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Liu T, Hu LX, Han Y, Xiao S, Dong LL, Yang YY, Liu YS, Zhao JL, Ying GG. Non-target discovery and risk prediction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and transformation products in wastewater treatment systems. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 476:135081. [PMID: 38964036 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) serve as the main destination of many wastes containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Here, we investigated the occurrence and transformation of PFAS and their transformation products (TPs) in wastewater treatment systems using high-resolution mass spectrometry-based target, suspect, and non-target screening approaches. The results revealed the presence of 896 PFAS and TPs in aqueous and sludge phases, of which 687 were assigned confidence levels 1-3 (46 PFAS and 641 TPs). Cyp450 metabolism and environmental microbial degradation were found to be the primary metabolic transformation pathways for PFAS within WWTPs. An estimated 52.3 %, 89.5 %, and 13.6 % of TPs were believed to exhibit persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity effects, respectively, with a substantial number of TPs posing potential health risks. Notably, the length of the fluorinated carbon chain in PFAS and TPs was likely associated with increased hazard, primarily due to the influence of biodegradability. Ultimately, two high riskcompounds were identified in the effluent, including one PFAS (Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid) and one enzymatically metabolized TP (23-(Perfluorobutyl)tricosanoic acid@BTM0024_cyp450). It is noteworthy that the toxicity of some TPs exceeded that of their parent compounds. The results from this study underscores the importance of PFAS TPs and associated environmental risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Liu
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Li-Xin Hu
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Yu Han
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Sheng Xiao
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Liang-Li Dong
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Yang
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - You-Sheng Liu
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jian-Liang Zhao
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guang-Guo Ying
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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2
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Dukes DA, McDonough CA. N-glucuronidation and Excretion of Perfluoroalkyl Sulfonamides in Mice Following Ingestion of Aqueous Film-Forming Foam. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024. [PMID: 38923620 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides (FASAs) and other FASA-based per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) can transform into recalcitrant perfluoroalkyl sulfonates in vivo. We conducted high-resolution mass spectrometry suspect screening of urine and tissues (kidney and liver) from mice dosed with an electrochemically fluorinated aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) to better understand the biological fate of AFFF-associated precursors. The B6C3F1 mice were dosed at five levels (0, 0.05, 0.5, 1, and 5 mg kg-1 day-1) based on perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoate content of the AFFF mixture. Dosing continued for 10 days followed by a 6-day depuration. Total oxidizable precursor assay of the AFFF suggested significant contributions from precursors with three to six perfluorinated carbons. We identified C4 to C6 FASAs and N-glucuronidated FASAs (FASA-N-glus) excreted in urine collected throughout dosing and depuration. Based on normalized relative abundance, FASA-N-glus accounted for up to 33% of the total excreted FASAs in mouse urine, highlighting the importance of phase II metabolic conjugation as a route of excretion. High-resolution mass spectrometry screening of liver and kidney tissue revealed accumulation of longer-chain (C7 and C8) FASAs not detected in urine. Chain-length-dependent conjugation of FASAs was also observed by incubating FASAs with mouse liver S9 fractions. Shorter-chain (C4) FASAs conjugated to a much greater extent over a 120-min incubation than longer-chain (C8) FASAs. Overall, this study highlights the significance of N-glucuronidation as an excretion mechanism for short-chain FASAs and suggests that monitoring urine for FASA-N-glus could contribute to a better understanding of PFAS exposure, as FASAs and their conjugates are often overlooked by traditional biomonitoring studies. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-11. © 2024 The Author(s). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Dukes
- Department of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Carrie A McDonough
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Hill NI, Becanova J, Vojta S, Barber LB, LeBlanc DR, Vajda AM, Pickard HM, Lohmann R. Bioconcentration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and precursors in fathead minnow tissues environmentally exposed to aqueous film-forming foam-contaminated waters. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024. [PMID: 38896102 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been associated with toxicity in wildlife and negative health effects in humans. Decades of fire training activity at Joint Base Cape Cod (MA, USA) incorporated the use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), which resulted in long-term PFAS contamination of sediments, groundwater, and hydrologically connected surface waters. To explore the bioconcentration potential of PFAS in complex environmental mixtures, a mobile laboratory was established to evaluate the bioconcentration of PFAS from AFFF-impacted groundwater by flow-through design. Fathead minnows (n = 24) were exposed to PFAS in groundwater over a 21-day period and tissue-specific PFAS burdens in liver, kidney, and gonad were derived at three different time points. The ∑PFAS concentrations in groundwater increased from approximately 10,000 ng/L at day 1 to 36,000 ng/L at day 21. The relative abundance of PFAS in liver, kidney, and gonad shifted temporally from majority perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides (FASAs) to perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs). By day 21, mean ∑PFAS concentrations in tissues displayed a predominance in the order of liver > kidney > gonad. Generally, bioconcentration factors (BCFs) for FASAs, perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs), and fluorotelomer sulfonates (FTS) increased with degree of fluorinated carbon chain length, but this was not evident for PFSAs. Perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA) displayed the highest mean BCF (8700 L/kg) in day 21 kidney. Suspect screening results revealed the presence of several perfluoroalkyl sulfinate and FASA compounds present in groundwater and in liver for which pseudo-bioconcentration factors are also reported. The bioconcentration observed for precursor compounds and PFSA derivatives detected suggests alternative pathways for terminal PFAS exposure in aquatic wildlife and humans. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-12. © 2024 The Author(s). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas I Hill
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Jitka Becanova
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Simon Vojta
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA
| | | | | | - Alan M Vajda
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Heidi M Pickard
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rainer Lohmann
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA
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O’Rourke E, Losada S, Barber JL, Scholey G, Bain I, Pereira MG, Hailer F, Chadwick EA. Persistence of PFOA Pollution at a PTFE Production Site and Occurrence of Replacement PFASs in English Freshwaters Revealed by Sentinel Species, the Eurasian Otter ( Lutra lutra). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:10195-10206. [PMID: 38800846 PMCID: PMC11171452 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Concentrations of 33 PFASs were determined in 20 Eurasian otters, sampled 2015-2019, along a transect away from a factory, which used PFOA in PTFE manufacture. Despite cessation of usage in 2012, PFOA concentrations remained high near the factory (>298 μg/kg ww <20 km from factory) and declined with increasing distance (<57 μg/kg ww >150 km away). Long-chain legacy PFASs dominated the Σ33PFAS profile, particularly PFOS, PFOA, PFDA, and PFNA. Replacement compounds, PFECHS, F-53B, PFBSA, PFBS, PFHpA, and 8:2 FTS, were detected in ≥19 otters, this being the first report of PFBSA and PFECHS in the species. Concentrations of replacement PFASs were generally lower than legacy compounds (max: 70.3 μg/kg ww and 4,640 μg/kg ww, respectively). Our study underscores the utility of otters as sentinels for evaluating mitigation success and highlights the value of continued monitoring to provide insights into the longevity of spatial associations with historic sources. Lower concentrations of replacement, than legacy, PFASs likely reflect their lower bioaccumulation potential, and more recent introduction. Continued PFAS use will inevitably lead to increased environmental and human exposure if not controlled. Further research is needed on fate, toxicity, and bioaccumulation of replacement compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily O’Rourke
- School
of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, U.K.
| | - Sara Losada
- Centre
for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Suffolk, Lowestoft NR33
0HT, U.K.
| | - Jonathan L. Barber
- Centre
for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Suffolk, Lowestoft NR33
0HT, U.K.
| | - Graham Scholey
- Environment
Agency, Red Kite House, Howbery Park, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BD, U.K.
| | - Isobel Bain
- Environment
Agency, Red Kite House, Howbery Park, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BD, U.K.
| | - M. Glória Pereira
- Lancaster
Environment Centre, UK Centre for Ecology
and Hydrology, Library
Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, U.K.
| | - Frank Hailer
- School
of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, U.K.
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5
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Leuthner TC, Zhang S, Kohrn BF, Stapleton HM, Baugh LR. Structure-specific variation in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances toxicity among genetically diverse Caenorhabditis elegans strains. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.29.596269. [PMID: 38854041 PMCID: PMC11160736 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.29.596269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Background There are >14,500 structurally diverse per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Despite knowledge that these "forever chemicals" are in 99% of humans, mechanisms of toxicity and adverse health effects are incompletely known. Furthermore, the contribution of genetic variation to PFAS susceptibility and health consequences is unknown. Objectives We determined the toxicity of a structurally distinct set of PFAS in twelve genetically diverse strains of the genetic model system Caenorhabditis elegans. Methods Dose-response curves for four perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFNA, PFOA, PFPeA, and PFBA), two perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFOS and PFBS), two perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides (PFOSA and PFBSA), two fluoroether carboxylic acids (GenX and PFMOAA), one fluoroether sulfonic acid (PFEESA), and two fluorotelomers (6:2 FCA and 6:2 FTS) were determined in the C. elegans laboratory reference strain, N2, and eleven genetically diverse wild strains. Body length was quantified by image analysis at each dose after 48 hr of developmental exposure of L1 arrest-synchronized larvae to estimate effective concentration values (EC50). Results There was a significant range in toxicity among PFAS: PFOSA > PFBSA ≈ PFOS ≈ PFNA > PFOA > GenX ≈ PFEESA > PFBS ≈ PFPeA ≈ PFBA. Long-chain PFAS had greater toxicity than short-chain, and fluorosulfonamides were more toxic than carboxylic and sulfonic acids. Genetic variation explained variation in susceptibility to PFBSA, PFOS, PFBA, PFOA, GenX, PFEESA, PFPeA, and PFBA. There was significant variation in toxicity among C. elegans strains due to chain length, functional group, and between legacy and emerging PFAS. Conclusion C. elegans respond to legacy and emerging PFAS of diverse structures, and this depends on specific structures and genetic variation. Harnessing the natural genetic diversity of C. elegans and the structural complexity of PFAS is a powerful New Approach Methodology (NAM) to investigate structure-activity relationships and mechanisms of toxicity which may inform regulation of other PFAS to improve human and environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tess C. Leuthner
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sharon Zhang
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Brendan F Kohrn
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Heather M. Stapleton
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - L. Ryan Baugh
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, North Carolina, USA
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Eze CG, Okeke ES, Nwankwo CE, Nyaruaba R, Anand U, Okoro OJ, Bontempi E. Emerging contaminants in food matrices: An overview of the occurrence, pathways, impacts and detection techniques of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Toxicol Rep 2024; 12:436-447. [PMID: 38645434 PMCID: PMC11033125 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2024.03.012] [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: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used in industrial and consumer applications for ages. The pervasive and persistent nature of PFAS in the environment is a universal concern due to public health risks. Experts acknowledge that exposure to high levels of certain PFAS have consequences, including reduced vaccine efficacy, elevated cholesterol, and increased risk of high blood pressure. While considerable research has been conducted to investigate the presence of PFAS in the environment, the pathways for human exposure through food and food packaging/contact materials (FCM) remain unclear. In this review, we present an exhaustive overview of dietary exposure pathways to PFAS. Also, the mechanism of PFAS migration from FCMs into food and the occurrence of PFAS in certain foods were considered. Further, we present the analytical techniques for PFAS in food and food matrices as well as exposure pathways and human health impacts. Further, recent regulatory actions working to set standards and guidelines for PFAS in food packaging materials were highlighted. Alternative materials being developed and evaluated for their safety and efficacy in food contact applications, offering promising alternatives to PFAS were also considered. Finally, we reported on general considerations and perspectives presently considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chukwuebuka Gabriel Eze
- Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State 410001, Nigeria
- Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Science Aberystwyth University, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Emmanuel Sunday Okeke
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences & Natural Science Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State 410001, Nigeria
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, School of the Environment and Safety, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Rd., Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Chidiebele Emmanuel Nwankwo
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences & Natural Science Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State 410001, Nigeria
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Rd., Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Raphael Nyaruaba
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Uttpal Anand
- CytoGene Research & Development LLP, K-51, UPSIDA Industrial Area, Kursi Road (Lucknow), Dist.– Barabanki, 225001, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Onyekwere Joseph Okoro
- Department of Zoology and Environment Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State 410001, Nigeria
| | - Elza Bontempi
- INSTM and INSTM and Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, University of Brescia, via Branze 38, Brescia 25123, Italy
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Zhu W, Liu W, Jin H. Sediment-seawater partitioning, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification of perfluorobutane sulfonamide in marine environment. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 255:121466. [PMID: 38493741 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Environmental occurrence of perfluorobutane sulfonamide (PFBSA) has only been recently discovered. The current knowledge regarding the occurrence and environmental behaviors of PFBSA in the marine environment is still relatively limited. In this study, PFBSA and other 37 poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances were analyzed in seawater (n = 43), sediment (n = 43), and marine fish (n = 176) samples collected from East China Sea and Antarctic Ocean. PFBSA was detected in > 90% of seawater from East China Sea and Antarctic Ocean, with the concentrations of 1.0 - 19 ng/L and < LOD-228 pg/L, respectively. The field-based mean log-transformed sediment-seawater partitioning coefficients of PFBSA were 1.6 ± 0.19 L/kg dw and 1.1 ± 0.19 L/kg dw in East China Sea and Antarctic Ocean, respectively, which are lower than that of perfluorooctanoate and perfluorooctane sulfonate. This indicates its long-range transport potential in global oceans with ocean currents. The mean log-transformed bioaccumulation factor values of PFBSA determined in the multiple species of whole-body marine fishes from East China Sea and Antarctic Ocean were 2.3 L/kg ww and 2.4 L/kg ww, respectively, which are comparable to that of perfluoroheptanoate (2.3 L/kg ww) in marine fishes from East China Sea. We did not observe an obvious biomagnification or biodilution of PFBSA along the marine food chain in East China Sea or Antarctic Ocean. This study provides the first data on the environmental behaviors of PFBSA in the marine environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbin Zhu
- Zhejiang Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Fishery Resources for Key Fishing Grounds, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Technology Research for Fishery Resources of Zhejiang Province, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, 316021, China
| | - Wenbo Liu
- Zhejiang Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Fishery Resources for Key Fishing Grounds, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Technology Research for Fishery Resources of Zhejiang Province, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, 316021, China
| | - Hangbiao Jin
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310032, China.
