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Shen J, Mao Y, Zhang H, Lou H, Zhang L, Jin F, Moreira JP. Exposure of women undergoing In-Vitro Fertilization to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances: Evidence on negative effects on Fertilization and high-quality embryos. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024:124474. [PMID: 38992828 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
In April 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 17.5% of the global adult population experience infertility. What may be the contribution of per-and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) to this global public health problem? This study explored the associations between in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes and plasma concentrations of individual PFAS and PFAS mixtures in women undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and how these exposures might affect IVF outcomes. We analyzed 8 PFASs in plasma samples from women (N=259) who underwent IVF treatment. In multivariable generalized linear mixed models, there were statistically significant associations of higher plasma concentrations of PFNA with reduced numbers of total retrieved oocytes [12.486 (95%CI:-0.446,25.418), p trend=0.017], 2PN zygotes [6.467(95%CI:-2.034,14.968), p trend=0.007], and cleavage embryos [6.039(95%CI:-2.162,14.240), p trend=0.008]. Similarly, there was a continuous decline in the numbers of retrieved 2PN zygotes and cleavage embryos with increasing concentration of PFOS [6.467(95%CI:-2.034,14.968), p trend=0.009 and 6.039(95%CI:-2.162,14.240), p trend=0.031,respectively] and a negative association between PFHxS concentrations and clinical pregnancy during the initial cycles of frozen ET [0.525(95%CI:0.410,0.640), p trend=0.021]. To investigate the joint effect of PFAS mixtures, a confounder-adjusted BKMR model analysis showed inverse relationship between PFAS mixtures and the number of high-quality embryos, 2PN zygotes and cleavage embryos, to which the greatest contributors to the mixture effect are PFDeA and PFBS, respectively. It demonstrated that PFAS exposure might exert negative effects on oocyte yield, fertilization and high-quality embryo in women undergoing IVF. These findings suggest that exposure to PFAS may increase the risk of female infertility and further studies are needed to uncover the potential mechanisms underlying the reproductive effects associated with PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Shen
- Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuchan Mao
- Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongyan Zhang
- Hangzhou Women's Hospital, 369 Kunpeng Road, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hangying Lou
- Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fan Jin
- Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Joaquim Paulo Moreira
- International Healthcare Management Research and Development Center (IHM_RDC), The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong, Jinan, China; Henan Normal University, School of Social Affairs, Xinxiang, China; Atlantica Instituto Universitario, Gestao em Saude, Oeiras, Portugal.
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Clark KL, Shukla M, George JW, Gustin S, Rowley MJ, Davis JS. An environmentally relevant mixture of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) impacts proliferation, steroid hormone synthesis, and gene transcription in primary human granulosa cells. Toxicol Sci 2024; 200:57-69. [PMID: 38603627 PMCID: PMC11199914 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfae049] [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] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals that are resistant to biodegradation and are environmentally persistent. PFAS are found in many consumer products and are a major source of water and soil contamination. This study investigated the effects of an environmentally relevant PFAS mixture (perfluorooctanoic acid [PFOA], perfluorooctanesulfonic acid [PFOS], perfluorohexanesulfonic acid [PFHxS]) on the transcriptome and function of human granulosa cells (hGCs). Primary hGCs were harvested from follicular aspirates of healthy, reproductive-age women who were undergoing oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization. Liquid Chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS) was performed to identify PFAS compounds in pure follicular fluid. Cells were cultured with vehicle control or a PFAS mixture (2 nM PFHxS, 7 nM PFOA, 10 nM PFOS) for 96 h. Analyses of cell proliferation/apoptosis, steroidogenesis, and gene expression were measured via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays/immunofluorescence, ELISA/western blotting, and RNA sequencing/bioinformatics, respectively. PFOA, PFOS, and PFHxS were detected in 100% of follicle fluid samples. Increased cell proliferation was observed in hGCs treated with the PFAS mixture with no impacts on cellular apoptosis. The PFAS mixture also altered steroid hormone synthesis, increasing both follicle-stimulating hormone-stimulated and basal progesterone secretion and concomitant upregulation of STAR protein. RNA sequencing revealed inherent differences in transcriptomic profiles in hGCs after PFAS exposure. This study demonstrates functional and transcriptomic changes in hGCs after exposure to a PFAS mixture, improving our knowledge about the impacts of PFAS exposures and female reproductive health. These findings suggest that PFAS compounds can disrupt normal granulosa cell function with possible long-term consequences on overall reproductive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendra L Clark
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, USA
- Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, Nebraska 68105, USA
| | - Mamta Shukla
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, USA
| | - Jitu W George
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, USA
- Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, Nebraska 68105, USA
| | - Stephanie Gustin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, USA
- Heartland Center for Reproductive Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska 68138, USA
| | - M Jordan Rowley
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, USA
| | - John S Davis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, USA
- Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, Nebraska 68105, USA
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Shi W, Zhang Z, Li M, Dong H, Li J. Reproductive toxicity of PFOA, PFOS and their substitutes: A review based on epidemiological and toxicological evidence. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 250:118485. [PMID: 38373549 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have already drawn a lot of attention for their accumulation and reproductive toxicity in organisms. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanoic sulfonate (PFOS), two representative PFAS, are toxic to humans and animals. Due to their widespread use in environmental media with multiple toxicities, PFOA and PFOS have been banned in numerous countries, and many substitutes have been produced to meet market requirements. Unfortunately, most alternatives to PFOA and PFOS have proven to be cumulative and highly toxic. Of the reported multiple organ toxicities, reproductive toxicity deserves special attention. It has been confirmed through epidemiological studies that PFOS and PFOA are not only associated with reduced testosterone levels in humans, but also with an association with damage to the integrity of the blood testicular barrier. In addition, for women, PFOA and PFOS are correlated with abnormal sex hormone levels, and increase the risk of infertility and abnormal menstrual cycle. Nevertheless, there is controversial evidence on the epidemiological relationship that exists between PFOA and PFOS as well as sperm quality and reproductive hormones, while the evidence from animal studies is relatively consistent. Based on the published papers, the potential toxicity mechanisms for PFOA, PFOS and their substitutes were reviewed. For males, PFOA and PFOS may produce reproductive toxicity in the following five ways: (1) Apoptosis and autophagy in spermatogenic cells; (2) Apoptosis and differentiation disorders of Leydig cells; (3) Oxidative stress in sperm and disturbance of Ca2+ channels in sperm membrane; (4) Degradation of delicate intercellular junctions between Sertoli cells; (5) Activation of brain nuclei and shift of hypothalamic metabolome. For females, PFOA and PFOS may produce reproductive toxicity in the following five ways: (1) Damage to oocytes through oxidative stress; (2) Inhibition of corpus luteum function; (3) Inhibition of steroid hormone synthesis; (4) Damage to follicles by affecting gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC); (5) Inhibition of placental function. Besides, PFAS substitutes show similar reproductive toxicity with PFOA and PFOS, and are even more toxic to the placenta. Finally, based on the existing knowledge, future developments and direction of efforts in this field are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenshan Shi
- School of Public Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Zengli Zhang
- School of Public Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
| | - Mei Li
- School of Civil Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, 215011, China
| | - Huiyu Dong
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Jiafu Li
- School of Public Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
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Gao M, Shen H, Li Q, Gu X, Jia T, Wang Y. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) induces apoptosis and autophagy by inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in human granulosa cell line KGN. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 344:123333. [PMID: 38211877 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123333] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is recognized as an environmental endocrine disruptor with widespread use in industrial manufacturing and daily life, contributing to various public health concerns. However, the precise impacts of PFOS on the ovary and its regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to delineate the ovarian toxicity of PFOS and scrutinize its effects on apoptosis and autophagy through modulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in the human granulosa cell line (KGN). Cell viability, assessed via the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8), revealed a dose-dependent reduction in cell viability upon PFOS exposure. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated an elevated proportion of apoptotic cells following PFOS treatment. Western blot analyses unveiled increased expression of Bax, Cyt c, cleaved caspase-9, and LC3-II/I, coupled with decreased expression of Bcl-2 and p62. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations illustrated a heightened number of autophagosomes induced by PFOS. Molecular docking investigations, in conjunction with Western blot experiments, substantiated PFOS's significant inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. These findings collectively underscore that PFOS induces apoptosis and autophagy in KGN cells through modulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, providing experimental evidence for PFOS-induced ovarian toxicity and elucidating the underlying regulatory mechanisms in KGN cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Gao
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Haofei Shen
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qiuyuan Li
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xuzhao Gu
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Tianyu Jia
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yiqing Wang
- The First School of Clinical Medicine & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; Gansu International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Reproductive Medicine Transformation Application, Key Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine and Embryo of Gansu Province & Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China.
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5
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Chen Z, Chen Z, Gao S, Shi J, Li X, Sun F. PFOS exposure destroys the integrity of the blood-testis barrier (BTB) through PI3K/AKT/mTOR-mediated autophagy. Reprod Biol 2024; 24:100846. [PMID: 38160586 DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2023.100846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanesulfonate or perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), a type of perfluorinated compound, is mainly found in consumer products. Exposure to PFOS could cause male reproductive toxicity by causing injury to the blood-testis barrier (BTB). However, the specific mechanisms through which PFOS affects male reproduction remain unclear. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a vital protein kinase that is believed to be a central regulator of autophagy. In this study, we established in vivo and in vitro models to explore the effects of PFOS on the BTB, autophagy, and the regulatory role of the mTOR signaling pathway. Adult mice were developmentally exposed to 0, 0.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg/day PFOS for five weeks. Thereafter, their testicular morphology, sperm counts, serum testosterone, expression of BTB-related proteins, and autophagy-related proteins were evaluated. Additionally, TM4 cells (a mouse Sertoli cell line) were used to delineate the molecular mechanisms that mediate the effects of PFOS on BTB. Our results demonstrated that exposure to PFOS induced BTB injury and autophagy, as evidenced by increased expression of autophagy-related proteins, accumulation of autophagosomes, observed through representative electron micrographs, and decreased activity of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Moreover, treatment with chloroquine, an autophagy inhibitor, alleviated the effects of PFOS on the integrity of TM4 cells in the BTB and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Overall, this study highlights that exposure to PFOS destroys the integrity of the BTB through PI3K/AKT/mTOR-mediated autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zifeng Chen
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Zhengru Chen
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Sheng Gao
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Jie Shi
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Xinyao Li
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Fei Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
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Zhang D, Hu J, Li H. Perfluorooctanoic acid inhibits androgen biosynthesis in rat immature Leydig cells. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2024; 39:1700-1714. [PMID: 38050817 DOI: 10.1002/tox.24042] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a commonly used short-chain synthetic perfluoroalkyl agent. Immature Leydig cells (ILCs) are localized in the testis and responsible for androgen biosynthesis and metabolism. Although PFOA shows toxicity in the reproductive system, it is not clear if it disrupts the function of ILCs. In the present study, primary ILCs were isolated from 35-day-old rats and exposed to a range of PFOA concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.1, or 1 μM). It was determined that 0.1 or 1 μM PFOA reduced total androgen biosynthesis in ILCs. Specifically, 22R-hydroxycholesterol (22R), and pregnenolone (P5) mediated androgen biosynthesis were reduced by 0.1 μM PFOA. PFOA also selectively downregulated mRNA and protein expressions of steroidogenic enzymes including LHCGR, CYP11A1, 3β-HSD1, and NR5A1 at 0.01, 0.1, or 1 μM. Further analysis revealed that 0.1 μM PFOA inhibited CYP11A1 and 3β-HSD1 enzyme activities. However, PFOA did not significantly affect androgen metabolism and turnover under any of the conditions tested. And PFOA gavaging to 35-day-old rats at 5 or 10 mg/kg for 7 or 14 days also reduced serum androgen levels secreted by ILCs. Moreover, PFOA gavaging also downregulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of LHCGR, CYP11A1, 3β-HSD1, and NR5A1 in vivo. Taken together, these findings suggest that PFOA inhibits androgen biosynthesis in ILCs by selectively targeting key enzymes in the synthesis pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongxu Zhang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiasheng Hu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Heming Li
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
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Sang L, Ge Y, Liu F, Wei K, Shen X, Zhang Y, Li Z, Lu W, Gao X, Zhang Y. Association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and sex hormone levels in males based on human studies. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 271:115998. [PMID: 38262091 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.115998] [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: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous chemicals in the environment and our daily lives. Several epidemiological studies have revealed that PFAS exposure is linked to male sex hormone levels; however, the conclusions are inconsistent across studies. Consequently, we performed a meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the association between PFAS exposure and male sex hormones. METHODS The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) standards were followed during the meta-analysis. PubMed, Wed of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Ovid databases were used to identify suitable articles before June 2023. The 95% CI and β values were calculated to assess the association between male sex hormone levels and PFAS exposure. Heterogeneity among the included studies was tested using inconsistency statistics (I2). RESULTS The literature search identified 12 published articles that met our search criteria, involving 7506 participants. Our results revealed that perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) exposures were negatively correlated with testosterone (β = -0.05; 95% CI: -0.09, -0.02, P = 0.003) and (β = -0.04; 95% CI: -0.08, 0.00, P = 0.049), respectively. CONCLUSION Exposure to PFNA and PFOA is negatively correlated with changes in male testosterone levels. This correlation suggests that we need to pay attention in the future to whether they are potential risk factors for male reproductive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingli Sang
- Department of Public Health, Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang 222000, China
| | - Yue Ge
- Department of Public Health, Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang 222000, China
| | - Fucun Liu
- Department of Public Health, Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang 222000, China
| | - Kai Wei
- Department of Public Health, Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang 222000, China
| | - Xingyu Shen
- Department of Public Health, Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang 222000, China
| | - Yuxin Zhang
- Department of Public Health, Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang 222000, China
| | - Zheng Li
- Department of Public Health, Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang 222000, China
| | - Wencen Lu
- Department of Public Health, Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang 222000, China
| | - Xia Gao
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery of Xuzhou Cancer Hospital, XuZhou 2210000, China.
