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Ateia M, Scheringer M. From "forever chemicals" to fluorine-free alternatives. Science 2024; 385:256-258. [PMID: 39024428 DOI: 10.1126/science.ado5019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Identifying alternatives to PFAS requires weighing trade-offs and uncertainties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Ateia
- Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Martin Scheringer
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
- RECETOX, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
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Pálešová N, Bláhová L, Janoš T, Řiháčková K, Pindur A, Šebejová L, Čupr P. Exposure to benzotriazoles and benzothiazoles in Czech male population and its associations with biomarkers of liver function, serum lipids and oxidative stress. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2024; 97:523-536. [PMID: 38546760 PMCID: PMC11130049 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-024-02059-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Benzotriazoles and benzothiazoles (BTs) are high-production volume chemicals as well as widely distributed emerging pollutants with potential health risk. However, information about human exposure to BTs and associated health outcomes is limited. OBJECTIVE We aimed to characterise exposure to BTs among Czech men, including possible occupational exposure among firefighters, its predictors, and its associations with liver function, serum lipids and oxidative stress. METHODS 165 participants (including 110 firefighters) provided urine and blood samples that were used to quantify the urinary levels of 8 BTs (high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry), and 4 liver enzymes, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine. Linear regression was used to assess associations with population characteristics and biomarkers of liver function, serum lipids and oxidative stress. Regression models were adjusted for potential confounding variables and false discovery rate procedure was applied to account for multiplicity. RESULTS The BTs ranged from undetected up to 46.8 ng/mL. 2-hydroxy-benzothiazole was the most predominant compound (detection frequency 83%; median 1.95 ng/mL). 1-methyl-benzotriazole (1M-BTR) was measured in human samples for the first time, with a detection frequency 77% and median 1.75 ng/mL. Professional firefighters had lower urinary 1M-BTR compared to non-firefighters. Urinary 1M-BTR was associated with levels of γ-glutamyl transferase (β = - 17.54%; 95% CI: - 26.127, - 7.962). CONCLUSION This is the first study to investigate BT exposure in Central Europe, including potentially exposed firefighters. The findings showed a high prevalence of BTs in the study population, the relevance of 1M-BTR as a new biomarker of exposure, and an urgent need for further research into associated adverse health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Pálešová
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Bláhová
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Janoš
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Katarína Řiháčková
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Aleš Pindur
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Sports Studies, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
- Training Centre of Fire Rescue Service, General Directorate of Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic, Ministry of the Interior, Trnkova 85, 628 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ludmila Šebejová
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Čupr
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
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Zeng T, Chen X, van de Lavoir M, Robeyns R, Zhao L, Delgado Povedano MDM, van Nuijs ALN, Zhu L, Covaci A. Serum untargeted lipidomic characterization in a general Chinese cohort with residual per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances by liquid chromatography-drift tube ion mobility-mass spectrometry. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 929:172483. [PMID: 38631629 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) remain controversial due to their high persistency and potential human toxicity. Although occupational exposure to PFAS has been widely investigated, the implications of PFAS occurrence in the general population remain to be unraveled. Considering that serum from most people contains PFAS, the aim of this study was to characterize the lipidomic profile in human serum from a general cohort (n = 40) with residual PFAS levels. The geometric means of ∑PFAS (11.8 and 4.4 ng/mL) showed significant differences (p < 0.05) for the samples with the highest (n = 20) and lowest (n = 20) concentrations from the general population respectively. Reverse-phase liquid chromatography coupled to drift tube ion mobility and high-resolution mass spectrometry using dual polarity ionization was used to characterize the lipid profile in both groups. The structural elucidation involved the integration of various parameters, such as retention time, mass-to-charge ratio, tandem mass spectra and collision cross section values. This approach yielded a total of 20 potential biomarkers linked to the perturbed glycerophospholipid metabolism, energy metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism. Among these alterations, most lipids were down-regulated and some specific lipids (PC 36:5, PC 37:4 and PI O-34:2) exhibited a relatively strong Spearman correlation and predictive capacity for PFAS contamination. This study could support further toxicological assessments and mechanistic investigations into the effects of PFAS exposure on the lipidome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Zeng
- Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk 2610, Belgium
| | - Xin Chen
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Maria van de Lavoir
- Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk 2610, Belgium
| | - Rani Robeyns
- Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk 2610, Belgium
| | - Lu Zhao
- Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk 2610, Belgium
| | | | - Alexander L N van Nuijs
- Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk 2610, Belgium
| | - Lingyan Zhu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk 2610, Belgium.
