the population-representative GerES V was performed from 2014 to 2017. In total, 1109 blood plasma samples were analysed for 12 PFAS including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS). PFOS was quantified in all and PFOA in almost all samples, demonstrating ubiquitous exposure. The highest geometric mean concentrations measured were 2.49 ng/mL for PFOS, followed by PFOA (1.12 ng/mL) and PFHxS (0.36 ng/mL), while concentrations of other PFAS were found in much lower concentrations. The 95th percentile levels of PFOS and PFOA were 6.00 and 3.24 ng/mL, respectively. The results document a still considerable exposure of the young generation to the phased out chemicals PFOS and PFOA. The observed exposure levels vary substantially between individuals and might be due to different multiple sources. The relative contribution of various exposure parameters such as diet or the specific use of consumer products need to be further explored. Although additional investigations on the time trend of human exposure are warranted, GerES V underlines the need for an effective and sustainable regulation of PFAS as a whole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Duffek
- German Environment Agency, Laboratory for Water Analysis, Corrensplatz 1, Berlin, 14195, Germany.
| | - André Conrad
- German Environment Agency, Toxicology, Health-related Environmental Monitoring, Corrensplatz 1, Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Marike Kolossa-Gehring
- German Environment Agency, Toxicology, Health-related Environmental Monitoring, Corrensplatz 1, Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Rosa Lange
- German Environment Agency, Toxicology, Health-related Environmental Monitoring, Corrensplatz 1, Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Enrico Rucic
- German Environment Agency, Toxicology, Health-related Environmental Monitoring, Corrensplatz 1, Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Christoph Schulte
- German Environment Agency, Department Water and Soil, Wörlitzer Platz 1, Dessau-Roßlau, 06844, Germany
| | - Jörg Wellmitz
- German Environment Agency, Laboratory for Water Analysis, Corrensplatz 1, Berlin, 14195, Germany
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Xu Y, Jurkovic-Mlakar S, Li Y, Wahlberg K, Scott K, Pineda D, Lindh CH, Jakobsson K, Engström K. Association between serum concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and expression of serum microRNAs in a cohort highly exposed to PFAS from drinking water. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 136:105446. [PMID: 31926437 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread synthetic substances with various adverse health effects. Not much is known about the modes of action of PFAS toxicity, but one likely mechanism is alteration of microRNA expression. OBJECTIVES To investigate whether PFAS exposure is associated with altered microRNA expression in serum. METHODS We selected women from the Ronneby cohort, with high exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), emanating from drinking water contaminated by firefighting foam, and a control group of women from a neighbouring municipality without drinking water contamination. Serum levels of PFAS were analysed using LC/MS/MS. High coverage microRNA expression was analysed by next generation sequencing (NGS) in 53 individuals to screen for microRNAs associated with PFAS exposure. After verification by qPCR, associations between PFAS exposure and expression of 18 selected microRNAs were validated by qPCR in 232 individuals. In silico functional analyses were performed using Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA). RESULTS Three microRNAs were consistently associated with PFAS exposure in the different steps of the study: miR-101-3p, miR-144-3p and miR-19a-3p (all downregulated with increasing exposure). In silico functional analyses suggested that these PFAS-associated microRNAs were annotated to e.g. cardiovascular function and disease, Alzheimer's disease, growth of cancer cell lines and cancer. Seven predicted target genes for the downregulated microRNAs were annotated to PFAS in IPA knowledge database: DNA methyltransferase 3 alpha (DNMT3a), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR), nuclear receptor subfamily 1, group H, member 3 (NR1H3), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), and tumour growth factor alpha (TGFα). DISCUSSION PFAS exposure was associated with downregulation of specific microRNAs. Further, in silico functional analyses suggest potential links between the specific PFAS-associated microRNAs, specific microRNA target genes and possibly also health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyi Xu
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Simona Jurkovic-Mlakar
- CANSEARCH Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ying Li
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Karin Wahlberg
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kristin Scott
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Daniela Pineda
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christian H Lindh
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kristina Jakobsson
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Karin Engström
- EPI@LUND, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
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Ingelido AM, Abballe A, Gemma S, Dellatte E, Iacovella N, De Angelis G, Marra V, Russo F, Vazzoler M, Testai E, De Felip E. Serum concentrations of perfluorinated alkyl substances in farmers living in areas affected by water contamination in the Veneto Region (Northern Italy). ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 136:105435. [PMID: 31935559 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Human exposure to per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) is a major public health concern because in the last decades several cases of overexposure of people to PFASs, in particular through contaminated water, occurred worldwide. In 2013-2017 a PFAS drinking water contamination was discovered and investigated in northern Italy (Veneto region) and high PFAS serum levels were detected in exposed people. 629 subjects were enrolled: 257 residing in municipalities in the areas under impact, 250 residing in municipalities in areas at presumed background exposure and 122 farmers living in contaminated rural areas producing and consuming own livestock and vegetables and frequently using well water. The highest PFAS serum concentrations (median PFOA concentrations 40 ng/g) were found in the subgroup of farmers. The main factors influencing PFAS serum levels of farmers were residence area and the related extent of drinking water contamination, gender, years of residence in the municipalities, well water consumption and consumption of own produced food. PFOA serum concentrations in farmers residing in the areas of the Veneto region impacted by PFAS contamination are among the highest found worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maria Ingelido
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Dipartimento Ambiente e Salute, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy.
