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Wu B, Sheng N, Li Z, Wang J, Ji S, Zhao F, Pan Y, Qu Y, Wei Y, Xie L, Li Y, Hu X, Wu C, Zhang Z, Qiu Y, Zheng X, Zhang W, Hu X, Song H, Cai J, Cao Z, Ji JS, Lv Y, Dai J, Shi X. Positive Associations of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances With Hypertension May Be Attenuated by Endogenous Sex Hormones: A Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Study. Hypertension 2024; 81:1799-1810. [PMID: 38853753 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.123.22127] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) has endocrine-disrupting properties and may affect blood pressure. Endogenous hormones also play a crucial role in the progression of hypertension. However, their interaction with hypertension remains to be explored. METHODS This study included 10 794 adults aged ≥18 years from the China National Human Biomonitoring program. Weighted multiple logistic regression and linear regression were used to examine the associations of serum PFAS with hypertension, diastolic blood pressure, and systolic blood pressure. Joint effects of PFAS mixtures on hypertension, diastolic blood pressure, and systolic blood pressure were evaluated using quantile-based g-computation. Additive and multiplicative interactions were used to assess the role of PFAS with testosterone and estradiol on hypertension. RESULTS The prevalence of hypertension in Chinese adults was 35.50%. Comparing the fourth quartile with the first quartile, odds ratio (95% CI) of hypertension were 1.53 (1.13-2.09) for perfluorononanoic acid, 1.40 (1.03-1.91) for perfluorodecanoic acid, 1.34 (1.02-1.78) for perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid, and 1.46 (1.07-1.99) for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid. Moreover, PFAS mixtures, with perfluorononanoic acid contributing the most, were positively associated with hypertension, diastolic blood pressure, and systolic blood pressure. PFAS and endogenous hormones had an antagonistic interaction in hypertension. For example, the relative excess risk ratio, attributable proportion, and synergy index for perfluorononanoic acid and estradiol were -3.61 (-4.68 to -2.53), -1.65 (-2.59 to -0.71), and 0.25 (0.13-0.47), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Perfluorononanoic acid, perfluorodecanoic acid, perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, and PFAS mixtures showed positive associations with hypertension, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. Positive associations of PFAS with hypertension might be attenuated by increased levels of endogenous sex hormones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Wu
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing (B.W., Z.L., S.J., F.Z., Y.Q., Y.W., L.X., Y.L., X.H., C.W., Z.Z., Y.Q., X.Z., W.Z., X.H., H.S., J.C., Z.C., Y.L., X.S.)
| | - Nan Sheng
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China (N.S., J.W., Y.P., J.D.)
| | - Zheng Li
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing (B.W., Z.L., S.J., F.Z., Y.Q., Y.W., L.X., Y.L., X.H., C.W., Z.Z., Y.Q., X.Z., W.Z., X.H., H.S., J.C., Z.C., Y.L., X.S.)
| | - Jinghua Wang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China (N.S., J.W., Y.P., J.D.)
| | - Saisai Ji
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing (B.W., Z.L., S.J., F.Z., Y.Q., Y.W., L.X., Y.L., X.H., C.W., Z.Z., Y.Q., X.Z., W.Z., X.H., H.S., J.C., Z.C., Y.L., X.S.)
| | - Feng Zhao
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing (B.W., Z.L., S.J., F.Z., Y.Q., Y.W., L.X., Y.L., X.H., C.W., Z.Z., Y.Q., X.Z., W.Z., X.H., H.S., J.C., Z.C., Y.L., X.S.)
| | - Yitao Pan
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China (N.S., J.W., Y.P., J.D.)
| | - Yingli Qu
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing (B.W., Z.L., S.J., F.Z., Y.Q., Y.W., L.X., Y.L., X.H., C.W., Z.Z., Y.Q., X.Z., W.Z., X.H., H.S., J.C., Z.C., Y.L., X.S.)
| | - Yuan Wei
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing (B.W., Z.L., S.J., F.Z., Y.Q., Y.W., L.X., Y.L., X.H., C.W., Z.Z., Y.Q., X.Z., W.Z., X.H., H.S., J.C., Z.C., Y.L., X.S.)
| | - Linna Xie
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing (B.W., Z.L., S.J., F.Z., Y.Q., Y.W., L.X., Y.L., X.H., C.W., Z.Z., Y.Q., X.Z., W.Z., X.H., H.S., J.C., Z.C., Y.L., X.S.)
| | - Yawei Li
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing (B.W., Z.L., S.J., F.Z., Y.Q., Y.W., L.X., Y.L., X.H., C.W., Z.Z., Y.Q., X.Z., W.Z., X.H., H.S., J.C., Z.C., Y.L., X.S.)
| | - Xiaojian Hu
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing (B.W., Z.L., S.J., F.Z., Y.Q., Y.W., L.X., Y.L., X.H., C.W., Z.Z., Y.Q., X.Z., W.Z., X.H., H.S., J.C., Z.C., Y.L., X.S.)
| | - Changzi Wu
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing (B.W., Z.L., S.J., F.Z., Y.Q., Y.W., L.X., Y.L., X.H., C.W., Z.Z., Y.Q., X.Z., W.Z., X.H., H.S., J.C., Z.C., Y.L., X.S.)
| | - Zheng Zhang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing (B.W., Z.L., S.J., F.Z., Y.Q., Y.W., L.X., Y.L., X.H., C.W., Z.Z., Y.Q., X.Z., W.Z., X.H., H.S., J.C., Z.C., Y.L., X.S.)
| | - Yidan Qiu
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing (B.W., Z.L., S.J., F.Z., Y.Q., Y.W., L.X., Y.L., X.H., C.W., Z.Z., Y.Q., X.Z., W.Z., X.H., H.S., J.C., Z.C., Y.L., X.S.)
| | - Xulin Zheng
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing (B.W., Z.L., S.J., F.Z., Y.Q., Y.W., L.X., Y.L., X.H., C.W., Z.Z., Y.Q., X.Z., W.Z., X.H., H.S., J.C., Z.C., Y.L., X.S.)
| | - Wenli Zhang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing (B.W., Z.L., S.J., F.Z., Y.Q., Y.W., L.X., Y.L., X.H., C.W., Z.Z., Y.Q., X.Z., W.Z., X.H., H.S., J.C., Z.C., Y.L., X.S.)
| | - Xuehua Hu
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing (B.W., Z.L., S.J., F.Z., Y.Q., Y.W., L.X., Y.L., X.H., C.W., Z.Z., Y.Q., X.Z., W.Z., X.H., H.S., J.C., Z.C., Y.L., X.S.)
| | - Haocan Song
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing (B.W., Z.L., S.J., F.Z., Y.Q., Y.W., L.X., Y.L., X.H., C.W., Z.Z., Y.Q., X.Z., W.Z., X.H., H.S., J.C., Z.C., Y.L., X.S.)
| | - Jiayi Cai
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing (B.W., Z.L., S.J., F.Z., Y.Q., Y.W., L.X., Y.L., X.H., C.W., Z.Z., Y.Q., X.Z., W.Z., X.H., H.S., J.C., Z.C., Y.L., X.S.)
| | - Zhaojin Cao
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing (B.W., Z.L., S.J., F.Z., Y.Q., Y.W., L.X., Y.L., X.H., C.W., Z.Z., Y.Q., X.Z., W.Z., X.H., H.S., J.C., Z.C., Y.L., X.S.)
| | - John S Ji
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China (J.S.J.)
| | - Yuebin Lv
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing (B.W., Z.L., S.J., F.Z., Y.Q., Y.W., L.X., Y.L., X.H., C.W., Z.Z., Y.Q., X.Z., W.Z., X.H., H.S., J.C., Z.C., Y.L., X.S.)
| | - Jiayin Dai
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China (N.S., J.W., Y.P., J.D.)
- Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, China (J.D., X.S.)
| | - Xiaoming Shi
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing (B.W., Z.L., S.J., F.Z., Y.Q., Y.W., L.X., Y.L., X.H., C.W., Z.Z., Y.Q., X.Z., W.Z., X.H., H.S., J.C., Z.C., Y.L., X.S.)
- Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, China (J.D., X.S.)
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Shi W, Zhang Z, Li M, Dong H, Li J. Reproductive toxicity of PFOA, PFOS and their substitutes: A review based on epidemiological and toxicological evidence. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 250:118485. [PMID: 38373549 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118485] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have already drawn a lot of attention for their accumulation and reproductive toxicity in organisms. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanoic sulfonate (PFOS), two representative PFAS, are toxic to humans and animals. Due to their widespread use in environmental media with multiple toxicities, PFOA and PFOS have been banned in numerous countries, and many substitutes have been produced to meet market requirements. Unfortunately, most alternatives to PFOA and PFOS have proven to be cumulative and highly toxic. Of the reported multiple organ toxicities, reproductive toxicity deserves special attention. It has been confirmed through epidemiological studies that PFOS and PFOA are not only associated with reduced testosterone levels in humans, but also with an association with damage to the integrity of the blood testicular barrier. In addition, for women, PFOA and PFOS are correlated with abnormal sex hormone levels, and increase the risk of infertility and abnormal menstrual cycle. Nevertheless, there is controversial evidence on the epidemiological relationship that exists between PFOA and PFOS as well as sperm quality and reproductive hormones, while the evidence from animal studies is relatively consistent. Based on the published papers, the potential toxicity mechanisms for PFOA, PFOS and their substitutes were reviewed. For males, PFOA and PFOS may produce reproductive toxicity in the following five ways: (1) Apoptosis and autophagy in spermatogenic cells; (2) Apoptosis and differentiation disorders of Leydig cells; (3) Oxidative stress in sperm and disturbance of Ca2+ channels in sperm membrane; (4) Degradation of delicate intercellular junctions between Sertoli cells; (5) Activation of brain nuclei and shift of hypothalamic metabolome. For females, PFOA and PFOS may produce reproductive toxicity in the following five ways: (1) Damage to oocytes through oxidative stress; (2) Inhibition of corpus luteum function; (3) Inhibition of steroid hormone synthesis; (4) Damage to follicles by affecting gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC); (5) Inhibition of placental function. Besides, PFAS substitutes show similar reproductive toxicity with PFOA and PFOS, and are even more toxic to the placenta. Finally, based on the existing knowledge, future developments and direction of efforts in this field are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenshan Shi
- School of Public Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Zengli Zhang
- School of Public Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
| | - Mei Li
- School of Civil Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, 215011, China
| | - Huiyu Dong
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Jiafu Li
- School of Public Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
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Chen Z, Chen Z, Gao S, Shi J, Li X, Sun F. PFOS exposure destroys the integrity of the blood-testis barrier (BTB) through PI3K/AKT/mTOR-mediated autophagy. Reprod Biol 2024; 24:100846. [PMID: 38160586 DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2023.100846] [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: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanesulfonate or perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), a type of perfluorinated compound, is mainly found in consumer products. Exposure to PFOS could cause male reproductive toxicity by causing injury to the blood-testis barrier (BTB). However, the specific mechanisms through which PFOS affects male reproduction remain unclear. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a vital protein kinase that is believed to be a central regulator of autophagy. In this study, we established in vivo and in vitro models to explore the effects of PFOS on the BTB, autophagy, and the regulatory role of the mTOR signaling pathway. Adult mice were developmentally exposed to 0, 0.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg/day PFOS for five weeks. Thereafter, their testicular morphology, sperm counts, serum testosterone, expression of BTB-related proteins, and autophagy-related proteins were evaluated. Additionally, TM4 cells (a mouse Sertoli cell line) were used to delineate the molecular mechanisms that mediate the effects of PFOS on BTB. Our results demonstrated that exposure to PFOS induced BTB injury and autophagy, as evidenced by increased expression of autophagy-related proteins, accumulation of autophagosomes, observed through representative electron micrographs, and decreased activity of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Moreover, treatment with chloroquine, an autophagy inhibitor, alleviated the effects of PFOS on the integrity of TM4 cells in the BTB and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Overall, this study highlights that exposure to PFOS destroys the integrity of the BTB through PI3K/AKT/mTOR-mediated autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zifeng Chen
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Zhengru Chen
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Sheng Gao
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Jie Shi
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Xinyao Li
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Fei Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
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Averina M, Huber S, Almås B, Brox J, Jacobsen BK, Furberg AS, Grimnes G. Early menarche and other endocrine disrupting effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in adolescents from Northern Norway. The Fit Futures study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 242:117703. [PMID: 37984785 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117703] [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: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) comprise a large group of chemicals that are ubiquitous in the environment and include recognized persistent organic pollutants. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate possible endocrine disrupting effects of different PFAS in adolescents. METHODS Serum concentrations of PFAS, thyroid, parathyroid and steroid hormones were measured in 921 adolescents aged 15-19 years in the Fit Futures study, Northern Norway. The questionnaire included data on self-reported age at menarche and puberty development score (PDS). Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses and principle component analyses (PCA) were used to assess associations of PFAS with hormones concentrations and puberty indices. RESULTS In girls, total PFAS (∑PFAS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), perfluorodecanoate (PFDA) were positively associated with dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and negatively associated with 11-deoxycorticosterone (11-DOC)/DHEAS ratio. In boys, the associations with 11-DOC/DHEAS ratio were positive for ∑PFAS, perfluoroheptanoate (PFHpA), perfluoroheptane sulfonate (PFHpS), PFOA, and PFOS. Perfluoroundecanoate (PFUnDA) was negatively associated with free thyroxine (fT4) and free triiodothyronine (fT3) in boys. PFNA and PFDA were also negatively associated with fT3 in boys. Serum parathyroid hormone concentration (PTH) was negatively associated with ∑PFAS and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) in girls, and with PFOS in boys. PFDA and PFUnDA were positively associated with early menarche, while ∑PFAS and PFOA were positively associated with PDS in boys. No associations of PFAS with serum testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, or luteinizing hormone were found in either sex. In girls, PFOA was positively associated with free testosterone index (FTI). In boys, PFOA was positively associated with androstendione and 17-OH-progesterone, while PFHpA was positively associated with estradiol. CONCLUSIONS Serum concentrations of several PFAS were associated with parathyroid and steroid hormones in both sexes, and with thyroid hormones in boys, as well as with early menarche in girls and higher PDS in boys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Averina
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Hansine Hansens veg 67, 9019, Tromsø, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, Endocrinological and Geriatric Research Group, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Hansine Hansens veg 18, 9019, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Sandra Huber
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Hansine Hansens veg 67, 9019, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Bjørg Almås
- Hormone Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Haukeland University Hospital, Haukelandsveien 22, 5009, Bergen, Norway
| | - Jan Brox
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Hansine Hansens veg 67, 9019, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Bjarne K Jacobsen
- Department of Community Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Hansine Hansens veg 18, 9019, Tromsø, Norway; Center for Sami Health Research, Department of Community Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Hansine Hansens veg 18, 9019, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Anne-Sofie Furberg
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of North Norway, Hansine Hansens veg 67, 9019, Tromsø, Norway; Molde University College, Britvegen 2, 6410, Molde, Norway
| | - Guri Grimnes
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Endocrinological and Geriatric Research Group, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Hansine Hansens veg 18, 9019, Tromsø, Norway; Division of Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Hansine Hansens veg 67, 9019, Tromsø, Norway
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Zhang M, Rifas-Shiman SL, Aris IM, Fleisch AF, Lin PID, Nichols AR, Oken E, Hivert MF. Associations of Prenatal Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Exposures with Offspring Adiposity and Body Composition at 16-20 Years of Age: Project Viva. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:127002. [PMID: 38054701 PMCID: PMC10699168 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Findings on the associations between prenatal PFAS exposures and offspring adiposity are inconsistent. Whether such associations may extend to adolescence is especially understudied. OBJECTIVES We investigated associations of prenatal PFAS exposures with offspring adiposity and body composition at 16-20 years of age. METHODS We studied 545 mother-child pairs in the prospective prebirth cohort Project Viva (Boston, Massachusetts). We measured six PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, EtFOSAA, and MeFOSAA) in maternal early pregnancy (median age = 9.6 wk , range: 5.7-19.6 wk) plasma samples. At the late adolescence visit (median age = 17.4 y, range: 15.9-20.0 y), we obtained anthropometric measures and assessed body composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. We examined associations of individual PFAS with obesity [i.e., age- and sex-specific body mass index (BMI) ≥ 95 th percentile] and adiposity and body composition using multivariable Poisson and linear regression models, respectively. We assessed PFAS mixture effects using Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and quantile g-computation. We used fractional-polynomial models to assess BMI trajectories (at 3-20 years of age) by prenatal PFAS levels. RESULTS Thirteen percent (n = 73 ) of the children had obesity in late adolescence. After multivariable adjustment, higher prenatal PFAS concentrations were associated with higher obesity risk [e.g., 1.59 (95% CI: 1.19, 2.12), 1.24 (95% CI: 0.98, 1.57), and 1.49 (95% CI: 1.11, 1.99) times the obesity risk per doubling of PFOS, PFOA, and PFNA, respectively]. BKMR showed an interaction between PFOA and PFOS, where the positive association between PFOS and obesity was stronger when PFOA levels were lower. Each quartile increment of the PFAS mixture was associated with 1.52 (95% CI: 1.03, 2.25) times the obesity risk and 0.52 (95% CI: - 0.02 , 1.06) kg / m 2 higher BMI. Children with higher prenatal PFOS, EtFOSAA, and MeFOSAA concentrations had higher rates of BMI increase starting from 9-11 years of age. DISCUSSION Prenatal PFAS exposures may have obesogenic effects into late adolescence. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12597.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyu Zhang