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Lin ZW, Wang J, Dyakiv Y, Helbling DE, Dichtel WR. Structural Features of Styrene-Functionalized Cyclodextrin Polymers That Promote the Adsorption of Perfluoroalkyl Acids in Water. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:28409-28422. [PMID: 38768313 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c01969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Cross-linked β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) polymers are promising adsorbents for the removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from contaminated water sources, including contaminated groundwater, drinking water, and wastewater. We previously reported porous, styrene-functionalized β-cyclodextrin (StyDex) polymers derived from radical polymerization with vinyl comonomers. Because of the versatility of these polymerizations, StyDex polymer compositions are tunable, which facilitates efforts to establish structure-adsorption relationships and to discover improved materials. Here, we evaluate the material properties and PFAS adsorption of 20 StyDex derivatives with varied comonomer structure and loading, regiochemistry of styrene placement on the CD monomer, and CD size. A StyDex polymer containing N,N'-dimethylbutyl ammonium ions exhibited the most effective PFAS adsorption in batch experiments. Furthermore, a StyDex polymer containing β-CD exhibited size-selective host-guest interactions with perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and neutral contaminants in aqueous electrolyte when compared to similar polymers containing either α-CD or γ-CD. Polymers based on β-CD monomers with an average of seven styrene groups randomly positioned over the 21 available hydroxyl groups performed similarly to those based on a β-CD monomer functionalized regiospecifically at each of the seven 6' positions. The former β-CD monomer is prepared in a single step from unmodified β-CD, so the ability to use it without compromising performance demonstrates promise for developing economically competitive adsorbents. These results offered important insights into structure-adsorption properties of StyDex polymers and will inform the design of improved StyDex formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Wei Lin
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Jieyuan Wang
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Yaryna Dyakiv
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Damian E Helbling
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - William R Dichtel
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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Rico A, Crettaz-Minaglia M, García-Astillero A, Bizzotto E, Vighi M. Fate and effects of a new generation fluorosurfactant (cC 6O 4) in freshwater mesocosms. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 268:106866. [PMID: 38382184 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2024.106866] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) have raised international concerns due to their widespread use, environmental persistence and potential bioaccumulative and ecotoxicological effects. Therefore, the chemical industry has been dedicated to develop new generation fluorosurfactants which are aimed to replace the most concerning PFAS. Here we investigated the fate and effects of cyclic C6O4 (cC6O4), a compound used as alternative to long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, in freshwater mesocosms located in the Mediterranean region (Spain) over a period of 90 days. cC6O4 was applied as ammonium salt once at the following nominal concentrations: 0 µg/L (control), 1 µg/L, 20 µg/L, 400 µg/L, and 8,000 µg/L. The study shows that cC6O4 is relatively persistent in water (dissipation: 34-37 % after 90 days), has very low sorption capacity to sediments (sediment-water partition coefficient: 0.18-0.32 L/kg) and very limited bioconcentration (BCF: 0.09-0.94), bioaccumulation (BAF: 0.09-4.06) and biomagnification (BMF: 0.05-0.28) potential. cC6O4 did not result in significant adverse effects on aquatic populations and communities of phytoplankton and zooplankton at the tested concentrations. As for the macroinvertebrate community, the ephemeropteran Cloeon sp. showed a population decline at the highest test concentration on day 60 onwards, and a significant effect on the macroinvertebrate community was identified on the last sampling day at the same exposure level. Therefore, the calculated NOEC for cC6O4 in freshwater mesocosms exposed over a period of 90 days was 400 µg/L, which corresponded to a time weighted average concentration of 611 µg/L, given the water evaporation in the test systems. This concentration is about an order of magnitude higher than the highest exposure concentration monitored in freshwater ecosystems. Therefore, it can be concluded that cC6O4 poses insignificant ecological risks for freshwater plankton and macroinvertebrate communities given the current environmental exposure levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreu Rico
- Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, 46980 Paterna, Spain; IMDEA Water Institute, Science and Technology Campus of the University of Alcalá, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain.