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Liu JJ, Zhang YH, Li F, Sun J, Yuan SJ, Zhang PD. Contamination status, partitioning behavior, ecological risks assessment of legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in a typical heavily polluted semi-enclosed bay, China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 247:118214. [PMID: 38246302 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The contaminant status, spatial distribution, partitioning behavior, and ecological risks of 26 legacy and emerging perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in Laizhou Bay, China were investigated. The concentrations of ∑PFASs in surface and bottom seawater ranged from 37.2 to 222 ng/L and from 34.2 to 305 ng/L with an average of 116 ± 62.7 and 138 ± 93.8 ng/L, respectively. There were no significant differences in the average concentrations between the surface and bottom seawater (P > 0.05). Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and short-chain PFASs dominated the composition of PFASs in seawater. The concentrations of ∑PFASs in sediments ranged from 0.997 to 7.21 ng/g dry weight (dw), dominated by perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), and long-chain PFASs. The emerging alternatives of perfluoro-1-butane-sulfonamide (FBSA) and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTSA) were detected for the first time in Laizhou Bay. The ∑PFASs in seawater in the southwest of the bay were higher than those in the northeast of the bay. The ∑PFASs in sediments in the northeast sea area were higher than those in the inner area of the bay. Log Kd and log Koc values increased with increasing carbon chain length for PFASs compounds. Ecological risk assessments indicated a low ecological risk associated with HFPO-DA but a moderate risk associated with PFOA contamination in Laizhou Bay. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis revealed that fluoropolymer manufacturing, metal plating plants, and textile treatments were identified as major sources contributing to PFASs contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Ji Liu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan-Hao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan Li
- Shandong Marine Resources and Environment Research Institute, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Restoration for Marine Ecology, Yantai, 264006, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Sun
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
| | - Shun-Jie Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
| | - Pei-Dong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, People's Republic of China.
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9
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Pickard HM, Haque F, Sunderland EM. Bioaccumulation of Perfluoroalkyl Sulfonamides (FASA). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS 2024; 11:350-356. [PMID: 38645703 PMCID: PMC11027762 DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.4c00143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Hundreds of sites across the United States have high concentrations of perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides (FASA), but little is known about their propensity to accumulate in fish. FASA are precursors to terminal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that are abundant in diverse consumer products and aqueous film-forming foams manufactured using electrochemical fluorination (ECF AFFF). In this study, FASA with C3-C8 carbon chain lengths were detected in all fish samples from surface waters up to 8 km downstream of source zones with ECF AFFF contamination. Short-chain FASA ≤ C6 have rarely been included in routine screening for PFAS, but availability of new standards makes such analyses more feasible. Bioaccumulation factors (BAF) for FASA were between 1 and 3 orders of magnitude greater than their terminal perfluoroalkyl sulfonates. Across fish species, BAF for FASA were greater than for perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), which is presently the focus of national advisory programs. Similar concentrations of the C6 FASA (<0.36-175 ng g-1) and PFOS (0.65-222 ng g-1) were detected in all fish species. No safety thresholds have been established for FASA. However, high concentrations in fish next to contaminated sites and preliminary findings on toxicity suggest an urgent need for consideration by fish advisory programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi M Pickard
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Faiz Haque
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Elsie M Sunderland
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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10
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Groffen T, Keirsebelik H, Dendievel H, Falcou-Préfol M, Bervoets L, Schoelynck J. Are Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) suitable as biomonitor or bioindicator of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pollution? JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 464:133024. [PMID: 37988866 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in the environment. In Flanders, the bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms is currently being monitored using European perch and European eel. Since both are native species, there is an ethical need to search for other suitable biomonitors. This study aims to investigate whether the invasive Chinese mitten crab could be used in biomonitoring programs by assessing PFAS accumulation in hepatopancreas, muscle tissue, and carapace. Furthermore, we correlated accumulated concentrations to those in the local abiotic environment. Concentrations in the crabs (highest average ∑PFAS concentration of 688 ± 505 ng/g ww) were often higher than those in crab species from other regions across the globe, confirming that Flanders is highly polluted with PFAS. Concentrations in the crabs did not reflect those in the abiotic environment. This implies that biomonitoring is necessary to investigate the impact of PFAS pollution on organisms in aquatic ecosystems, as important data is missing when only the abiotic environment is monitored. The accumulation profiles differed between the invasive crab and the native European perch and European eel, potentially due to a different ecology and trophic position. Since all three species provide complementary information on the PFAS pollution, a multi-species approach in biomonitoring is recommended. Overall, our results show that the crabs can be used as biomonitor, but more information is necessary to confirm their suitability as bioindicator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thimo Groffen
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, ECOSPHERE Research Group, Universiteitsplein 1C, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Heleen Keirsebelik
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, ECOSPHERE Research Group, Universiteitsplein 1C, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Hannes Dendievel
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, ECOSPHERE Research Group, Universiteitsplein 1C, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Mathilde Falcou-Préfol
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, ECOSPHERE Research Group, Universiteitsplein 1C, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Lieven Bervoets
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, ECOSPHERE Research Group, Universiteitsplein 1C, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Jonas Schoelynck
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, ECOSPHERE Research Group, Universiteitsplein 1C, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
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11
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Chu S, Letcher RJ. A targeted and non-targeted discovery screening approach for poly-and per-fluoroalkyl substances in model environmental biota samples. J Chromatogr A 2024; 1715:464584. [PMID: 38157583 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2023.464584] [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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
A comprehensive analytical approach for targeted and non-targeted discovery screening of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) was developed and applied to model complex environmental biotic samples. Samples were extracted by formic acid-acetonitrile solution and cleaned up and fractionated by SPE (WAX). Target PFAS quantification was performed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography interfaced with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (UPLC-QqQ-MS/MS). Non-targeted analysis (NTA) PFAS screening was performed with UPLC coupled with a quadrupole-Exactive orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometer (UPLC-Q-Exactive-HRMS). An iterative exclusion (IE) approach was applied to data acquisition for NTA suspect screening to increase the potential for unknown PFAS discovery with MS/MS. A complex workflow in Compound Discoverer was set up to automate data processing of the PFAS suspects search. New mass lists and MS/MS databases, which included a large number of PFAS, were set up and introduced into the search for high-throughput structure identification using HRMS techniques. The integrated targeted-NTA method successfully analyzed for legacy and alternative PFAS in model environmental biota samples, namely polar bear liver and bird egg samples. Targeted analysis provided unequivocal identification of well known/established PFAS (mainly perfluoroalkyl acids) with quantification at very low levels. The NTA suspect screening was able to determine a broader range of PFAS. The data analysis method offered high-confidence annotations for PFAS despite lacking available authentic standards. Overall, the analytical coverage of PFAS was greater and elucidated other PFAS present in these model apex predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaogang Chu
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Robert J Letcher
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada
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12
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Chen YJ, Wang RD, Shih YL, Chin HY, Lin AYC. Emerging Perfluorobutane Sulfonamido Derivatives as a New Trend of Surfactants Used in the Semiconductor Industry. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:1648-1658. [PMID: 38175212 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The semiconductor industry has claimed that perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), a persistent per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), has been eliminated from semiconductor production; however, information about the use of alternative compounds remains limited. This study aimed to develop a nontarget approach to discovering diverse PFAS substitutions used in semiconductor manufacturing. A distinct fragment-based approach has been established to identify the hydrophobic and hydrophilic features of acidic and neutral fluorosurfactants through fragments and neutral losses, including those outside the homologous series. Ten sewage samples from 5 semiconductor plants were analyzed with target and nontarget analysis. Among the 20 identified PFAS spanning 12 subclasses, 15 were reported in semiconductor sewage for the first time. The dominant identified PFAS compounds were C4 sulfonamido derivatives, including perfluorobutane sulfonamido ethanol (FBSE), perfluorobutane sulfonamide (FBSA), and perfluorobutane sulfonamido diethanol (FBSEE diol), with maximum concentrations of 482 μg/L, 141 μg/L, and 83.5 μg/L in sewage, respectively. Subsequently, three ultrashort chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) were identified in all samples, ranging from 0.004 to 19.9 μg/L. Three effluent samples from the associated industrial wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were further analyzed. This finding, that the C4 sulfonamido acetic acid series constitutes a significant portion (65%-82%) of effluents from WWTP3 and WWTP4, emphasizes the conversion of fluorinated alcohols to fluorinated acids during aerobic treatment. The identification of the intermediate metabolites of FBSEE diol, further supported by our laboratory batch studies, prompts the proposal of a novel metabolic pathway for FBSEE diol. The total amount of perfluorobutane sulfonamido derivatives reached 1934 μg/L (90%), while that of PFAAs, which have typically received attention, was only 205 μg/L (10%). This suggests that perfluorobutane sulfonamido derivatives are emerging as a new trend in fluorosurfactants used in the semiconductor industry, serving as PFAS precursors and contributing to the release of their metabolites into the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ju Chen
- National Environmental Research Academy, Ministry of Environment, Taoyuan City 320, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei City 106, Taiwan
| | - Ren-De Wang
- National Environmental Research Academy, Ministry of Environment, Taoyuan City 320, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Lin Shih
- National Environmental Research Academy, Ministry of Environment, Taoyuan City 320, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Yi Chin
- National Environmental Research Academy, Ministry of Environment, Taoyuan City 320, Taiwan
| | - Angela Yu-Chen Lin
- Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei City 106, Taiwan
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13