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sheryl L. Rifas-Shiman
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Izzuddin M. Aris
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Abby F. Fleisch
- Center for Interdisciplinary Population Health Research, MaineHealth Institute for Research, Portland, Maine, USA
- Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine, USA
| | - Pi-I Debby Lin
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Amy R. Nichols
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Emily Oken
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Marie-France Hivert
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Diabetes Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Rodríguez-Carrillo A, Remy S, Koppen G, Wauters N, Freire C, Olivas-Martínez A, Schillemans T, Åkesson A, Desalegn A, Iszatt N, den Hond E, Verheyen V, Fábelová L, Murinova LP, Pedraza-Díaz S, Castaño A, García-Lario JV, Cox B, Govarts E, Baken K, Tena-Sempere M, Olea N, Schoeters G, Fernández MF. PFAS association with kisspeptin and sex hormones in teenagers of the HBM4EU aligned studies. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 335:122214. [PMID: 37482334 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAS) can impair human reproductive function, e.g., by delaying or advancing puberty, although their mechanisms of action are not fully understood. We therefore set out to evaluate the relationship between serum PFAS levels, both individually and as a mixture, on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) axis by analyzing serum levels of reproductive hormones and also kisspeptin in European teenagers participating in three of the HBM4EU Aligned Studies. For this purpose, PFAS compounds were measured in 733 teenagers from Belgium (FLEHS IV study), Slovakia (PCB cohort follow-up), and Spain (BEA study) by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) in laboratories under the HBM4EU quality assurance quality control (QA/QC) program. In the same serum samples, kisspeptin 54 (kiss-54) protein, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), total testosterone (TT), estradiol (E2), and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels were also measured using immunosorbent assays. Sex-stratified single pollutant linear regression models for separate studies, mixed single pollutant models accounting for random effects for pooled studies, and g-computation and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models for the mixture of the three most available (PFNA, PFOA, and PFOS) were fit. PFAS associations with reproductive markers differed according to sex. Each natural log-unit increase of PFOA, PFNA, and PFOS were associated with higher TT [18.41 (6.18; 32.31), 15.60 (7.25; 24.61), 14.68 (6.18; 24.61), respectively] in girls, in the pooled analysis (all studies together). In males, G-computation showed that PFAS mixture was associated with lower FSH levels [-10.51 (-18.81;-1.36)]. The BKMR showed the same patterns observed in G-computation, including a significant increase on male Kiss-54 and SHBG levels. Overall, effect biomarkers may enhance the current epidemiological knowledge regarding the adverse effect of PFAS in human HPG axis, although further research is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Rodríguez-Carrillo
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400, Mol, Belgium; Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein, 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Sylvie Remy
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Gudrun Koppen
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Natasha Wauters
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Carmen Freire
- Biomedical Research Center (CIBM), University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012, Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
| | | | - Tessa Schillemans
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
| | - Agneta Åkesson
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Anteneh Desalegn
- Division of Food Safety, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
| | - Nina Iszatt
- Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
| | | | - Veerle Verheyen
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Lucia Fábelová
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lubica Palkovicova Murinova
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Susana Pedraza-Díaz
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Argelia Castaño
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Bianca Cox
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Eva Govarts
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Kirsten Baken
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Manuel Tena-Sempere
- Maimónides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Menéndez Pidal s/n. 14004., Córdoba, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Ctra. Madrid-Cádiz, Km. 396. 14071. Córdoba, Spain; University Hospital Reina Sofía, Menéndez Pidal s/n. 14004, Córdoba, Spain; CIBER Pathophysiology of Obesity and Nutrition, Carlos III Health Institute, Menéndez Pidal s/n. 14004. Córdoba, Spain
| | - Nicolás Olea
- Biomedical Research Center (CIBM), University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012, Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain; Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Greet Schoeters
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400, Mol, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Mariana F Fernández
- Biomedical Research Center (CIBM), University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012, Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain; Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain.
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Liu Y, Calafat AM, Chen A, Lanphear BP, Jones NHY, Cecil KM, Rose SR, Yolton K, Buckley JP, Braun JM. Associations of prenatal and postnatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances with pubertal development and reproductive hormones in females and males: The HOME study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 890:164353. [PMID: 37225096 PMCID: PMC10330798 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal and childhood exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may be associated with lower reproductive hormones and later puberty, but epidemiological studies evaluating these associations are scarce. OBJECTIVES We examined associations of PFAS concentrations assessed from pregnancy to adolescence with pubertal development and reproductive hormones at age 12 years. METHODS We studied 200 mother-child pairs from the HOME Study in Cincinnati, OH (enrolled: 2003-2006). We quantified serum concentrations of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) in pregnant women and their children at age 3, 8 and 12 years. At age 12 years, children self-assessed pubertal development using Tanner staging of pubic hair growth (males and females) and breast growth (females), and age at menarche. We quantified serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone in both sexes; estradiol in females; testosterone in males. We estimated associations of PFAS with pubertal outcomes and reproductive hormones using a combination of ordinal regression, Cox proportional-hazard regression, and linear regression. Quantile-based g-computation was used for PFAS mixture. RESULTS In females, adolescent PFAS concentrations and their mixture were associated with later pubic hair growth, breast maturation, and age at menarche, but there was no pattern for prenatal or other postnatal concentrations. For instance, in females, each doubling in adolescent PFAS concentrations was associated with 79 % (PFOA), 63 % (PFOS), 56 % (PFNA), and 47 % (PFHxS) lower odds of attaining a higher stage for breast growth. In addition, adolescent PFAS concentrations were consistently associated with lower estradiol concentrations in females. No pattern was observed for associations of PFAS concentrations with pubic hair growth or reproductive hormones in males. CONCLUSIONS We observed associations between PFAS concentrations in adolescence and later pubertal development in females, but this could be due to reverse causation induced by excretion of PFAS through menstrual fluid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA.
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Aimin Chen
- Department of Biostatics, Epidemiology & Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Bruce P Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nana-Hawa Yayah Jones
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kim M Cecil
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Susan R Rose
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jessie P Buckley
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joseph M Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
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Pinney SM, Fassler CS, Windham GC, Herrick RL, Xie C, Kushi LH, Biro FM. Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Associations with Pubertal Onset and Serum Reproductive Hormones in a Longitudinal Study of Young Girls in Greater Cincinnati and the San Francisco Bay Area. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:97009. [PMID: 37751325 PMCID: PMC10521915 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), endocrine disrupting chemicals with worldwide exposure, cause changes in mammary gland development in rodents. A few human studies report delay in pubertal events with increasing perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) exposure, but to our knowledge none have examined reproductive hormone levels at thelarche. METHODS In a cohort of Greater Cincinnati (GC) and San Francisco Bay Area (SFBA) girls recruited at 6-8 years of age, clinical examinations were conducted annually or semiannually with sequential Tanner staging. PFAS concentrations were measured in the first serum sample of 704 girls. In 304 GC girls, estradiol (E 2 ), estrone (E 1 ), testosterone (T), and dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) were measured in serum at four time points around puberty. Relationships between PFAS and age at thelarche, pubarche, and menarche were analyzed using survival and structural equation models. The association between PFAS and reproductive hormones was assessed using linear regression models. RESULTS Median PFOA serum concentrations in GC (N = 353 , 7.3 ng / mL ) and the SFBA (N = 351 , 5.8 ng / mL ) were higher than in the U.S. POPULATION In multivariable Cox proportional hazard models [adjusted for race, body mass index (BMI)], increasing serum log-transformed PFOA was associated with a delay in pubarche [hazard ratio ( HR ) = 0.83 ; 95% CI: 0.70, 0.99] and menarche (HR = 0.04 ; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.25). Structural equation models indicated a triangular relationship between PFOA, BMI percentile, and the age at the pubertal milestone. Increased PFOA had a statistically significant direct effect of delay on all three milestones, as did BMI. Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDeA), and 2-(N -methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido) acetic acid (Me-PFOSA-AcOH) also were associated with later thelarche, and Me-PFOSA-AcOH also with later pubarche. PFOA was inversely associated with DHEAS (p < 0.01 ), E 1 (p = 0.04 ), and T (p = 0.03 ) concentrations at 6 months prior to puberty. CONCLUSIONS PFAS may delay pubertal onset through the intervening effects on BMI and reproductive hormones. The decreases in DHEAS and E 1 associated with PFOA represent biological biomarkers of effect consistent with the delay in onset of puberty. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11811.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan M. Pinney
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Cecily S. Fassler
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Gayle C. Windham
- California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California, USA
| | - Robert L. Herrick
- Health Division, Sutter County Human Services, Yuba City, California, USA
| | - Changchun Xie
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Frank M. Biro
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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He Y, Hu C, Zhang Y, Fan X, Gao W, Fang J, Wang Y, Xu Y, Jin L. Association of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances with sex hormones in children and adolescents 6-19 Years of age. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 329:121707. [PMID: 37098366 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have raised concerns regarding sex hormones homeostasis disruption in critical windows including childhood and adolescence, but epidemiological evidence is limited. We aimed to explore the associations of total testosterone (TT), estradiol (E2), and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in children and adolescents with PFAS in 921 participants 6-19 years of age from NHANES 2013 to 2016. Multiple linear regression models and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) models stratified by sex-age and sex-puberty-status groups were performed to explore the associations of the associations of individual or mixture of PFAS with sex hormone levels, respectively. Inverse associations were observed between n-PFOA and SHBG in female adolescents when the exposure was modeled as continuous (β = -0.20, 95% CI -0.33, -0.07) or categorized variable (P for trend = 0.005). In children, inverse associations were observed by BKMR in 6-11-year-old girls of high concentration, and in boys of low concentration of the PFAS mixture with TT. A positive association of PFAS mixture with SHBG was observed in boys. PFOS and PFNA were identified as major contributors to the associations in girls and boys, respectively. Although the 95% credible intervals included the null in adolescents, suggestive negative associations of PFAS mixture with TT and SHBG levels in adolescents aged 12-19 years were found by BKMR. Results by sex-puberty status presented a similar pattern, where significantly inverse associations between PFAS mixture and E2 were observed in the pubertal. Our findings suggested the associations of either individual or mixture PFAS with decreased TT levels, and increased SHBG levels in U.S. children and adolescents, and with decreased E2 levels in pubertal individuals. The associations were evident in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue He
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Chengxiang Hu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Xiaoting Fan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Wenhui Gao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Jiaxin Fang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Yanfang Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Yan Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Lina Jin
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
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Kim JI, Kim BN, Lee YA, Shin CH, Hong YC, Døssing LD, Hildebrandt G, Lim YH. Association between early-childhood exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and ADHD symptoms: A prospective cohort study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 879:163081. [PMID: 36972880 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
There is evidence that exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Previous studies have focused on prenatal exposure to PFAS, and only few studies have examined the associations of early-childhood exposure, especially at low exposure levels. This study explored the association between early-childhood exposure to PFAS and ADHD symptoms later in childhood. In 521 children, we measured the serum levels of six PFAS in peripheral blood at the ages of 2 and 4 years, including perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluornonanoicacid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). The ADHD Rating Scale IV (ARS) was utilized to measure ADHD traits at 8 years of age. We explored the relationship between PFAS and ARS scores using Poisson regression models after adjusting for potential confounders. Levels of exposure to individual PFAS and the summed value were divided into quartiles to examine possible nonlinear relationships. All six PFAS exhibited inverted U-shaped curves. Children in the 2nd and 3rd quartile levels of each PFAS showed higher ARS scores than those in the1st quartile level. Below the 3rd quartile of the summed levels of six PFAS (ΣPFAS), a doubling of the ΣPFAS was associated with an 20.0 % (95 % CI: 9.5 %, 31.5 %) increase in ADHD scores. However, at the age of 4 years, none of the evaluated PFAS exhibited linear or nonlinear associations with the ARS scores. Thus, school-aged children may be vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of exposure to PFAS at age 2 that contribute to ADHD, particularly at low to mid-levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Inhyang Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Hanyang University Medical Center, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seondong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Bung-Nyun Kim
- Division of Children and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehangno, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Ah Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehangno, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Choong Ho Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehangno, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun-Chul Hong
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehangno, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea; Environmental Health Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehangno, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, 103 Daehangno, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Lise Dalgaard Døssing
- Section of Environmental Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Oster Farmagsgade 5, 1014 Kobenhavn, Denmark
| | - Gustav Hildebrandt
- Section of Environmental Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Oster Farmagsgade 5, 1014 Kobenhavn, Denmark
| | - Youn-Hee Lim
- Environmental Health Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehangno, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, 103 Daehangno, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea; Section of Environmental Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Oster Farmagsgade 5, 1014 Kobenhavn, Denmark.