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Public Health, Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang 222000, China.
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Niu Z, Duan L, Du Y, Yu F, Chen R, Li Z, Ba Y, Zhou G. Effect of zinc intake on association between fluoride exposure and abnormal sex steroid hormones among US pubertal males: NHANES, 2013-2016. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:2759-2772. [PMID: 38063965 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31135-x] [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: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Excessive fluoride exposure can disturb the balance of sex hormones. Zinc is essential for sex hormone synthesis and spermatogenesis. But it is not clear how zinc affects the relationship of fluoride exposure with abnormal sex steroid hormones. Here, a total of 1008 pubertal males from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in two cycles (2013-2014, 2015-2016) were enrolled. The concentrations of water fluoride and plasma fluoride and the levels of serum testosterone, estradiol, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were measured. Two 24-h dietary recall interviews were conducted to assess the dietary zinc intake. The relationships of fluoride exposure and zinc intake with sex hormones were examined using linear regression and logistic regression models, while the generalized additive model was used to evaluate their non-linear relationship. Our findings revealed that for every two-fold increase in plasma fluoride concentration, testosterone levels decreased by 7.27% (95% CI - 11.49%, - 2.86%) and estradiol levels decreased by 8.73% (95% CI - 13.61%, - 3.57%). There was also significant non-linear association observed between zinc intake and SHBG levels. Being in the first tertile of plasma fluoride had a 60% lower risk of high SHBG (OR = 0.40, 95% CI 0.18, 0.89) compared with being in the second tertile. When compared to the first tertile, being in the second tertile of zinc intake was associated with a 63% (OR = 0.37, 95% CI 0.14, 0.98) lower risk of high SHBG. Furthermore, we observed an interactive effect between the plasma fluoride and zinc intake on estradiol and SHBG, as well as the risk of high SHBG (P-interaction < 0.10). These findings suggest that fluoride exposure and zinc intake can affect sex steroid hormone levels and the risk of high SHBG. Notably, zinc intake may alleviate the increased risk of high SHBG and the abnormal changes of estradiol and SHBG caused by higher fluoride exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyuan Niu
- Department of Environment Health, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, People's Republic of China
| | - Leizhen Duan
- Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuhui Du
- Department of Environment Health, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, People's Republic of China
| | - Fangfang Yu
- Department of Environment Health, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruiqin Chen
- Jinshui District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiyuan Li
- Department of Environment Health, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Ba
- Department of Environment Health, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, People's Republic of China
- Yellow River Institute for Ecological Protection & Regional Coordinated Development, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoyu Zhou
- Department of Environment Health, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, People's Republic of China.
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Prevention, Henan Key Laboratory of Population Defects Prevention, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China.
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Yan W, Bai R, Zheng Q, Yang X, Shi Y, Yang R, Jiang C, Wang X, Li X. Concentrations and association between exposure to mixed perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and glycometabolism among adolescents. Ann Med 2023; 55:2227844. [PMID: 37354023 PMCID: PMC10291925 DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2023.2227844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widely used for industrial and commercial purposes and have received increasing attention due to their adverse effects on health. OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship of serum PFAS and glycometabolism among adolescents based on the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. METHODS General linear regression models were applied to estimate the relationship between exposure to single PFAS and glycometabolism. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models and Bayesian kernel machine regressions (BKMR) were used to assess the associations between multiple PFASs mixture exposure and glycometabolism. RESULTS A total of 757 adolescents were enrolled. Multivariable regression model showed that Me-PFOSA-AcOH exposure was negatively associated with fasting blood glucose. WQS index showed that there was marginal negative correlation between multiple PFASs joint exposure and the homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) (β = -0.26, p < .068), and PFHxS had the largest weight. BKMR models showed that PFASs mixture exposure were associated with decreased INS and HOMA-IR, and the exposure-response relationship had curvilinear shape. CONCLUSIONS The increase in serum PFASs were associated with a decrease in HOMA-IR among adolescents. Mixed exposure models could more accurately and effectively reveal true exposure.Key MessagesThe detection rates of different PFAS contents in adolescent serum remained diverse.Adolescent serum PFASs had negative curvilinear correlation with INS and HOMA-IR levels.PFHxS had the highest weight in the associations between multiple PFASs and adolescent glycometabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wu Yan
- Department of Children Health Care, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ruhai Bai
- School of Public Affairs, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Qingqing Zheng
- Department of Children Health Care, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaona Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanan Shi
- Department of Children Health Care, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ruizhe Yang
- Department of Prevention and Health Care, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chenjun Jiang
- Department of Physics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaonan Li
- Department of Children Health Care, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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10
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Pavan A, Cendron L, Di Nisio A, Pedrucci F, Sabovic I, Scarso A, Ferlin A, Angelini A, Foresta C, De Toni L. In vitro binding analysis of legacy-linear and new generation-cyclic perfluoro-alkyl substances on sex hormone binding globulin and albumin, suggests low impact on serum hormone kinetics of testosterone. Toxicology 2023; 500:153664. [PMID: 37931871 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2023.153664] [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: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
In humans, serum testosterone (T) is largely bound to the sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and human serum albumin (hSA), resulting in a 2-3 % of unbound or "free" active quote (FT). Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including perfluoro-alkyl substances (PFAS), are recognized to interfere with the hormonal axes, but the possible impact on the FT quote has not been addressed so far. Here we investigated the possible competition of two acknowledged PFAS molecules on T binding to SHBG and hSA. In particular, perfluoro-octanoic acid (PFOA) and acetic acid, 2,2-difluoro-2-((2,2,4,5-tetrafluoro-5(trifluoromethoxy)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)oxy)-ammonium salt (1:1) (C6O4) were used as, respectively, legacy-linear and new-generation-cyclic PFASs. Human recombinant SHBG 30-234 domain (SHBG30-234), produced in HEK293-F cells, and delipidated recombinant hSA were used as in vitro protein models. Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) and tryptophan fluorescence quencing (TFQ) were used to evaluate the binding modes of T and PFAS to SHBG30-234 and hSA. ITC revealed the binding of T to SHBG30-234 with a Kd of 44 ± 2 nM whilst both PFOA and C6O4 showed no binding activity. Results were confirmed by TFQ, since only T modified the fluorescence profile of SHBG30-234. In hSA, TFQ confirmed the binding of T on FA6 site of the protein. A similar binding mode was observed for PFOA but not for C6O4, as further verified by displacement experiments with T. Although both PFASs were previously shown to bind hSA, only PFOA is predicted to possibly compete with T for the binding to hSA. However, on the base of the binding stoichiometry and affinity of PFOA for hSA, this appears unlikely at the blood concentrations of the chemical documented to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Pavan
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Laura Cendron
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Di Nisio
- Deparment of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Federica Pedrucci
- Deparment of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Iva Sabovic
- Deparment of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandro Scarso
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, Venezia, Italy
| | - Alberto Ferlin
- Deparment of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandro Angelini
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, Venezia, Italy; European Centre for Living Technology (ECLT), Ca' Bottacin, Venice, Italy
| | - Carlo Foresta
- Deparment of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
| | - Luca De Toni
- Deparment of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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11
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Kabakci R, Clark KL, Plewes MR, Monaco CF, Davis JS. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) inhibits steroidogenesis and mitochondrial function in bovine granulosa cells in vitro. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 338:122698. [PMID: 37832777 PMCID: PMC10873118 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122698] [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: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a persistent environmental contaminant. Due to the ubiquitous presence of PFOA in the environment, the impacts of PFOA exposure not only affect human reproductive health but may also affect livestock reproductive health. The focus of this study was to determine the effects of PFOA on the physiological functions of bovine granulosa cells in vitro. Primary bovine granulosa cells were exposed to 0, 4, and 40 μM PFOA for 48 and 96 h followed by analysis of granulosa cell function including cell viability, steroidogenesis, and mitochondrial activity. Results revealed that PFOA inhibited steroid hormone secretion and altered the expression of key enzymes required for steroidogenesis. Gene expression analysis revealed decreases in mRNA transcripts for CYP11A1, HSD3B, and CYP19A1 and an increase in STAR expression after PFOA exposure. Similarly, PFOA decreased levels of CYP11A1 and CYP19A1 protein. PFOA did not impact live cell number, alter the cell cycle, or induce apoptosis, although it reduced metabolic activity, indicative of mitochondrial dysfunction. We observed that PFOA treatment caused a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and increases in PINK protein expression, suggestive of mitophagy and mitochondrial damage. Further analysis revealed that these changes were associated with increased levels of reactive oxygen species. Expression of autophagy related proteins phosphoULK1 and LAMP2 were increased after PFOA exposure, in addition to an increased abundance of lysosomes, characteristic of increased autophagy. Taken together, these findings suggest that PFOA can negatively impact granulosa cell steroidogenesis via mitochondrial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruhi Kabakci
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kirikkale University, 71450 Yahsihan, Kirikkale, Turkey; Deparment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Kendra L Clark
- Deparment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - Michele R Plewes
- Deparment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; Deparment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - Corrine F Monaco
- Deparment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - John S Davis
- Deparment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; Deparment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA.
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12
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Lan H, Hu Z, Gan H, Wu L, Xie S, Jiang Y, Ye D, Ye X. Association between exposure to persistent organic pollutants and pubertal timing in boys and girls: A systematic review and meta-analysis. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 265:115540. [PMID: 37801753 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115540] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the phenomenon of abnormal pubertal timing in children has become increasingly common worldwide. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may be one of the risk factors contributing to this phenomenon, but the relationship between them is unclear based on current evidence. The purpose of this study was to determine the association of POPs exposure with pubertal timing in girls and boys by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched PubMed and Embase databases for studies before June 1, 2023. Meta-analysis was performed by pooling relative risk (RR) or odds ratio (OR) or prevalence ratio (PR) or hazard ratio (HR) estimates with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analysis, publication bias assessment and sensitivity analysis were also carried out. A total of 21 studies were included, involving 2479 boys and 8718 girls. The results of meta-analysis showed that exposure to POPs was significantly associated with delayed pubertal timing in girls (RR: 0.85; 95 % CI: 0.79-0.91; p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant association between exposure to POPs and pubertal timing in boys (RR: 1.18; 95 % CI: 0.99-1.40; p = 0.070). Subgroup analysis showed that there may be gender differences in the effects of exposure to POPs on pubertal timing. Our results suggested that exposure to POPs could delay pubertal timing in girls. However, based on current evidence, no significant association was found between POPs exposure and pubertal timing in boys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huili Lan
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Zhiqin Hu
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Hongya Gan
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Lixiang Wu
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Shushu Xie
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Yan Jiang
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Ding Ye
- School of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Xiaoqing Ye
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
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13
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Liu Y, Calafat AM, Chen A, Lanphear BP, Jones NHY, Cecil KM, Rose SR, Yolton K, Buckley JP, Braun JM. Associations of prenatal and postnatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances with pubertal development and reproductive hormones in females and males: The HOME study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 890:164353. [PMID: 37225096 PMCID: PMC10330798 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal and childhood exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may be associated with lower reproductive hormones and later puberty, but epidemiological studies evaluating these associations are scarce. OBJECTIVES We examined associations of PFAS concentrations assessed from pregnancy to adolescence with pubertal development and reproductive hormones at age 12 years. METHODS We studied 200 mother-child pairs from the HOME Study in Cincinnati, OH (enrolled: 2003-2006). We quantified serum concentrations of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) in pregnant women and their children at age 3, 8 and 12 years. At age 12 years, children self-assessed pubertal development using Tanner staging of pubic hair growth (males and females) and breast growth (females), and age at menarche. We quantified serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone in both sexes; estradiol in females; testosterone in males. We estimated associations of PFAS with pubertal outcomes and reproductive hormones using a combination of ordinal regression, Cox proportional-hazard regression, and linear regression. Quantile-based g-computation was used for PFAS mixture. RESULTS In females, adolescent PFAS concentrations and their mixture were associated with later pubic hair growth, breast maturation, and age at menarche, but there was no pattern for prenatal or other postnatal concentrations. For instance, in females, each doubling in adolescent PFAS concentrations was associated with 79 % (PFOA), 63 % (PFOS), 56 % (PFNA), and 47 % (PFHxS) lower odds of attaining a higher stage for breast growth. In addition, adolescent PFAS concentrations were consistently associated with lower estradiol concentrations in females. No pattern was observed for associations of PFAS concentrations with pubic hair growth or reproductive hormones in males. CONCLUSIONS We observed associations between PFAS concentrations in adolescence and later pubertal development in females, but this could be due to reverse causation induced by excretion of PFAS through menstrual fluid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA.