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Zhao L, Teng M, Shi D, Sun J, Li Y, Zhang Z, Zhu W, Wu F. Adverse impacts of environmentally relevant PFOS alternatives on mice pancreatic tissues. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 909:168649. [PMID: 37977398 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) alternatives are chemicals that are used to make a range of products. Researchers have found that PFOS alternatives are probably no less toxic than PFOS, which has aroused concern. It has also revealed that the pancreas may be harmed by exposure to PFOS alternatives. However, there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate the toxicity mechanisms of PFOS alternatives. This study demonstrates the adverse effects of three PFOS alternatives on the pancreatic health of mice. After subchronic exposure to PFOS alternatives at environmentally relevant concentrations (800 μg/L perfluorohexanesulfonate, 800 μg/L perfluorobutanesulfonate, and 3 μg/L sodium ρ-perfluorous nonenoxybenzene sulfonate) via drinking water for 6 weeks, toxicity mechanisms were elucidated by examining histopathology, immunity, endoplasmic reticulum stress, 16S rRNA, and short-chain fatty acid targeted metabolomics. Sodium ρ-perfluorous nonenoxybenzene sulfonate significantly increased levels of TNF-α, IL-6, p-PERK, and ATF-4 and decreased the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila and Lactobacillus reuteri. In addition, the three PFOS alternatives changed the composition of the gut microbiota in mice. Short-chain fatty acids, which are metabolites of the gut microbiota, also significantly decreased. Correlation analysis demonstrates that the alteration of gut microbes is related to the adverse effects on the mice pancreas. Results suggest that the murine pancreas may be toxic endpoints of PFOS alternatives. This study alerts the threats to human health and accelerates the toxicology research of an increasing number of emerging PFOS alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihui Zhao
- College of Geoexploration Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China
| | - Miaomiao Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
| | - Di Shi
- Research & Development Affairs Office, Tsinghua University, 100084, China
| | - Jiaqi Sun
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yunxia Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Zixuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Wentao Zhu
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Fengchang Wu
- College of Geoexploration Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
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14
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Foord CS, Szabo D, Robb K, Clarke BO, Nugegoda D. Hepatic concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in dolphins from south-east Australia: Highest reported globally. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168438. [PMID: 37963535 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) concentrations were investigated in hepatic tissue of four dolphin species stranded along the south-east coast of Australia between 2006 and 2021; Burrunan dolphin (Tursiops australis), common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus), and short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis). Two Burrunan dolphin populations represented in the dataset have the highest reported global population concentrations of ∑25PFAS (Port Phillip Bay median 9750 ng/g ww, n = 3, and Gippsland Lakes median 3560 ng/g ww, n = 8), which were 50-100 times higher than the other species reported here; common bottlenose dolphin (50 ng/g ww, n = 9), Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (80 ng/g ww, n = 1), and short-beaked common dolphin (61 ng/g ww, n = 12). Also included in the results is the highest reported individual ∑25PFAS (19,500 ng/g ww) and PFOS (18,700 ng/g ww) concentrations, at almost 30 % higher than any other Cetacea reported globally. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was above method reporting limits for all samples (range; 5.3-18,700 ng/g ww), and constituted the highest contribution to overall ∑PFAS burdens with between 47 % and 99 % of the profile across the dataset. The concentrations of PFOS exceed published tentative critical concentrations (677-775 ng/g) in 42 % of all dolphins and 90 % of the critically endangered Burrunan dolphin. This research reports for the first time novel and emerging PFASs such as 6:2 Cl-PFESA, PFMPA, PFEECH and FBSA in marine mammals of the southern hemisphere, with high detection rates across the dataset. It is the first study to show the occurrence of PFAS in the tissues of multiple species of Cetacea from the Australasian region, demonstrating high global concentrations for inshore dolphins. Finally, it provides key baseline knowledge to the potential exposure and bioaccumulation of PFAS compounds within the coastal environment of south-east Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantel S Foord
- Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Bundoora, Australia; Marine Mammal Foundation, Mentone, VIC.
| | - Drew Szabo
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia; Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 16C, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kate Robb
- Marine Mammal Foundation, Mentone, VIC
| | - Bradley O Clarke
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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15
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Duan S, Wu Y, Zhu J, Wang X, Zhang Y, Gu C, Fang Y. Development of interpretable machine learning models associated with environmental chemicals to predict all-cause and specific-cause mortality:A longitudinal study based on NHANES. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 270:115864. [PMID: 38142591 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Limited information is available on potential predictive value of environmental chemicals for mortality. Our study aimed to investigate the associations between 43 of 8 classes representative environmental chemicals in serum/urine and mortality, and further develop the interpretable machine learning models associated with environmental chemicals to predict mortality. A total of 1602 participants were included from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). During 154,646 person-months of follow-up, 127 deaths occurred. We found that machine learning showed promise in predicting mortality. CoxPH was selected as the optimal model for predicting all-cause mortality with time-dependent AUROC of 0.953 (95%CI: 0.951-0.955). Coxnet was the best model for predicting cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer mortality with time-dependent AUROCs of 0.935 (95%CI: 0.933-0.936) and 0.850 (95%CI: 0.844-0.857). Based on clinical variables, adding environmental chemicals could enhance the predictive ability of cancer mortality (P < 0.05). Some environmental chemicals contributed more to the models than traditional clinical variables. Combined the results of association and prediction models by interpretable machine learning analyses, we found urinary methyl paraben (MP) and urinary 2-napthol (2-NAP) were negatively associated with all-cause mortality, while serum cadmium (Cd) was positively associated with all-cause mortality. Urinary bisphenol A (BPA) was positively associated with CVD mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Duan
- Center for Aging and Health Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yafei Wu
- Center for Aging and Health Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Junmin Zhu
- Center for Aging and Health Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xing Wang
- Center for Aging and Health Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yaheng Zhang
- Center for Aging and Health Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Chenming Gu
- Center for Aging and Health Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ya Fang
- Center for Aging and Health Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China; National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
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16
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Ge Y, Wang Z, Chen X, Wang W, Liu Z, Sun H, Zhang L. Comparative Toxicological Effects of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate and Its Alternative 6:2 Chlorinated Polyfluorinated Ether Sulfonate on Earthworms. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:170-181. [PMID: 37861387 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
High levels of 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (F-53B), which is a substitute for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), are detected in various environmental matrices, wildlife, and humans. Chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate has received increased attention due to its potential risk to ecosystems. However, its toxicity in the soil organisms remains unclear. In the present study, a comparative investigation was conducted on the toxicities of 6:2 Chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (F-53B) and PFOS to the earthworm Eisenia. fetida. F-53B was significantly more acutely toxic to earthworms than PFOS, with median lethal concentrations of 1.43 and 1.83 mmol/kg dry soil (~816 and 984 mg/kg dry soil), respectively. Although both F-53B and PFOS, at 0.4 mmol/kg dry soil (=228 and 215 mg/kg dry soil) caused oxidative stress in earthworms, as evidenced by increased superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase activities as well as malondialdehyde level, the stress caused by F-53B was higher than that caused by PFOS. In transcriptomic and metabolomic studies, negative effects of PFOS and F-53B were observed on several metabolic processes in earthworms, including protein digestion and amino acid absorption, lipid metabolism, and the immune response. Compared with PFOS, F-53B exhibited a weaker disruption of lipid metabolism, comparable potency for toxicity to the immune response, and a stronger potency in extracellular matrix destruction along with apoptosis and ferroptosis induction. Hence, our data suggest that F-53B is more toxic than PFOS to earthworms. The findings provide some new insights into the potential toxicity of F-53B to soil organisms. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:170-181. © 2023 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhui Ge
- School of Environmental Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhan Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Xuelu Chen
- School of Environmental Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Wen Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhenying Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Hongwen Sun
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Lianying Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
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17
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Nilsen E, Muensterman D, Carini L, Waite I, Payne S, Field JA, Peterson J, Hafley D, Farrer D, Jones GD. Target and suspect per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in fish from an AFFF-impacted waterway. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167798. [PMID: 37838049 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167798] [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: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
A major source of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) used in firefighting and training at airports and military installations, however, PFAS have many additional sources in consumer products and industrial processes. A field study was conducted on fish tissues from three reaches of the Columbia Slough, located near Portland International Airport, OR, that are affected by AFFF and other PFAS sources. Fishes including largescale sucker (Catostomus macrocheilus), goldfish (Carassius auratus), and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) were collected in 2019 and 2020. Fish blood, liver, and fillet (muscle) were analyzed for target and suspect PFAS by liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Data were analyzed for patterns by fish species, tissue type, and river reach. Thirty-three out of 50 target PFAS and additional suspect compounds were detected at least once during the study, at concentrations up to 856 ng/g. Seven carboxylic acids (PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUdA, PFDoA, PFTrDA, PFTeDA), three sulfonates (PFHxS, PFOS, PFDS), three electrofluorination-based compounds (FBSA, FHxSA, FOSA), and two fluorotelomer-based compounds (8:2 FTS, 10:2 FTS) were the most frequently detected compounds in all tissue types. The C6 (PFHxS) to C10 (PFDS) homologs were detected with PFOS and FHxSA at concentrations 1-3 orders of magnitude greater than the other PFAS detected. This is the first report of Cl-PFOS, FPeSA, and FHpSA detected in fish tissue. In all fish samples, fillet concentrations of PFAS were the lowest, followed by liver, and blood concentrations of PFAS were the highest. Differences in PFAS concentrations were driven primarily by tissue types and to a lesser extent fish species, but weakly by river reach. The Oregon Health Authority modified an existing fish consumption advisory on the Columbia Slough to recommend no whole-body consumption of most fish to avoid elevated levels of PFOS in fish liver. Measured PFAS concentrations in fish tissues indicate the potential for adverse ecological effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Nilsen
- U.S. Geological Survey, Oregon Water Science Center, Portland, OR, USA.