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Chaney C, Wiley KS. The variable associations between PFASs and biological aging by sex and reproductive stage in NHANES 1999-2018. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 227:115714. [PMID: 36965790 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are endocrine disrupting chemicals that have myriad effects on human physiology. Estrogenic PFASs may influence biological aging by mimicking the activity of endogenous estrogens, which can decrease inflammation and oxidative stress and enhance telomerase activity. We hypothesized that PFAS exposure would be differentially associated with measures of biological aging based on biological sex and reproductive stage. METHODS We analyzed associations between serum PFAS levels and measures of biological aging for pre- and postmenopausal women and men (n = 3193) using data from the 2003 to 2018 waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Examining PFASs both individually and in mixture models, we investigated four measures of clinical aging (Homeostatic Dysregulation, the Klemera-Doubal Method, Phenotypic Age Acceleration, and Allostatic Load), oxidative stress, and telomere length. RESULTS PFOA and PFOS were negatively associated with Phenotypic Age Acceleration (e.g. decelerated aging) for men B = -0.22, 95% CI: -0.32, -0.12; B = -0.04, 95% CI: -0.06, -0.03) , premenopausal women (B = -0.58, 95% CI: -0.83, -0.32; B = -0.15, 95% CI: -0.20, -0.09), and postmenopausal women (B= -0.22, 95% CI: -0.43, -0.01; B = -0.05, 95% CI: -0.08, -0.02). In mixture models, we found net negative effects for Phenotypic Age Acceleration and Allostatic Load for men, premenopausal women, and postmenopausal women. We also found significant mixture effects for the antioxidants bilirubin and albumin among the three sample groups. We found no evidence to support effects on telomere length. DISCUSSION Our findings suggest that PFAS exposure may be inversely associated with some measures of biological aging at the relatively low levels of exposure in this sample, regardless of reproductive stage and sex, which does not support our hypothesis. This research provides insights into how PFAS exposure may variably influence aging measures depending on the physiological process investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Chaney
- Department of Anthropology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - K S Wiley
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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12
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Dangudubiyyam SV, Mishra JS, Kumar S. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid modulates expression of placental steroidogenesis-associated genes and hormone levels in pregnant rats. Reprod Toxicol 2023; 118:108390. [PMID: 37148813 PMCID: PMC10198953 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2023.108390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a widespread and persistent chemical in the environment. Reports show that PFOS is a potential endocrine disruptor; however, the possible effects of PFOS on placental endocrine function are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the endocrine-disrupting effects of PFOS on the placenta in pregnant rats and its potential mechanism. Pregnant rats from gestational days 4-20 were exposed to 0, 10, and 50 μg/mL PFOS through drinking water followed by analysis of various biochemical parameters. PFOS dose-dependently decreased fetal and placental weight in both sexes, with a specific decrease in weight of labyrinth but not junctional layer. Plasma progesterone (↑166%), aldosterone (↑201%), corticosterone (↑205%), testosterone (↑45%), luteinizing hormone (↑49%) levels were significantly increased, while estradiol (↓27%), prolactin (↓28%) and hCG (↓62%) levels were reduced in groups exposed to higher doses of PFOS. Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed a significant increase in mRNA levels of placental steroid biosynthesis enzymes, including Cyp11A1 and 3β-HSD1 in male placenta and StAR, Cyp11A1, 17β-HSD1 and 17β-HSD3 in female placenta of PFOS dams. Cyp19A1 expression in ovaries was significantly decreased in PFOS dams. mRNA levels for placental steroid metabolism enzyme UGT1A1 increased in male but not in female placenta of PFOS dams. These results suggest that the placenta is a target tissue of PFOS and PFOS-induced dysregulation in steroid hormone production might be related to the altered expression of hormone biosynthesis and metabolism enzyme genes in the placenta. This hormone disruption might affect maternal health and fetal growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sri Vidya Dangudubiyyam
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Jay S Mishra
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Sathish Kumar
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53715, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53792, USA.
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13
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Shan L, Chai Y, Gao T, Li K, Yu J, Liang F, Ni Y, Sun P. Perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid inhibit progesterone-responsive capacitation through cAMP/PKA signaling pathway and induce DNA damage in human sperm. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2023:104165. [PMID: 37245612 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are two persistent organic pollutants harmful to human health. They induce negative effects on male reproduction by influencing male hormones, spermatogenesis, and sperm quality. However, their effects and mechanisms on human sperm capacitation and fertilization remain unclear. Here, human sperm were incubated with different concentrations of PFOS or PFOA with progesterone during capacitation. Both PFOS and PFOA inhibited human sperm hyperactivation, sperm acrosome reaction, and protein tyrosine phosphorylation levels. PFOS and PFOA decreased intracellular Ca2+ concentration in the presence of progestrone, and subsequently decreased cAMP level, and PKA activity. PFOS and PFOA increased reactive oxygen species production and sperm DNA fragmentation duing the only 3h capacitation incubation. Conclusively, PFOA and PFOS may inhibit human sperm capacitation via the Ca2+-mediated cAMP/PKA signaling pathway in the presence of progesterone, and induce sperm DNA damage through increased oxidative stress, which is not conducive to fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Shan
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuhao Chai
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tian Gao
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kun Li
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Provincial Laboratory of Experimental Animal's & Nonclinical Laboratory Studies, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianmin Yu
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Provincial Laboratory of Experimental Animal's & Nonclinical Laboratory Studies, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fei Liang
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Provincial Laboratory of Experimental Animal's & Nonclinical Laboratory Studies, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ya Ni
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Provincial Laboratory of Experimental Animal's & Nonclinical Laboratory Studies, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Peibei Sun
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Provincial Laboratory of Experimental Animal's & Nonclinical Laboratory Studies, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Thacharodi A, Hassan S, Hegde TA, Thacharodi DD, Brindhadevi K, Pugazhendhi A. Water a major source of endocrine-disrupting chemicals: An overview on the occurrence, implications on human health and bioremediation strategies. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 231:116097. [PMID: 37182827 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are toxic compounds that occur naturally or are the output of anthropogenic activities that negatively impact both humans and wildlife. A number of diseases are associated with these disruptors, including reproductive disorders, cardiovascular disorders, kidney disease, neurological disorders, autoimmune disorders, and cancer. Due to their integral role in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, packaging companies, agro-industries, pesticides, and plasticizers, the scientific awareness on natural and artificial EDCs are increasing. As these xenobiotic compounds tend to bioaccumulate in body tissues and may also persist longer in the environment, the concentrations of these organic compounds may increase far from their original point of concentrations. Water remains as the major sources of how humans and animals are exposed to EDCs. However, these toxic compounds cannot be completely biodegraded nor bioremediated from the aqueous medium with conventional treatment strategies thereby requiring much more efficient strategies to combat EDC contamination. Recently, genetically engineered microorganism, genome editing, and the knowledge of protein and metabolic engineering has revolutionized the field of bioremediation thereby helping to breakdown EDCs effectively. This review shed lights on understanding the importance of aquatic mediums as a source of EDCs exposure. Furthermore, the review sheds light on the consequences of these EDCs on human health as well as highlights the importance of different remediation and bioremediation approaches. Particular attention is paid to the recent trends and perspectives in order to attain sustainable approaches to the bioremediation of EDCs. Additionally, rigorous restrictions to preclude the discharge of estrogenic chemicals into the environment should be followed in efforts to combat EDC pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aswin Thacharodi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand; Thacharodi's Laboratories, Department of Research and Development, Puducherry, 605005, India
| | - Saqib Hassan
- Future Leaders Mentoring Fellow, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, 20036, USA; Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, 605014, India
| | - Thanushree A Hegde
- Civil Engineering Department, NMAM Institute of Technology, Nitte, Karnataka, 574110, India
| | - Dhanya Dilip Thacharodi
- Thacharodi's Laboratories, Department of Research and Development, Puducherry, 605005, India
| | - Kathirvel Brindhadevi
- Emerging Materials for Energy and Environmental Applications Research Group, School of Engineering and Technology, Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Arivalagan Pugazhendhi
- Emerging Materials for Energy and Environmental Applications Research Group, School of Engineering and Technology, Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
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Associations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and alternatives with reproductive hormones in women of childbearing age. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 250:114158. [PMID: 36934548 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Experimental studies suggested that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may have endocrine-disrupting effects. However, the epidemiological evidence on the associations of PFAS with female reproductive hormones is sparse and limited to perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). OBJECTIVE To evaluate effects of legacy and emerging PFAS alternatives on female reproductive hormones. METHODS A total of 433 reproductive-aged females were recruited from 2014 to 2016. Information on age, age at menarche, gravity, menstrual cycle, BMI, education, and income was obtained from medical records and questionnaires. Serum samples were collected for reproductive hormones, and plasma samples for PFAS measurement by ultraperformance liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS). Multiple linear regression and quantile g-computation (q-gcomp) were used to examine the associations of individual PFAS and their mixture with reproductive hormones. RESULTS Multiple linear regression analysis showed significant effects of certain PFAS on total testosterone (TT): adjusted estimate (β) for perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) was 0.57 (95% CI: 0.18, 0.97). Moreover, a positive association was detected between PFAS mixture and TT in the q-gcomp model. Higher concentrations of 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonic acid (6:2 Cl-PFESA) were associated with significantly lower prolactin level (β = -0.07, 95% CI: -0.14, -0.001). CONCLUSION Our study found that exposure to PFAS alternatives was associated with altered levels of reproductive hormones in women of childbearing age.
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Guo J, Huang S, Yang L, Zhou J, Xu X, Lin S, Li H, Xie X, Wu S. Association between polyfluoroalkyl substances exposure and sex steroids in adolescents: The mediating role of serum albumin. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 253:114687. [PMID: 36857915 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are an emerging class of contaminants with endocrine disrupting hazards. The impact of PFASs exposure on sex steroids remain inconclusive. METHODS This study used data from the 2013-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), including 525 adolescents aged 12-19. We explored the association between serum PFASs and sex steroids using multiple linear regression, weighted quantified sum (WQS) regression, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). Mediation analyses were performed to assess whether serum albumin mediates the effects of PFASs on sex steroids. RESULTS Single exposure to perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) or n-perfluorooctanoic acid (n-PFOA) was found to be inversely associated with sex hormone binding protein (SHBG) after adjustment for confounders. Results from both the WQS and BKMR models showed that mixed exposure to the five PFASs was negatively associated with SHBG and testosterone (TT) in all adolescents, while only in the WQS model, the mixed exposure to PFASs was negatively correlated with E2 and FAI in boys and negatively correlated with TT and SHBG in girls. Serum albumin was found to possibly mediate 9.7 % of the association between mixed PFAS exposure and TT, and 9.7 % of the association between mixed PFAS exposure and SHBG. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates a negative association between mixed exposure to PFASs and adolescent TT and SHBG levels, and suggests that albumin may merit further study as a potential target for PFAS harm reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhui Guo
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Shuna Huang
- Department of Clinical Research and Translation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Le Yang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Jungu Zhou
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Xingyan Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Shaowei Lin
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Huangyuan Li
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Xiaoxu Xie
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China.
| | - Siying Wu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China.
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Yu G, Wang J, Liu Y, Luo T, Meng X, Zhang R, Huang B, Sun Y, Zhang J. Metabolic perturbations in pregnant rats exposed to low-dose perfluorooctanesulfonic acid: An integrated multi-omics analysis. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 173:107851. [PMID: 36863164 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Emerging epidemiological evidence has linked per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure could be linked to the disturbance of gestational glucolipid metabolism, but the toxicological mechanism is unclear, especially when the exposure is at a low level. This study examined the glucolipid metabolic changes in pregnant rats treated with relatively low dose perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) through oral gavage during pregnancy [gestational day (GD): 1-18]. We explored the molecular mechanisms underlying the metabolic perturbation. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and biochemical tests were performed to assess the glucose homeostasis and serum lipid profiles in pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats randomly assigned to starch, 0.03 and 0.3 mg/kg·bw·d groups. Transcriptome sequencing combined with non-targeted metabolomic assays were further performed to identify differentially altered genes and metabolites in the liver of maternal rats, and to determine their correlation with the maternal metabolic phenotypes. Results of transcriptome showed that differentially expressed genes at 0.03 and 0.3 mg/kg·bw·d PFOS exposure were related to several metabolic pathways, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) signaling, ovarian steroid synthesis, arachidonic acid metabolism, insulin resistance, cholesterol metabolism, unsaturated fatty acid synthesis, bile acid secretion. The untargeted metabolomics identified 164 and 158 differential metabolites in 0.03 and 0.3 mg/kg·bw·d exposure groups, respectively under negative ion mode of Electrospray Ionization (ESI-), which could be enriched in metabolic pathways such as α-linolenic acid metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, glycerolipid metabolism, glucagon signaling pathway, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism. Co-enrichment analysis indicated that PFOS exposure may disturb the metabolism pathways of glycerolipid, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, linoleic acid, steroid biosynthesis, glycine, serine and threonine. The key involved genes included down-regulated Ppp1r3c and Abcd2, and up-regulated Ogdhland Ppp1r3g, and the key metabolites such as increased glycerol 3-phosphate and lactosylceramide were further identified. Both of them were significantly associated with maternal fasting blood glucose (FBG) level. Our findings may provide mechanistic clues for clarifying metabolic toxicity of PFOS in human, especially for susceptible population such as pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqi Yu
- Ministry of Education -Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jinguo Wang
- School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
| | - Yongjie Liu
- Ministry of Education -Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Tingyu Luo
- School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
| | - Xi Meng
- Ministry of Education -Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Ruiyuan Zhang
- Ministry of Education -Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Bo Huang
- School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
| | - Yan Sun
- School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China.
| | - Jun Zhang
- Ministry of Education -Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China.