| | - Annalisa Abballe
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Dipartimento Ambiente e Salute, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Simonetta Gemma
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Dipartimento Ambiente e Salute, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Elena Dellatte
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Dipartimento Ambiente e Salute, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Nicola Iacovella
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Dipartimento Ambiente e Salute, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Giovanna De Angelis
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Dipartimento Ambiente e Salute, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Valentina Marra
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Dipartimento Ambiente e Salute, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Francesca Russo
- Direzione Prevenzione, Sicurezza Alimentare e Veterinaria della Regione Veneto, Rio Novo - Dorsoduro 3493, 30123 Venezia, Italy
| | - Marina Vazzoler
- Agenzia Regionale per la Prevenzione e Protezione Ambientale del Veneto, Via Ospedale Civile 24, 35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Emanuela Testai
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Dipartimento Ambiente e Salute, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Elena De Felip
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Dipartimento Ambiente e Salute, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy
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Bogdanska J, Borg D, Bergström U, Mellring M, Bergman Å, DePierre J, Nobel S. Tissue distribution of 14C-labelled perfluorooctanoic acid in adult mice after 1-5 days of dietary exposure to an experimental dose or a lower dose that resulted in blood levels similar to those detected in exposed humans. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 239:124755. [PMID: 31726523 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a global environmental pollutant detected in both wildlife and human populations, has several pathophysiological effects in experimental animals, including hepatotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and developmental toxicity. However, details concerning the tissue distribution of PFOA, in particular at levels relevant to humans, are lacking, which limits our understanding of how humans, and other mammals, may be affected by this compound. Therefore, we characterized the tissue distribution of 14C-PFOA in mice in the same manner as we earlier examined its analogues perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorobutanesulfonate (PFBS) in order to allow direct comparisons. Following dietary exposure of adult male C57/BL6 mice for 1, 3 or 5 days to a low dose (0.06 mg/kg/day) or a higher experimental dose (22 mg/kg/day) of 14C-PFOA, both scintillation counting and whole-body autoradiography revealed the presence of PFOA in most of the 19 different tissues examined, demonstrating its ability to leave the bloodstream and enter tissues. There were no differences in the pattern of tissue distribution with the low and high dose and the tissue-to-blood ratios were similar. At both doses, PFOA levels were highest in the liver, followed by blood, lungs and kidneys. The body compartments estimated to contain the largest amounts of PFOA were the liver, blood, skin and muscle. In comparison with our identical studies on PFOS and PFBS, PFOA reached considerably higher tissue levels than PFBS, but lower than PFOS. Furthermore, the distribution of PFOA differed notably from that of PFOS, with lower tissue-to-blood ratios in the liver, lungs, kidneys and skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasna Bogdanska
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, SE-10691, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Daniel Borg
- Swedish Chemicals Agency, SE-17267, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Ulrika Bergström
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Uppsala University, SE-75236, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Maria Mellring
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Science, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Åke Bergman
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Science, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden; School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82, Örebro, Sweden.