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Aimin Chen
- Department of Biostatics, Epidemiology & Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Bruce P Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nana-Hawa Yayah Jones
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kim M Cecil
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Susan R Rose
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jessie P Buckley
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joseph M Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
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14
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Barrett ES, Rivera-Núñez Z. Invited Perspective: PFAS and Pubertal Timing in Girls-A Maturing Literature. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:91304. [PMID: 37751324 PMCID: PMC10521913 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Emily S. Barrett
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Zorimar Rivera-Núñez
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
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15
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Pinney SM, Fassler CS, Windham GC, Herrick RL, Xie C, Kushi LH, Biro FM. Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Associations with Pubertal Onset and Serum Reproductive Hormones in a Longitudinal Study of Young Girls in Greater Cincinnati and the San Francisco Bay Area. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:97009. [PMID: 37751325 PMCID: PMC10521915 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), endocrine disrupting chemicals with worldwide exposure, cause changes in mammary gland development in rodents. A few human studies report delay in pubertal events with increasing perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) exposure, but to our knowledge none have examined reproductive hormone levels at thelarche. METHODS In a cohort of Greater Cincinnati (GC) and San Francisco Bay Area (SFBA) girls recruited at 6-8 years of age, clinical examinations were conducted annually or semiannually with sequential Tanner staging. PFAS concentrations were measured in the first serum sample of 704 girls. In 304 GC girls, estradiol (E 2 ), estrone (E 1 ), testosterone (T), and dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) were measured in serum at four time points around puberty. Relationships between PFAS and age at thelarche, pubarche, and menarche were analyzed using survival and structural equation models. The association between PFAS and reproductive hormones was assessed using linear regression models. RESULTS Median PFOA serum concentrations in GC (N = 353 , 7.3 ng / mL ) and the SFBA (N = 351 , 5.8 ng / mL ) were higher than in the U.S. POPULATION In multivariable Cox proportional hazard models [adjusted for race, body mass index (BMI)], increasing serum log-transformed PFOA was associated with a delay in pubarche [hazard ratio ( HR ) = 0.83 ; 95% CI: 0.70, 0.99] and menarche (HR = 0.04 ; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.25). Structural equation models indicated a triangular relationship between PFOA, BMI percentile, and the age at the pubertal milestone. Increased PFOA had a statistically significant direct effect of delay on all three milestones, as did BMI. Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDeA), and 2-(N -methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido) acetic acid (Me-PFOSA-AcOH) also were associated with later thelarche, and Me-PFOSA-AcOH also with later pubarche. PFOA was inversely associated with DHEAS (p < 0.01 ), E 1 (p = 0.04 ), and T (p = 0.03 ) concentrations at 6 months prior to puberty. CONCLUSIONS PFAS may delay pubertal onset through the intervening effects on BMI and reproductive hormones. The decreases in DHEAS and E 1 associated with PFOA represent biological biomarkers of effect consistent with the delay in onset of puberty. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11811.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan M. Pinney
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Cecily S. Fassler
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Gayle C. Windham
- California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California, USA
| | - Robert L. Herrick
- Health Division, Sutter County Human Services, Yuba City, California, USA
| | - Changchun Xie
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Frank M. Biro
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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16
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González-Alvarez ME, Keating AF. Hepatic and ovarian effects of perfluorooctanoic acid exposure differ in lean and obese adult female mice. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2023; 474:116614. [PMID: 37422089 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2023.116614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Obesity and overweight cause poor oocyte quality, miscarriage, infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and offspring birth defects and affects 40% and 20% of US women and girls, respectively. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), is environmentally persistent and has negative female reproductive effects including endocrine disruption, oxidative stress, altered menstrual cyclicity, and decreased fertility in humans and animal models. PFAS exposure is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease which affects ∼24-26% of the US population. This study investigated the hypothesis that PFOA exposure impacts hepatic and ovarian chemical biotransformation and alters the serum metabolome. At 7 weeks of age, female lean, wild type (KK.Cg-a/a) or obese (KK.Cg-Ay/J) mice received saline (C) or PFOA (2.5 mg/Kg) per os for 15 d. Hepatic weight was increased by PFOA exposure in both lean and obese mice (P < 0.05) and obesity also increased liver weight (P < 0.05) compared to lean mice. The serum metabolome was also altered (P < 0.05) by PFOA exposure and differed between lean and obese mice. Exposure to PFOA altered (P < 0.05) the abundance of ovarian proteins with roles in xenobiotic biotransformation (lean - 6; obese - 17), metabolism of fatty acids (lean - 3; obese - 9), cholesterol (lean - 8; obese - 11), amino acids (lean - 18; obese - 19), glucose (lean - 7; obese - 10), apoptosis (lean - 18; obese - 13), and oxidative stress (lean - 3; obese - 2). Use of qRT-PCR determined that exposure to PFOA increased (P < 0.05) hepatic Ces1 and Chst1 in lean but Ephx1 and Gstm3 in obese mice. Also, obesity basally increased (P < 0.05) Nat2, Gpi and Hsd17b2 mRNA levels. These data identify molecular changes resultant from PFOA exposure that may cause liver injury and ovotoxicity in females. In addition, differences in toxicity induced by PFOA exposure occurs in lean and obese mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Estefanía González-Alvarez
- Department of Animal Science and Interdepartmental Toxicology Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, United States of America
| | - Aileen F Keating
- Department of Animal Science and Interdepartmental Toxicology Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, United States of America.
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17
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Cox B, Wauters N, Rodríguez-Carrillo A, Portengen L, Gerofke A, Kolossa-Gehring M, Lignell S, Lindroos AK, Fabelova L, Murinova LP, Desalegn A, Iszatt N, Schillemans T, Åkesson A, Colles A, Den Hond E, Koppen G, Van Larebeke N, Schoeters G, Govarts E, Remy S. PFAS and Phthalate/DINCH Exposure in Association with Age at Menarche in Teenagers of the HBM4EU Aligned Studies. TOXICS 2023; 11:711. [PMID: 37624216 PMCID: PMC10459167 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11080711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Early puberty has been found to be associated with adverse health outcomes such as metabolic and cardiovascular diseases and hormone-dependent cancers. The decrease in age at menarche observed during the past decades has been linked to an increased exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs). Evidence for the association between PFAS and phthalate exposure and menarche onset, however, is inconsistent. We studied the association between PFAS and phthalate/DINCH exposure and age at menarche using data of 514 teenagers (12 to 18 years) from four aligned studies of the Human Biomonitoring for Europe initiative (HBM4EU): Riksmaten Adolescents 2016-2017 (Sweden), PCB cohort (follow-up; Slovakia), GerES V-sub (Germany), and FLEHS IV (Belgium). PFAS concentrations were measured in blood, and phthalate/DINCH concentrations in urine. We assessed the role of each individual pollutant within the context of the others, by using different multi-pollutant approaches, adjusting for age, age- and sex-standardized body mass index z-score and household educational level. Exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), especially mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (5OH-MEHP), was associated with an earlier age at menarche, with estimates per interquartile fold change in 5OH-MEHP ranging from -0.34 to -0.12 years in the different models. Findings from this study indicated associations between age at menarche and some specific EDCs at concentrations detected in the general European population, but due to the study design (menarche onset preceded the chemical measurements), caution is needed in the interpretation of causality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Cox
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium; (N.W.); (A.R.-C.); (A.C.); (G.K.); (G.S.); (E.G.); (S.R.)
| | - Natasha Wauters
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium; (N.W.); (A.R.-C.); (A.C.); (G.K.); (G.S.); (E.G.); (S.R.)
| | - Andrea Rodríguez-Carrillo
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium; (N.W.); (A.R.-C.); (A.C.); (G.K.); (G.S.); (E.G.); (S.R.)
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein, 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Lützen Portengen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 Utrecht, The Netherlands;
| | - Antje Gerofke
- German Environment Agency, Umweltbundesamt (UBA), 14195 Berlin, Germany; (A.G.); (M.K.-G.)
| | - Marike Kolossa-Gehring
- German Environment Agency, Umweltbundesamt (UBA), 14195 Berlin, Germany; (A.G.); (M.K.-G.)
| | - Sanna Lignell
- Swedish Food Agency, 751 26 Uppsala, Sweden; (S.L.); (A.K.L.)
| | | | - Lucia Fabelova
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Slovak Medical University, 831 01 Bratislava, Slovakia; (L.F.); (L.P.M.)
| | - Lubica Palkovicova Murinova
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Slovak Medical University, 831 01 Bratislava, Slovakia; (L.F.); (L.P.M.)
| | - Anteneh Desalegn
- Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0456 Oslo, Norway; (A.D.); (N.I.)
| | - Nina Iszatt
- Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0456 Oslo, Norway; (A.D.); (N.I.)
| | - Tessa Schillemans
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (T.S.); (A.Å.)
| | - Agneta Åkesson
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (T.S.); (A.Å.)
| | - Ann Colles
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium; (N.W.); (A.R.-C.); (A.C.); (G.K.); (G.S.); (E.G.); (S.R.)
| | - Elly Den Hond
- Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Provincial Research Centre for Environment and Health, 2023 Antwerp, Belgium;
| | - Gudrun Koppen
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium; (N.W.); (A.R.-C.); (A.C.); (G.K.); (G.S.); (E.G.); (S.R.)
| | - Nicolas Van Larebeke
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Greet Schoeters
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium; (N.W.); (A.R.-C.); (A.C.); (G.K.); (G.S.); (E.G.); (S.R.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Eva Govarts
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium; (N.W.); (A.R.-C.); (A.C.); (G.K.); (G.S.); (E.G.); (S.R.)
| | - Sylvie Remy
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium; (N.W.); (A.R.-C.); (A.C.); (G.K.); (G.S.); (E.G.); (S.R.)