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Liang LX, Dong P, Zhou Y, Zhang L, Qian Z, Geiger SD, Bingheim E, Tang X, Wu Y, Lv J, Lin LZ, Zeeshan M, Zeng XW, Feng W, Dong GH. Joint effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance alternatives and heavy metals on renal health: A community-based population study in China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 219:115057. [PMID: 36529335 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have indicated that chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonic acids (Cl-PFESAs), when used as an alternative to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), result in kidney toxicity. However, their co-exposure with heavy metals, has not yet been described. OBJECTIVES To explore the joint effects of Cl-PFESAs and heavy metal exposure on renal health in Chinese adults, and identify specific pollutants driving the associations. METHODS Our sample consists of 1312 adults from a cross-sectional survey of general communities in Guangzhou, China. We measured Cl-PFESAs, legacy PFASs (perfluorooctanoic acid [PFOA] and perfluorooctane sulfonated [PFOS]), and heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, and lead). The relationship between single pollutant and glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the odds ratio (OR) of chronic kidney disease (CKD) was studied using Generalized additive models (GAMs). Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) models were applied to assess joint effects of Cl-PFESAs and heavy metals. Additionally, we conducted a sex-specific analysis to determine the modification effect of this variable. RESULTS In single pollutant models, CI-PFESAs, PFOA, PFOS and arsenic were negatively associated with eGFR. Additionally, PFOA and heavy metals were positively correlated with the OR of CKD. For example, the estimated change with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of eGFR at from the highest quantile of 6:2 Cl-PFESA versus the lowest quantile was -5.65 ng/mL (95% CI: -8.21, -3.10). Sex played a role in modifying the association between 8:2 Cl-PFESA, PFOS and eGFR. In BKMR models, pollutant mixtures had a negative joint association with eGFR and a positive joint effect on CKD, especially in women. Arsenic appeared to be the primary contributing pollutant. CONCLUSION We provide epidemiological evidence that Cl-PFESAs independently and jointly with heavy metals impaired kidney health. More population-based human and animal studies are needed to confirm our results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Xia Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Pengxin Dong
- Nursing College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou, 510655, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health, Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510440, China
| | - Zhengmin Qian
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College for Public Health & Social Justice, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO 63104, USA
| | - Sarah Dee Geiger
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | - Elizabeth Bingheim
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College for Public Health & Social Justice, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO 63104, USA
| | - Xiaojiang Tang
- Guangzhou JES+US Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510530, China
| | - Yan Wu
- Department of Environmental Health, Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510440, China
| | - Jiayun Lv
- Department of Environmental Health, Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510440, China
| | - Li-Zi Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Mohammed Zeeshan
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiao-Wen Zeng
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
| | - Wenru Feng
- Department of Environmental Health, Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510440, China.
| | - Guang-Hui Dong
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
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Zhang Z, Wen R, Zhang W, Ge N, Bo J. Efficacy and mechanism of lipoic acid in the treatment of reproductive injury caused by perfluorooctanoic acid. Exp Ther Med 2023; 25:116. [PMID: 36815965 PMCID: PMC9934001 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2023.11815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental pollutants, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), cause severe reproductive damage to humans and animals. Lipoic acid (LA) is a strong antioxidant that alleviates the oxidative damage caused by heavy metals, environmental toxicants, chemical poisons, etc. Therefore, the present study investigated the curative effect and mechanism of LA in treating spermatogenesis dysfunction caused by PFOA. A rat reproductive injury model was established by gavage of PFOA for consecutive 30 days and then rats were treated with different doses of LA for 42 days. The effects were assessed by ELISA, western blotting, H&E staining and immunofluorescence staining. The results demonstrated that LA had ameliorating effects on PFOA-induced reproductive injury in rats, it increased the sperm counts, and the levels of serum succinate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase returned to normal levels following LA treatment. In addition, LA promoted the expression of estradiol, reduced the expression of serum sex hormones, such as follicle-stimulating hormone, androgen receptor (AR) and malondialdehyde in the testes, and restored the structure of seminiferous tubules. Its therapeutic mechanisms include regulating the testicular oxidative stress pathway and hypothalamic-pituitary-testis axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyan Zhang
- Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region 014010, P.R. China
| | - Rong Wen
- Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region 014010, P.R. China
| | - Wenlong Zhang
- Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region 014010, P.R. China
| | - Na Ge
- School of Public Health, Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region 014010, P.R. China
| | - Jinwei Bo
- Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region 014010, P.R. China,Correspondence to: Professor Jinwei Bo, Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, 41 Linyin Road, Baotou, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region 014010, P.R. China
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Richterová D, Govarts E, Fábelová L, Rausová K, Rodriguez Martin L, Gilles L, Remy S, Colles A, Rambaud L, Riou M, Gabriel C, Sarigiannis D, Pedraza-Diaz S, Ramos JJ, Kosjek T, Snoj Tratnik J, Lignell S, Gyllenhammar I, Thomsen C, Haug LS, Kolossa-Gehring M, Vogel N, Franken C, Vanlarebeke N, Bruckers L, Stewart L, Sepai O, Schoeters G, Uhl M, Castaño A, Esteban López M, Göen T, Palkovičová Murínová Ľ. PFAS levels and determinants of variability in exposure in European teenagers - Results from the HBM4EU aligned studies (2014-2021). Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 247:114057. [PMID: 36327670 PMCID: PMC9758614 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made fluorinated chemicals, widely used in various types of consumer products, resulting in their omnipresence in human populations. The aim of this study was to describe current PFAS levels in European teenagers and to investigate the determinants of serum/plasma concentrations in this specific age group. METHODS PFAS concentrations were determined in serum or plasma samples from 1957 teenagers (12-18 years) from 9 European countries as part of the HBM4EU aligned studies (2014-2021). Questionnaire data were post-harmonized by each study and quality checked centrally. Only PFAS with an overall quantification frequency of at least 60% (PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS and PFNA) were included in the analyses. Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were analysed together with food consumption frequencies to identify determinants of PFAS exposure. The variables study, sex and the highest educational level of household were included as fixed factors in the multivariable linear regression models for all PFAS and each dietary variable was added to the fixed model one by one and for each PFAS separately. RESULTS The European exposure values for PFAS were reported as geometric means with 95% confidence intervals (CI): PFOS [2.13 μg/L (1.63-2.78)], PFOA ([0.97 μg/L (0.75-1.26)]), PFNA [0.30 μg/L (0.19-0.45)] and PFHxS [0.41 μg/L (0.33-0.52)]. The estimated geometric mean exposure levels were significantly higher in the North and West versus the South and East of Europe. Boys had significantly higher concentrations of the four PFAS compared to girls and significantly higher PFASs concentrations were found in teenagers from households with a higher education level. Consumption of seafood and fish at least 2 times per week was significantly associated with 21% (95% CI: 12-31%) increase in PFOS concentrations and 20% (95% CI: 10-31%) increase in PFNA concentrations as compared to less frequent consumption of seafood and fish. The same trend was observed for PFOA and PFHxS but not statistically significant. Consumption of eggs at least 2 times per week was associated with 11% (95% CI: 2-22%) and 14% (95% CI: 2-27%) increase in PFOS and PFNA concentrations, respectively, as compared to less frequent consumption of eggs. Significantly higher PFOS concentrations were observed for participants consuming offal (14% (95% CI: 3-26%)), the same trend was observed for the other PFAS but not statistically significant. Local food consumption at least 2 times per week was associated with 40% (95% CI: 19-64%) increase in PFOS levels as compared to those consuming local food less frequently. CONCLUSION This work provides information about current levels of PFAS in European teenagers and potential dietary sources of exposure to PFAS in European teenagers. These results can be of use for targeted monitoring of PFAS in food.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Richterová
- Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Faculty of Public Health, Department of Environmental Medicine, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - E Govarts
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - L Fábelová
- Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Faculty of Public Health, Department of Environmental Medicine, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - K Rausová
- Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Faculty of Public Health, Department of Environmental Medicine, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - L Rodriguez Martin
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - L Gilles
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - S Remy
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - A Colles
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - L Rambaud
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Santé Publique France, Saint-Maurice, France
| | - M Riou
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Santé Publique France, Saint-Maurice, France
| | - C Gabriel
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece; HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Balkan Center, Greece
| | - D Sarigiannis
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece; HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Balkan Center, Greece; Environmental Health Engineering, Institute of Advanced Study, Pavia, Italy
| | - S Pedraza-Diaz
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - J J Ramos
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - T Kosjek
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - J Snoj Tratnik
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - S Lignell
- Swedish Food Agency, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - C Thomsen
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - L S Haug
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - N Vogel
- German Environment Agency (UBA), GerES V-sub, Germany
| | - C Franken
- Provincial Institute for Hygiene, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - L Bruckers
- BioStat, Data Science Institute, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - L Stewart
- Public Health England, Chilton, United Kingdom
| | - O Sepai
- Public Health England, Chilton, United Kingdom
| | - G Schoeters
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - M Uhl
- Umweltbundesamt, Vienna, Austria
| | - A Castaño
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - M Esteban López
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - T Göen
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ľ Palkovičová Murínová
- Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Faculty of Public Health, Department of Environmental Medicine, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Wang W, Hong X, Zhao F, Wu J, Wang B. The effects of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances on female fertility: A systematic review and meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114718. [PMID: 36334833 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The reproductive toxicity of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been verified in both animal and in vitro experiments, however, the association between PFAS and female fertility remains contradictory in population studies. Therefore, in this systematic review and meta-analysis, we evaluated the effects of PFAS on female fertility based on population evidence. METHODS Electronic searches of the Web of Science, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, and Embase databases were conducted (from inception to March 2022) to collect observational studies related to PFAS and female fertility. Two evaluators independently screened the literature, extracted information and evaluated the risk of bias for the included studies, meta-analysis was performed using R software. RESULTS A total of 5468 records were searched and 13 articles fully met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis showed that perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) exposure was negatively associated with the female fecundability odds ratio (FOR = 0.88, 95% confidence interval (Cl) [0.78; 0.98]) and positively associated with the odds ratio for infertility (OR = 1.33, 95%Cl [1.03; 1.73]). Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) exposure was negatively associated with the fecundability odds ratio (FOR = 0.94, 95% CI [0.90; 0.98]). Pooled effect values for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) exposure did not find sufficient evidence for an association with female fertility. CONCLUSION Based on the evidence provided by the current study, increased levels of PFAS exposure are associated with reduced fertility in women, this was characterized by a reduction in fecundability odds ratio and an increase in odds ratio for infertility. This finding could partially explain the decline in female fertility and provide insight into risk assessment when manufacturing products containing PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiang Hong
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fanqi Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jingying Wu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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22
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Tillaut H, Monfort C, Giton F, Warembourg C, Rouget F, Cordier S, Lainé F, Gaudreau E, Garlantézec R, Saint-Amour D, Chevrier C. Persistent Organic Pollutant Exposure and Thyroid Function among 12-Year-Old Children. Neuroendocrinology 2022; 113:1232-1247. [PMID: 36502793 PMCID: PMC10906475 DOI: 10.1159/000528631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) having numerous toxicological properties, including thyroid endocrine disruption. Our aim was to assess the impact of POPs on thyroid hormones among 12-year-old children, while taking puberty into consideration. METHODS Exposure to 7 PCBs, 4 OCPs, and 6 PFASs (in µg/L), and free tri-iodothyronine (fT3, pg/mL), free thyroxine (fT4, ng/dL), and thyroid-stimulating hormones (TSH, mIU/L) were assessed through blood-serum measurements at age 12 years in 249 boys and 227 girls of the PELAGIE mother-child cohort (France). Pubertal status was clinically rated using the Tanner stages. For each POP, associations were estimated using linear regression, adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS Among boys, hexachlorobenzene and perfluorodecanoic acid were associated with decreased fT3 (log-scale; β [95% confidence interval] = -0.07 [-0.12,-0.02] and β = -0.03 [-0.06,-0.00], respectively). Intermediate levels of perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) and PCB180 were associated, respectively, with increased and decreased fT4. After stratification on pubertal status, PCBs and OCPs were associated with decreased TSH only in the more advanced Tanner stages (3-5) and with decreased fT3 among early Tanner stages (1-2). Among girls, PFHxS was associated with decreased TSH (log-scale; β = -0.15 [-0.29,-0.00]), and perfluorooctanoic acid was associated with decreased fT3 (β2nd_tercile = -0.06 [-0.10,-0.03] and β3rd_tercile = -0.04 [-0.08,-0.00], versus. 1st tercile). DISCUSSION This cross-sectional study highlights associations between some POPs and thyroid function disruption, which appears consistent with the literature. Considering that the associations were sex-specific and moderated by pubertal status in boys, complex endocrine interactions are likely involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Tillaut
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
| | - Christine Monfort
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
| | - Frank Giton
- AP-HP, Pôle Biologie-Pathologie Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
- Inserm IMRB, Faculté de Santé, Créteil, France
| | - Charline Warembourg
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
| | - Florence Rouget
- Univ Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
| | - Sylvaine Cordier
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
| | | | - Eric Gaudreau
- Centre de Toxicologie du Québec (CTQ), Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), Quebec, Québec, Canada
| | | | - Dave Saint-Amour
- Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Cécile Chevrier
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France,
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23
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Peng BX, Li F, Mortimer M, Xiao X, Ni Y, Lei Y, Li M, Guo LH. Perfluorooctanoic acid alternatives hexafluoropropylene oxides exert male reproductive toxicity by disrupting blood-testis barrier. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 846:157313. [PMID: 35842142 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
As alternatives to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO) homologues, including hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA), hexafluoropropylene oxide trimer acid (HFPO-TA), and hexafluoropropylene oxide tetramer acid (HFPO-TeA), have attracted widespread attention recently due to their environmental ubiquity and high potential for bioaccumulation and toxicity. In the present study, a set of in vivo mouse and in vitro mouse testicular Sertoli TM4 cell experiments were employed to explore the male reproductive toxicity and underlying mechanisms of HFPO homologues on blood-testis barrier. Tissue and permeability analyses of mice testes after 28-day treatment with 5 mg/kg/day HFPO-DA or PFOA, or 0.05 mg/kg/day HFPO-TA or HFPO-TeA indicated that there was an increase in the degradation of TJ protein occludin in mice with a disrupted blood-testis barrier (BTB). Following exposure to 100 μM HFPO-DA, HFPO-TA or 10 μM PFOA, HFPO-TeA, transepithelial electrical resistance measurements of TM4 cells also indicated BTB disruption. Additionally, as a result of the exposure, matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression was enhanced through activation of p38 MAPK, which promoted the degradation of occludin. On the whole, the results indicated HFPO homologues and PFOA induced BTB disruption through upregulation of p-p38/p38 MAPK/MMP-9 pathway, which promoted the degradation of TJ protein occludin and caused the disruption of TJ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bi-Xia Peng
- College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
| | - Fangfang Li
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
| | - Monika Mortimer
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
| | - Xiang Xiao
- Center for Reproductive Health, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310063, China.