| | - Joseph DePierre
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, SE-10691, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Stefan Nobel
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Section of Integrative Physiology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17177, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Domingo JL, Nadal M. Human exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) through drinking water: A review of the recent scientific literature. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 177:108648. [PMID: 31421451 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 263] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 08/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/11/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of water-soluble chemical compounds with an important number of applications, which have been widely used during the last 60 years. Two of them, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are the most known and well investigated. As for many other organic substances that are of environmental concern, the diet is the main route of human exposure to PFAS. However, in certain cases drinking water may also mean a significant contribution to human exposure, and to a lesser extent, dust and air (indoor exposure). In recent years, the environmental persistence of PFAS, their biomagnification in food webs, as well as their potential accumulation and toxicity, have generated a notable interest, which has been evidenced by the considerable number of publications in this regard. Recently, we carried out a wide revision on the levels of PFAS in food and human dietary intake. In the current review, we have summarized the recent information (last 10 years) published in the scientific literature (Scopus and PubMed) on the concentrations of PFAS in drinking water and the human health risks derived from the regular water consumption, when available. A large amount of data belongs to PFOS and PFOA and corresponds to studies mainly conducted in countries of the European Union, USA and China, although no information is available for most countries over the world. According to the toxicological information about PFAS that is so far available, the current health risks for the regular consumers of municipal/tap water do not seem to be of concern according to the levels considered as acceptable for various regulatory institutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- José L Domingo
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Martí Nadal
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain
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Interspecies differences in perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) toxicokinetics and application to health-based criteria. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2019; 106:239-250. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2019.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Knutsen HK, Alexander J, Barregård L, Bignami M, Brüschweiler B, Ceccatelli S, Cottrill B, Dinovi M, Edler L, Grasl-Kraupp B, Hogstrand C, Hoogenboom LR, Nebbia CS, Oswald IP, Petersen A, Rose M, Roudot AC, Vleminckx C, Vollmer G, Wallace H, Bodin L, Cravedi JP, Halldorsson TI, Haug LS, Johansson N, van Loveren H, Gergelova P, Mackay K, Levorato S, van Manen M, Schwerdtle T. Risk to human health related to the presence of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid in food. EFSA J 2018. [PMID: 32625773 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5194">10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5194','32625773', '10.1016/j.ijheh.2010.03.007')">Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5194" />
Abstract
The European Commission asked EFSA for a scientific evaluation on the risks to human health related to the presence of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in food. Regarding PFOS and PFOA occurrence, the final data set available for dietary exposure assessment contained a total of 20,019 analytical results (PFOS n = 10,191 and PFOA n = 9,828). There were large differences between upper and lower bound exposure due to analytical methods with insufficient sensitivity. The CONTAM Panel considered the lower bound estimates to be closer to true exposure levels. Important contributors to the lower bound mean chronic exposure were 'Fish and other seafood', 'Meat and meat products' and 'Eggs and egg products', for PFOS, and 'Milk and dairy products', 'Drinking water' and 'Fish and other seafood' for PFOA. PFOS and PFOA are readily absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, excreted in urine and faeces, and do not undergo metabolism. Estimated human half-lives for PFOS and PFOA are about 5 years and 2-4 years, respectively. The derivation of a health-based guidance value was based on human epidemiological studies. For PFOS, the increase in serum total cholesterol in adults, and the decrease in antibody response at vaccination in children were identified as the critical effects. For PFOA, the increase in serum total cholesterol was the critical effect. Also reduced birth weight (for both compounds) and increased prevalence of high serum levels of the liver enzyme alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (for PFOA) were considered. After benchmark modelling of serum levels of PFOS and PFOA, and estimating the corresponding daily intakes, the CONTAM Panel established a tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 13 ng/kg body weight (bw) per week for PFOS and 6 ng/kg bw per week for PFOA. For both compounds, exposure of a considerable proportion of the population exceeds the proposed TWIs.