| | - Derek Muensterman
- Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Lya Carini
- Department of Biological & Ecological Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Ian Waite
- U.S. Geological Survey, Oregon Water Science Center, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Sean Payne
- U.S. Geological Survey, Oregon Water Science Center, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Jennifer A Field
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | | | - Daniel Hafley
- Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Portland, OR, USA
| | - David Farrer
- Oregon Health Authority, 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 640, Portland, OR 97232, USA
| | - Gerrad D Jones
- Department of Biological & Ecological Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
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18
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Tang C, Zheng R, Zhu Y, Liang Y, Liang Y, Liang S, Xu J, Zeng YH, Luo XJ, Lin H, Huang Q, Mai BX. Nontarget Analysis and Comprehensive Characterization of Iodinated Polyfluoroalkyl Acids in Wastewater and River Water by LC-HRMS with Cascade Precursor-Ion Exclusions and Algorithmic Approach. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:17099-17109. [PMID: 37878998 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are a large family of widespread contaminants of worldwide concern and well-known as "forever chemicals". Direct emission of PFAAs from the fluorochemical industry is a crucial source of PFAA pollutants in the environment. This study implemented nontarget analysis and comprehensive characterization for a category of new PFAA contaminants, i.e., iodinated PFAAs (IPFAAs), in fluorochemical industry wastewater and relevant contaminated river water by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry with a cascade precursor ion exclusion (PIE) strategy and in-house developed data extraction and processing algorithms. A total of 26 IPFAAs (including 2 isomers of an IPFAA) were found and identified with tentative molecular structures. Semiquantification of the IPFAAs was implemented, and the total concentrations of IPFAAs were 0.16-285.52 and 0.15-0.17 μg/L in wastewater and river water, respectively. The high concentrations in association with the predicted ecotoxicities and environmental behaviors demonstrate that these IPFAAs are worthy of more concern and further in-depth research. The cascade PIE strategy along with the data extraction and processing algorithms can be extended to nontarget analysis for other pollutants beyond IPFAAs. The nontarget identification and characterization outcomes provide new understanding on the environmental occurrence and pollution status of IPFAAs from a comprehensive perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caiming Tang
- Laboratory of Advanced Analytical Chemistry and Detection Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Ruifen Zheng
- Laboratory of Advanced Analytical Chemistry and Detection Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Yizhe Zhu
- Laboratory of Advanced Analytical Chemistry and Detection Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Yutao Liang
- Laboratory of Advanced Analytical Chemistry and Detection Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Yiyang Liang
- Laboratory of Advanced Analytical Chemistry and Detection Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Shangtao Liang
- College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Griffin, Georgia 30223, United States
| | - Jiale Xu
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58102, United States
| | - Yan-Hong Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Hui Lin
- Laboratory of Advanced Analytical Chemistry and Detection Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Qingguo Huang
- College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Griffin, Georgia 30223, United States
| | - Bi-Xian Mai
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
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19
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Dewapriya P, Nilsson S, Ghorbani Gorji S, O’Brien JW, Bräunig J, Gómez Ramos MJ, Donaldson E, Samanipour S, Martin JW, Mueller JF, Kaserzon SL, Thomas KV. Novel Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Discovered in Cattle Exposed to AFFF-Impacted Groundwater. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:13635-13645. [PMID: 37648245 PMCID: PMC10501377 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
The leaching of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) from Australian firefighting training grounds has resulted in extensive contamination of groundwater and nearby farmlands. Humans, farm animals, and wildlife in these areas may have been exposed to complex mixtures of PFASs from aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs). This study aimed to identify PFAS classes in pooled whole blood (n = 4) and serum (n = 4) from cattle exposed to AFFF-impacted groundwater and potentially discover new PFASs in blood. Thirty PFASs were identified at various levels of confidence (levels 1a-5a), including three novel compounds: (i) perfluorohexanesulfonamido 2-hydroxypropanoic acid (FHxSA-HOPrA), (ii) methyl((perfluorohexyl)sulfonyl)sulfuramidous acid, and (iii) methyl((perfluorooctyl)sulfonyl)sulfuramidous acid, belonging to two different classes. Biotransformation intermediate, perfluorohexanesulfonamido propanoic acid (FHxSA-PrA), hitherto unreported in biological samples, was detected in both whole blood and serum. Furthermore, perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides, including perfluoropropane sulfonamide (FPrSA), perfluorobutane sulfonamide (FBSA), and perfluorohexane sulfonamide (FHxSA) were predominantly detected in whole blood, suggesting that these accumulate in the cell fraction of blood. The suspect screening revealed several fluoroalkyl chain-substituted PFAS. The results suggest that targeting only the major PFASs in the plasma or serum of AFFF-exposed mammals likely underestimates the toxicological risks associated with exposure. Future studies of AFFF-exposed populations should include whole-blood analysis with high-resolution mass spectrometry to understand the true extent of PFAS exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pradeep Dewapriya
- Queensland
Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba 4102 Queensland, Australia
| | - Sandra Nilsson
- Queensland
Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba 4102 Queensland, Australia
| | - Sara Ghorbani Gorji
- Queensland
Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba 4102 Queensland, Australia
| | - Jake W. O’Brien
- Queensland
Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba 4102 Queensland, Australia
- Van
‘t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1090 GD, The Netherlands
| | - Jennifer Bräunig
- Queensland
Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba 4102 Queensland, Australia
| | - María José Gómez Ramos
- Department
of Chemistry and Physics, University of
Almería, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence ceiA3
(ceiA3), Carretera Sacramento
s/n, La Cañada de San Urbano, Almería 04120, Spain
| | - Eric Donaldson
- Aviation
Medical Specialist, The Australasian Faculty of Occupational &
Environmental Medicine (AFOEM), The Royal
Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), Sydney, New South Wales 2000, Australia
| | - Saer Samanipour
- Queensland
Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba 4102 Queensland, Australia
- Van
‘t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1090 GD, The Netherlands
| | - Jonathan W. Martin
- Department
of Environmental Science (ACES, Exposure & Effects), Science for
Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Stockholm 106 91, Sweden
| | - Jochen F. Mueller
- Queensland
Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba 4102 Queensland, Australia
| | - Sarit L. Kaserzon
- Queensland
Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba 4102 Queensland, Australia
| | - Kevin V. Thomas
- Queensland
Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba 4102 Queensland, Australia
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20
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Torres FG, De-la-Torre GE. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in consumable species and food products. JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2023; 60:2319-2336. [PMID: 37424586 PMCID: PMC10326201 DOI: 10.1007/s13197-022-05545-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a group of thousands of manmade chemicals widely used in consumer products and industrial processes. Toxicological studies have suggested that exposure to PFASs may lead to several adverse effects, including infertility and cancer development. In light of their widespread use, the contamination of food products has created health concerns in sites directly influenced by industrial and anthropogenic activity. In the present contribution, the current knowledge of PFAS contamination was systematically reviewed in order to provide with the knowledge gaps and main sources of contamination, as well as critically evaluate estimated dietary intake and relative risk values of the consulted studies. Legacy PFASs remain the most abundant despite their production restrictions. Edible species from freshwater bodies exhibit higher PFAS concentrations than marine species, probably due to low hydrodynamics and dilution in lentic ecosystems. Studies in food products from multiple sources, including aquatic, livestock, and agricultural, agree that the proximity to factories and fluorochemical industries rendered significantly higher and potentially hazardous PFAS contamination. Short-chain PFAS are suggested as chemicals of emerging concern to food security. However, the environmental and toxicological implications of short-chain congeners are not fully understood and, thus, much research is needed in this sense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando G. Torres
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Av. Universitaria 1801, 15088 Lima, Perú
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21
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Jiao Z, Yu N, Mao J, Yang Q, Jiao L, Wang X, Shi W, Yu H, Wei S. The occurrence, tissue distribution, and PBT potential of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the freshwater organisms from the Yangtze river via nontarget analysis. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 458:131868. [PMID: 37343408 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Numerous emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) occur in the aquatic environment, posing a threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health. In this study, we conducted a nontarget analysis on 3 surface water samples and 92 tissue samples of 16 fish collected from the Yangtze River to investigate the patterns, tissue distribution, and environmental impacts of emerging PFASs. A total of 43 PFASs from 11 classes were identified, including 17 legacy PFASs and 26 emerging PFASs. Among the 43 PFASs, seven PFASs were reported in biota for the first time while five PFASs were reported in the environment for the first time. Chlorine substituted perfluoroalyl ether sulfonic acids were the major emerging PFASs detected in organisms. Our results showed that most emerging PFASs tended to accumulate in the liver whereas perfluorinated sulfonamides tended to accumulate in the blood, and all of the emerging PFASs accumulated less in the muscle. Methods for evaluating the persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity (PBT) of PFASs were developed by combining the in-silico methods and experimental methods. Long-chain PFASs were found to have extremely high PBT scores compared to short-chain PFASs. Additionally, most emerging PFASs exhibited comparable PBT characteristics with legacy PFASs, especially Cl-substituted PFASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoyu Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Nanyang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiadi Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Yang
- JiangYin QiuHao Testing Co.,Ltd, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Liping Jiao
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuebing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Wei Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongxia Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Si Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
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22
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Chen Z, Zhan X, Zhang J, Diao J, Su C, Sun Q, Zhou Y, Zhang L, Bi R, Ye M, Wang T. Bioaccumulation and risk mitigation of legacy and novel perfluoroalkyl substances in seafood: Insights from trophic transfer and cooking method. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 177:108023. [PMID: 37301048 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have widespread application in industrial and civil areas due to their unique physical and chemical properties. With the increasingly stringent regulations of legacy PFAS, various novel alternatives have been developed and applied to meet the market demand. Legacy and novel PFAS pose potential threats to the ecological safety of coastal areas, however, little is known about their accumulation and transfer mechanism, especially after cooking treatment. This study investigated the biomagnification and trophic transfer characteristics of PFAS in seafood from the South China Sea, and assessed their health risks after cooking. Fifteen target PFAS were all detected in the samples, of which perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) was dominant with concentrations ranging from 0.76 to 4.12 ng/g ww. Trophic magnification factors (TMFs) > 1 were observed for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonic acid (F-53B), indicating that these compounds experienced trophic magnification in the food web. The effects of different cooking styles on PFAS occurrence were further explored and the results suggested that ΣPFAS concentrations increased in most organisms after baking, while ΣPFAS amounts decreased basically after boiling and frying. Generally, there is a low health risk of exposure to PFAS when cooked seafood is consumed. This work provided quantitative evidence that cooking methods altered PFAS in seafood. Further, suggestions to mitigate the health risks of consuming PFAS-contaminated seafood were provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenwei Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Xinyi Zhan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Jingru Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Academic of Environmental Science, Guangzhou 510045, China
| | - Jieyi Diao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Chuanghong Su
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Qiongping Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Yunqiao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Lulu Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Academic of Environmental Science, Guangzhou 510045, China
| | - Ran Bi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Mai Ye
- Guangdong Provincial Academic of Environmental Science, Guangzhou 510045, China
| | - Tieyu Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China.