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18
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Sultan H, Buckley JP, Kalkwarf HJ, Cecil KM, Chen A, Lanphear BP, Yolton K, Braun JM. Dietary per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure in adolescents: The HOME study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 231:115953. [PMID: 37142081 PMCID: PMC10330479 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115953] [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: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diet is the primary exposure pathway for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in non-occupationally exposed populations. Few studies have examined associations of dietary quality and macronutrient intake with PFAS exposure among US adolescents. OBJECTIVE To assess relationships of self-reported dietary quality and macronutrient intake with serum PFAS concentrations in adolescents. METHODS We used cross-sectional data from 193 Cincinnati, Ohio area adolescents (median age 12.3 years) collected from 2016 to 2019. Using 24-h food recalls completed by adolescents on three separate days, we derived Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores, HEI components, and macronutrient intake. We measured perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) concentrations in fasting serum samples. Using linear regression, we estimated covariate-adjusted associations between dietary variables and serum PFAS concentrations. RESULTS The median HEI score was 44 and median serum PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, and PFNA concentrations were 1.3, 2.4, 0.7, and 0.3 ng/mL respectively. In adjusted models, higher total HEI scores, whole fruit and total fruit HEI component scores, and total dietary fiber intake were associated with lower concentrations of all four PFAS. For example, serum PFOA concentrations were 7% lower (95% CI: -15, 2) per standard deviation increase in total HEI score and 9% lower (95% CI: -18, 1) per standard deviation increase in dietary fiber. SIGNIFICANCE Given adverse health effects associated with PFAS exposure, it is crucial to understand modifiable exposure pathways. Findings from this study may inform future policy decisions aiming to limit human exposure to PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry Sultan
- College of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Jessie P Buckley
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Heidi J Kalkwarf
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Kim M Cecil
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States; Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Aimin Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Bruce P Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Joseph M Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
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19
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Peritore AF, Gugliandolo E, Cuzzocrea S, Crupi R, Britti D. Current Review of Increasing Animal Health Threat of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Harms, Limitations, and Alternatives to Manage Their Toxicity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11707. [PMID: 37511474 PMCID: PMC10380748 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), more than 4700 in number, are a group of widely used man-made chemicals that accumulate in living things and the environment over time. They are known as "forever chemicals" because they are extremely persistent in our environment and body. Because PFAS have been widely used for many decades, their presence is evident globally, and their persistence and potential toxicity create concern for animals, humans and environmental health. They can have multiple adverse health effects, such as liver damage, thyroid disease, obesity, fertility problems, and cancer. The most significant source of living exposure to PFAS is dietary intake (food and water), but given massive industrial and domestic use, these substances are now punctually present not only domestically but also in the outdoor environment. For example, livestock and wildlife can be exposed to PFAS through contaminated water, soil, substrate, air, or food. In this review, we have analyzed and exposed the characteristics of PFAS and their various uses and reported data on their presence in the environment, from industrialized to less populated areas. In several areas of the planet, even in areas far from large population centers, the presence of PFAS was confirmed, both in marine and terrestrial animals (organisms). Among the most common PFAS identified are undoubtedly perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), two of the most widely used and, to date, among the most studied in terms of toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics. The objective of this review is to provide insights into the toxic potential of PFAS, their exposure, and related mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Enrico Gugliandolo
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Salvatore Cuzzocrea
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Science, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
- Department of Pharmacological and Physiological Science, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO 63103, USA
| | - Rosalia Crupi
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Domenico Britti
- Department of Health Sciences, Campus Universitario "Salvatore Venuta" Viale Europa, "Magna Græcia University" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
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20
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Anastasiadis X, Matsas A, Panoskaltsis T, Bakas P, Papadimitriou DT, Christopoulos P. Impact of Chemicals on the Age of Menarche: A Literature Review. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1234. [PMID: 37508731 PMCID: PMC10378553 DOI: 10.3390/children10071234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
A growing body of evidence suggests that chemicals interfere with the age of onset of menarche. We conducted a review in order to demonstrate the relationship between several categories of chemicals and menarche. We searched for English language papers using the Medline/PubMed database until April 2023. The chemical factors found to affect menarche were prenatal and antenatal smoke, phthalates, phenols, organochlorines, perfluoroalkyls and polyfluoroalkyls, metals, air pollutants and polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Low or high exposure to each chemical compound could affect the age of menarche, leading to early or delayed menarche. Furthermore, the results show that intrauterine exposure may have a different impact from antenatal exposure. There is evidence that endocrine-disrupting chemicals affect the age of menarche, but more research needs to be conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xristos Anastasiadis
- Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Aretaieion" Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece
| | - Alkis Matsas
- Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Aretaieion" Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece
| | - Theodoros Panoskaltsis
- Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Aretaieion" Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Bakas
- Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Aretaieion" Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios T Papadimitriou
- Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Aretaieion" Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Christopoulos
- Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Aretaieion" Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece
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21
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He Y, Hu C, Zhang Y, Fan X, Gao W, Fang J, Wang Y, Xu Y, Jin L. Association of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances with sex hormones in children and adolescents 6-19 Years of age. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 329:121707. [PMID: 37098366 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have raised concerns regarding sex hormones homeostasis disruption in critical windows including childhood and adolescence, but epidemiological evidence is limited. We aimed to explore the associations of total testosterone (TT), estradiol (E2), and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in children and adolescents with PFAS in 921 participants 6-19 years of age from NHANES 2013 to 2016. Multiple linear regression models and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) models stratified by sex-age and sex-puberty-status groups were performed to explore the associations of the associations of individual or mixture of PFAS with sex hormone levels, respectively. Inverse associations were observed between n-PFOA and SHBG in female adolescents when the exposure was modeled as continuous (β = -0.20, 95% CI -0.33, -0.07) or categorized variable (P for trend = 0.005). In children, inverse associations were observed by BKMR in 6-11-year-old girls of high concentration, and in boys of low concentration of the PFAS mixture with TT. A positive association of PFAS mixture with SHBG was observed in boys. PFOS and PFNA were identified as major contributors to the associations in girls and boys, respectively. Although the 95% credible intervals included the null in adolescents, suggestive negative associations of PFAS mixture with TT and SHBG levels in adolescents aged 12-19 years were found by BKMR. Results by sex-puberty status presented a similar pattern, where significantly inverse associations between PFAS mixture and E2 were observed in the pubertal. Our findings suggested the associations of either individual or mixture PFAS with decreased TT levels, and increased SHBG levels in U.S. children and adolescents, and with decreased E2 levels in pubertal individuals. The associations were evident in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue He
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Chengxiang Hu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Xiaoting Fan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Wenhui Gao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Jiaxin Fang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Yanfang Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Yan Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
| | - Lina Jin
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No.1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
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22
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González-Alvarez ME, Roach CM, Keating AF. Scrambled eggs-Negative impacts of heat stress and chemical exposures on ovarian function in swine. Mol Reprod Dev 2023; 90:503-516. [PMID: 36652419 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to environmental toxicants and hyperthermia can hamper reproduction in female mammals including swine. Phenotypic manifestations include poor quality oocytes, endocrine disruption, infertility, lengthened time to conceive, pregnancy loss, and embryonic defects. The ovary has the capacity for toxicant biotransformation, regulated in part by the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase signaling pathway. The impacts of exposure to mycotoxins and pesticides on swine reproduction and the potential for an emerging chemical class of concern, the per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances, to hamper porcine reproduction are reviewed. The negative impairments of heat stress (HS) on swine reproductive outcomes are also described and the cumulative effect of environmental exposures, such as HS, when present in conjunction with a toxicant is considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Estefanía González-Alvarez
- Department of Animal Science and Interdepartmental Toxicology Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Crystal M Roach
- Department of Animal Science and Interdepartmental Toxicology Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Aileen F Keating
- Department of Animal Science and Interdepartmental Toxicology Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
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23
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Diaz-Thomas AM, Golden SH, Dabelea DM, Grimberg A, Magge SN, Safer JD, Shumer DE, Stanford FC. Endocrine Health and Health Care Disparities in the Pediatric and Sexual and Gender Minority Populations: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2023; 108:1533-1584. [PMID: 37191578 PMCID: PMC10653187 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgad124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine care of pediatric and adult patients continues to be plagued by health and health care disparities that are perpetuated by the basic structures of our health systems and research modalities, as well as policies that impact access to care and social determinants of health. This scientific statement expands the Society's 2012 statement by focusing on endocrine disease disparities in the pediatric population and sexual and gender minority populations. These include pediatric and adult lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA) persons. The writing group focused on highly prevalent conditions-growth disorders, puberty, metabolic bone disease, type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) diabetes mellitus, prediabetes, and obesity. Several important findings emerged. Compared with females and non-White children, non-Hispanic White males are more likely to come to medical attention for short stature. Racially and ethnically diverse populations and males are underrepresented in studies of pubertal development and attainment of peak bone mass, with current norms based on European populations. Like adults, racial and ethnic minority youth suffer a higher burden of disease from obesity, T1D and T2D, and have less access to diabetes treatment technologies and bariatric surgery. LGBTQIA youth and adults also face discrimination and multiple barriers to endocrine care due to pathologizing sexual orientation and gender identity, lack of culturally competent care providers, and policies. Multilevel interventions to address these disparities are required. Inclusion of racial, ethnic, and LGBTQIA populations in longitudinal life course studies is needed to assess growth, puberty, and attainment of peak bone mass. Growth and development charts may need to be adapted to non-European populations. In addition, extension of these studies will be required to understand the clinical and physiologic consequences of interventions to address abnormal development in these populations. Health policies should be recrafted to remove barriers in care for children with obesity and/or diabetes and for LGBTQIA children and adults to facilitate comprehensive access to care, therapeutics, and technological advances. Public health interventions encompassing collection of accurate demographic and social needs data, including the intersection of social determinants of health with health outcomes, and enactment of population health level interventions will be essential tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia M Diaz-Thomas
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Sherita Hill Golden
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Dana M Dabelea
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Adda Grimberg
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sheela N Magge
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Joshua D Safer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Bone Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10001, USA
| | - Daniel E Shumer
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Fatima Cody Stanford
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Medicine-Division of Endocrinology-Neuroendocrine, Department of Pediatrics-Division of Endocrinology, Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard (NORCH), Boston, MA 02114, USA
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24
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Xing Y, Li Y, Sheng N, Yin X, Dai J, Li P, Pan Y. Association between Serum Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Levels and Risk of Central and Peripheral Precocious Puberty in Girls. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 37308320 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c01271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Concerns about the endocrine-disrupting effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have raised questions about their potential influence on precocious puberty in girls, which is an emerging concern in some populations. However, epidemiological evidence is lacking. In this study, 882 serum samples were collected from girls with central precocious puberty (CPP, n = 226), peripheral precocious puberty (PPP, n = 316), and healthy controls (n = 340) in 2021 in Shanghai, China. The serum levels of 25 legacy and emerging PFASs and 17 steroids were measured. Results showed that PFAS exposure was positively associated with estradiol levels. Eleven PFASs were significantly or marginally associated with the higher odds of the overall precocious puberty. Across subtypes, PFASs were more clearly associated with PPP, while the associations with CPP were consistent in direction but did not reach statistical significance. These findings were consistent with the assessment of PFAS mixtures using quantile-based g-computation (qgcomp) and Bayesian kernel machine regression, with perfluorobutane sulfonate and 6:2 polyfluorinated ether sulfonate showing the highest contribution to joint effects. Although changes in serum estradiol could arise from various factors, our results suggest that the PFAS exposure may contribute to the increase in estradiol secretion, thereby increasing the risk of precocious puberty, especially PPP. The potential effects of PFASs on precocious puberty warrant further investigation, given the associated complications of public health concern, including psychological distress and increased risk of multiple diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Xing
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Nan Sheng
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xiaoqin Yin
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Jiayin Dai
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Pin Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Yitao Pan
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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25
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Guo M, Yu Y, Liu H, Zhu C. Associations between exposure to a mixture of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and age at menarche in adolescent girls utilizing three statistical models. CHEMOSPHERE 2023:139054. [PMID: 37247673 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is suggested to interfere with endocrine function and may affect female pubertal development. However, the epidemiological evidence on age at menarche associated with PFAS exposure is still inconsistent. Our objective was to investigate association of serum PFAS concentrations with age at menarche among 12-19 years old girls. We used data on 432 girls from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2012 cycles. NHANES reported serum concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) as quantified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Age at menarche was self-reported by girls or their guardians. Multivariable linear regression models were applied to estimate the association of individual PFAS exposure with age at menarche. The combined effects of PFAS mixture exposures on age at menarche were assessed using three statistical methods, including Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), weighted quantile sum regression (WQS), and elastic net regression (ENR). In the single-chemical model, girls in the middle tertile of serum PFOA concentration had a lower age at menarche [regression coefficient (β) = -0.73 years, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.44, -0.01; P = 0.047], compared with those in the lower tertile. Girls in the higher tertile of PFNA exposure were associated with older age at menarche (β = 0.36 years, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.80; P = 0.027), compared with those in the lower tertile. In the multiple-chemical models using BKMR and ENR approaches, higher PFNA exposure was significantly associated with older age at menarche among girls, after adjusting for other PFAS. We found suggestive evidence that higher PFAS mixture exposures may be related to an increase in age at menarche using the BKMR model. In conclusion, exposure to PFNA was associated with the later timing of menarche among girls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menglu Guo
- Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yamei Yu
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Han Liu
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Changlin Zhu
- Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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26
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Adyeni BS, Carlos U, Tatiana HM, Luisa G, Jessica T, Eduardo C, Miguel B, Fahiel C, Alma L, Edmundo B, Ivan BO. Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) disturbs the estrous cycle, ovulation rate, oocyte cell communication and calcium homeostasis in mice. Reprod Biol 2023; 23:100768. [PMID: 37163972 DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2023.100768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl substances are man-made chemicals with ample consumer and industrial applications. They are widely used and are resistant to environmental and metabolic degradation. Several studies have evaluated the effects of Perfluorohexane sulfonate on reproduction. However, there are few reports exploring the cell and molecular mechanisms of its toxicity in the ovary. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of PFHxS exposure on the estrous cycle, ovulation rate, and the underlying mechanisms of action in female mice in vivo. The animals received a single sub-lethal dose of PFHxS (25.1 mg/kg, 62.5 mg/kg) or vehicle and were stimulated to obtain immature cumulus cell-oocyte complexes (COCs) from the ovaries, or superovulated to develop mature COCs. To evaluate oocyte physiology, Gap-junction intercellular communication (GJIC) was analyzed in immature COCs and calcium homeostasis was evaluated in mature oocytes. PFHxS exposure prolonged the estrous cycle and decreased ovulation rate in female mice. Connexins, Cx43 and Cx37, were downregulated and GJIC was impaired in immature COCs, providing a possible mechanism for the alterations in the estrous cycle and ovulation. No morphological abnormalities were observed in the mature PFHxS-exposed oocytes, but calcium homeostasis was affected. This effect is probably due, at least partially, to deregulation of the endoplasmic reticulum calcium modulator, Stim1. These mechanisms of ovarian injury could explain the reported correlation among PFHxS levels and subfertility in women undergoing fertility treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barajas Salinas Adyeni
- Department of Health Sciences, Metropolitan Autonomous University-Iztapalapa Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Urrutia Carlos
- Department of Health Sciences, Metropolitan Autonomous University-Iztapalapa Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Huerta Maldonado Tatiana
- Department of Health Sciences, Metropolitan Autonomous University-Iztapalapa Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gonzalez Luisa
- Department of Health Sciences, Metropolitan Autonomous University-Iztapalapa Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Tellez Jessica
- Department of Health Sciences, Metropolitan Autonomous University-Iztapalapa Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Casas Eduardo
- Department of Health Sciences, Metropolitan Autonomous University-Iztapalapa Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Betancourt Miguel
- Department of Health Sciences, Metropolitan Autonomous University-Iztapalapa Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Casillas Fahiel
- Department of Biology of Reproduction, Metropolitan Autonomous University-Iztapalapa Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Lopez Alma
- Department of Health Sciences, Metropolitan Autonomous University-Iztapalapa Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Bonilla Edmundo
- Department of Health Sciences, Metropolitan Autonomous University-Iztapalapa Campus, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Bahena Ocampo Ivan
- Department of Health Sciences, Metropolitan Autonomous University-Iztapalapa Campus, Mexico City, Mexico.