| | - Ya Ni
- Center for Reproductive Health, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310063, China
| | - Yuyang Lei
- College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
| | - Minjie Li
- College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
| | - Liang-Hong Guo
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
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24
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Li Z, Lin Z, Ji S, Lai KP, Wan HT, Wong CKC, Li L. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid exposure altered hypothalamic metabolism and disturbed male fecundity. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 844:156881. [PMID: 35753445 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have examined the effects of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) on disruption of the blood-testis barrier and spermatogenesis. Sertoli and Leydig cells were perturbed, resulting in a decrease in testosterone levels and sperm counts. However, the effects of PFOS on male fecundity are not limited to the testes. In this study, we demonstrated that oral PFOS exposure (1 μg/g BW and 5 μg/g BW) decreased the function of the Luteinizing hormone (LH)/Luteinizing hormone receptor (LHr) and decreased epididymal sperm motility. Consistently, testicular transcriptome analysis revealed that PFOS altered the expression of a cluster of genes associated with sperm motility and steroidogenesis. In mice exposed to PFOS, c-Fos immunostaining showed activation of the lateral septal nucleus (LS), paraventricular thalamus (PVT), locus coeruleus (LC), which are known to be related to anxiety-like behaviors. Metabolomic analyses of the hypothalamus revealed that exposure to PFOS perturbed the translation of proteins, as well as the biosynthesis of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. Altogether, the activation of brain nuclei, shift of hypothalamic metabolome, and reduction of LH/LHr circuit resulted from PFOS exposure suggested the toxicant's systematic effects on male reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijie Li
- Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China; The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Ziyi Lin
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Shuqin Ji
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Keng-Po Lai
- Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Integrative Omics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironmental Regulation, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 530022, China
| | - Hin-Ting Wan
- Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Chris Kong Chu Wong
- Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China.
| | - Lei Li
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518000, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518000, China.
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25
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Petersen KU, Hærvig KK, Flachs EM, Bonde JP, Lindh C, Hougaard KS, Toft G, Ramlau-Hansen CH, Tøttenborg SS. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and male reproductive function in young adulthood; a cross-sectional study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113157. [PMID: 35318009 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large family of persistent industrial chemicals with endocrine disrupting properties. OBJECTIVES To examine biomarkers of reproductive function in young adult males according to current environmental exposure to single and combined PFAS. METHODS The study population consisted of young men (n = 1041, age 18-21) from the Fetal Programming of Semen Quality (FEPOS) cohort. These men were recruited from pregnancies included in the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC) between 1996 and 2002. From 2017 to 2019, participants answered an online questionnaire, completed a clinical examination and provided a blood and a semen sample. Exposure to 15 PFAS was measured in plasma. Six compounds were quantified above the limit of detection in at least 80% of the participants. We applied negative binomial regression and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models to assess associations between single and combined exposure to PFAS and measures of semen quality, testicular volume and reproductive hormones among the young men. RESULTS We found no consistent associations between plasma concentrations of PFAS, semen quality and testicular volume. Higher levels of single and combined PFAS were associated with slightly higher levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (WQS 4% difference, 95% confidence interval: 0, 9). Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was the main contributor to this finding with positive signals also from perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS). DISCUSSION We examined exposure to a range of common PFAS in relation to biomarkers of male reproductive function and found an association with higher levels of FSH among young men from the general population in Denmark. Further studies on especially combined exposure to PFAS are needed to expand our understanding of potential endocrine disruption from both legacy and emerging compounds in relation to male reproductive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kajsa Ugelvig Petersen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Katia Keglberg Hærvig
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Esben Meulengracht Flachs
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Peter Bonde
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Lindh
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Karin Sørig Hougaard
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gunnar Toft
- Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Sandra Søgaard Tøttenborg
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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26
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Patch D, O'Connor N, Koch I, Cresswell T, Hughes C, Davies JB, Scott J, O'Carroll D, Weber K. Elucidating degradation mechanisms for a range of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) via controlled irradiation studies. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 832:154941. [PMID: 35367256 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a challenging class of environmental pollutants due to a lack of available destructive remediation technologies. Understanding the fundamental mechanisms for degradation of PFAS is key for the development of field scalable and in-situ destructive based remediation technologies. This study aimed to elucidate and refine the current understanding of PFAS degradation mechanisms in water through a series of controlled gamma irradiation studies. Gamma irradiation of PFAS was performed using a cobalt-60 source in a batch irradiation up to 80 kGy at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS), and a suite of thirteen different PFAS (including C4-C12 PFCAs, C4, C6, C8 PFSAs, and FOSA) were irradiated to investigate degradation, influence of pH, chain length, and transformation. High resolution mass spectrometry was used to identify more than 80 fluorinated transformation products throughout the degradation experiments. These included the -F/+H, -F/+OH, -F/CH2OH exchanged PFAS and n - 1 PFCA, amongst others. Given the reactive species present (hydroxyl radicals (·OH), hydrogen radicals (·H) and aqueous electrons (e-aq)), and the degradation products formed it was shown that aqueous electrons were the key reactive species responsible for initial PFAS degradation. Most importantly, based on degradation product formation, we found that the initial -F/+H does not have to occur at the α-fluoride (nearest the functional head group), rather occurring throughout the chain length leading to more complex degradation pathways than previously postulated. While our results support some of the reaction steps postulated in the literature, we have developed a unified 16 step and 3 pathway schematic of degradation supported by experimental observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Patch
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada
| | - Natalia O'Connor
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada
| | - Iris Koch
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada
| | - Tom Cresswell
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Australia
| | - Cath Hughes
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Australia
| | - Justin B Davies
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Australia
| | - Jennifer Scott
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada
| | - Denis O'Carroll
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Kela Weber
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
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27
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Boyd RI, Ahmad S, Singh R, Fazal Z, Prins GS, Madak Erdogan Z, Irudayaraj J, Spinella MJ. Toward a Mechanistic Understanding of Poly- and Perfluoroalkylated Substances and Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14122919. [PMID: 35740585 PMCID: PMC9220899 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14122919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Poly- and perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) are industrial chemicals found in many household products that persist in the environment. While several excellent review articles exist on the potential harmful effects of PFAS, there are few focused on cancer. This concise and streamlined mini-review focuses on summarizing molecular mechanisms related to the potential cancer-promoting properties of PFAS. This review organizes and interprets the vast primary PFAS cancer biology literature and provides a coherent, unified, and digestible model of the molecular mechanisms that potentially explains PFAS cancer promotion. Abstract Poly- and perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) are chemicals that persist and bioaccumulate in the environment and are found in nearly all human populations through several routes of exposure. Human occupational and community exposure to PFAS has been associated with several cancers, including cancers of the kidney, testis, prostate, and liver. While evidence suggests that PFAS are not directly mutagenic, many diverse mechanisms of carcinogenicity have been proposed. In this mini-review, we organize these mechanisms into three major proposed pathways of PFAS action—metabolism, endocrine disruption, and epigenetic perturbation—and discuss how these distinct but interdependent pathways may explain many of the proposed pro-carcinogenic effects of the PFAS class of environmental contaminants. Notably, each of the pathways is predicted to be highly sensitive to the dose and window of exposure which may, in part, explain the variable epidemiologic and experimental evidence linking PFAS and cancer. We highlight testicular and prostate cancer as models to validate this concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raya I. Boyd
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA; (R.I.B.); (R.S.); (Z.F.)
| | - Saeed Ahmad
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; (S.A.); (J.I.)
| | - Ratnakar Singh
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA; (R.I.B.); (R.S.); (Z.F.)
| | - Zeeshan Fazal
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA; (R.I.B.); (R.S.); (Z.F.)
| | - Gail S. Prins
- Departments of Urology, Pathology and Physiology, College of Medicine, Chicago Center for Health and Environment, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA;
| | - Zeynep Madak Erdogan
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA;
- Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute of Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Joseph Irudayaraj
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; (S.A.); (J.I.)
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA;
- Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute of Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Michael J. Spinella
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA; (R.I.B.); (R.S.); (Z.F.)
- Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Correspondence:
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28
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Deepika D, Rovira J, Sabuz Ó, Balaguer J, Schuhmacher M, Domingo JL, Kumar V. Framework for risk assessment of PFAS utilizing experimental studies and in-silico models. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 208:112722. [PMID: 35026182 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), especially PFOS and PFOA, are two widely used synthetic chemicals that can impact human health based on evidence from animal and epidemiologic studies. In this paper, we have reviewed and summarized the influence of PFAS exposure on health, pointing the quality of evidence, and applied translational techniques to integrate evidence for PFAS policy making. This is the first review where highly referred articles on PFAS used for policymaking by several regulatory agencies were collected and evaluated based on the review guidelines developed by the US National Toxicology Program's Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) review guidelines. Several limitations were observed, including co-exposure to multiple chemicals and limited measurement of primary and secondary outcomes related to specific toxicity. However, data from all the studies provided a moderate to strong level of confidence for link between PFAS exposure and different adverse outcomes. Secondly, for translating the risk to humans, an in-silico model and scaling approach was utilized. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic model (PBPK) was used to calculate the human equivalent dose (HED) from two widely accepted studies and compared with tolerable daily intakes (TDIs) established by various regulatory agencies. Inter-species dose extrapolation was done to compare with human the relevance of dosing scenarios used in animals. Overall, a framework for translation of risk was proposed based on the conclusions of this review with the goal of improving policymaking. The current paper can improve the methodological protocols for PFAS experimental studies and encourage the utilization of in-silico models for translating risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepika Deepika
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d' Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Joaquim Rovira
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d' Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Óscar Sabuz
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d' Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Jordina Balaguer
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d' Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Marta Schuhmacher
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d' Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - José L Domingo
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain
| | - Vikas Kumar
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d' Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain; IISPV, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain.