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23
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Ruyle BJ, Thackray CP, Butt CM, LeBlanc DR, Tokranov AK, Vecitis CD, Sunderland EM. Centurial Persistence of Forever Chemicals at Military Fire Training Sites. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:8096-8106. [PMID: 37184088 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c00675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Drinking water contamination by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is widespread near more than 300 United States (U.S.) military bases that used aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) for fire training and firefighting activities. Much of the PFAS at these sites consist of precursors that can transform into terminal compounds of known health concern but are omitted from standard analytical methods. Here, we estimate the expected duration and contribution of precursor biotransformation to groundwater PFAS contamination at an AFFF-contaminated military base on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, United States, by optimizing a geochemical box model using measured PFAS concentrations from a multidecadal time series of groundwater and a soil survey in the source zone. A toolbox of analytical techniques used to reconstruct the mass budget of PFAS showed that precursors accounted for 46 ± 8% of the extractable organofluorine (a proxy for total PFAS) across years. Terminal PFAS still exceed regulatory limits by 2000-fold decades after AFFF use ceased. Measurements and numerical modeling show that sulfonamido precursors are retained in the vadose zone and their slow biotransformation into perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (half-life > 66 yr) sustains groundwater concentrations of perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS). The estimated PFAS reservoir in the vadose zone and modeled flux into groundwater suggest PFAS contamination above regulatory guidelines will persist for centuries without remediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridger J Ruyle
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Colin P Thackray
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Craig M Butt
- SCIEX, Framingham, Massachusetts 01701, United States
| | - Denis R LeBlanc
- U.S. Geological Survey, New England Water Science Center, Northborough, Massachusetts 01532, United States
| | - Andrea K Tokranov
- U.S. Geological Survey, New England Water Science Center, Northborough, Massachusetts 01532, United States
| | - Chad D Vecitis
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Elsie M Sunderland
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
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24
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Munoz G, Liu M, Vo Duy S, Liu J, Sauvé S. Target and nontarget screening of PFAS in drinking water for a large-scale survey of urban and rural communities in Québec, Canada. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 233:119750. [PMID: 36827766 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119750] [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: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Limited monitoring data are available regarding the occurrence of emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. Here, we validated an analytical procedure for 42 PFAS with individual detection limits of 0.001-0.082 ng/L. We also evaluated how different sample pH conditions, dechlorinating agents, and storage holding times might affect method performance. PFAS were analyzed in tap water samples collected at a large spatial scale in Quebec, Canada, covering 376 municipalities within 17 administrative regions. Target and nontarget screening revealed the presence of 31 and 23 compounds, respectively, representing 24 homolog classes. Overall, 99.3% of the tap water samples were positive for at least one PFAS, and the ƩPFAS ranged from below detection limits to 108 ng/L (95th percentile: 13 ng/L). On average, ƩPFAS was 12 times higher in tap water produced from surface water than groundwater; however, 6 of the top 10 contaminated locations were groundwater-based. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) had high detection rates (88% and 80%, respectively). PFOS (median: 0.15 ng/L; max: 13 ng/L) and PFOA (median: 0.27 ng/L; max: 8.1 ng/L) remained much lower than current Health Canada guidelines but higher than USEPA's interim updated health advisories. Short-chain (C3-C6) perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides were also recurrent, especially the C4 homolog (FBSA: detection rate of 50%). The 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonyl propanoamido dimethyl ethyl sulfonate (6:2 FTSO2PrAd-DiMeEtS) was locally detected at ∼15 ng/L and recurred in 8% of our samples. Multiple PFAS that are most likely to originate from aqueous film-forming foams were also reported for the first time in tap water, including X:3 and X:1:2 fluorotelomer betaines, hydroxylated X:2 fluorotelomer sulfonates, N-trimethylammoniopropyl perfluoroalkane sulfonamides (TAmPr-FHxSA and TAmPr-FOSA), and N-sulfopropyl dimethylammoniopropyl perfluoroalkane sulfonamidopropyl sulfonates (N-SPAmP-FPeSAPS and N-SPAmP-FHxSAPS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Munoz
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Min Liu
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sung Vo Duy
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jinxia Liu
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sébastien Sauvé
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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25
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Tang C, Zhu Y, Liang Y, Zeng YH, Peng X, Mai BX, Xu J, Huang Q, Lin H. First Discovery of Iodinated Polyfluoroalkyl Acids by Nontarget Mass-Spectrometric Analysis and Iodine-Specific Screening Algorithm. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:1378-1390. [PMID: 36622151 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) including polyfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and polyfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids are a large category of crucial environmental pollutants of global concern. Besides known PFAAs, numerous unknown species may exist in the environment, urgently needing discovery and characterization. This study implemented nontarget analysis for a group of novel PFAA pollutants, viz., iodinated PFAAs (I-PFAAs) in wastewater from a fluorochemical manufacturing park by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry in combination with an iodine-specific data-processing algorithm. The algorithm took into account the diagnostic fragment iodine ion (I-) together with carbon and sulfur isotopologue distributions. In total, 18 I-PFAA formulas involving 21 congeners were identified. Semiquantification was conducted, and the total concentrations of I-PFAAs were 1.9-274.7 μg/L, indicating severe pollution of I-PFAAs in the wastewater. The determined concentrations along with predicted environmental behaviors and toxicities demonstrate that I-PFAAs merit further in-depth investigation. The analytical method including the instrumental analysis and data-processing algorithm can be extended to screening and identification of I-PFAAs in other matrices. Furthermore, the analysis results for the first time provide recognition on the occurrence, distribution features, and pollution status of I-PFAAs in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caiming Tang
- Laboratory of Advanced Analytical Chemistry and Detection Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan523808, China
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou510640, China
| | - Yizhe Zhu
- Laboratory of Advanced Analytical Chemistry and Detection Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan523808, China
| | - Yutao Liang
- Laboratory of Advanced Analytical Chemistry and Detection Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan523808, China
| | - Yan-Hong Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou510640, China
| | - Xianzhi Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou510640, China
| | - Bi-Xian Mai
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou510640, China
| | - Jiale Xu
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota58102, United States
| | - Qingguo Huang
- College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Griffin, Georgia30223, United States
| | - Hui Lin
- Laboratory of Advanced Analytical Chemistry and Detection Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan523808, China
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26
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Abdelraheem E, Wise J, Murphy C, Jiang W. Triple-stage Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer to Determine Ubiquitously Present Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances in Drinking Water at Part Per Trillion Levels Using Solid Phase Extraction Approach. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2022; 110:32. [PMID: 36583746 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-022-03686-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
An accurate analytical method was developed to determine selected per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) at the level of parts per trillion (ppt or ng/L) in drinking water. The method included a concentration step using solid phase extraction (SPE) approach in combination with a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry system (LC-MS/MS). This method was optimized and validated for the common PFAS contaminants in drinking water. An initial demonstration of capability was established with an acceptable initial calibration, minimum reporting limit (MRL), limit of detection (LOD), initial demonstration of low system background, and initial demonstration of precision (IDP). Isotopically labeled internal standards were used for quantification. Surrogate standards were used to monitor method performance. The current method will help in better understanding of PFAS crisis by providing an efficient measurement of PFAS in water. In this study, the recoveries of four surrogates were between 84 and 113%, and calculated limit of detection (DL) and minimum reporting limits (MRL) were generally 1.0-3.0 and 5-10 ng/L, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehab Abdelraheem
- Center for PFAS Research, Michigan State University, 48910, Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 48824, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - John Wise
- Center for PFAS Research, Michigan State University, 48910, Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, 48824, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Cheryl Murphy
- Center for PFAS Research, Michigan State University, 48910, Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 48824, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Wayne Jiang
- Center for PFAS Research, Michigan State University, 48910, Lansing, MI, USA.
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, 48824, East Lansing, MI, USA.
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27
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Pickard HM, Ruyle BJ, Thackray CP, Chovancova A, Dassuncao C, Becanova J, Vojta S, Lohmann R, Sunderland EM. PFAS and Precursor Bioaccumulation in Freshwater Recreational Fish: Implications for Fish Advisories. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:15573-15583. [PMID: 36280234 PMCID: PMC9670858 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c03734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse class of fluorinated anthropogenic chemicals that include perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA), which are widely used in modern commerce. Many products and environmental samples contain abundant precursors that can degrade into terminal PFAA associated with adverse health effects. Fish consumption is an important dietary exposure source for PFAS that bioaccumulate in food webs. However, little is known about bioaccumulation of PFAA precursors. Here, we identify and quantify PFAS in recreational fish species collected from surface waters across New Hampshire, US, using a toolbox of analytical methods. Targeted analysis of paired water and tissue samples suggests that many precursors below detection in water have a higher bioaccumulation potential than their terminal PFAA. Perfluorobutane sulfonamide (FBSA), a short-chain precursor produced by electrochemical fluorination, was detected in all fish samples analyzed for this compound. The total oxidizable precursor assay interpreted using Bayesian inference revealed fish muscle tissue contained additional, short-chain precursors in high concentration samples. Suspect screening analysis indicated these were perfluoroalkyl sulfonamide precursors with three and five perfluorinated carbons. Fish consumption advisories are primarily being developed for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), but this work reinforces the need for risk evaluations to consider additional bioaccumulative PFAS, including perfluoroalkyl sulfonamide precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi M. Pickard
- Harvard
John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Bridger J. Ruyle
- Harvard
John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Colin P. Thackray
- Harvard
John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Adela Chovancova
- Harvard
John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Clifton Dassuncao
- Harvard
John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- Eastern
Research Group, Inc., Arlington, Virginia 22201, United States
| | - Jitka Becanova
- Graduate
School of Oceanography, University of Rhode
Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882, United States
| | - Simon Vojta
- Graduate
School of Oceanography, University of Rhode
Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882, United States
| | - Rainer Lohmann
- Graduate
School of Oceanography, University of Rhode
Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882, United States
| | - Elsie M. Sunderland
- Harvard
John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- Department
of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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28
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Liu T, Hu LX, Han Y, Dong LL, Wang YQ, Zhao JH, Liu YS, Zhao JL, Ying GG. Non-target and target screening of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in landfill leachate and impact on groundwater in Guangzhou, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 844:157021. [PMID: 35777559 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Landfills are the main destination of many urban wastes containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and PFAS may leach out from the waste and contaminate the surrounding groundwater. Here we investigated the occurrence of PFAS in leachate and surrounding groundwater from three landfills in Guangzhou, China by using a combined target and non-target approach. Non-target screening showed that a total of 651 PFAS with 96 classes were identified, including 17 legacy PFAS and 637 emerging PFAS. The quantitative target analysis of some PFAS revealed that the average removal rate of PFAS from the raw leachates were ranged between 62 % and 99 %. Statistical analysis and source analysis suggested that landfill leachate was a major source of PFAS in the groundwater within the landfills and downstream sites. The results from the combined target and non-target analyses demonstrated that PFAS in landfills could leach into the surrounding groundwater, and may affect the sustainable use of groundwater as a source of drinking water and pose a potential risk to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Liu
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Li-Xin Hu
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yu Han
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Liang-Li Dong
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yu-Qing Wang
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jia-Hui Zhao
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - You-Sheng Liu
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jian-Liang Zhao
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guang-Guo Ying
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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Munoz G, Mercier L, Duy SV, Liu J, Sauvé S, Houde M. Bioaccumulation and trophic magnification of emerging and legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a St. Lawrence River food web. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 309:119739. [PMID: 35817301 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in freshwater ecosystems has focused primarily on legacy compounds and little is still known on the presence of emerging PFAS. Here, we investigated the occurrence of 60 anionic, zwitterionic, and cationic PFAS in a food web of the St. Lawrence River (Quebec, Canada) near a major metropolitan area. Water, sediments, aquatic vegetation, invertebrates, and 14 fish species were targeted for analysis. Levels of perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) in river water exceeded those of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and a zwitterionic betaine was observed for the first time in the St. Lawrence River. The highest mean PFAS concentrations were observed for the benthopelagic top predator Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu, Σ60PFAS ∼ 92 ± 34 ng/g wet weight whole-body) and the lowest for aquatic plants (0.52-2.3 ng/g). Up to 33 PFAS were detected in biotic samples, with frequent occurrences of emerging PFAS such as perfluorobutane sulfonamide (FBSA) and perfluoroethyl cyclohexane sulfonate (PFECHS), while targeted ether-PFAS all remained undetected. PFOS and long-chain perfluorocarboxylates (C10-C13 PFCAs) dominated the contamination profiles in biota except for insects where PFBA was predominant. Gammarids, molluscs, and insects also had frequent detections of PFOA and fluorotelomer sulfonates, an important distinction with fish and presumably due to different metabolism. Based on bioaccumulation factors >5000 and trophic magnification factors >1, long-chain (C10-C13) PFCAs, PFOS, perfluorodecane sulfonate, and perfluorooctane sulfonamide qualified as very bioaccumulative and biomagnifying. Newly monitored PFAS such as FBSA and PFECHS were biomagnified but moderately bioaccumulative, while PFOA was biodiluted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Munoz
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Laurie Mercier
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sung Vo Duy
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jinxia Liu
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sébastien Sauvé
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Magali Houde