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27
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Zhao L, Teng M, Zhao X, Li Y, Sun J, Zhao W, Ruan Y, Leung KMY, Wu F. Insight into the binding model of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances to proteins and membranes. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 175:107951. [PMID: 37126916 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have elicited much concern because of their ubiquitous distribution in the environment and the potential hazards they pose to wildlife and human health. Although an increasing number of effective PFAS alternatives are available in the market, these alternatives bring new challenges. This paper comprehensively reviews how PFASs bind to transport proteins (e.g., serum albumin, liver fatty acid transport proteins and organic acid transporters), nuclear receptors (e.g., peroxisome proliferator activated receptors, thyroid hormone receptors and reproductive hormone receptors) and membranes (e.g., cell membrane and mitochondrial membrane). Briefly, the hydrophobic fluorinated carbon chains of PFASs occupy the binding cavities of the target proteins, and the acid groups of PFASs form hydrogen bonds with amino acid residues. Various structural features of PFAS alternatives such as chlorine atom substitution, oxygen atom insertion and a branched structure, introduce variations in their chain length and hydrophobicity, which potentially change the affinity of PFAS alternatives for endogenous proteins. The toxic effects and mechanisms of action of legacy PFASs can be demonstrated and compared with their alternatives using binding models. In future studies, in vitro experiments and in silico quantitative structure-activity relationship modeling should be better integrated to allow more reliable toxicity predictions for both legacy and alternative PFASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Miaomiao Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Xiaoli Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yunxia Li
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaqi Sun
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Wentian Zhao
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuefei Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Kenneth M Y Leung
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Fengchang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Fábelová L, Beneito A, Casas M, Colles A, Dalsager L, Den Hond E, Dereumeaux C, Ferguson K, Gilles L, Govarts E, Irizar A, Lopez Espinosa MJ, Montazeri P, Morrens B, Patayová H, Rausová K, Richterová D, Rodriguez Martin L, Santa-Marina L, Schettgen T, Schoeters G, Haug LS, Uhl M, Villanger GD, Vrijheid M, Zaros C, Palkovičová Murínová Ľ. PFAS levels and exposure determinants in sensitive population groups. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 313:137530. [PMID: 36509187 PMCID: PMC9846180 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants. The first exposure to PFAS occurs in utero, after birth it continues via breast milk, food intake, environment, and consumer products that contain these chemicals. Our aim was to identify determinants of PFAS concentrations in sensitive population subgroups- pregnant women and newborns. METHODS Nine European birth cohorts provided exposure data on PFAS in pregnant women (INMA-Gipuzkoa, Sabadell, Valencia, ELFE and MoBa; total N = 5897) or newborns (3xG study, FLEHS 2, FLEHS 3 and PRENATAL; total N = 940). PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS and PFNA concentrations were measured in maternal or cord blood, depending on the cohort (FLEHS 2 measured only PFOS and PFOA). PFAS concentrations were analysed according to maternal characteristics (age, BMI, parity, previous breastfeeding, smoking, and food consumption during pregnancy) and parental educational level. The association between potential determinants and PFAS concentrations was evaluated using multiple linear regression models. RESULTS We observed significant variations in PFAS concentrations among cohorts. Higher PFAS concentrations were associated with higher maternal age, primipara birth, and educational level, both for maternal blood and cord blood. Higher PFAS concentrations in maternal blood were associated with higher consumption of fish and seafood, meat, offal and eggs. In cord blood, higher PFHxS concentrations were associated with daily meat consumption and higher PFNA with offal consumption. Daily milk and dairy consumption were associated with lower concentrations of PFAS in both, pregnant women and newborns. CONCLUSION High detection rates of the four most abundant PFAS demonstrate ubiquitous exposure of sensitive populations, which is of concern. This study identified several determinants of PFAS exposure in pregnant women and newborns, including dietary factors, and these findings can be used for proposing measures to reduce PFAS exposure, particularly from dietary sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Fábelová
- Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Faculty of Public Health, Department of Environmental Medicine, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - A Beneito
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - M Casas
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - A Colles
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - L Dalsager
- Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - E Den Hond
- Provincial Institute of Hygiene (PIH), Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - K Ferguson
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), North Carolina, USA
| | - L Gilles
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - E Govarts
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - A Irizar
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5 28029 Madrid, Spain; Biodonostia, Epidemiology and Public Health Area, Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development Group, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain
| | - M J Lopez Espinosa
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5 28029 Madrid, Spain; Faculty of Nursing and Chiropody, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - B Morrens
- Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - H Patayová
- Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Faculty of Public Health, Department of Environmental Medicine, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - K Rausová
- Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Faculty of Public Health, Department of Environmental Medicine, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - D Richterová
- Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Faculty of Public Health, Department of Environmental Medicine, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - L Rodriguez Martin
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - L Santa-Marina
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5 28029 Madrid, Spain; Biodonostia, Epidemiology and Public Health Area, Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development Group, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain; Public Health Division of Gipuzkoa, Basque Government, 20013 San Sebastian, Spain
| | - T Schettgen
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - G Schoeters
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - L S Haug
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Oslo, Norway
| | - M Uhl
- Umweltbundesamt, Vienna, Austria
| | - G D Villanger
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Oslo, Norway
| | - M Vrijheid
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - C Zaros
- Institut national d'études démographiques (INED), Aubervilliers, France
| | - Ľ Palkovičová Murínová
- Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Faculty of Public Health, Department of Environmental Medicine, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Li X, Yu X, Luo K, Liu H, Fan X, Yin X, Zhao Q, Liu X, Yang Y. Exposure to metals and the disruption of sex hormones in 6-19 years old children: An exploration of mixture effects. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 250:114477. [PMID: 36586165 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individual metals have been linked to sex hormones disruption, but the associations of metals mixture are rarely examined among children. METHODS A total of 1060 participants of 6-19-year-old who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2016) were included. Eighteen metals were quantified in the whole blood and urine. Sex hormones were measured in serum, including total testosterone (TT), estradiol (E2), and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). In addition, free androgen index (FAI) and the ratio of TT to E2 were calculated. Bayesian kernel machine regression and latent class analysis were performed to assess the associations of metals mixture and exposure patterns of metals at varied levels with sex hormones while adjusting for selected covariates. All analyses were conducted by sex-age and sex-puberty groups to explore the potential sex-dimorphic effects. RESULTS Exposure to metals mixture was associated with elevated levels of FAI and E2 among 12-19 years old girls. Moreover, the exposure pattern of metals that was characterized by high levels of blood and urinary cadmium, blood manganese, and urinary cobalt was associated with elevated E2 and reduced TT/E2 levels among girls of 12-19 years old. However, the associations of metals mixture with sex hormones were overall nonsignificant among boys. Nevertheless, metals exposure pattern that was characterized by high levels of blood lead, urinary barium, strontium, and lead but comparatively low levels of the other metals was consistently associated with reduced levels of FAI and E2 but elevated levels of TT/E2 and SHBG among boys of 12-19 years old. CONCLUSION Metals mixture and exposure patterns that were dominated by high levels of certain metals were associated with sex hormones imbalance among 12-19 years old children in a sex-dimorphic pattern, with the identified individual metals that drove the associations of metals mixture varied by sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyan Li
- Department of Pediatric Urology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Xiaohan Yu
- Department of Pediatric Urology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Kai Luo
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Huajian Liu
- Department of Pediatric Urology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Xu Fan
- Department of Pediatric Urology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Xiaoming Yin
- Department of Pediatric Urology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Qi Zhao
- Department of Pediatric Urology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Xin Liu
- Department of Pediatric Urology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Department of Pediatric Urology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China.
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Clark KL, George JW, Przygrodzka E, Plewes MR, Hua G, Wang C, Davis JS. Hippo Signaling in the Ovary: Emerging Roles in Development, Fertility, and Disease. Endocr Rev 2022; 43:1074-1096. [PMID: 35596657 PMCID: PMC9695108 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnac013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Emerging studies indicate that the Hippo pathway, a highly conserved pathway that regulates organ size control, plays an important role in governing ovarian physiology, fertility, and pathology. Specific to the ovary, the spatiotemporal expression of the major components of the Hippo signaling cascade are observed throughout the reproductive lifespan. Observations from multiple species begin to elucidate the functional diversity and molecular mechanisms of Hippo signaling in the ovary in addition to the identification of interactions with other signaling pathways and responses to various external stimuli. Hippo pathway components play important roles in follicle growth and activation, as well as steroidogenesis, by regulating several key biological processes through mechanisms of cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and cell fate determination. Given the importance of these processes, dysregulation of the Hippo pathway contributes to loss of follicular homeostasis and reproductive disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), premature ovarian insufficiency, and ovarian cancers. This review highlights what is currently known about the Hippo pathway core components in ovarian physiology, including ovarian development, follicle development, and oocyte maturation, while identifying areas for future research to better understand Hippo signaling as a multifunctional pathway in reproductive health and biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendra L Clark
- Olson Center for Women's Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.,Veterans Affairs Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - Jitu W George
- Olson Center for Women's Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.,Veterans Affairs Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - Emilia Przygrodzka
- Olson Center for Women's Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.,Veterans Affairs Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - Michele R Plewes
- Olson Center for Women's Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.,Veterans Affairs Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - Guohua Hua
- Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - John S Davis
- Olson Center for Women's Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.,Veterans Affairs Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
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Clark KL, Davis JS. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) promotes follicular growth and alters expression of genes that regulate the cell cycle and the Hippo pathway in cultured neonatal mouse ovaries. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2022; 454:116253. [PMID: 36152675 PMCID: PMC10416762 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2022.116253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a synthetic chemical resistant to biodegradation and is environmentally persistent. PFOA is found in many consumer products and is a major source of water contamination. While PFOA has been identified as a contaminant of concern for reproductive health, little is known about the effects of PFOA on ovarian follicular development and growth. Recent evidence indicates that the Hippo pathway is an important regulator of ovarian physiology. Here, we investigated the effects of PFOA on ovarian folliculogenesis during the neonatal period of development and potential impacts on the Hippo signaling pathway. Post-natal day 4 (PND4) neonatal ovaries from CD-1 mice were cultured with control medium (DMSO <0.01% final concentration) or PFOA (50 μM or 100 μM). After 96 h, ovaries were collected for histological analysis of folliculogenesis, gene and protein expression, and immunostaining. Results revealed that PFOA (50 μM) increased the number of secondary follicles, which was accompanied by increases in mRNA transcripts and protein of marker of proliferation marker Ki67 with no impacts on apoptosis markers Bax, Bcl2, or cleaved caspase-3. PFOA treatment (50 μM and 100 μM) stimulated an upregulation of transcripts for cell cycle regulators Ccna2, Ccnb2, Ccne1, Ccnd1, Ccnd2, and Ccnd3. PFOA also increased abundance of transcripts of Hippo pathway components Mst1/2, Lats1, Mob1b, Yap1, and Taz, as well as downstream Hippo pathway targets Areg, Amotl2, and Cyr61, although it decreased transcripts for anti-apoptotic Birc5. Inhibition of the Hippo pathway effector YAP1 with Verteporfin resulted in the attenuation of PFOA-induced follicular growth and proliferation. Together, these findings suggest that occupationally relevant levels of PFOA (50 μM) can stimulate follicular activation in neonatal ovaries potentially through activation of the Hippo pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendra L Clark
- Olson Center for Women's Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; Veterans Affairs Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, 4101 Woolworth Ave, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - John S Davis
- Olson Center for Women's Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; Veterans Affairs Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, 4101 Woolworth Ave, Omaha, NE 68105, USA.