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Zhang Y, Wu X, Zhu K, Liu S, Yang Y, Yuan D, Wang T, He Y, Dun Y, Wu J, Zhang C, Zhao H. Icariin attenuates perfluorooctane sulfonate-induced testicular toxicity by alleviating Sertoli cell injury and downregulating the p38MAPK/MMP9 pathway. Food Funct 2022; 13:3674-3689. [PMID: 35262540 DOI: 10.1039/d1fo04135e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is widely recognized as causing Sertoli cell injury and testicular toxicity in males. Icariin is a flavonoid from Epimedium, which effectively improves spermatogenesis disturbance induced by several factors in clinic. However, it is unclear whether icariin improves PFOS-induced testicular toxicity. In vivo, fifty-two male mice were randomly separated into four groups: normal control group, model group, and low and high doses of icariin-treated groups, with 13 mice in each group. Except for the normal control group, the mice in the model group and icariin-treated groups were administered PFOS (10 mg kg-1) by gavage daily for 28 consecutive days, and concurrently treated with a diet containing different doses of icariin (0, 5 or 20 mg kg-1). In vitro, TM4 cells were treated with 150 μM PFOS to induce Sertoli cell injury, and were then utilized for icariin treatment. Our results demonstrated that icariin attenuated PFOS-induced testicular toxicity by increasing the testicular, epididymal and seminal vesicle weights, epididymal and seminal vesicle indices, sperm parameters, and seminiferous epithelium height. In addition, icariin improved the PFOS-induced blood-testis barrier (BTB) disruption by alleviating the Sertoli cell junctional injury, but without affecting Sertoli cell numbers in the testis of mice. Moreover, icariin increased the expression levels of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-11) and gap junction proteins (CX43 and p-CX43), and decreased the expression levels of p-p38MAPK and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, alleviation of the Sertoli cell injury by icariin exerted similar effects as SB203580 (an inhibitor of p38MAPK) in TM4 cells. This study revealed that icariin effectively reduces PFOS-induced testicular toxicity by alleviating the Sertoli cell injury and downregulating the p38MAPK/MMP9 pathway, indicating that icariin may be an attractive dietary supplement for the intervention of PFOS-induced testicular dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
- Medical College, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China
| | - Xiaoping Wu
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
- Medical College, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China
| | - Kaili Zhu
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
| | - Shangyu Liu
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
| | - Yuan Yang
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
| | - Ding Yuan
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
| | - Ting Wang
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430081, China
| | - Yumin He
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
| | - Yaoyan Dun
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
| | - Jie Wu
- Material Analysis and Testing Center, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China
| | - Changcheng Zhang
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
- Medical College, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China
| | - Haixia Zhao
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
- Medical College, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China
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Rickard BP, Rizvi I, Fenton SE. Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and female reproductive outcomes: PFAS elimination, endocrine-mediated effects, and disease. Toxicology 2022; 465:153031. [PMID: 34774661 PMCID: PMC8743032 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.153031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread environmental contaminants frequently detected in drinking water supplies worldwide that have been linked to a variety of adverse reproductive health outcomes in women. Compared to men, reproductive health effects in women are generally understudied while global trends in female reproduction rates are declining. Many factors may contribute to the observed decline in female reproduction, one of which is environmental contaminant exposure. PFAS have been used in home, food storage, personal care and industrial products for decades. Despite the phase-out of some legacy PFAS due to their environmental persistence and adverse health effects, alternative, short-chain and legacy PFAS mixtures will continue to pollute water and air and adversely influence women's health. Studies have shown that both long- and short-chain PFAS disrupt normal reproductive function in women through altering hormone secretion, menstrual cyclicity, and fertility. Here, we summarize the role of a variety of PFAS and PFAS mixtures in female reproductive tract dysfunction and disease. Since these chemicals may affect reproductive tissues directly or indirectly through endocrine disruption, the role of PFAS in breast, thyroid, and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function are also discussed as the interplay between these tissues may be critical in understanding the long-term reproductive health effects of PFAS in women. A major research gap is the need for mechanism of action data - the targets for PFAS in the female reproductive and endocrine systems are not evident, but the effects are many. Given the global decline in female fecundity and the ability of PFAS to negatively impact female reproductive health, further studies are needed to examine effects on endocrine target tissues involved in the onset of reproductive disorders of women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany P Rickard
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27599, USA
| | - Imran Rizvi
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27599, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Suzanne E Fenton
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 TW Alexander Dr., Rm E121A, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
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Chang CJ, Barr DB, Ryan PB, Panuwet P, Smarr MM, Liu K, Kannan K, Yakimavets V, Tan Y, Ly V, Marsit CJ, Jones DP, Corwin EJ, Dunlop AL, Liang D. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure, maternal metabolomic perturbation, and fetal growth in African American women: A meet-in-the-middle approach. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:106964. [PMID: 34735953 PMCID: PMC8688254 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposures to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been linked to reduced fetal growth. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. This study aims to investigate biological pathways and intermediate biomarkers underlying the association between serum PFAS and fetal growth using high-resolution metabolomics in a cohort of pregnant African American women in the Atlanta area, Georgia. METHODS Serum perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) measurements and untargeted serum metabolomics profiling were conducted in 313 pregnant African American women at 8-14 weeks gestation. Multiple linear regression models were applied to assess the associations of PFAS with birth weight and small-for-gestational age (SGA) birth. A high-resolution metabolomics workflow including metabolome-wide association study, pathway enrichment analysis, and chemical annotation and confirmation with a meet-in-the-middle approach was performed to characterize the biological pathways and intermediate biomarkers of the PFAS-fetal growth relationship. RESULTS Each log2-unit increase in serum PFNA concentration was significantly associated with higher odds of SGA birth (OR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.07, 1.63); similar but borderline significant associations were found in PFOA (OR = 1.20, 95% CI 0.94, 1.49) with SGA. Among 25,516 metabolic features extracted from the serum samples, we successfully annotated and confirmed 10 overlapping metabolites associated with both PFAS and fetal growth endpoints, including glycine, taurine, uric acid, ferulic acid, 2-hexyl-3-phenyl-2-propenal, unsaturated fatty acid C18:1, androgenic hormone conjugate, parent bile acid, and bile acid-glycine conjugate. Also, we identified 21 overlapping metabolic pathways from pathway enrichment analyses. These overlapping metabolites and pathways were closely related to amino acid, lipid and fatty acid, bile acid, and androgenic hormone metabolism perturbations. CONCLUSION In this cohort of pregnant African American women, higher serum concentrations of PFOA and PFNA were associated with reduced fetal growth. Perturbations of biological pathways involved in amino acid, lipid and fatty acid, bile acid, and androgenic hormone metabolism were associated with PFAS exposures and reduced fetal growth, and uric acid was shown to be a potential intermediate biomarker. Our results provide opportunities for future studies to develop early detection and intervention for PFAS-induced fetal growth restriction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Che-Jung Chang
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Dana Boyd Barr
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - P Barry Ryan
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Parinya Panuwet
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Melissa M Smarr
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ken Liu
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kurunthachalam Kannan
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Volha Yakimavets
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Youran Tan
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - ViLinh Ly
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Carmen J Marsit
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Dean P Jones
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Anne L Dunlop
- Woodruff Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine and Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Donghai Liang
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Zhang YT, Zeeshan M, Su F, Qian ZM, Dee Geiger S, Edward McMillin S, Wang ZB, Dong PX, Ou YQ, Xiong SM, Shen XB, Zhou PE, Yang BY, Chu C, Li QQ, Zeng XW, Feng WR, Zhou YZ, Dong GH. Associations between both legacy and alternative per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and glucose-homeostasis: The Isomers of C8 health project in China. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:106913. [PMID: 34624590 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epidemiological studies on the associations of legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and glucose homeostasis remain discordant. Understanding of PFAS alternatives is limited, and few studies have reported joint associations of PFASs and PFAS alternatives. OBJECTIVES To investigate associations of novel PFAS alternatives (chlorinated perfluoroalkyl ether sulfonic acids, Cl-PFESAs and perfluorobutanoic acid, PFBA) and two legacy PFASs (Perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOA and perfluorooctane sulfonate, PFOS) with glucose-homeostasis markers and explore joint associations of 13 legacy and alternative PFASs with the selected outcomes. METHODS We used cross-sectional data of 1,038 adults from the Isomers of C8 Health Project in China. Associations of PFASs and PFAS alternatives with glucose-homeostasis were explored in single-pollutant models using generalized linear models with natural cubic splines for PFASs. Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) models were applied to assess joint associations of exposures and outcomes. Sex-specific analyses were also conducted to evaluate effect modification. RESULTS After adjusting for confounders, both legacy (PFOA, PFOS) and alternative (Cl-PFESAs and PFBA) PFASs were positively associated with glucose-homeostasis markers in single-pollutant models. For example, in the total study population, estimated changes with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of fasting glucose at the 95th percentile of 6:2Cl-PFESA and PFOS against the thresholds were 0.90 (95% CI: 0.59, 1.21) and 0.44 (95% CI: 0.26, 0.62). Positive joint associations were found in BKMR models with 6:2Cl-PFESA contributing most. Sex-specific associations existed in both single- and multi-pollutant models. CONCLUSIONS Legacy and alternative PFASs were positively associated with glucose-homeostasis markers. 6:2Cl-PFESA was the primary contributor. Sex-specific associations were also identified. These results indicate that joint associations and effect modification should be considered in risk assessment. However, further studies are recommended to strengthen our findings and to elucidate the mechanisms of action of legacy and alternative PFASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Ting Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Mohammed Zeeshan
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Fan Su
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zheng-Min Qian
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College for Public Health & Social Justice, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO 63104, USA
| | - Sarah Dee Geiger
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | - Stephen Edward McMillin
- School of Social Work, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO 63103, USA
| | - Zhi-Bin Wang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Human Environmental Epigenomes, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Peng-Xin Dong
- Nursing College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Yan-Qiu Ou
- Department of Epidemiology, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Training in Cardiovascular Diseases, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Shi-Min Xiong
- School of Public Health, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563060, China
| | - Xu-Bo Shen
- School of Public Health, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563060, China
| | - Pei-En Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Bo-Yi Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Chu Chu
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Qing-Qing Li
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiao-Wen Zeng
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Wen-Ru Feng
- Department of Environmental Health, Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510440, China.
| | - Yuan-Zhong Zhou
- School of Public Health, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563060, China.
| | - Guang-Hui Dong
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
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Lorigo M, Cairrao E. Fetoplacental vasculature as a model to study human cardiovascular endocrine disruption. Mol Aspects Med 2021; 87:101054. [PMID: 34839931 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2021.101054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence has associated the exposure of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) with the cardiovascular (CV) system. This exposure is particularly problematic in a sensitive window of development, pregnancy. Pregnancy exposome can affect the overall health of the pregnancy by dramatic changes in vascular physiology and endocrine activity, increasing maternal susceptibility. Moreover, fetoplacental vascular function is generally altered, increasing the risk of developing pregnancy complications (including cardiovascular diseases, CVD) and predisposing the foetus to adverse health risks later in life. Thus, our review summarizes the existing literature on exposures to EDCs during pregnancy and adverse maternal health outcomes, focusing on the human placenta, vein, and umbilical artery associated with pregnancy complications. The purpose of this review is to highlight the role of fetoplacental vasculature as a model for the study of human cardiovascular endocrine disruption. Therefore, we emphasize that the placenta, together with the umbilical arteries and veins, allows a better characterization of the pregnant woman's exposome. Consequently, it contributes to the protection of the mother and foetus against CV disorders in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarida Lorigo
- CICS-UBI, Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506, Covilhã, Portugal; FCS - UBI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Elisa Cairrao
- CICS-UBI, Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506, Covilhã, Portugal; FCS - UBI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal.
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Chambers WS, Hopkins JG, Richards SM. A Review of Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substance Impairment of Reproduction. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2021; 3:732436. [PMID: 35295153 PMCID: PMC8915888 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2021.732436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In this review article, we compiled peer-reviewed literature describing PFAS exposure and reproductive effects in animals and humans. The aim was to compare environmental occurrence and effects of the most prominent long-chain PFAS compounds and their short-chain replacements. Long-chain PFAS compounds are known to persist in the environment due to their chemical stability, and also known to bioaccumulate; hence, these compounds are being replaced globally. Indeed, PFOA and PFOS are considered long-chain "forever pollutants," and thus the potential reproductive risk may continue for decades. Much less is known about their short-chain replacements despite the fact that they becoming more widespread in the environment. Short-chain PFAS are generally less bioaccumulative than long-chain, but they are more mobile and persistent in aquatic ecosystems. The three most prominent of these are commonly referred to as GenX, ADONA and F53B. The short-chain PFAS have similar physical and chemical properties as their predecessors; however, because they are relatively new, much less is known about the potential to disrupt reproduction. Indeed, high-quality epidemiological studies are needed to determine associations between short-chain PFAS exposure and effects on reproductive health. However, epidemiological evidence is mounting that long-chain PFAS exposure is associated with reproductive effects (i.e., decrease in fertility, reduced fetal growth and birth weight, pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, thyroid hormone disruption during pregnancy, and preterm birth). Evidence from animal models and human cell lines indicates that short-chain PFAS similarly affect reproductive endpoints; however, epidemiological studies are scarce and inconsistent. Although short-chain PFAS have been quantified in drinking water and sediment worldwide, most of these studies did not focus on quantitation of GenX, ADONA, and F53B. There are also many other short-chain PFAS byproducts of manufacturing that have yet to be identified and studied. When sum total concentration of long- and short-chain PFAS are considered, the concentration rises by an order or magnitude or greater, as will the risk of exposure and subsequent reproductive effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weston S. Chambers
- Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Sciences, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN, United States
| | - Jaida G. Hopkins
- Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Sciences, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN, United States
| | - Sean M. Richards
- Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Sciences, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Section on Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Chattanooga, TN, United States
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Skogheim TS, Weyde KVF, Aase H, Engel SM, Surén P, Øie MG, Biele G, Reichborn-Kjennerud T, Brantsæter AL, Haug LS, Sabaredzovic A, Auyeung B, Villanger GD. Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and associations with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder in children. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 202:111692. [PMID: 34293314 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may be a risk factor for neurodevelopmental deficits and disorders, but evidence is inconsistent. OBJECTIVES We investigated whether prenatal exposure to PFAS were associated with childhood diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS This study was based on the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study and included n = 821 ADHD cases, n = 400 ASD cases and n = 980 controls. Diagnostic cases were identified by linkage with the Norwegian Patient Registry. In addition, we used data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. The study included the following PFAS measured in maternal plasma sampled mid-pregnancy: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Relationships between individual PFAS and ADHD or ASD diagnoses were examined using multivariable adjusted logistic regression models. We also tested for possible non-linear exposure-outcome associations. Further, we investigated the PFAS mixture associations with ASD and ADHD diagnoses using a quantile-based g-computation approach. RESULTS Odds of ASD was significantly elevated in PFOA quartile 2 [OR = 1.71 (95% CI: 1.20, 2.45)] compared to quartile 1, and PFOA appeared to have a non-linear, inverted U-shaped dose-response relationship with ASD. PFOA was also associated with increased odds of ADHD, mainly in quartile 2 [OR = 1.54 (95% CI: 1.16, 2.04)] compared to quartile 1, and displayed a non-linear relationship in the restricted cubic spline model. Several PFAS (PFUnDA, PFDA, and PFOS) were inversely associated with odds of ADHD and/or ASD. Some of the associations were modified by child sex and maternal education. The overall PFAS mixture was inversely associated with ASD [OR = 0.76 (95% CI: 0.64, 0.90)] as well as the carboxylate mixture [OR = 0.79 (95% CI: 0.68, 0.93)] and the sulfonate mixture [OR = 0.84 (95% CI: 0.73, 0.96)]. CONCLUSION Prenatal exposure to PFOA was associated with increased risk of ASD and ADHD in children. For some PFAS, as well as their mixtures, there were inverse associations with ASD and/or ADHD. However, the inverse associations reported herein should not be interpreted as protective effects, but rather that there could be some unresolved confounding for these relationships. The epidemiologic literature linking PFAS exposures with neurodevelopmental outcomes is still inconclusive, suggesting the need for more research to elucidate the neurotoxicological potential of PFAS during early development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thea S Skogheim
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222, Skøyen, N-0213, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Kjell Vegard F Weyde
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222, Skøyen, N-0213, Oslo, Norway
| | - Heidi Aase
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222, Skøyen, N-0213, Oslo, Norway
| | - Stephanie M Engel
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, Campus Box 7435, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7435, USA
| | - Pål Surén
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222, Skøyen, N-0213, Oslo, Norway
| | - Merete G Øie
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, PO Box 1094, Blindern, N-0317, Oslo, Norway
| | - Guido Biele
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222, Skøyen, N-0213, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ted Reichborn-Kjennerud
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222, Skøyen, N-0213, Oslo, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, PO Box 1171, Blindern, N-0318, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anne Lise Brantsæter
- Division of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222, Skøyen, N-0213, Oslo, Norway
| | - Line S Haug
- Division of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222, Skøyen, N-0213, Oslo, Norway
| | - Azemira Sabaredzovic
- Division of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222, Skøyen, N-0213, Oslo, Norway
| | - Bonnie Auyeung
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK; Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18b Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, UK
| | - Gro D Villanger
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222, Skøyen, N-0213, Oslo, Norway
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Harlow SD, Hood MM, Ding N, Mukherjee B, Calafat AM, Randolph JF, Gold EB, Park SK. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Hormone Levels During the Menopausal Transition. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021; 106:e4427-e4437. [PMID: 34181018 PMCID: PMC8677593 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgab476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread chemicals that may affect sex hormones and accelerate reproductive aging in midlife women. OBJECTIVE To examine associations between serum PFAS concentrations at baseline (1999-2000) and longitudinal serum concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, testosterone, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) at baseline and through 2015-2016. DESIGN Prospective cohort. SETTING General community. PARTICIPANTS 1371 midlife women 45 to 56 years of age at baseline in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) FSH, estradiol, testosterone, SHBG. RESULTS In linear mixed models fitted with log-transformed hormones and log-transformed PFAS adjusting for age, site, race/ethnicity, smoking status, menopausal status, parity, and body mass index, FSH was positively associated with linear perfluorooctanoate [n-PFOA; 3.12% (95% CI 0.37%, 5.95%) increase for a doubling in serum concentration), linear perfluorooctane sulfonate [PFOS; 2.88% (0.21%, 5.63%)], branched perfluorooctane sulfonate [2.25% (0.02%, 4.54%)], total PFOS (3.03% (0.37%, 5.76%)), and 2-(N-ethyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido) acetate [EtFOSAA; 1.70% (0.01%, 3.42%)]. Estradiol was inversely associated with perfluorononanoate [PFNA; -2.47% (-4.82%, -0.05%)) and n-PFOA (-2.43% (-4.97%, 0.18%)]. Significant linear trends were observed in the associations between PFOS and EtFOSAA with SHBG across parity (Ps trend ≤ 0.01), with generally inverse associations among nulliparous women but positive associations among women with 3+ births. No significant associations were observed between PFAS and testosterone. CONCLUSIONS This study observed positive associations of PFOA and PFOS with FSH and inverse associations of PFNA and PFOA with estradiol in midlife women during the menopausal transition, consistent with findings that PFAS affect reproductive aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siobán D Harlow
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Michelle M Hood
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ning Ding
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Bhramar Mukherjee
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - John F Randolph
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ellen B Gold
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Sung Kyun Park
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Correspondence: Sung Kyun Park, ScD, MPH, Departments of Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029.