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41
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Knutsen HK, Alexander J, Barregård L, Bignami M, Brüschweiler B, Ceccatelli S, Cottrill B, Dinovi M, Edler L, Grasl-Kraupp B, Hogstrand C, Hoogenboom LR, Nebbia CS, Oswald IP, Petersen A, Rose M, Roudot AC, Vleminckx C, Vollmer G, Wallace H, Bodin L, Cravedi JP, Halldorsson TI, Haug LS, Johansson N, van Loveren H, Gergelova P, Mackay K, Levorato S, van Manen M, Schwerdtle T. Risk to human health related to the presence of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid in food. EFSA J 2018; 16:e05194. [PMID: 32625773 PMCID: PMC7009575 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The European Commission asked EFSA for a scientific evaluation on the risks to human health related to the presence of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in food. Regarding PFOS and PFOA occurrence, the final data set available for dietary exposure assessment contained a total of 20,019 analytical results (PFOS n = 10,191 and PFOA n = 9,828). There were large differences between upper and lower bound exposure due to analytical methods with insufficient sensitivity. The CONTAM Panel considered the lower bound estimates to be closer to true exposure levels. Important contributors to the lower bound mean chronic exposure were 'Fish and other seafood', 'Meat and meat products' and 'Eggs and egg products', for PFOS, and 'Milk and dairy products', 'Drinking water' and 'Fish and other seafood' for PFOA. PFOS and PFOA are readily absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, excreted in urine and faeces, and do not undergo metabolism. Estimated human half-lives for PFOS and PFOA are about 5 years and 2-4 years, respectively. The derivation of a health-based guidance value was based on human epidemiological studies. For PFOS, the increase in serum total cholesterol in adults, and the decrease in antibody response at vaccination in children were identified as the critical effects. For PFOA, the increase in serum total cholesterol was the critical effect. Also reduced birth weight (for both compounds) and increased prevalence of high serum levels of the liver enzyme alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (for PFOA) were considered. After benchmark modelling of serum levels of PFOS and PFOA, and estimating the corresponding daily intakes, the CONTAM Panel established a tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 13 ng/kg body weight (bw) per week for PFOS and 6 ng/kg bw per week for PFOA. For both compounds, exposure of a considerable proportion of the population exceeds the proposed TWIs.
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42
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Foresta C, Tescari S, Di Nisio A. Impact of perfluorochemicals on human health and reproduction: a male's perspective. J Endocrinol Invest 2018; 41:639-645. [PMID: 29147953 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-017-0790-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) are a class of organic molecules used in industry and consumer products. PFCs are non-biodegradable and bioaccumulate in the environment and for these reasons they have been a major subject of research regarding their toxicity, environmental fate, and sources of human exposure, since they have been shown to induce severe health consequences, such as neonatal mortality, neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity. The aim of this review is to explore the existing knowledge of the interplay between PFCs exposure and human health, with a focus on male reproductive health, given the emerging gender differences in PFCs clearance and their interaction with sex hormones receptors. A comprehensive PUBMED search was performed using relevant key terms for PFCs and male fertility. Different degrees of evidence suggest an impairment of semen parameters and sex hormones in relation to PFCs exposure. These preliminary results point towards a sex-dependent pharmacodynamics and clearance, with males having a much higher tendency to accumulation. Moreover, because of the widespread environmental occurrence of these chemicals, along with their ability to cross the placental barrier, exposure of the foetus to these compounds is inevitable. This is of concern because foetal development of the male reproductive organs may be disturbed by exposure to exogenous factors. These findings clearly suggest an antiandrogenic potential of PFCs and a link between endocrine disruptors and disorders of male health.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Foresta
- Department of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Medicine of Human Reproduction, Università degli Studi di Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padua, Italy.