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32
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Estefanía González-Alvarez M, Severin A, Sayadi M, Keating AF. PFOA-Induced Ovotoxicity Differs Between Lean and Obese Mice With Impacts on Ovarian Reproductive and DNA Damage Sensing and Repair Proteins. Toxicol Sci 2022; 190:173-188. [PMID: 36214631 PMCID: PMC9789752 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfac104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is an environmentally persistent perfluoroalkyl substance that is widely used in consumer products. Exposure to PFOA is associated with reproductive and developmental effects including endocrine disruption, delayed puberty in girls, and decreased fetal growth. In the United States, obesity affects 40% of women and 20% of girls, with higher rates in minority females. Obesity causes infertility, poor oocyte quality, miscarriage, and offspring defects. This study proposed that PFOA exposure would impact estrous cyclicity, ovarian steroid hormones, and the ovarian proteome and further hypothesized that obesity would impact PFOA-induced ovotoxicity. Female wild type (KK.Cg-a/a; lean) or KK.Cg-Ay/J mice (obese) received saline (CT) or PFOA (2.5 mg/kg) per os for 15 days beginning at 7 weeks of age. There were no effects on food intake, body weight, estrous cyclicity, serum progesterone, and heart, spleen, kidney, or uterus weight (p > .05). Ovary weight was decreased (p < .05) by PFOA exposure relative to vehicle control-treated mice in lean but not obese mice. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was performed on isolated ovarian protein and PFOA exposure altered the ovarian abundance of proteins involved in DNA damage sensing and repair pathways and reproduction pathways (p < .05) differentially in lean and obese mice. The data suggest that PFOA exposure alters ovary weight and differentially targets ovarian proteins in lean and obese females in ways that might reduce female fecundity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew Severin
- Department of Animal Science and Interdepartmental Toxicology Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Maryam Sayadi
- Department of Animal Science and Interdepartmental Toxicology Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Aileen F Keating
- To whom correspondence should be addressed at Department of Animal Science and Interdepartmental Toxicology Graduate Program, Iowa State University, 2356H Kildee Hall, 806 Stange Road, Ames, IA 50011, USA. E-mail:
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Carwile JL, Seshasayee SM, Ahrens KA, Hauser R, Driban JB, Rosen CJ, Gordon CM, Fleisch AF. Serum PFAS and Urinary Phthalate Biomarker Concentrations and Bone Mineral Density in 12-19 Year Olds: 2011-2016 NHANES. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022; 107:e3343-e3352. [PMID: 35511700 PMCID: PMC9282360 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgac228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and phthalates are 2 families of environmental endocrine disruptors that may be associated with areal lower bone mineral density (aBMD). OBJECTIVE To examine associations between serum PFAS and urinary phthalate biomarker concentrations and their mixtures with aBMD Z-scores in adolescents. DESIGN, PATIENTS, AND MEASURES We examined serial cross-sectional data from male (n = 453) and female (n = 395) 12- to 19-year-old participants in the 2011 through 2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with measures of serum PFAS, urinary phthalate metabolites, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry aBMD Z-scores (total body less head). In sex-specific models, we used linear regression to examine associations of individual PFAS and phthalate biomarkers with aBMD Z-scores, and Bayesian kernel machine regression to examine the association of the overall PFAS/phthalate biomarker mixture with aBMD Z-scores. We replicated the analysis, stratifying by race/ethnicity. RESULTS Participants were (mean ± SD) 15 ± 2.1 years of age. In males, each doubling of serum perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate, urinary mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP), mono-n-butyl phthalate, and the overall PFAS/phthalate mixture was associated with a lower aBMD Z-score (eg, for PFOA: -0.24; 95% CI, -0.41 to -0.06). Serum PFOA and urinary MiBP were associated with higher aBMD Z-scores in females (eg, for PFOA: 0.09; 95% CI, -0.07 to 0.25). Findings did not differ by race/ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS Certain PFAS and phthalates may be associated with reduced bone mineral density in adolescent males. Bone mineral density tracks across the life course, so if replicated in longitudinal cohorts, this finding may have implications for lifelong skeletal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny L Carwile
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland, ME 04101, USA
| | - Shravanthi M Seshasayee
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland, ME 04101, USA
| | - Katherine A Ahrens
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME 04103, USA
| | - Russ Hauser
- Department of Environmental Health and Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jeffrey B Driban
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Clifford J Rosen
- Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
| | - Catherine M Gordon
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030,USA
| | - Abby F Fleisch
- Correspondence: Abby Fleisch, MD, MPH, Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, 509 Forest Ave, Portland, ME 04101, USA.
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Hu P, Pan C, Su W, Vinturache A, Hu Y, Dong X, Ding G. Associations between exposure to a mixture of phenols, parabens, and phthalates and sex steroid hormones in children 6-19 years from NHANES, 2013-2016. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 822:153548. [PMID: 35114227 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Humans are typically exposed to mixtures of environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals simultaneously, but most studies have considered only a single chemical or a class of similar chemicals. OBJECTIVES We examined the association of exposure to mixtures of 7 chemicals, including 2 phenols [bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS)], 2 parabens [methylparaben (MeP) and propyl paraben (PrP)], and 3 phthalate metabolites [Mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP), mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP), mono (carboxyoctyl) phthalate (MCOP)] with sex steroid hormones. METHODS A total of 1179 children aged 6-19 years who had complete data on both 7 chemicals and sex steroid hormones of estradiol (E2), total testosterone (TT), and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were analyzed from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2016. Free androgen index (FAI) calculated by TT/SHBG, and the ratio of TT to E2 (TT/E2) were also estimated. Puberty was defined if TT ≥ 50 ng/dL in boys, E2 ≥ 20 pg/mL in girls; otherwise prepuberty was defined. Linear regression, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were performed to estimate the associations of individual chemical or chemical mixtures with sex hormones. RESULTS The linear regression showed that 2 phenols, 2 parabens, and 3 phthalate metabolites were generally negatively associated with E2, TT, FAI, and TT/E2, while positively with SHBG. Moreover, these associations were more pronounced among pubertal than prepubertal children. The aforementioned associations were confirmed when further applying WQS and BKMR, and the 3 phthalates metabolites were identified to be the most heavily weighing chemicals. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to phenols, parabens, and phthalates, either individuals or as a mixture, was negatively associated with E2, TT, FAI and TT/E2, while positively with SHBG. Those associations were stronger among pubertal children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peipei Hu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chengyu Pan
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Weiwei Su
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, the Affiliated Wuxi Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Angela Vinturache
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Alberta, Canada
| | - Yi Hu
- Center for Medical Bioinformatics, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoyan Dong
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Guodong Ding
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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Clark KL, George JW, Hua G, Davis JS. Perfluorooctanoic acid promotes proliferation of the human granulosa cell line HGrC1 and alters expression of cell cycle genes and Hippo pathway effector YAP1. Reprod Toxicol 2022; 110:49-59. [PMID: 35346789 PMCID: PMC10364788 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2022.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a common environmental contaminant that belongs to a group of manmade fluorinated chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Due to the pervasive nature of PFOA, the environmental health risks of PFOA contamination and exposure on reproductive health have increasing concern. In the present study, we exposed HGrC1 cells, an immortalized human granulosa cell line, to environmentally relevant (1-10 μM) concentrations of PFOA. Results indicated that HGrC1 cells treated with PFOA had increased proliferation and migration relative to vehicle treated controls. No differences in cell apoptosis were observed with 1-10 μM PFOA. Gene expression analysis revealed increases in mRNA transcripts for cell cycle regulators CCND1, CCNA2, and CCNB1. Upregulation of YAP1 protein and downstream target CTGF protein was also observed, suggesting that the Hippo pathway is involved in the proliferation and migratory effects of PFOA on HGrC1 cells. Further, the YAP1 inhibitor Verteporfin prevented the stimulatory effects of PFOA on HGrC1 cells. Together, these findings support a role for the Hippo pathway effector YAP1 in response to PFOA exposure in human granulosa cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendra L Clark
- Olson Center for Women's Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, 68198, USA; Veterans Affairs Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, 4101 Woolworth Ave, Omaha, Nebraska, 68105, USA
| | - Jitu W George
- Olson Center for Women's Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, 68198, USA; Veterans Affairs Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, 4101 Woolworth Ave, Omaha, Nebraska, 68105, USA
| | - Guohua Hua
- Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - John S Davis
- Olson Center for Women's Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, 68198, USA; Veterans Affairs Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, 4101 Woolworth Ave, Omaha, Nebraska, 68105, USA.
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Xin X, Chen H, Tian F, Li J, Yan H, Yu Y, Ma F, Li H, Wang Y, Li X, Zhu Y, Ge RS. Effects of perfluoroundecanoic acid on the function of Leydig cells in adult male rats. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2022; 439:115903. [PMID: 35143807 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2022.115903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA), a perfluorinated compound, has environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, and potential toxicity. However, its effect on Leydig cell function remains unclear. Rats (age of 56 days) were gavaged with 0 (corn oil), 0.1, 0.5, 1, or 5 mg/kg/day PFUnA for 28 days. PFUnA significantly reduced serum testosterone levels as low as 0.5 mg/kg. PFUnA markedly decreased Leydig cell number as low as 0.1 mg/kg. PFUnA markedly reduced transcript levels of Star and Insl3 in the testes at 1 mg/kg after adjusting to Leydig cell number. It also reduced their protein levels. PFUnA significantly decreased the phosphorylation of AKT1 and mTOR as low as 0.1 mg/kg and the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 at 1 mg/kg and the phosphorylation of AKT1, AKT2, ERK1/2, and mTOR in Leydig cells at various concentrations (0.01-10 μM) after 24 h of in vitro treatment. In conclusion, PFUnA inhibits Leydig cell function possibly via AKT/ERK1/2/mTOR signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiu Xin
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Haiqiong Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fuhong Tian
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jingjing Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Haoni Yan
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yige Yu
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Feifei Ma
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huitao Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yiyan Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaoheng Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yang Zhu
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ren-Shan Ge
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Taniyasu S, Yeung LWY, Lin H, Yamazaki E, Eun H, Lam PKS, Yamashita N. Quality assurance and quality control of solid phase extraction for PFAS in water and novel analytical techniques for PFAS analysis. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 288:132440. [PMID: 34626648 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
An inter-laboratory trial (ILT) has been performed to validate ISO 21675 method for the measurement of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water samples using solid phase extraction method and high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A total of twenty-seven laboratories from eleven countries (Belgium: 1, Canada: 2, China: 2, France: 1, Germany: 3, Italy: 2, Japan: 6, Netherlands: 2, South Korea: 1, Sweden: 4, and USA: 3) participated in the ILT. Results of the homogeneity of ILT water samples showed that the repeatability tended to increase from short-chain to long-chain of PFAS. Results of stability of PFAS in Milli-Q water stored at 5 ± 3 °C ranged from 75% to 121% including those ultra-short-chain compounds, except for N-MeFOSA (44%), N-EtFOSA (44%), and 8:2 FTOH (30%) at 168 days. As for stability of PFAS in environmental waters, they were in acceptable range (between 70 and 125%) for most of PFAS, except for 8:2 FTUCA in the river water, seawater, and wastewater, and 8:2 FTSA and 8:2 FTOH in wastewater. Based on the performance data (reproducibility (CVR): <40%, recoveries (η): 70-125%) of the ILT, current ISO 21675 is validated for up to 30 PFAS depending on water type. Novel analytical techniques namely "In-situ Solid Phase Extraction" and the "Purge and Trap Extraction" were developed and explored to measure volatile PFAS. Preliminary results showed acceptable recoveries for volatile PFAS such as fluorotelomer alcohols and iodides in spiked Milli-Q water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachi Taniyasu
- Environmental Management Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 16-1 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8569, Japan
| | - Leo W Y Yeung
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82, Sweden
| | - Huiju Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution (SKLMP) and Department of Chemistry, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Eriko Yamazaki
- Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 3-1-3 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8604, Japan
| | - Heesoo Eun
- Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 3-1-3 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8604, Japan
| | - Paul K S Lam
- Office of the President, The Open University of Hong Kong, 30 Good Shepherd Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Nobuyoshi Yamashita
- Environmental Management Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 16-1 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8569, Japan.