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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30
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Wang YQ, Hu LX, Liu T, Zhao JH, Yang YY, Liu YS, Ying GG. Per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water system: Target and non-target screening and removal assessment. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 163:107219. [PMID: 35405506 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The massive use and the persistence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have led to their frequent detection in aquatic environments, which may further threaten drinking water safety. So far, our knowledge about the occurrence of PFAS in drinking water system is still very limited. Here we investigated the occurrence and removal of PFAS in a drinking water system using non-target, suspect and target screening strategies. Sampling was performed in three seasons in the drinking water system including a water source, two drinking water treatment plants, and tap water in five households. The results showed detection of 17 homologous series with 51 homologues in non-target screening and 50 potential PFAS detected in suspect screening. Probable structures were proposed for 15 PFAS with high confidence levels (the first three of the five levels), with seven of them being reported for the first time in drinking water system. Semi-quantification was performed on seven homologous series based on target PFAS, the estimated total concentrations for non-target PFAS ranged between 4.10 and 17.6 ng/L. Nine out of 50 target PFAS were found and precisely quantified (<LOQ-13.4 ng/L) with predominance of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCA) and perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSA). All target and non-target PFAS were detected in tap water with similar concentrations in all three seasons. Removal efficiency for the detected PFAS in each processing unit was almost zero, indicating the recalcitrance of these chemicals to the conventional treatment process. The findings from this study clearly show the wide presence of PFAS in the whole drinking water treatment process, and suggest an urgent need for effective removal technology for this group of chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Qing Wang
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Li-Xin Hu
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Ting Liu
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jia-Hui Zhao
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Yang
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - You-Sheng Liu
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guang-Guo Ying
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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Meng P, DeStefano NJ, Knappe DRU. Extraction and Matrix Cleanup Method for Analyzing Novel Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Ether Acids and Other Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Fruits and Vegetables. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022; 70:4792-4804. [PMID: 35188387 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.1c07665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether acids (PFEAs) are a subclass of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that are detected with increasing frequency in environmental matrices. Diet can be an important route of PFEA exposure, but the presence of PFEAs in food is poorly understood. Extraction methods for food samples exist for traditionally studied PFAS, but their suitability for PFEAs and other novel PFAS remains unknown. In this study, an extraction and matrix cleanup method was developed to quantify 45 PFAS, including 13 PFEAs, 3 perfluoroalkane sulfonamides, and 6 fluorotelomer carboxylic acids in 10 types of fruits and vegetables. Homogenized samples were extracted with basic methanol, and resulting extracts were diluted with water and cleaned up using solid-phase extraction with weak anion-exchange cartridges. The method was validated by performing spike-recovery experiments at spike levels of 1 ng/g in all 10 matrices and 0.1 ng/g in 2 matrices. For PFAS without a corresponding isotopically labeled internal standard (IS), adopting an IS with a similar chromatographic retention time generated the most accurate recoveries. Dependent upon the matrix, recoveries of 38-44 PFAS (including 10-13 PFEAs) fell within 50-150% for samples spiked at 1 ng/g. Recoveries of 40 and 38 PFAS in blueberries and corn, respectively, fell within 50-150% for samples spiked at 0.1 ng/g. Method quantification limits (MQLs) of PFAS in pure solvents were determined as the lowest calibration level with an accuracy between 70 and 130%. To compensate for matrix effects, a matrix factor was applied on the basis of the analyte response in different matrices relative to the pure solvent. The MQLs of 45 PFAS (including 13 PFEAs) in 10 matrices ranged from 0.025 to 0.25 ng/g. Overall, this method is capable of sensitively quantifying 45 PFAS in many fruits and vegetables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pingping Meng
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Noelle J DeStefano
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Detlef R U Knappe
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
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Kaboré HA, Goeury K, Desrosiers M, Vo Duy S, Liu J, Cabana G, Munoz G, Sauvé S. Novel and legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in freshwater sporting fish from background and firefighting foam impacted ecosystems in Eastern Canada. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 816:151563. [PMID: 34762942 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Emerging PFAS were recently reported at sites impacted by aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) and near major manufacturing centers; however, few studies have evaluated whether these can occur far from release sites. Here, newly identified PFAS were investigated in wild sporting fish from boreal freshwater ecosystems (background sites, 2013-2014 summer seasons), compared to fish impacted by a major AFFF release (summer 2013 and autumn 2014). Different freshwater wild sporting fish species (Esox lucius, Esox masquinongy, Micropterus dolomieu, Sander vitreus, Perca flavescens, and Semotilus corporalis, n = 74) were collected from 13 ecosystems (lakes, reservoirs, and rivers) across Eastern Canada. Of 29 quantitative PFAS, 15 compounds were detected in fish from background sites, including perfluorocarboxylates (C6,8-14), perfluoroalkane sulfonates (C6,8,10), perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA), 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTSA), 7:3 fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (7:3 FTCA), and a zwitterionic PFAS-perfluorooctane sulfonamidoalkyl betaine (PFOSB). To our knowledge, this is the first report of PFOSB in biota. It is also one of the first reports of anionic fluorotelomers (6:2 FTSA, 7:3 FTCA, 9:3 FTCA) in wildlife from background sites. Long-chain fluorotelomer sulfonamidoalkyl betaines (e.g., 8:2 and 10:2 FTAB), fluorotelomer betaines (e.g., 9:3 and 9:1:2 FTB), and fluorotelomer sulfone propanoic acids (e.g., 8:2 FT(SO2)-PA, 10:2 FT(SO2)-PA)) were solely prevalent (up to 97% of summed suspect PFAS) in Smallmouth Bass (M. dolomieu) from the AFFF-impacted site. Perfluorobutane sulfonamide (FBSA), perfluorohexane sulfonamide (FHxSA), 6:2 FTSA and 7:3 FTCA were detected in at least one Smallmouth Bass sample both at the AFFF-impacted and background sites. According to the estimated chronic daily intake and current tolerable daily intake suggested by national agencies, the observed PFOS levels would not pose a health risk to anglers who might consume these wild-caught fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hermann A Kaboré
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal (UdeM), Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Ken Goeury
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal (UdeM), Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Mélanie Desrosiers
- Centre d'expertise en analyse environnementale du Québec (CEAEQ), Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, Québec City, QC G1P 3W8, Canada
| | - Sung Vo Duy
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal (UdeM), Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Jinxia Liu
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Gilbert Cabana
- Département des Sciences de l'Environnement, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada
| | - Gabriel Munoz
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal (UdeM), Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Sébastien Sauvé
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal (UdeM), Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada.
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Rericha Y, Cao D, Truong L, Simonich MT, Field JA, Tanguay RL. Sulfonamide functional head on short-chain perfluorinated substance drives developmental toxicity. iScience 2022; 25:103789. [PMID: 35146398 PMCID: PMC8819378 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitously detected in environmental and biological samples and cause adverse health effects. Studies have predominately focused on long-chain PFAS, with far fewer addressing short-chain alternatives. This study leveraged embryonic zebrafish to investigate developmental toxicity of a short-chain series: perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA), perfluorobutane sulfonamide (FBSA), and 4:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (4:2 FTS). Following static exposures at 8 h postfertilization (hpf) to each chemical (1-100 μM), morphological and behavioral endpoints were assessed at 24 and 120 hpf. Only FBSA induced abnormal morphology, while exposure to all chemicals caused aberrant larval behavior. RNA sequencing at 48 hpf following 47 μM exposures revealed only FBSA significantly disrupted normal gene expression. Measured tissue concentrations were FBSA > PFBS > 4:2 FTS > PFPeA. This study demonstrates functional head groups impact bioactivity and bioconcentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Rericha
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA.,Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory, College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | - Dunping Cao
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | - Lisa Truong
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA.,Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory, College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | - Michael T Simonich
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA.,Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory, College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | - Jennifer A Field
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | - Robyn L Tanguay
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA.,Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory, College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
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34
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Beale DJ, Hillyer K, Nilsson S, Limpus D, Bose U, Broadbent JA, Vardy S. Bioaccumulation and metabolic response of PFAS mixtures in wild-caught freshwater turtles (Emydura macquariimacquarii) using omics-based ecosurveillance techniques. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:151264. [PMID: 34715216 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
PFAS mixtures in the environment are common and identifying PFAS constituents, bioaccumulation, and biological impacts of mixtures remains a challenge. Here, an omics-based ecosurveillance approach was taken to investigate the impacts of PFAS pollution in freshwater turtles (Emydura macquariimacquarii). Four turtles were collected from an impacted waterway downstream from an industrial source of PFAS contamination in Queensland, Australia and analysed for 49 different PFAS. One turtle was collected from a suitable control site. PFAS concentrations were quantified in turtle serum using an established targeted methodology. The serum PFAS concentration was ten-fold greater at the impacted site (Σ49 PFAS 1933 ± 481 ng/mL) relative to the control sample (Σ49 PFAS 140 ng/mL). Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS; 889 ± 56 ng/mL) was 235 times higher in turtle serum than in the water that they were collected from (ΣPFAS 32.0 μg/L). Perfluorobutane sulfonamide (FBSA; 403 ± 83 ng/mL) and perfluorohexane sulfonamide (FHxSA; 550 ± 330 ng/mL) were also reported at substantial concentrations in the serum of impacted turtles. Biochemical profiles were analysed using a mixture of liquid chromatography triple quadrupole (QqQ) and quadrupole time-of-flight (QToF) mass spectrometry methodologies. These profiles demonstrated a positive correlation in the impacted turtles exposed to elevated PFAS with an enhanced purine metabolism, glycerophosphocholines and an innate immune response, which suggest an inflammation response, metabolic preservation and re-routing of central carbon metabolites. Conversely, lipid transport and binding activity were negatively correlated. Using these preliminary data, we were able to demonstrate the negative metabolic impact from PFAS mixtures on turtle metabolic health. With further research on a larger turtle cohort, omics-based data will contribute towards linking adverse outcome pathways for turtle populations exposed to PFAS mixtures. Moreover, expanding the use of ecosurveillance tools will inform mechanistic toxicological data for risk assessment and regulatory applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Beale
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - Katie Hillyer
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Sandra Nilsson
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Duncan Limpus
- Aquatic Threatened Species, Wildlife and Threatened Species Operations, Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government, Australia
| | - Utpal Bose
- Agriculture and Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - James A Broadbent
- Agriculture and Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - Suzanne Vardy
- Water Quality and Investigation, Science and Technology Division, Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government, Australia
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35
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Yang Y, Wei X, Miao J, Zhang R, Xu H, Liu J, Zhu S. Electrochemical Degradation of 4-Fluorophenol in a Moveable Pd-Polypyrrole Catalyst-Mediated Reactor. Electrocatalysis (N Y) 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12678-021-00696-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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36
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Liu Y, Lin N, Dai C, Xu J, Zhang Y, Xu M, Wang F, Li Y, Chen D. Occurrence and distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in human livers with liver cancer. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 202:111775. [PMID: 34333008 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are anthropogenic compounds that are widely accumulated in human tissues, and the liver is considered a primary target organ for PFASs exposure. The occurrence and distribution of 21 PFASs in liver tissues with tumors (n = 55) and without tumors (n = 55) are investigated in this study. Eleven perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and five perfluorinated sulfonic acids (PFSAs) were detected at high frequencies (45.5%-100 %), while the detection frequencies of five perfluoroalkyl phosphate (PFPAs) were relatively lower (≤29.1 %). PFSAs and PFCAs accounted for up to 82.5%-92.7 % of the total PFASs. Although it was not found to be statistically significant, the concentrations of the total PFASs were slightly higher in the tumor liver samples (mean 64.3, range 5.70-303 ng/g) than those in the non-tumor liver samples (mean 62.7, range 4.08-240 ng/g).The perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA), and perfluorobutanesulphonate (PFBS) showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between the tumor and non-tumor liver samples, and the different distribution levels of these three PFASs may have been a consequence of oxidative stress. The total concentrations of PFASs in the three age groups were in the decreasing order of middle-aged people (45-60) > old people (>60) > young people (<45). The PFASs in females were generally lower than in males, which may have been related to women's special excretion methods (such as childbirth and breastfeeding). The results should be valuable for further mechanistic studies regarding the toxic effects of PFASs in human livers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Nan Lin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Cao Dai
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Jianliang Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Mingxing Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Yanjie Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
| | - Da Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
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Pilli S, Pandey AK, Pandey V, Pandey K, Muddam T, Thirunagari BK, Thota ST, Varjani S, Tyagi RD. Detection and removal of poly and perfluoroalkyl polluting substances for sustainable environment. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 297:113336. [PMID: 34325368 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
PFAs (poly and perfluoroalkyl compounds) are hazardous and bioaccumulative chemicals that do not readily biodegrade or neutralize under normal environmental conditions. They have various industrial, commercial, domestic and defence applications. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, there are around 4700 PFAs registered to date. They are present in every stream of life, and they are often emerging and are even difficult to be detected by the standard chemical methods. This review aims to focus on the sources of various PFAs and the toxicities they impose on the environment and especially on humankind. Drinking water, food packaging, industrial areas and commercial household products are the primary PFAs sources. Some of the well-known treatment methods for remediation of PFAs presented in the literature are activated carbon, filtration, reverse osmosis, nano filtration, oxidation processes etc. The crucial stage of handling the PFAs occurs in determining and analysing the type of PFA and its remedy. This paper provides a state-of-the-art review of determination & tools, and techniques for remediation of PFAs in the environment. Improving new treatment methodologies that are economical and sustainable are essential for excluding the PFAs from the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sridhar Pilli
- Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Warangal, Fathimanagar, Telangana, 506004, India.