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Luo K, Liu X, Nian M, Wang Y, Qiu J, Yu H, Chen X, Zhang J. Environmental exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances mixture and male reproductive hormones. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 152:106496. [PMID: 33744484 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous epidemiological studies on the relationship between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure and male reproductive hormones were mainly limited to a few legacy PFAS and ignored the possible mixture effects. OBJECTIVES To assess the associations of PFAS mixture, branched isomers and emerging alternatives of PFAS with male reproductive hormones. METHODS A total of 902 men (mean age: 31.3 years) were recruited in this cross-sectional study. We quantified 24 targeted PFAS, including 7 branched PFOS isomers, 2 branched PFOA isomers and 2 components of F-53B, in blood plasma. Five reproductive hormones, including total testosterone (TT), estradiol (E2), follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and insulin like factor 3 (INSL3), and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were measured in serum. Associations were first assessed by confounder-adjusted multiple linear regression while correcting for multiple comparisons. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and adaptive elastic net (AENET) were further used to assess mixture effects and the adjusted exposure response (ER) relationship of individual PFAS. RESULTS After adjusting for confounders, we found that PFAS mixture was significantly and inversely associated with E2 and E2/TT, with perfluoro-n-undecanoic acid (PFuDA) being the major contributor. Although the associations between PFAS mixture and other hormones were non-significant, certain individual PFAS presented significant associations. Notably, perfluoro-n-tridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) and perfluoro-n-dodecanoic acid (PFDoA) were found to be significantly and inversely associated with INSL3, a unique indicator of Leydig cells function. Meanwhile, significant positive associations were found between perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) and FSH and between PFuDA and LH. But the associations with branched isomers or F-53B were sporadic and inconsistent. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provided the evidence that PFAS mixture may reduce E2 level, and certain PFAS (i.e., PFTrDA and PFDoA) may have negative effects on Leydig cells function among young men. Additional studies are much needed to confirm our results and elucidate potential mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Luo
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xiaotu Liu
- School of Environment, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Min Nian
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yuqing Wang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jin Qiu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200135, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai 200135, China; Shanghai Human Sperm Bank, Shanghai 200135, China
| | - Hao Yu
- School of Environment, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xiangfeng Chen
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200135, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai 200135, China; Shanghai Human Sperm Bank, Shanghai 200135, China.
| | - Jun Zhang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China.
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Wang Z, Zhang T, Wu J, Wei X, Xu A, Wang S, Wang Z. Male reproductive toxicity of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA): Rodent studies. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 270:128608. [PMID: 33081999 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is an artificial organic substance widely used for decades, which seriously threatens human health. This study aimed to identify human-relevant correlates between PFOA exposure and the male rodent reproductive system. We performed a systematic literature review of the relevant literature of PubMed, Cochrane Library databases, Web of Science and Embase from the establishment to April 2020. Studies included the effects of PFOA on the reproductive system of male rodents. The meta-analysis was performed on the basis of the following points: level of testosterone and estradiol in serum, development of reproductive organs, pathological changes of reproduction organs and parameters of semen. A series of 16 studies was enrolled in this study. The standard mean difference (SMD) for PFOA-related reproductive toxicity was summarised as -0.39 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.71, -0.07). The lower serum testosterone levels, decreased absolute testicular and epididymal weights, higher serum estradiol levels, elevated relative testicular and seminal vesicle weights and increased incidence of Leydig cell adenoma and percentage of abnormal sperm were observed in the exposed group compared with the control group. However, no statistical difference was found in the day of preputial separation of pups and percentage of motile sperm. In conclusion, PFOA exposure heightens the reproductive system damage in male rodents. However, many studies included in the review did not identify mechanisms by which PFOA induces changes to the male reproductive system, which is an area for additional study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongyuan Wang
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 300, Guangzhou Street, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China
| | - Tongtong Zhang
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 300, Guangzhou Street, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China
| | - Jiajin Wu
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 300, Guangzhou Street, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China
| | - Xiyi Wei
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 300, Guangzhou Street, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China
| | - Aiming Xu
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 300, Guangzhou Street, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China.
| | - Shangqian Wang
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 300, Guangzhou Street, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China.
| | - Zengjun Wang
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 300, Guangzhou Street, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China.
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Tarapore P, Ouyang B. Perfluoroalkyl Chemicals and Male Reproductive Health: Do PFOA and PFOS Increase Risk for Male Infertility? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18073794. [PMID: 33916482 PMCID: PMC8038605 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18073794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are manmade synthetic chemicals which have been in existence for over 70 years. Though they are currently being phased out, their persistence in the environment is widespread. There is increasing evidence linking PFAS exposure to health effects, an issue of concern since PFAS such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) bioaccumulate in humans, with a half-life of years. Many epidemiological studies suggest that, worldwide, semen quality has decreased over the past several decades. One of the most worrying effects of PFOS and PFOA is their associations with lower testosterone levels, similar to clinical observations in infertile men. This review thus focuses on PFOS/PFOA-associated effects on male reproductive health. The sources of PFAS in drinking water are listed. The current epidemiological studies linking increased exposure to PFAS with lowered testosterone and semen quality, and evidence from rodent studies supporting their function as endocrine disruptors on the reproductive system, exhibiting non-monotonic dose responses, are noted. Finally, their mechanisms of action and possible toxic effects on the Leydig, Sertoli, and germ cells are discussed. Future research efforts must consider utilizing better human model systems for exposure, using more accurate PFAS exposure susceptibility windows, and improvements in statistical modeling of data to account for the endocrine disruptor properties of PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pheruza Tarapore
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA;
- Center of Environmental Genetics, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- Cincinnati Cancer Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +1-513-558-5148
| | - Bin Ouyang
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA;
- Center of Environmental Genetics, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
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Wan MLY, Co VA, El-Nezami H. Endocrine disrupting chemicals and breast cancer: a systematic review of epidemiological studies. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2021; 62:6549-6576. [PMID: 33819127 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2021.1903382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) are ubiquitous substances that are found in our everyday lives, including pesticides, plasticizers, pharmaceutical agents, personal care products, and also in food products and food packaging. Increasing epidemiological evidence suggest that EDCs may affect the development or progression of breast cancer and consequently lead to lifelong harmful health consequences, especially when exposure occurs during early life in humans. Yet so far no appraisal of the available evidence has been conducted on this topic. OBJECTIVE To systematically review all the available epidemiological studies about the association of the levels of environmental exposures of EDCs with breast cancer risk. METHODS The search was performed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. We retrieved articles from PubMed (MEDLINE) until 10 March 2021. The key words used in this research were: "Endocrine disruptor(s)" OR "Endocrine disrupting chemical(s)" OR any of the EDCs mentioned below AND "Breast cancer" to locate all relevant articles published. We included only cohort studies and case-control studies. All relevant articles were accessed in full text and were evaluated and summarized in tables. RESULTS We identified 131 studies that met the search criteria and were included in this systematic review. EDCs reviewed herein included pesticides (e.g. p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), atrazine, 2,3,7,8-tetrachloridibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD or dioxin)), synthetic chemicals (e.g. bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), parabens, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), contraceptive pills), phytoestrogens (e.g. genistein, resveratrol), and certain mycotoxins (e.g. zearalenone). Most studies assessed environmental EDCs exposure via biomarker measurements. CONCLUSION We identified certain EDC exposures could potentially elevate the risk of breast cancer. As majority of EDCs are highly persistent in the environment and bio-accumulative, it is essential to assess the long-term impacts of EDC exposures, especially multi-generational and transgenerational. Also, since food is often a major route of exposure to EDCs, well-designed exposure assessments of potential EDCs in food and food packing are necessary and their potential link to breast cancer development need to be carefully evaluated for subsequent EDC policy making and regulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murphy Lam Yim Wan
- Faculty of Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong S.A.R.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Glycobiology, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Vanessa Anna Co
- Faculty of Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong S.A.R
| | - Hani El-Nezami
- Faculty of Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong S.A.R.,Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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Wang Y, Aimuzi R, Nian M, Zhang Y, Luo K, Zhang J. Perfluoroalkyl substances and sex hormones in postmenopausal women: NHANES 2013-2016. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 149:106408. [PMID: 33548847 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although an alteration in sex hormones has been linked to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in premenopausal women and girls, whether such associations exist in postmenopausal women remains uncertain. OBJECTS To examine the associations between serum PFAS concentrations and sex hormone levels in postmenopausal women. METHODS Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2016 waves were used. A total of 706 postmenopausal women with information on serum PFAS [perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), pefluorodecanoic acid (PFDA); perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA); linear perfluorooctanoate (n-PFOA); linear perfluorooctane sulfonate (n-PFOS); monomethyl branched isomers of PFOS (Sm-PFOS)], sex hormones indicators [e.g., total testosterone (TT), estradiol (E2) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG)] as well as selected covariates were included. An indicator of circulating free testosterone (FT), and ratio of TT to E2 (TT/E2) were generated. Multiple linear regression accounting for the primary sampling unit, strata, and environmental sampling weights of PFAS was used for association analyses. Effect modification by obesity and type of menopause was explored via stratified analyses as well as the testing of interaction terms. Principal component analysis (PCA) and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were conducted to assess these relationships in a multiple PFAS exposure setting. RESULTS After adjusting for potential confounders, total perfluorooctanoate (TPFOA: n-PFOA + Sb-PFOA) and total perfluorooctane sulfonate (TPFOS: n-PFOS + Sm-PFOS), and their linear and branched isomers were positively associated with two androgen indicators (i.e., TT and FT). PCA results revealed that the principal component (PC) composed of n-PFOA was positively associated with ln (TT) [β = 0.09, 95% confidential interval (CI): 0.02, 0.16; per ln-ng/mL increase in exposure], and ln (FT) (β = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.2) in overweight/obese [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2] women, but not in those with BMI < 25 kg/m2. Additionally, among overweight/obese women, PFHxS was positively associated with androgens and negatively with ln (SHBG) (β = -0.06, 95% CI: -0.12, -0.01). The PC composed of Sm-PFOS, n-PFOS, and PFHxS was positively associated with ln (TT) levels among overweight/obese women. Results from BKMR also confirmed the findings on n-PFOA and PFHxS. CONCLUSIONS Our study indicates that n-PFOA and PFHxS were positively associated with levels of several androgen indicators in postmenopausal women, particularly among overweight/obese ones. Given the higher risk of cardiometabolic diseases associated with elevated levels of androgens in postmenopausal women, future studies are needed to explore the potential underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Wang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruxianguli Aimuzi
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Nian
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kai Luo
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jun Zhang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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Vuong AM, Webster GM, Yolton K, Calafat AM, Muckle G, Lanphear BP, Chen A. Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and neurobehavior in US children through 8 years of age: The HOME study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 195:110825. [PMID: 33545124 PMCID: PMC7987860 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies of prenatal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related behaviors in children are inconsistent. OBJECTIVES To examine associations between maternal serum PFAS concentrations and child behavior in 241 mother-child dyads within the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study. METHODS We quantified perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoate (PFNA) in maternal serum collected during pregnancy or at delivery. We evaluated a total of 17 outcomes of child behavior using the Behavioral Assessment System for Children-2 (BASC-2) at 5 and 8 years (n = 240) and ADHD diagnostic symptoms and criteria with the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-Young Child (DISC-YC) at 5 years (n = 190). We used linear mixed models and logistic regression with generalized estimating equations to assess associations between PFAS and continuous or dichotomous "at risk" BASC-2 scores; negative binomial regression to calculate incident rate ratios for counts of ADHD symptoms; and Poisson regression with robust standard errors to calculate relative risks of meeting ADHD diagnostic criteria. RESULTS Each ln-unit increase in PFOS, PFHxS, and PFNA was associated with higher BASC-2 scores and increased odds of "at-risk" scores for externalizing behaviors, including hyperactivity (PFOS: odds ratio [OR] 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2, 5.9; PFHxS: OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.5, 4.3; PFNA: OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.3, 8.0). PFHxS was also associated with internalizing problems (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1, 3.4) and somatization (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2, 4.0). PFOS and PFNA were significantly associated with 50-80% more DISC-YC symptoms and diagnostic criteria related to hyperactive-impulsive type ADHD. Prenatal PFNA was associated with increased risk of any-type ADHD. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal PFOS and PFNA were consistently associated with measures related to hyperactive-impulsive type ADHD across two validated assessment instruments. PFHxS was associated with increased problems with both externalizing and internalizing behaviors. No associations were noted between PFOA and child neurobehavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann M Vuong
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA.