| | - S Tescari
- Department of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Medicine of Human Reproduction, Università degli Studi di Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - A Di Nisio
- Department of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Medicine of Human Reproduction, Università degli Studi di Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padua, Italy
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Liu H, Chen Q, Lei L, Zhou W, Huang L, Zhang J, Chen D. Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances affects leukocyte telomere length in female newborns. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 235:446-452. [PMID: 29310088 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.12.095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2017] [Revised: 12/23/2017] [Accepted: 12/24/2017] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Evidence has shown that leukocyte telomere length (LTL) at birth is related to the susceptibility to various diseases in later life and the setting of newborn LTL is influenced by the intrauterine environment. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), as a kind of persistent organic pollutants, are commonly used in commercial and domestic applications and are capable of crossing the maternal-fetal barrier during pregnancy. We hypothesized that intrauterine exposure to PFASs may affect fetal LTL by increasing oxidative stress. To verify this hypothesis, LTL, concentrations of PFASs and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured in umbilical cord blood of 581 newborns from a prospective cohort. Our results showed that there were interactions between PFOS/PFDA and sex on LTL and ROS. The LTL was significantly shorter (0.926 ± 0.053 vs 0.945 ± 0.054, P = .023 for PFOS; 0.919 ± 0.063 vs 0.940 ± 0.059, P = .011 for PFDA) and the ROS levels were extremely higher (252.9 ± 60.5 [M] vs 233.5 ± 53.6 [M], P = .031 for PFOS; 255.2 ± 62.9 [M] vs 232.9 ± 58.3 [M], P = .011 for PFDA) in the female newborns whose PFOS or PFDA concentrations fell in the upmost quartile compared with those in the lowest quartile after adjusting for potential confounders. ROS levels were inversely associated with LTL in female newborns (β = -1.42 × 10-4, P = .022). 13% of the effect of PFOS on female LTL was mediated through ROS approximately by the mediation analyses. However, in male newborns, no relationships among PFASs, ROS and LTL were observed. Our findings suggest a "programming" role of PFASs on fetal telomere biology system in females in intrauterine stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Liu
- Ministry of Education and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Chen
- Ministry of Education and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Lei
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Ministry of Education and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lisu Huang
- Pediatric Department, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Clinical Research Unit, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Ministry of Education and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Dan Chen
- Ministry of Education and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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Ableitung von HBM-I-Werten für Perfluoroktansäure (PFOA) und Perfluoroktansulfonsäure (PFOS) – Stellungnahme der Kommission „Humanbiomonitoring“ des Umweltbundesamts. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2018; 61:474-487. [DOI: 10.1007/s00103-018-2709-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Conway BN, Badders AN, Costacou T, Arthur JM, Innes KE. Perfluoroalkyl substances and kidney function in chronic kidney disease, anemia, and diabetes. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes 2018; 11:707-716. [PMID: 30532572 PMCID: PMC6244585 DOI: 10.2147/dmso.s173809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anemia often complicates chronic kidney disease (CKD), leading to insufficient tissue oxygenation and hypoxic injury, the factor thought to underlie progression from CKD to renal failure. Perfluorocarbons are potent oxygen transporters used in organ preservation and synthetic blood development. Data are scarce on their relationship with kidney function, especially in diabetes where anemia and hypoxia are more prevalent. We investigated the relationship of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAS) with kidney function and variation by diabetes and anemia status. METHODS Data on 53,650 adults (5,210 with diabetes) were obtained from the C8 Health Project. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Four PFAS were investigated: perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorooctane sulfonate, and perfluorononanoic acid. FINDINGS Each PFAS was positively associated with eGFR among those with CKD or anemia; this was the strongest among those with both CKD and anemia, followed by those with CKD uncomplicated by anemia. These relationships were more pronounced among those with diabetes (all P<0.01). In the absence of both CKD and anemia, PFAS was inversely associated with eGFR. Among persons with both anemia and diabetes, when further stratified by CKD stage, compared to an eGFR <30, ORs (95% CI) for being in the eGFR ≥ 90, 60-89, 45-59, and 30-45 range, respectively, were 3.20 (2.00-5.13), 2.64 (1.83-3.80), 3.18 (2.17-4.67), and 1.99 (1.38-2.86) for each ng/dL increase in PFHxS. Results were similar for each PFAS. INTERPRETATION PFAS are inversely associated with kidney function in CKD and diabetes, with a stronger relation observed when anemia is present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baqiyyah N Conway
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA,
- Department of Community Health, School of Rural and Community Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA,
| | - Ashley N Badders
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA,
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Tina Costacou
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - John M Arthur
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Kim E Innes
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA,