| | - Ashutosh Kumar Pandey
- Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability-India, Lucknow, 226 029, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vivek Pandey
- Department of Geography, Allahabad Degree College (A.D.C.), Allahabad University, Prayagraj, 211003, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Kritika Pandey
- Department of Biotechnology, Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Technology for Handicapped, Kanpur, 208024, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Tulasiram Muddam
- Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Warangal, Fathimanagar, Telangana, 506004, India
| | - Baby Keerthi Thirunagari
- Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Warangal, Fathimanagar, Telangana, 506004, India
| | - Sai Teja Thota
- Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Warangal, Fathimanagar, Telangana, 506004, India
| | - Sunita Varjani
- Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gandhinagar, 382 010, Gujarat, India.
| | - Rajeshwar Dayal Tyagi
- Chief Scientific Officer, BOSK Bioproducts, 399 Rue Jacquard, Suite 100, Quebec, Canada
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Zhong H, Zheng M, Liang Y, Wang Y, Gao W, Wang Y, Jiang G. Legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in sediments from the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea: Occurrence, source apportionment and environmental risk assessment. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 282:131042. [PMID: 34111641 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Yellow Sea (YS), the East China Sea (ECS) and their coastal areas have undergone rapid urbanization and industrialization. These areas are important sinks for many persistent organic pollutants. In this study, the concentration of legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in marine sediments from the YS and ECS were investigated. Nineteen PFAS were identified, ranging in concentration from 0.21 ng/g to 4.74 ng/g (mean: 1.60 ng/g). Legacy long-chain PFAS [e.g., perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)] were the dominant contaminants. Alternative PFAS such as 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (6:2 Cl-PFESA) and 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(1,1,2,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropoxy) propanoic acid (HFPO-DA) were identified within the detection range of 16%-100%. HFPO-DA was measured in all sediments in equivalent levels to PFOS (0.119 ng/g and 0.139 ng/g, respectively). This is the first reported occurrence of perfluoro-1-butanesulfonamide (FBSA) and HFPO-DA in marine sediments, indicating a replacement in the production of PFAS from legacy to emerging ones along with eastern coastal cities of China. The results of the potential source identification demonstrated that metal plating plants, textile treatments, fluoropolymer products, food packaging, and the degradation of volatile precursor substances were the main sources of PFAS in the ECS and YS. The environmental risk assessment based on the risk quotient demonstrated that PFOA and PFOS in the ECS and YS may present a low to medium risk at most sampling points.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huifang Zhong
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China; Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Minggang Zheng
- Marine Ecology Research Center, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, 266061, Qingdao, China
| | - Yong Liang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
| | - Yingjun Wang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Wei Gao
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Yawei Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China; Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China.
| | - Guibin Jiang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
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Xiao SK, Wu Q, Pan CG, Yin C, Wang YH, Yu KF. Distribution, partitioning behavior and potential source of legacy and alternative per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in water and sediments from a subtropical Gulf, South China Sea. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 201:111485. [PMID: 34139227 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl acids (PFASs) have received global concern over the scientific and public community since this century. However, the information on alternative PFASs pollution in the marine environment, especially in the subtropical marine environment is extremely limited. This study investigated the occurrence, partitioning, potential sources, and ecological risks of PFASs, including perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids (PFSAs), perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), and alternative PFASs, in surface water and sediments from the subtropical Beibu Gulf, South China. Concentrations of total PFASs (∑PFASs) were in the range of 0.98-2.64 ng/L in water and 0.19-0.66 ng/g (dry weight, dw) in sediment, respectively. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was the most abundant PFAS in water, while PFASs in sediment were dominated by perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and PFOA. Among investigated environmental parameters (total organic carbon (TOC), grain size, water pH, sediment pH, and salinity), TOC and salinity were the dominant factors influencing the sediment-water distribution coefficient (Kd) of PFOA, perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA). Log Kd and log soil organic carbon-water distribution coefficient (Koc) both increase with increasing carbon chain length of PFASs. Significantly positive correlations between PFOS and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) (p < 0.05), PFOA and perfluoro-1-butane-sulfonamide (FBSA) were observed, suggesting that these PFASs might have similar sources and transport routes. Preliminary environmental risk assessment showed that PFOA and PFOS would not pose risks to the marine aquatic environment. This is the first comprehensive survey of legacy and alternative PFASs in a subtropical area of the Beibu Gulf, which provides significant data and scientific basis to better understand the fate of PFASs and pollution control management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shao-Ke Xiao
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Qi Wu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Chang-Gui Pan
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China.
| | - Chao Yin
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Ying-Hui Wang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Ke-Fu Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China
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Cai L, Lv C, Kang J, Wang L, He X, Zhou T. Fabrication and investigation of multifunctional fluorinated polysiloxane coatings with phenyl as bridging group. J Appl Polym Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/app.51672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lu Cai
- College of Textile and Clothing Yancheng Institute of Technology Yancheng China
| | - Cun Lv
- College of Textile and Clothing Yancheng Institute of Technology Yancheng China
| | - Jialiang Kang
- College of Textile and Clothing Yancheng Institute of Technology Yancheng China
| | - Lili Wang
- College of Textile and Clothing Yancheng Institute of Technology Yancheng China
| | - Xuemei He
- College of Textile and Clothing Yancheng Institute of Technology Yancheng China
| | - Tianchi Zhou
- College of Textile and Clothing Yancheng Institute of Technology Yancheng China
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Marchiandi J, Szabo D, Dagnino S, Green MP, Clarke BO. Occurrence and fate of legacy and novel per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in freshwater after an industrial fire of unknown chemical stockpiles. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 278:116839. [PMID: 33740602 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
An industrial warehouse illegally storing a large quantity of unknown chemical and industrial waste ignited in an urban area in Melbourne, Australia. The multiday fire required firefighters to use large amounts of fluorine-free foam that carried contaminated firewater runoff into an adjacent freshwater creek. In this study, the occurrence and fate of 42 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) was determined from triplicate surface water samples (n = 45) from five locations (upstream, point-source, downstream; 8 km) over three sampling campaigns from 2018 to 2020. Out of the 42 target PFASs, perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs: C4-C14), perfluoroalkane sulfonates (PFSAs: C4-C10), and perfluoroalkyl acid precursors (e.g. 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTSA)) were ubiquitously detected in surface waters (concentration ranges: <0.7-3000 ng/L). A significant difference in ΣPFAS concentration was observed at the point-source (mean 5500 ng/L; 95% CI: 4800, 6300) relative to upstream sites (mean 100 ng/L; 95% CI: 90, 110; p ≤ 0.001). The point-source ΣPFAS concentration decreased from 5500 ± 1200 ng/L to 960 ± 42 ng/L (-83%) after two months and to 430 ± 15 ng/L (-98%) two years later. 6:2 FTSA and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) dominated in surface water, representing on average 31% and 20% of the ΣPFAS, respectively. Emerging PFASs including a cyclic perfluoroalkanesulfonate (PFECHS) and a C4 perfluoroalkane sulfonamide (FBSA) were repeatedly present in surface water (concentration ranges <0.3-77 ng/L). According to the updated Australian PFAS guidelines for ecological conservation, the water samples collected at the time of monitoring may have posed a short-term risk to aquatic organisms in regard to PFOS levels. These results illustrate that acute high dose exposure to PFASs can result from industrial fires at sites storing or stockpiling PFAS-based waste products. Continued monitoring will be crucial to evaluate potential long-term risk to wildlife in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaye Marchiandi
- School of Chemistry, Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Drew Szabo
- School of Chemistry, Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Sonia Dagnino
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Mark P Green
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Bradley O Clarke
- School of Chemistry, Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
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Kiefer K, Du L, Singer H, Hollender J. Identification of LC-HRMS nontarget signals in groundwater after source related prioritization. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 196:116994. [PMID: 33773453 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.116994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Groundwater is a major drinking water resource but its quality with regard to organic micropollutants (MPs) is insufficiently assessed. Therefore, we aimed to investigate Swiss groundwater more comprehensively using liquid chromatography high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS). First, samples from 60 sites were classified as having high or low urban or agricultural influence based on 498 target compounds associated with either urban or agricultural sources. Second, all LC-HRMS signals were related to their potential origin (urban, urban and agricultural, agricultural, or not classifiable) based on their occurrence and intensity in the classified samples. A considerable fraction of estimated concentrations associated with urban and/or agricultural sources could not be explained by the 139 detected targets. The most intense nontarget signals were automatically annotated with structure proposals using MetFrag and SIRIUS4/CSI:FingerID with a list of >988,000 compounds. Additionally, suspect screening was performed for 1162 compounds with predicted high groundwater mobility from primarily urban sources. Finally, 12 nontargets and 11 suspects were identified unequivocally (Level 1), while 17 further compounds were tentatively identified (Level 2a/3). amongst these were 13 pollutants thus far not reported in groundwater, such as: the industrial chemicals 2,5-dichlorobenzenesulfonic acid (19 detections, up to 100 ng L-1), phenylphosponic acid (10 detections, up to 50 ng L-1), triisopropanolamine borate (2 detections, up to 40 ng L-1), O-des[2-aminoethyl]-O-carboxymethyl dehydroamlodipine, a transformation product (TP) of the blood pressure regulator amlodipine (17 detections), and the TP SYN542490 of the herbicide metolachlor (Level 3, 33 detections, estimated concentrations up to 100-500 ng L-1). One monitoring site was far more contaminated than other sites based on estimated total concentrations of potential MPs, which was supported by the elucidation of site-specific nontarget signals such as the carcinogen chlorendic acid, and various naphthalenedisulfonic acids. Many compounds remained unknown, but overall, source related prioritisation proved an effective approach to support identification of compounds in groundwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Kiefer
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Letian Du
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Heinz Singer
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Juliane Hollender
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
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Baygi SF, Fernando S, Hopke PK, Holsen TM, Crimmins BS. Nontargeted Discovery of Novel Contaminants in the Great Lakes Region: A Comparison of Fish Fillets and Fish Consumers. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:3765-3774. [PMID: 33646760 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c08507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Sport fish fillets and human sera (fish consumers) were collected in the Lake Superior and Lake Michigan basin and screened for novel contaminants using the isotopic profile deconvoluted chromatogram (IPDC) algorithm. The IPDC algorithm was extended beyond traditional Cl/Br filters to detect additional potential bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) such as perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The IPDC algorithm screened for approximately 13.5 million theoretical molecular formulas. Additional algorithm modules were developed to detect data independent MS/MS fragmentation products and a retention time index calculator using a series of 13C-labeled perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (13C-PFCAs). Ten potential compound classes were isolated including six untargeted PFAS, six homologue groups of polyfluorinated carboxylic acids, polyfluorinated telomer alcohols (PoFTOHs), two hydroxylated polychlorobiphenyls, pesticides, herbicides, antifungals, pharmaceuticals, artificial sweeteners, and personal care products with minimal postprocessing efforts. The algorithm isolated 48 ubiquitous PoFTOHs in both fish fillet and serum of fish consumers suggesting a region wide distribution of this class of compounds. The 3, 4, and 7 fluorine substituted PoFTOH were the most abundant congeners in both biological matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadjad Fakouri Baygi
- Clarkson University, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, New York 13699, United States
| | - Sujan Fernando
- Clarkson University, Center for Air Resources Engineering and Science, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, New York 13699, United States
| | - Philip K Hopke
- Clarkson University, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, New York 13699, United States
| | - Thomas M Holsen
- Clarkson University, Center for Air Resources Engineering and Science, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, New York 13699, United States
- Clarkson University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, New York 13699, United States
| | - Bernard S Crimmins
- Clarkson University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, New York 13699, United States
- AEACS, LLC, New Kensington, Pennsylvania 15068, United States
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MacGillivray AR. Temporal Trends of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Delaware River Fish, USA. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2021; 17:411-421. [PMID: 32940944 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are found in a variety of industrial and household products. Human and wildlife exposure to PFAS is widespread. Increasing evidence suggests adverse effects of PFAS to human health and the environment. Human health risks from exposure through drinking water and fish consumption are areas of concern. Therefore, understanding occurrence and exposure risk is important to protect water resources. PFAS was investigated in fish fillet from the Delaware River over a 15-y period (2004-2018). The sample period coincided with actions to reduce or eliminate the release of certain PFAS to the environment. Elevated levels of perfluorononanoate (PFNA) and perfluoroundecanoate (PFUnA) were initially observed in tidal fish fillet. While significant decreases in PFNA and PFUnA concentrations were observed in fish fillet from the tidal river during the timeframe of the study, changes in concentrations of other PFAS in tidal and nontidal fish were less substantial. In 2018, fish fillet continued to be contaminated with perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) at levels exceeding recommended regional risk advisory limits on fish consumption. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:411-421. © 2020 SETAC.