| | - Glenys M Webster
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute and Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Gina Muckle
- School of Psychology, Laval University, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Bruce P Lanphear
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute and Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Aimin Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Yan H, Li C, Zou C, Xin X, Li X, Li H, Li Y, Li Z, Wang Y, Chen H, Ge RS. Perfluoroundecanoic acid inhibits Leydig cell development in pubertal male rats via inducing oxidative stress and autophagy. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2021; 415:115440. [PMID: 33549592 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2021.115440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) is one of long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids. However, the effect of PFUnA on pubertal development of Leydig cells remains unclear. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of PFUnA on Leydig cell development in pubertal male rats. We orally dosed male Sprague-Dawley rats (age 35 days) with PFUnA at doses of 0, 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg/day from postnatal day (PND) 35 to PND 56. Serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels were remarkably reduced by PFUnA at ≥1 mg/kg while serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels were lowered at 5 and 10 mg/kg. PFUnA down-regulated the expression of Lhcgr, Scarb1, Star, Cyp11a1, Hsd3b1, Cyp17a1, Hsd17b3, Hsd11b1, Insl3, Nr5a1, Fshr, Dhh, Sod1, and Sod2 and their proteins in the testis and the expression of Lhb and Fshb in the pituitary. PFUnA reduced Leydig cell number at 5 and 10 mg/kg. PFUnA induced oxidative stress and increased autophagy. These may result from the inhibition of phosphorylation of mTOR, AKT1, AKT2, and ERK1/2 in the testis. In conclusion, PFUnA exhibits inhibitory effects on pubertal Leydig cell development possibly via inducing oxidative stress and increasing autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoni Yan
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Changchang Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Cheng Zou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiu Xin
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaoheng Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huitao Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zengqiang Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yiyan Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Haolin Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Ren-Shan Ge
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Green MP, Harvey AJ, Finger BJ, Tarulli GA. Endocrine disrupting chemicals: Impacts on human fertility and fecundity during the peri-conception period. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 194:110694. [PMID: 33385395 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/25/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
It is becoming increasingly difficult to avoid exposure to man-made endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and environmental toxicants. This escalating yet constant exposure is postulated to partially explain the concurrent decline in human fertility that has occurred over the last 50 years. Controversy however remains as to whether associations exist, with conflicting findings commonly reported for all major EDC classes. The primary aim of this extensive work was to identify and review strong peer-reviewed evidence regarding the effects of environmentally-relevant EDC concentrations on adult male and female fertility during the critical periconception period on reproductive hormone concentrations, gamete and embryo characteristics, as well as the time to pregnancy in the general population. Secondly, to ascertain whether individuals or couples diagnosed as sub-fertile exhibit higher EDC or toxicant concentrations. Lastly, to highlight where little or no data exists that prevents strong associations being identified. From the greater than 1480 known EDCs, substantial evidence supports a negative association between exposure to phthalates, PCBs, PBDEs, pyrethroids, organochloride pesticides and male fertility and fecundity. Only moderate evidence exists for a negative association between BPA, PCBs, organochloride pesticides and female fertility and fecundity. Overall fewer studies were reported in women than men, with knowledge gaps generally evident for both sexes for all the major EDC classes, as well as a paucity of female fertility studies following exposure to parabens, triclosans, dioxins, PFAS, organophosphates and pyrethroids. Generally, sub-fertile individuals or couples exhibit higher EDC concentrations, endorsing a positive association between EDC exposure and sub-fertility. This review also discusses confounding and limiting factors that hamper our understanding of EDC exposures on fertility and fecundity. Finally, it highlights future research areas, as well as government, industry and social awareness strategies required to mitigate the negative effects of EDC and environmental toxicant exposure on human fertility and fecundity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P Green
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Alexandra J Harvey
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Bethany J Finger
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Gerard A Tarulli
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Kahn LG, Harley KG, Siegel EL, Zhu Y, Factor-Litvak P, Porucznik CA, Klein-Fedyshin M, Hipwell AE. Persistent organic pollutants and couple fecundability: a systematic review. Hum Reprod Update 2021; 27:339-366. [PMID: 33147335 PMCID: PMC7903116 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmaa037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite increasing regulation, exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) remains a serious public health concern due to their accumulation in the environment and ability to biomagnify up the food chain. POPs are associated with endocrine-disrupting effects including adverse reproductive outcomes that could affect fecundability, i.e. the capacity to conceive a pregnancy, quantified as time to pregnancy (TTP). OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE Results of epidemiologic studies that examine the impact of various chemical classes of POPs on TTP have not been synthesised. We undertook a systematic review to summarise the strength of evidence for associations of four common groups of POPs with couple fecundability and to identify gaps and limitations in the literature in order to inform policy decisions and future research. SEARCH METHODS We performed an electronic search of literature published between 1 January 2007 and 6 August 2019 in MEDLINE, EMBASE.com, Global Health, DART/TOXLINE and POPLINE. We included empirical research papers that examined human exposure to organochlorine (OC) pesticides, brominated flame retardants, polychlorinated organic compounds and/or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and considered TTP or fecundability as an outcome. Standardised forms for screening, data extraction and study quality were developed using DistillerSR software, and all reviews were completed in duplicate. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale to assess risk of bias and devised additional quality metrics based on specific methodological features of fecundability studies. OUTCOMES The search returned 4573 articles, and 28 papers from 19 different studies met inclusion criteria. Among them, four studies measured TTP prospectively, three had data on participants' prenatal exposure, three examined associations in both male and female partners and one focused exclusively on males. Analyses varied widely in terms of exposure characterisation, precluding a meta-analytic approach. Evidence was strongest for adverse associations of female exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls with TTP, with some additional support for associations of female exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers and PFAS with longer TTP. Our review provided little or no support for associations between female exposure to OC pesticides or male exposure to any of the POP groups and TTP. WIDER IMPLICATIONS Evidence suggests that female exposure to at least some POPs may reduce fecundability. Although many of these chemicals are no longer in production, they are still detectable in human biosamples because of their persistence in the environment. Replacement chemicals that are being introduced as older ones are restricted may have similar reproductive consequences. Future studies should examine these newer POPs, assess interactions between POPs and other chemical and non-chemical exposures, investigate how POPs are distributed in and metabolised by the human body and focus on populations that may be disproportionately exposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda G Kahn
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016 USA
| | - Kim G Harley
- Center for Environmental Research and Children’s Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Eva L Siegel
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Yeyi Zhu
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA 94612, USA
| | - Pam Factor-Litvak
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Christina A Porucznik
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
| | | | - Alison E Hipwell
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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Ma X, Cui L, Chen L, Zhang J, Zhang X, Kang Q, Jin F, Ye Y. Parental plasma concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances and In Vitro fertilization outcomes. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 269:116159. [PMID: 33279270 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are known to be endocrine-disrupting compounds, but are nevertheless widely used in consumer and industrial products and have been detected globally in human and wildlife. Data from animal and epidemiological studies suggest that PFAS may affect human fertility. This led us to consider whether maternal or paternal plasma PFAS had effects on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. The study population consisted of 96 couples who underwent IVF treatment in 2017 due to tubal factor infertility. The concentrations of 10 PFAS in blood samples from both male and female partners were measured. Poisson regression with log link was performed to evaluate the association between the tertiles of PFAS concentrations and numbers of retrieved oocytes, mature oocytes, two-pronuclei (2 PN) zygotes, and good-quality embryos, while multiple linear regression models were used to investigate the correlation between plasma PFAS and semen parameters. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between the tertiles of PFAS concentrations and clinical outcomes. It was found that maternal plasma concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were negatively associated with the numbers of retrieved oocytes (ptrend = 0.023), mature oocytes (ptrend = 0.015), 2 PN zygotes (ptrend = 0.014), and good-quality embryos (ptrend = 0.012). Higher paternal plasma PFOA concentrations were found to be significantly associated with reduced numbers of 2 PN zygotes (ptrend = 0.047). None of the maternal or paternal PFAS were significantly associated with the probability of implantation, clinical pregnancy, or live birth. To our knowledge, the present study is the first to assess the association between parental exposure to PFAS and IVF outcomes. Our results suggest the potential reproductive effects of PFAS on both men and women, and that exposure to PFAS may negatively affect IVF outcomes. Future studies, particularly with large sample size cohorts, are needed to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueqian Ma
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, China
| | - Long Cui
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, China
| | - Lin Chen
- MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Xiaohui Zhang
- Department of Women's Health, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, China
| | - Quanmin Kang
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, China
| | - Fan Jin
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, China
| | - Yinghui Ye
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, China.
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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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Xie X, Weng X, Liu S, Chen J, Guo X, Gao X, Fei Q, Hao G, Jing C, Feng L. Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substance exposure and association with sex hormone concentrations: Results from the NHANES 2015-2016. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES EUROPE 2021; 33:69. [PMID: 36061407 PMCID: PMC9440377 DOI: 10.1186/s12302-021-00508-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is increasing global concern regarding the health impacts of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are emerging environmental endocrine disruptors. Results from previous epidemiological studies on the associations between PFAS exposure and sex hormone levels are inconsistent. OBJECTIVE We examined the associations between serum PFAS compounds (PFDeA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFOA, PFOS) and sex hormones, including total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), estrogen (E), and serum hormone binding globulin (SHBG). RESULTS After adjusting for potential confounders, PFDeA, PFOS, and PFHxS exposures were significantly associated with increased serum testosterone concentrations in males. PFDeA, PFOA, and PFOS exposures were positively correlated with FT levels in 20-49 years old women while PFOS exposure was negatively associated with TT levels in 12-19 years old girls. PFAS exposure was negatively associated with estradiol levels including: PFDeA in all females, PFHxS, PFNA, PFOS, and PFOA in 12-19 years old girls, PFNA in women above 50 years old, and PFOA in 12-19 years old boys while PFDeA and PFOS exposures were positively associated with estradiol levels in these boys. n-PFOS exposure was positively associated with SHBG levels in men older than 20 and in all females. CONCLUSIONS Using a large cohort of males and females aged from 12-80, we found that PFAS exposure appears to disrupt sex hormones in a gender-, age-, and compound-specific manner. Future work is warranted to clarify the causality and mechanisms involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Xie
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Ave West, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Xueqiong Weng
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Ave West, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Shan Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Ave West, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Jingmin Chen
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Ave West, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Xinrong Guo
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Ave West, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Xinyu Gao
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Ave West, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Qiaoyuan Fei
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Ave West, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Guang Hao
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Ave West, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Chunxia Jing
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Ave West, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Liping Feng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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49
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Panieri E, Buha-Đorđevic A, Saso L. Endocrine disruption by PFAS: A major concern associated with legacy and replacement substances. ARHIV ZA FARMACIJU 2021. [DOI: 10.5937/arhfarm71-34197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Perand poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) have been used for decades in a great variety of processes and products by virtue of their exceptional properties, versatility and chemical stability. Nevertheless, it is increasingly recognized that these substances can represent a serious hazard to human health and living organisms due to their persistence, long-range transport potential and tendency to accumulate in biota. For this reason, some efforts have been made across the EU to identify alternative molecules, with a shorter carbon chain and theoretically safer profile, that might replace the previous generation of legacy PFAS. Unfortunately, this strategy has not been entirely successful and serious concerns are still posed by PFAS in different human populations. Among others, an emerging aspect is represented by the adverse effects that both legacy and alternative PFAS can exert on the human endocrine system, with respect to vulnerable target subpopulations. In this review we will briefly summarize PFAS properties, uses and environmental fate, focusing on their effects on human reproductive capacity and fertility, body weight control and obesity as well as thyroid function.
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50
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Calvert L, Green MP, De Iuliis GN, Dun MD, Turner BD, Clarke BO, Eamens AL, Roman SD, Nixon B. Assessment of the Emerging Threat Posed by Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances to Male Reproduction in Humans. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:799043. [PMID: 35356147 PMCID: PMC8959433 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.799043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Per-fluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse group of synthetic fluorinated chemicals used widely in industry and consumer products. Due to their extensive use and chemical stability, PFAS are ubiquitous environmental contaminants and as such, form an emerging risk factor for male reproductive health. The long half-lives of PFAS is of particular concern as the propensity to accumulate in biological systems prolong the time taken for excretion, taking years in many cases. Accordingly, there is mounting evidence supporting a negative association between PFAS exposure and an array of human health conditions. However, inconsistencies among epidemiological and experimental findings have hindered the ability to definitively link negative reproductive outcomes to specific PFAS exposure. This situation highlights the requirement for further investigation and the identification of reliable biological models that can inform health risks, allowing sensitive assessment of the spectrum of effects of PFAS exposure on humans. Here, we review the literature on the biological effects of PFAS exposure, with a specific focus on male reproduction, owing to its utility as a sentinel marker of general health. Indeed, male infertility has increasingly been shown to serve as an early indicator of a range of co-morbidities such as coronary, inflammatory, and metabolic diseases. It follows that adverse associations have been established between PFAS exposure and the incidence of testicular dysfunction, including pathologies such as testicular cancer and a reduction in semen quality. We also give consideration to the mechanisms that render the male reproductive tract vulnerable to PFAS mediated damage, and discuss novel remediation strategies to mitigate the negative impact of PFAS contamination and/or to ameliorate the PFAS load of exposed individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah Calvert
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Newcastle NSW, Australia
| | - Mark P. Green
- School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Geoffry N. De Iuliis
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Newcastle NSW, Australia
| | - Matthew D. Dun
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Newcastle NSW, Australia
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Brett D. Turner
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Priority Research Centre for Geotechnical Science and Engineering, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Bradley O. Clarke
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew L. Eamens
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Newcastle NSW, Australia
| | - Shaun D. Roman
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Newcastle NSW, Australia
- Priority Research Centre for Drug Development, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Brett Nixon
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Newcastle NSW, Australia
- *Correspondence: Brett Nixon,
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