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PFAS Molecules: A Major Concern for the Human Health and the Environment. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10020044. [PMID: 35202231 PMCID: PMC8878656 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10020044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of over 4700 heterogeneous compounds with amphipathic properties and exceptional stability to chemical and thermal degradation. The unique properties of PFAS compounds has been exploited for almost 60 years and has largely contributed to their wide applicability over a vast range of industrial, professional and non-professional uses. However, increasing evidence indicate that these compounds represent also a serious concern for both wildlife and human health as a result of their ubiquitous distribution, their extreme persistence and their bioaccumulative potential. In light of the adverse effects that have been already documented in biota and human populations or that might occur in absence of prompt interventions, the competent authorities in matter of health and environment protection, the industries as well as scientists are cooperating to identify the most appropriate regulatory measures, substitution plans and remediation technologies to mitigate PFAS impacts. In this review, starting from PFAS chemistry, uses and environmental fate, we summarize the current knowledge on PFAS occurrence in different environmental media and their effects on living organisms, with a particular emphasis on humans. Also, we describe present and provisional legislative measures in the European Union framework strategy to regulate PFAS manufacture, import and use as well as some of the most promising treatment technologies designed to remediate PFAS contamination in different environmental compartments.
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Rickard BP, Rizvi I, Fenton SE. Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and female reproductive outcomes: PFAS elimination, endocrine-mediated effects, and disease. Toxicology 2022; 465:153031. [PMID: 34774661 PMCID: PMC8743032 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.153031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread environmental contaminants frequently detected in drinking water supplies worldwide that have been linked to a variety of adverse reproductive health outcomes in women. Compared to men, reproductive health effects in women are generally understudied while global trends in female reproduction rates are declining. Many factors may contribute to the observed decline in female reproduction, one of which is environmental contaminant exposure. PFAS have been used in home, food storage, personal care and industrial products for decades. Despite the phase-out of some legacy PFAS due to their environmental persistence and adverse health effects, alternative, short-chain and legacy PFAS mixtures will continue to pollute water and air and adversely influence women's health. Studies have shown that both long- and short-chain PFAS disrupt normal reproductive function in women through altering hormone secretion, menstrual cyclicity, and fertility. Here, we summarize the role of a variety of PFAS and PFAS mixtures in female reproductive tract dysfunction and disease. Since these chemicals may affect reproductive tissues directly or indirectly through endocrine disruption, the role of PFAS in breast, thyroid, and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function are also discussed as the interplay between these tissues may be critical in understanding the long-term reproductive health effects of PFAS in women. A major research gap is the need for mechanism of action data - the targets for PFAS in the female reproductive and endocrine systems are not evident, but the effects are many. Given the global decline in female fecundity and the ability of PFAS to negatively impact female reproductive health, further studies are needed to examine effects on endocrine target tissues involved in the onset of reproductive disorders of women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany P Rickard
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27599, USA
| | - Imran Rizvi
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27599, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Suzanne E Fenton
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 TW Alexander Dr., Rm E121A, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
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Aro R, Eriksson U, Kärrman A, Jakobsson K, Yeung LWY. Extractable organofluorine analysis: A way to screen for elevated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance contamination in humans? ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 159:107035. [PMID: 34896670 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.107035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitous occurrence of a few per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in humans and the environment has been previously reported. However, the number of PFAS humans and the environment are potentially exposed to is much higher, making it difficult to investigate every sample in detail. More importantly, recent studies have shown an increasing fraction of potentially unknown PFAS in human samples. A screening tool for identifying samples of concern that may contain high PFAS levels, to be studied more thoroughly, is needed. This study presents a simplified workflow to detect elevated PFAS levels using extractable organofluorine (EOF) analysis. A fluorine mass balance analysis on samples with high EOF, targeting 63 PFAS, can then confirm the PFAS contamination. Whole blood samples from a cohort of individuals with historical drinking water contamination from firefighting foams (n = 20) in Ronneby (Sweden) and a control group (n = 9) with background exposure were used as a case study. The average EOF concentration in the Ronneby group was 234 ng/mLF (<107-592 ng/mLF) vs 24.8 ng/mLF (17.6-37.8 ng/mL F) in the control group. The large difference (statistically significant, p < 0.05) in the EOF levels between the exposed and control groups would have made it possible to identify samples with high PFAS exposure only using EOF data. This was confirmed by target analysis, which found an average ∑PFAS concentration of 346 ng/mL in the exposed group and 7.9 ng/mL in the control group. The limit of quantification for EOF analysis (up to 107 ng/mLF using 0.5 mL whole blood) did not allow for the detection of PFAS levels in low or sub parts per billion (ng/mL) concentrations, but the results indicate that EOF analysis is a suitable screening method sensitive enough to detect elevated/significant/exposure above background levels by known or unknown PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudolf Aro
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro, SE 701 82, Sweden
| | - Ulrika Eriksson
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro, SE 701 82, Sweden
| | - Anna Kärrman
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro, SE 701 82, Sweden
| | - Kristina Jakobsson
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SE 405 30, Sweden
| | - Leo W Y Yeung
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro, SE 701 82, Sweden.
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Chemical Effects on Breast Development, Function, and Cancer Risk: Existing Knowledge and New Opportunities. Curr Environ Health Rep 2022; 9:535-562. [PMID: 35984634 PMCID: PMC9729163 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00376-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Population studies show worrisome trends towards earlier breast development, difficulty in breastfeeding, and increasing rates of breast cancer in young women. Multiple epidemiological studies have linked these outcomes with chemical exposures, and experimental studies have shown that many of these chemicals generate similar effects in rodents, often by disrupting hormonal regulation. These endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can alter the progression of mammary gland (MG) development, impair the ability to nourish offspring via lactation, increase mammary tissue density, and increase the propensity to develop cancer. However, current toxicological approaches to measuring the effects of chemical exposures on the MG are often inadequate to detect these effects, impairing our ability to identify exposures harmful to the breast and limiting opportunities for prevention. This paper describes key adverse outcomes for the MG, including impaired lactation, altered pubertal development, altered morphology (such as increased mammographic density), and cancer. It also summarizes evidence from humans and rodent models for exposures associated with these effects. We also review current toxicological practices for evaluating MG effects, highlight limitations of current methods, summarize debates related to how effects are interpreted in risk assessment, and make recommendations to strengthen assessment approaches. Increasing the rigor of MG assessment would improve our ability to identify chemicals of concern, regulate those chemicals based on their effects, and prevent exposures and associated adverse health effects.
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Yu L, Liu X, Hua Z. Occurrence, distribution, and risk assessment of perfluoroalkyl acids in drinking water sources from the lower Yangtze River. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 287:132064. [PMID: 34474389 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The occurrence, spatial distribution, potential sources, and risk assessment of 14 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), including 11 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and 3 perfluoroalkyl sulfonates acids, were investigated in 21 drinking water sources from the lower Yangtze River in November 2019. The total PFAAs (∑PFAAs) concentrations ranged from 39.3 to 220.3 ng/L, and perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctanesulfonate were predominant with average concentrations of 19.4 and 15.4 ng/L, respectively. The higher ∑PFAAs concentrations in the southern shore and downstream could be attributed to industrial development and surface runoff/tide currents, respectively. Principal component analysis-multiple linear regression revealed that the primary sources of PFAAs were fluororesin coatings/metal plating, surface runoff/textile, effluent discharge/food packaging, and leather/fabrics. Human intake risks of PFAAs were assessed by target hazard quotient (THQ), which showed that human health risks of PFAAs decreased with increasing age, excluding 13-17 years age group. Moreover, the total exposure risks of PFOA/PFOS in all sampling sites to people aged over 18 years calculated based on contribution from drinking water were noted to be at safe level. The results obtained were helpful for improving our understanding of human health risks of PFAAs, and expanding our knowledge on PFAAs in drinking water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Yu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China
| | - Xiaodong Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China
| | - Zulin Hua
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China; Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development, Hohai University, Jiangsu, 210098, PR China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China.
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Uldbjerg CS, Koch T, Lim YH, Gregersen LS, Olesen CS, Andersson AM, Frederiksen H, Coull BA, Hauser R, Juul A, Bräuner EV. OUP accepted manuscript. Hum Reprod Update 2022; 28:687-716. [PMID: 35466359 PMCID: PMC9434240 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmac013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, the ages at pubertal onset for girls and boys have been decreasing during recent decades, partly attributed to excess body fat accumulation. However, a growing body of literature has recognized that endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may play an important role in this global trend, but the association has not yet been fully established. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE EDCs can interfere with normal hormone function and metabolism and play a role in pubertal onset. We aimed to systematically identify and evaluate the current evidence on the timing of pubertal onset in girls and boys following prenatal or postnatal exposures to xenobiotic EDCs. SEARCH METHODS Following PRISMA guidelines, we performed a systematic literature search of original peer-reviewed publications in the PubMed database through a block search approach using a combination of index MeSH and free text search terms. Publications were considered if they covered biomarkers of prenatal or postnatal exposures to xenobiotic EDCs (European Commission's list of category 1 EDCs) measured in maternal or child biospecimen and pubertal onset defined by the progression of the following milestones (and assessed in terms of the following measures): menarche (age), thelarche (Tanner staging) and pubarche (Tanner staging), in girls, and genital stage (Tanner staging), testicular volume (ml) and pubarche (Tanner staging), in boys. OUTCOMES The literature search resulted in 703 references, of which we identified 52 publications fulfilling the eligibility criteria for the qualitative trend synthesis and 23 publications for the meta-analysis. The qualitative trend synthesis provided data on 103 combinations of associations between prenatal or postnatal exposure to EDC compounds groups and puberty outcomes and the meta-analysis enabled 18 summary risk estimates of meta-associations. WIDER IMPLICATIONS Statistically significant associations in the qualitative trend synthesis suggested that postnatal exposure to phthalates may be associated with earlier thelarche and later pubarche. However, we did not find consistent evidence in the meta-analysis for associations between timing of pubertal onset in girls and boys and exposures to any of the studied xenobiotic EDCs. We were not able to identify specific pre- or postnatal windows of exposure as particularly critical and susceptible for effects of EDCs. Current evidence is subject to several methodological challenges and inconsistencies and evidence on specific exposure-outcome associations remains too scarce to firmly confirm EDC exposure as a risk factor for changes in age of pubertal onset in the general child population. To create a more uniform foundation for future comparison of evidence and to strengthen pooled studies, we recommend the use of more standardized approaches in the choice of statistical analyses, with exposure transformations, and in the definitions and assessments of puberty outcomes. The impact of mixtures of EDC exposures on the association also remains unestablished and would be valuable to elucidate for prenatal and postnatal windows of exposure. Future large, longitudinal epidemiological studies are needed to clarify the overall association.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Y -H Lim
- Section of Environmental Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - L S Gregersen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- The International Research and Research Training Centre in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - C S Olesen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- The International Research and Research Training Centre in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - A -M Andersson
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- The International Research and Research Training Centre in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - H Frederiksen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- The International Research and Research Training Centre in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - B A Coull
- Department of Biostatistics, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - R Hauser
- Department of Environmental Health, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - A Juul
- Correspondence address. Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. Tel: +45-3545-5085; E-mail: (A.J.); Tel: +45-4242-8550; E-mail: (E.V.B.)
| | - E V Bräuner
- Correspondence address. Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. Tel: +45-3545-5085; E-mail: (A.J.); Tel: +45-4242-8550; E-mail: (E.V.B.)