| | - Melina Crettaz-Minaglia
- IMDEA Water Institute, Science and Technology Campus of the University of Alcalá, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Ariadna García-Astillero
- IMDEA Water Institute, Science and Technology Campus of the University of Alcalá, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Elisa Bizzotto
- Foundation Ca' Foscari University, Ca' Dolfin, Venice, Italy
| | - Marco Vighi
- IMDEA Water Institute, Science and Technology Campus of the University of Alcalá, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
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Myronyuk O, Baklan D, Rodin AM. Owens-Wendt Method for Comparing the UV Stability of Spontaneous Liquid-Repellency with Wet Chemical Treatment of Laser-Textured Stainless Steel. Biomimetics (Basel) 2023; 8:584. [PMID: 38132523 PMCID: PMC10741767 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8080584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The liquid-repellent properties of AISI 304 stainless steel surfaces textured with a femtosecond laser were studied, both after spontaneous hydrophobization and when treated with stearic acid and octyltrimethoxysilane. Surface topography has been shown to play a critical role in determining these properties. Although textures containing only LIPSS exhibited poor liquid-repellency, the performance was significantly improved after engraving the microtexture. The most effective topography consisted of 45 µm-wide grooves with a pitch of 60 µm and protrusions covered with a rough microcrystalline structure. Liquid-repellency, chemical treatment efficiency, and UV resistance were compared using derived Owens-Wendt parameters. The surface of femtosecond-laser-textured steel after spontaneous hydrophobization was found to be significantly less stable under UV irradiation than surfaces treated with stearic acid or octyltrimethoxysilane modifiers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleksiy Myronyuk
- Department of Chemical Technology of Composite Materials, Chemical Technology Faculty, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, Beresteiskyi Ave. 37, 03056 Kyiv, Ukraine; (O.M.); (D.B.)
| | - Denys Baklan
- Department of Chemical Technology of Composite Materials, Chemical Technology Faculty, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, Beresteiskyi Ave. 37, 03056 Kyiv, Ukraine; (O.M.); (D.B.)
| | - Aleksej M. Rodin
- Solid State Laser Laboratory, Department of Laser Technologies, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Savanoriu Ave. 231, 02300 Vilnius, Lithuania
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Ateia M, Sigmund G, Bentel MJ, Washington JW, Lai A, Merrill NH, Wang Z. Integrated data-driven cross-disciplinary framework to prevent chemical water pollution. ONE EARTH (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2023; 6:10.1016/j.oneear.2023.07.001. [PMID: 38264630 PMCID: PMC10802893 DOI: 10.1016/j.oneear.2023.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Access to a clean and healthy environment is a human right and a prerequisite for maintaining a sustainable ecosystem. Experts across domains along the chemical life cycle have traditionally operated in isolation, leading to limited connectivity between upstream chemical innovation to downstream development of water-treatment technologies. This fragmented and historically reactive approach to managing emerging contaminants has resulted in significant externalized societal costs. Herein, we propose an integrated data-driven framework to foster proactive action across domains to effectively address chemical water pollution. By implementing this integrated framework, it will not only enhance the capabilities of experts in their respective fields but also create opportunities for novel approaches that yield co-benefits across multiple domains. To successfully operationalize the integrated framework, several concerted efforts are warranted, including adopting open and FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) data practices, developing common knowledge bases/platforms, and staying vigilant against new substance "properties" of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Ateia
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Solutions & Emergency Response, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gabriel Sigmund
- Environmental Geosciences, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubeck-Platz 2, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Michael J. Bentel
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - John W. Washington
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Athens, GA 30605, USA
| | - Adelene Lai
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, 6 Avenue du Swing, 4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg
- Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Nathaniel H. Merrill
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Narragansett, RI, USA
| | - Zhanyun Wang
- Empa Swiss – Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Technology and Society Laboratory, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
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