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Ingelido AM, Abballe A, Gemma S, Dellatte E, Iacovella N, De Angelis G, Zampaglioni F, Marra V, Miniero R, Valentini S, Russo F, Vazzoler M, Testai E, De Felip E. Biomonitoring of perfluorinated compounds in adults exposed to contaminated drinking water in the Veneto Region, Italy. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 110:149-159. [PMID: 29108835 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2017.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
In 2013 a contamination of drinking water by perfluoroalkylated substances (PFASs) was discovered in areas of the Veneto Region (northern Italy). In this study the exposure to PFASs of people living in the aforesaid areas was characterized: contaminant serum concentrations were measured and compared with those of a control population group living in neighboring areas at background exposure (based on available drinking water data). The enrolled population was also genotyped for the OATP1A2*3 allelic variant, possibly affecting PFAS excretion and hence the internal dose. The difference in PFAS concentrations between exposed and not exposed subjects was significantly larger for nine of the 12 substances analyzed, and confirmed that water contamination had resulted in an appreciable high exposure of the residing population over time. Within the group of exposed subjects, subgroups at different exposure levels were identified. The contamination of drinking water of the residence area was found to be the main factor influencing PFAS serum levels; in addition to water contamination, other relevant influencing factors were sex, the years of residence and raising own livestock. No relationship with the genetic trait for the studied renal transporter was evidenced. These results provide a baseline characterization of PFAS exposure of the monitored population groups for further studies, planned to be carried out in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Annalisa Abballe
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Dipartimento Ambiente e Salute, Roma, Italy
| | - Simonetta Gemma
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Dipartimento Ambiente e Salute, Roma, Italy
| | - Elena Dellatte
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Dipartimento Ambiente e Salute, Roma, Italy
| | - Nicola Iacovella
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Dipartimento Ambiente e Salute, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Franco Zampaglioni
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Dipartimento Ambiente e Salute, Roma, Italy
| | - Valentina Marra
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Dipartimento Ambiente e Salute, Roma, Italy
| | - Roberto Miniero
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Dipartimento Ambiente e Salute, Roma, Italy
| | - Silvia Valentini
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Dipartimento Ambiente e Salute, Roma, Italy
| | - Francesca Russo
- Direzione Prevenzione, Sicurezza Alimentare, Veterinaria della Regione del Veneto, Venezia, Italy
| | - Marina Vazzoler
- Direzione Prevenzione, Sicurezza Alimentare, Veterinaria della Regione del Veneto, Venezia, Italy
| | - Emanuela Testai
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Dipartimento Ambiente e Salute, Roma, Italy
| | - Elena De Felip
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Dipartimento Ambiente e Salute, Roma, Italy
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Banerjee S, Schmidt J, Talmon Y, Hori H, Asai T, Ameduri B. A degradable fluorinated surfactant for emulsion polymerization of vinylidene fluoride. Chem Commun (Camb) 2018; 54:11399-11402. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cc05290e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
An original degradable fluorinated surfactant, 3-hydroxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)propanoic acid was applied for the emulsion polymerization of vinylidene difluoride (VDF) to yield a latex of PVDF, consisted of typically 100 nm particle diameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjib Banerjee
- Department of Chemistry
- Indian Institute of Technology Bhilai
- Raipur 492015
- India
- ICGM
| | - Judith Schmidt
- Department of Chemical Engineering and the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute (RBNI)
- Technion-Israel Institute of Technology
- Haifa 3200003
- Israel
| | - Yeshayahu Talmon
- Department of Chemical Engineering and the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute (RBNI)
- Technion-Israel Institute of Technology
- Haifa 3200003
- Israel
| | - Hisao Hori
- Department of Chemistry
- Faculty of Science
- Kanagawa University
- Hiratsuka
- Japan
| | - Takuma Asai
- Department of Chemistry
- Faculty of Science
- Kanagawa University
- Hiratsuka
- Japan
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Li Y, Fletcher T, Mucs D, Scott K, Lindh CH, Tallving P, Jakobsson K. Half-lives of PFOS, PFHxS and PFOA after end of exposure to contaminated drinking water. Occup Environ Med 2017; 75:46-51. [PMID: 29133598 PMCID: PMC5749314 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2017-104651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 475] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 10/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Background Municipal drinking water contaminated with perfluorinated alkyl acids had been distributed to one-third of households in Ronneby, Sweden. The source was firefighting foam used in a nearby airfield since the mid-1980s. Clean water was provided from 16 December 2013. Objective To determine the rates of decline in serum perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and their corresponding half-lives. Methods Up to seven blood samples were collected between June 2014 and September 2016 from 106 participants (age 4–84 years, 53% female). Results Median initial serum concentrations were PFHxS, 277 ng/mL (range 12–1660); PFOS, 345 ng/mL (range 24–1500); and PFOA, 18 ng/mL (range 2.4–92). The covariate-adjusted average rates of decrease in serum were PFHxS, 13% per year (95% CI 12% to 15%); PFOS, 20% per year (95% CI 19% to 22%); and PFOA, 26% per year (95% CI 24% to 28%). The observed data are consistent with a first-order elimination model. The mean estimated half-life was 5.3 years (95% CI 4.6 to 6.0) for PFHxS, 3.4 years (95% CI 3.1 to 3.7) for PFOS and 2.7 years (95% CI 2.5 to 2.9) for PFOA. The interindividual variation of half-life was around threefold when comparing the 5th and 95th percentiles. There was a marked sex difference with more rapid elimination in women for PFHxS and PFOS, but only marginally for PFOA. Conclusions The estimated half-life for PFHxS was considerably longer than for PFOS and PFOA. For PFHxS and PFOS, the average half-life is shorter than the previously published estimates. For PFOA the half-life is in line with the range of published estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tony Fletcher