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Xiong X, Chen B, Wang Z, Ma L, Li S, Gao Y. Association between perfluoroalkyl substances concentration and bone mineral density in the US adolescents aged 12-19 years in NHANES 2005-2010. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:980608. [PMID: 36277702 PMCID: PMC9581310 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.980608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reports on the association of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) exposure with adolescent bone health are scarce, and studies have primarily targeted maternal serum. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the relationship between autologous serum perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) levels and bone mineral density (BMD) in adolescents. METHODS We analyzed data from 1228 adolescents aged 12-19 years in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2010 and used multiple regression analysis to identify the relationship between serum PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, and PFNA concentrations and total femur, femoral neck, and lumbar spine BMD, in addition to multiple stratified subgroup analyses. RESULTS The mean age of participants was 15 years, males had higher serum PFAS concentrations than females. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that the natural log(ln)-transformed serum PFOA, PFOS, and PFNA concentrations were negatively correlated with total femur, femoral neck, and lumbar spine BMD (all p < 0.05), and ln-PFHxS was positively correlated with total femur and femoral neck BMD (all p< 0.05). In males, ln-PFOA was negatively associated with total femur and lumbar spine BMD (all p< 0.05), ln-PFOS was associated with the reduced total femur, femoral neck, and lumbar spine BMD (all p< 0.05), while ln-PFHxS and ln-PFNA were not observed to correlate with BMD at these three sites. In females, both ln-PFOA and ln-PFOS were negatively correlated with total femur and lumbar spine BMD (all p< 0.05), ln-PFHxS is associated with the increased total femur and femoral neck BMD (all p< 0.05), and ln-PFNA was negatively correlated with total femur and femoral neck BMD (all p< 0.05), most of the associations were confined to females. The associations of ln-PFOS with femoral neck BMD and ln-PFNA with total femur BMD were more significant in those who were overweight/obese and had anemia, respectively (all p for interaction < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS In this representative sample of US adolescents aged 12-19 years, certain PFAS were associated with lower bone mineral density, and most of the associations were confined to females. The negative effect of PFAS on BMD is more pronounced in those who are overweight/obese and have anemia. However, further studies are needed to confirm this finding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianmei Xiong
- The First Clinical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Baihang Chen
- The First Clinical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhongqing Wang
- The First Clinical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liqiong Ma
- The First Clinical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shijie Li
- The First Clinical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yijia Gao
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Yijia Gao,
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Zhang S, Wen Z, Li X, Lin L, Zou C, Li Y, Wang Y, Ge RS. Short-term exposure to perfluorotetradecanoic acid affects the late-stage regeneration of Leydig cells in adult male rats. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2021; 433:115777. [PMID: 34736952 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2021.115777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTeDA) is one of perfluoroalkyl substances widely found in the environment. PFTeDA may cause the dysfunction of male reproductive system. However, whether PFTeDA affects the regeneration of Leydig cells remains unclear. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of short-term exposure of PFTeDA on the late-stage maturation of Leydig cells. Fifty-four adult Sprague-Dawley male rats were daily gavaged with PFTeDA (0, 10, or 20 mg/kg body weight) for 10 days, and then were injected intraperitoneally with ethylene dimethane sulfonate (EDS, 75 mg/kg body weight/once) to ablate Leydig cells to induce their regeneration. On day 21 (early stage) and 56 (late stage) after EDS, hormone levels, gene expression, and protein levels were measured. PFTeDA did not affect the early stage of Leydig cell regeneration, because it had no effect on serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone levels, Leydig cell number, and its gene and protein expression. PFTeDA significantly reduced serum testosterone level and down-regulated the expression of Leydig cell genes (Cyp11a1, Hsd3b1, Cyp17a1, Hsd17b3, Hsd11b1, and Insl3) and their proteins (CYP11A1, HSD3B1, CYP17A1, HSD17B3, and INSL3), decreased the phosphorylation of AKT1 and ERK1/2, as well as lowered sperm count in the epididymis at 20 mg/kg. In conclusion, short-term exposure to PFTeDA blocks the late-stage maturation of Leydig cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Zhang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China; Department of Reproductive Medicine, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, 123 Tianfeixiang, Mochou Road, Nanjing 210004, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zina Wen
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaoheng Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Liben Lin
- Department of Pathology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Cheng Zou
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yiyan Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ren-Shan Ge
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China; Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Hammarstrand S, Jakobsson K, Andersson E, Xu Y, Li Y, Olovsson M, Andersson EM. Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water and risk for polycystic ovarian syndrome, uterine leiomyoma, and endometriosis: A Swedish cohort study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 157:106819. [PMID: 34391986 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluorinated substances (PFAS) are chemicals with endocrine disruptive properties that may interfere with the female reproductive system. However, few studies have explored the association between benign gynecological diseases and high PFAS exposure. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the possible associations between PFAS exposure and subsequent diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), uterine leiomyoma (fibroids), and endometriosis in a cohort exposed to PFAS through drinking water. MATERIAL AND METHODS In 2013, high levels (with sum of PFAS above 10,000 ng/L), dominated by perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), were found in the drinking water from one of the two waterworks in Ronneby, Sweden. The contamination came from firefighting foams used at a nearby airfield. Females of all ages (n = 29,106) who had ever resided in the municipality between 1985 and 2013 formed a cohort. Individual exposure was assessed based on municipality waterworks distribution data linked to annual residential address data; 27% of the females had ever lived at an address with PFAS-contaminated water. Gynecological health outcomes were retrieved from the Swedish National Patient Register. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the association between exposure and each diagnosis. RESULTS There were in all 161 cases of PCOS, 1,122 cases of uterine leiomyoma, and 373 cases of endometriosis. In women aged 20-50 years (n = 18,503), those with the highest estimated PFAS exposure had increased hazard ratios (HR) for PCOS (HR = 2.18; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.43, 3.34) and uterine leiomyoma (HR = 1.28; 95% CI 0.95, 1.74). No increased HR for endometriosis was found (HR = 0.74; 95% CI 0.42, 1.29). CONCLUSIONS Exposure to high levels of PFAS in drinking water was associated with increased risk of PCOS and possibly uterine leiomyoma, but not endometriosis. The findings for PCOS are consistent with prior studies reporting positive associations between PCOS and PFAS exposure at background levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Hammarstrand
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Kristina Jakobsson
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Eva Andersson
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Yiyi Xu
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ying Li
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Matts Olovsson
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Eva M Andersson
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Hallberg I, Persson S, Olovsson M, Sirard MA, Damdimopoulou P, Rüegg J, Sjunnesson YCB. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) exposure of bovine oocytes affects early embryonic development at human-relevant levels in an in vitro model. Toxicology 2021; 464:153028. [PMID: 34762985 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.153028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) has been added to Stockholm Convention for global phase out, but will continue to contribute to the chemical burden in humans for a long time to come due to extreme persistence in the environment. In the body, PFOS is transferred into to the ovarian follicular fluid that surrounds the maturing oocyte. In the present study, bovine cumulus oocyte complexes were exposed to PFOS during 22 h in vitro maturation. Concentrations of 2 ng g-1 (PFOS-02) representing average human exposure and 53 ng g-1 (PFOS-53) relevant to highly exposed groups were used. After exposure, developmental competence was recorded until day 8 after fertilisation. Blastocysts were fixed and either stained to evaluate blastomere number and lipid distribution using confocal microscopy or frozen and pooled for microarray-based gene expression and DNA methylation analyses. PFOS-53 delayed the first cleavage to two-cell stage and beyond at 44 h after fertilisation (p < .01). No reduction of proportion blastocysts were seen at day 8 in either of the groups, but PFOS-53 exposure resulted in delayed development into more advanced stages of blastocysts seen as both reduced developmental stage (p = .001) and reduced number of blastomeres (p = .04). Blastocysts showed an altered lipid distribution that was more pronounced after exposure to PFOS-53 (increased total lipid volume, p=.0003, lipid volume/cell p < .0001) than PFOS-02, where only decreased average lipid droplet size (p=.02) was observed. Gene expression analyses revealed pathways differently regulated in the PFOS-treated groups compared to the controls, which were related to cell death and survival through e.g., P38 mitogen-activated protein kinases and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, which in turn activates tumour protein 53 (TP53). Transcriptomic changes were also associated with metabolic stress response, differentiation and proliferation, which could help to explain the phenotypic changes seen in the blastocysts. The gene expression changes were more pronounced after exposure to PFOS-53 compared to PFOS-02. DNA-methylation changes were associated with similar biological functions as the transcriptomic data, with the most significantly associated pathway being TP53. Collectively, these results reveal that brief PFOS exposure during oocyte maturation alters the early embryo development at concentrations relevant to humans. This study adds to the evidence that PFOS has the potential to affect female fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ida Hallberg
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Reproduction, The Centre for Reproductive Biology in Uppsala, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Sara Persson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Reproduction, The Centre for Reproductive Biology in Uppsala, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Matts Olovsson
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, SE-751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marc-André Sirard
- Department of Animal Sciences, Laval University, QC G1V 0A6, Quebec, Canada
| | - Pauliina Damdimopoulou
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, SE-141 86, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joëlle Rüegg
- Department of Organismal Biology, Program of Environmental Toxicology, Uppsala University, SE-752 36, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ylva C B Sjunnesson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Reproduction, The Centre for Reproductive Biology in Uppsala, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
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Carwile JL, Seshasayee SM, Aris IM, Rifas-Shiman SL, Claus Henn B, Calafat AM, Sagiv SK, Oken E, Fleisch AF. Prospective associations of mid-childhood plasma per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and pubertal timing. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 156:106729. [PMID: 34171588 PMCID: PMC8380705 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may disrupt pubertal timing. Higher PFAS plasma concentrations have been associated with later pubertal timing in girls, but cross-sectional findings may be explained by reverse causation. OBJECTIVES To assess prospective associations between PFAS plasma concentrations in mid-childhood and markers of pubertal timing in male and female adolescents. METHODS We studied 640 children in Project Viva, a Boston-area prospective cohort. We examined associations of plasma concentrations of 6 PFAS measured at mean 7.9 (SD 0.8) years (2007-2010) with markers of pubertal timing. Parents reported a 5-item pubertal development score at early adolescence (mean 13.1 (SD 0.8) years) and reported age at menarche annually. We calculated age at peak height velocity using research and clinical measures of height. We used sex-specific linear and Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate associations of single PFAS with outcomes, and we used Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) to estimate associations of the PFAS mixture with outcomes. RESULTS Plasma concentrations were highest for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) [median (IQR) 6.4(5.6) ng/mL], followed by perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) [4.4(3.0) ng/mL]. In early adolescence, girls were further along in puberty than boys [pubertal development score mean (SD) 2.9 (0.7) for girls and 2.2(0.7) for boys; age at peak height velocity mean (SD) 11.2y (1.0) for girls and 13.1y (1.0) for boys]. PFAS was associated with later markers of pubertal timing in girls only. For example, each doubling of PFOA was associated with lower pubertal development score (-0.18 units; 95% CI: -0.30, -0.06) and older age at peak height velocity (0.23 years; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.40)]. We observed similar associations for PFOS, perfluorodecanoate (PFDA), and the PFAS mixture. PFAS plasma concentrations were not associated with age at menarche or markers of pubertal timing in boys. DISCUSSION Higher PFAS plasma concentrations in mid-childhood were associated with later onset of puberty in girls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny L Carwile
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland, ME, USA.
| | - Shravanthi M Seshasayee
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland, ME, USA
| | - Izzuddin M Aris
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sheryl L Rifas-Shiman
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Birgit Claus Henn
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sharon K Sagiv
- Division of Epidemiology, University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Emily Oken
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Abby F Fleisch
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland, ME, USA; Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, USA
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49
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Langenbach B, Wilson M. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Significance and Considerations within the Regulatory Framework of the USA. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182111142. [PMID: 34769660 PMCID: PMC8583519 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are an emerging environmental crisis. Deemed forever chemicals, many congeners bioaccumulate and are incredibly persistent in the environment due to the presence of the strong carbon-fluorine covalent bonds. Notable PFAS compounds include perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and GenX. Robust toxicological knowledge exists for these substances, but regulatory decisions based on this knowledge has fallen behind. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has addressed this issue with the PFAS Action Plan and EPA Council on PFAS, but the regulatory framework is severely lacking. Currently, no federal regulations or standards exist. Many occupational and non-occupational human cohorts exist that can lend knowledge on the environmental implications of PFAS and associated health effects. Occupationally, firefighters face significant exposure risks due to use of PFAS containing aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) and personal protective equipment contamination. Non-occupationally, wastewater discharge in North Carolina led to chronic and widespread residential exposure to GenX via drinking water contamination. This public health review seeks to convey the current and future significance of PFAS as an environmental contaminate, to lend considerations on regulatory frameworks within the USA, and to help guide and promote the need for future epidemiological studies in order to tackle this environmental emergency. While the PFAS Action Plan creates a scientific and regulatory foundation, it is important to take these lessons and apply them to future environmental health issues.
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50
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Aro R, Eriksson U, Kärrman A, Yeung LWY. Organofluorine Mass Balance Analysis of Whole Blood Samples in Relation to Gender and Age. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:13142-13151. [PMID: 34520171 PMCID: PMC8495894 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Studies have highlighted the increasing fraction of unidentified organofluorine (UOF) compounds in human blood, whose health effects are not known. In this study, 130 whole blood samples from the Swedish general population were analyzed for extractable organofluorine (EOF) and selected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Organofluorine mass balance analysis revealed that 60% (0-99%) of the EOF in female samples could not be explained by the 63 monitored PFAS; in males, 41% (0-93%) of the EOF was of unidentified origin. Significant differences between both age groups and gender were seen, with the highest fraction of UOF in young females (70% UOF, aged 18-44), which is contrary to what has been reported in the literature for commonly monitored compounds (e.g., perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, PFOS). Increasing the number of monitored PFAS did not lead to a large decrease of the UOF fraction; the seven highest PFAS (C8-C11 PFCAs, C6-C8 PFSAs) accounted for 98% of sum 63 PFAS. The high fraction of UOF in human samples is of concern, as the chemical species of these organofluorine compounds remain unknown and thus their potential health risks cannot be assessed.
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