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Fiedler H, Kennedy T, Henry BJ. A Critical Review of a Recommended Analytical and Classification Approach for Organic Fluorinated Compounds with an Emphasis on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2021; 17:331-351. [PMID: 33009873 PMCID: PMC7898881 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Organic fluorinated compounds have been detected in various environmental media and biota. Some of these compounds are regulated locally (e.g., perfluorononanoic acid maximum contaminant level in drinking water by the New Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection), nationally (e.g., perfluorooctanoic acid maximum acceptable concentration in drinking water by Health Canada), or internationally (e.g., Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants). Globally, regulators and researchers seek to identify the organic fluorinated compounds associated with potential adverse effects, bioaccumulation, mobility, and persistence to manage their risks, and, to understand the beneficial attributes they bring to products such as first responder gear, etc. Clarity is needed to determine the best analytical method for the goal of the analyses (e.g., pure research or analysis to determine the extent of an accidental release, monitoring groundwater for specific compounds to determine regulatory compliance, and establish baseline levels in a river of organic fluorinated substances associated with human health risk prior to a clean-up effort). Analytical techniques that identify organic fluorine coupled together with targeted chemical analysis will yield information sufficient to identify public health or environmental hazards. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:331-351. © 2020. W.L. Gore & Associates Inc. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidelore Fiedler
- MTM Research Centre, School of Science and TechnologyÖrebro UniversityÖrebroSweden
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Pan CG, Xiao SK, Yu KF, Wu Q, Wang YH. Legacy and alternative per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in a subtropical marine food web from the Beibu Gulf, South China: Fate, trophic transfer and health risk assessment. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 403:123618. [PMID: 32823029 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The usage of alternative per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) has been increasing due to the restriction and elimination of legacy PFASs. However, there is limited knowledge on bioaccumulation and trophic magnification of alternative PFASs, especially in subtropical ecosystems. In the present study, we performed a comprehensive survey to investigate the occurrence, bioaccumulation and trophic magnification of legacy and alternative PFASs in subtropical marine food webs in the Beibu Gulf, South China. Results showed that perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were the predominant PFASs in water phase, while perfluorooctane sufonate (PFOS) contributed most to the sum of target PFASs in sediments and marine organisms. Of the investigated PFASs, PFOS and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonic acids (F-53B) exhibited the highest bioaccumulation factor with values > 5000, qualifying as very bioaccumulative chemicals. There was a significant positive correlation between log BSAF and the carbon chain length of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs). Trophic magnification (TMF) was observed for PFOS and F-53B, while the remaining PFASs were biodiluted through the present food web. The hazard ratios for PFOS and PFOA in all organisms were far less than unity, suggesting overall low PFAS risks for humans through consumption of marine organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Gui Pan
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), China
| | - Shao-Ke Xiao
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Ke-Fu Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), China.
| | - Qi Wu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Ying-Hui Wang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
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Luo YS, Aly NA, McCord J, Strynar MJ, Chiu WA, Dodds JN, Baker ES, Rusyn I. Rapid Characterization of Emerging Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Using Ion Mobility Spectrometry-Mass Spectrometry. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:15024-15034. [PMID: 33176098 PMCID: PMC7719402 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c04798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) are mixtures formulated with numerous hydrocarbon- and fluoro-containing surfactants. AFFF use leads to environmental releases of unknown per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). AFFF composition is seldom disclosed, and their use elicits concerns from both regulatory agencies and the public because PFAS are persistent in the environment and potentially associated with adverse health effects. In this study, we demonstrate the use of coupled liquid chromatography, ion mobility spectrometry, and mass spectrometry (LC-IMS-MS) to rapidly characterize both known and unknown PFAS in AFFF. Ten AFFF formulations from seven brands were analyzed using LC-IMS-MS in both negative and positive ion modes. Untargeted analysis of the formulations was followed by feature identification of PFAS-like features utilizing database matching, mass defect and homologous series evaluation, and MS/MS fragmentation experiments. Across the tested AFFF formulations, we identified 33 homologous series; only ten of these homologous series have been previously reported. Among tested AFFF, the FireStopper (n = 85) contained the greatest number of PFAS-like features and Phos-Check contained zero. This work demonstrates that LC-IMS-MS-enabled untargeted analysis of complex formulations, followed by feature identification using data-processing algorithms, can be used for rapid exposure characterization of known and putative PFAS during fire suppression-related contamination events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Syuan Luo
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845-3424, United States
| | - Noor A Aly
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845-3424, United States
| | - James McCord
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States
| | - Mark J Strynar
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States
| | - Weihsueh A Chiu
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845-3424, United States
| | - James N Dodds
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695,United States
| | - Erin S Baker
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695,United States
| | - Ivan Rusyn
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845-3424, United States
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48
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Wang X, Yu N, Qian Y, Shi W, Zhang X, Geng J, Yu H, Wei S. Non-target and suspect screening of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in Chinese municipal wastewater treatment plants. WATER RESEARCH 2020; 183:115989. [PMID: 32623239 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.115989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is one of the major sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) to the aquatic environment. In this study, wastewater samples were collected from 17 WWTPs in 17 cities of China to investigate emerging PFASs in WWTPs. To comprehensively identify PFASs in the wastewater samples, an integrated suspect screening, homologue-based and fragment-based non-target screening method is proposed. Sixty-three PFASs from 13 classes (25 subclasses) were identified, including 14 legacy and 49 emerging PFASs, and this study is the first to report on 12 of these PFASs. We found that emerging PFASs concentration had a significantly positive correlation with the gross domestic product, indicating more substitution of legacy PFASs in the developed area of China. We also analyzed the removal of the 13 PFAS classes, and found that all discovered PFAS classes were not completely removed after the treatment process, whereas the class of perfluoroalkyl ether alcohols significantly increased. All of these results imply that the release of emerging or unknown PFASs from WWTPs is a universal but not negligible problem in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuebing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Nanyang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuli Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinju Geng
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongxia Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Si Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
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49
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Penland TN, Cope WG, Kwak TJ, Strynar MJ, Grieshaber CA, Heise RJ, Sessions FW. Trophodynamics of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Food Web of a Large Atlantic Slope River. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:6800-6811. [PMID: 32345015 PMCID: PMC8190818 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b05007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have attracted scientific and regulatory attention due to their persistence, bioaccumulative potential, toxicity, and global distribution. We determined the accumulation and trophic transfer of 14 PFASs (5 short-chain and 9 long-chain) within the food web of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River of North Carolina and South Carolina, US. Food web components and pathways were determined by stable isotope analyses of producers, consumers, and organic matter. Analyses of water, sediment, organic matter, and aquatic biota revealed that PFASs were prevalent in all food web compartments. Biofilm, an aggregation of bacteria, fungi, algae, and protozoans and a basal resource for the aquatic food web, showed high PFAS accumulation (in 10 of 14 compounds), particularly for perfluorooctanoic acid, with the greatest mean concentration of 463.73 ng/g. The food web compartment with the most detections and greatest concentrations of PFASs was aquatic insects; all 14 PFASs were detected in individual aquatic insect samples (range of <limit of detection [<LOD] to 1670.10 ng/g of wet weight [WW]). These findings may suggest a trophic link between biofilm PFASs and aquatic insect PFASs. Individual fish tissue samples ranged from <LOD to 797.00 ng/g of WW, where perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) was the dominant PFAS among all samples (64%). The ova of an imperiled fish, the robust redhorse (Moxostoma robustum), had concentrations of 10 PFASs (range of <LOD to 482.88 ng/g of WW) and the highest PFOS concentration (482.88 ng/g of WW), indicating a likely maternal transfer. The trophic magnification factors (TMFs) calculated in this study showed that various taxa accumulated PFAS compounds differently. PFBS, a short-chain PFAS compound that would presumably exhibit lesser TMFs, had nine values among our compartments and organisms >1.0 (range of 0.57 to 2.33); it is possible that an unmeasured PFBS precursor may be accumulating in biota and metabolizing to PFBS, leading to a higher than expected TMFs for this compound. Our findings demonstrate the prevalence of PFASs in a freshwater food web with potential implications for ecological and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany N. Penland
- North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University
| | - W. Gregory Cope
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University
- Corresponding Author, Tel: +1-919-515-5296
| | - Thomas J. Kwak
- U.S. Geological Survey, North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University
| | - Mark J. Strynar
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory
| | - Casey A. Grieshaber
- North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University
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50
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Letcher RJ, Chu S, Smyth SA. Side-chain fluorinated polymer surfactants in biosolids from wastewater treatment plants. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2020; 388:122044. [PMID: 31955025 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
High concentrations of the main components in Scotchgard™ fabric protector products (pre-2002 and post-2002; side-chain fluorinated polymer surfactants, S1 and S2, respectively) were detected in biosolids samples from twenty pan-Canadian wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Based on mass spectrometric analysis, S1 and S2 can be named as side-chain perfluorooctane sulfonamide-urethane polymer and side-chain perfluorobutane sulfonamide-urethane polymer, respectively. S1 (with C8F17 side-chain) concentrations ranged from 1.08-105 ng/g d.w. and S2 (with C4F9 side-chain) concentrations ranged from 37.5-2051 ng/g d.w., which were much higher than that of other commonly monitored perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). S1 and S2 concentrations were significantly correlated (p < 0.001; r2 = 0.6142) indicating similar source origins. A negative linear correlation was observed (p < 0.05) between concentrations of S1 (or S2) with the volume of WWTP treated wastewater per day per person (m3/person/day). The total concentration of 22 other PFAS ranged from 4.93 to 92.6 ng/g d.w., and approximately thirty times lower than S1 and S2 concentrations. The calculated elemental fluorine concentrations of ƩFS1&S2 were generally much higher than the sum of the other PFAS. PFAS concentrations in biosolids are likely underestimated without consideration of S1 and S2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Letcher
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada.
| | - Shaogang Chu
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Shirley-Anne Smyth
- Emerging Priorities Division, Science and Risk Assessment Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, ON, L7S 1A1, Canada
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