- Department of Social and Environmental Health Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Daniel Mucs
- Swetox, Unit for Toxicological Sciences-Södertälje, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kristin Scott
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christian H Lindh
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Pia Tallving
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kristina Jakobsson
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Stubleski J, Salihovic S, Lind PM, Lind L, Dunder L, McCleaf P, Eurén K, Ahrens L, Svartengren M, van Bavel B, Kärrman A. The effect of drinking water contaminated with perfluoroalkyl substances on a 10-year longitudinal trend of plasma levels in an elderly Uppsala cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2017; 159:95-102. [PMID: 28780137 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.07.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2017] [Revised: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2012, drinking water contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), foremost perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) at levels over 20ng/L and 40ng/L, respectively, was confirmed in Uppsala, Sweden. OBJECTIVES We assessed how a longitudinally sampled cohort's temporal trend in PFAS plasma concentration was influenced by their residential location and determined the plausible association or disparity between the PFASs detected in the drinking water and the trend in the study cohort. METHODS The Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) cohort provided plasma samples three times from 2001 to 2014. Individuals maintaining the same zip code throughout the study (n = 399) were divided into a reference (no known PFAS exposure), low, intermediate and high exposure area depending on the proportion of contaminated drinking water received. Eight PFASs detected in the majority (75%) of the cohort's plasma samples were evaluated for significant changes in temporal PFAS concentrations using a random effects (mixed) model. RESULTS PFHxS plasma concentrations continued to significantly increase in individuals living in areas receiving the largest percentage of contaminated drinking water (p < 0.0001), while PFOS showed an overall decrease. The temporal trend of other PFAS plasma concentrations did not show an association to the quality of drinking water received. CONCLUSIONS The distribution of contaminated drinking water had a direct effect on the trend in PFHxS plasma levels among the different exposure groups, resulting in increased concentrations over time, especially in the intermediate and high exposure areas. PFOS and the remaining PFASs did not show the same relationship, suggesting other sources of exposure influenced these PFAS plasma trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Stubleski
- MTM Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, 70182 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Samira Salihovic
- Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Epidemiology and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75141 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - P Monica Lind
- Department of Medical Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lars Lind
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cardiovascular Epidemiology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Linda Dunder
- Department of Medical Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Karin Eurén
- Uppsala Vatten och Avfall AB, Box 1105, 754 141 Uppsala
| | - Lutz Ahrens
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Gerda Nilssons väg 5, 756 51 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Magnus Svartengren
- Department of Medical Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Bert van Bavel
- MTM Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, 70182 Örebro, Sweden; Norwegian Institute for Water Research, NIVA, 0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Anna Kärrman
- MTM Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, 70182 Örebro, Sweden.
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Bartell SM. Online Serum PFOA Calculator for Adults. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2017; 125:104502. [PMID: 29068316 PMCID: PMC5933303 DOI: 10.1289/ehp2820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a persistent environmental contaminant that has been detected in >100 public water systems in the United States alone. A variety of epidemiological investigations of PFOA have been published, mostly using measured or modeled serum PFOA concentrations as the exposure metric. Comparison of drinking water PFOA concentrations to those study findings or to typical serum concentrations requires pharmacokinetic modeling. This brief communication describes an online Javascript calculator that easily plots the expected serum PFOA concentration over time and at steady state for adults after starting or stopping consumption of PFOA-contaminated water. Two examples of usage are provided, including increasing serum PFOA after ongoing consumption of contaminated water at the federal limit, and decreasing serum PFOA after carbon filtration began in a contaminated water system. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP2820.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M Bartell
- Program in Public Health, Susan and Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences, University of California, Irvine , Irvine, California, USA
- Department of Statistics, Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine , Irvine, California, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Susan and Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
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