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Leuthner TC, Zhang S, Kohrn BF, Stapleton HM, Baugh LR. Structure-specific variation in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances toxicity among genetically diverse Caenorhabditis elegans strains. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.29.596269. [PMID: 38854041 PMCID: PMC11160736 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.29.596269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Background There are >14,500 structurally diverse per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Despite knowledge that these "forever chemicals" are in 99% of humans, mechanisms of toxicity and adverse health effects are incompletely known. Furthermore, the contribution of genetic variation to PFAS susceptibility and health consequences is unknown. Objectives We determined the toxicity of a structurally distinct set of PFAS in twelve genetically diverse strains of the genetic model system Caenorhabditis elegans. Methods Dose-response curves for four perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFNA, PFOA, PFPeA, and PFBA), two perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFOS and PFBS), two perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides (PFOSA and PFBSA), two fluoroether carboxylic acids (GenX and PFMOAA), one fluoroether sulfonic acid (PFEESA), and two fluorotelomers (6:2 FCA and 6:2 FTS) were determined in the C. elegans laboratory reference strain, N2, and eleven genetically diverse wild strains. Body length was quantified by image analysis at each dose after 48 hr of developmental exposure of L1 arrest-synchronized larvae to estimate effective concentration values (EC50). Results There was a significant range in toxicity among PFAS: PFOSA > PFBSA ≈ PFOS ≈ PFNA > PFOA > GenX ≈ PFEESA > PFBS ≈ PFPeA ≈ PFBA. Long-chain PFAS had greater toxicity than short-chain, and fluorosulfonamides were more toxic than carboxylic and sulfonic acids. Genetic variation explained variation in susceptibility to PFBSA, PFOS, PFBA, PFOA, GenX, PFEESA, PFPeA, and PFBA. There was significant variation in toxicity among C. elegans strains due to chain length, functional group, and between legacy and emerging PFAS. Conclusion C. elegans respond to legacy and emerging PFAS of diverse structures, and this depends on specific structures and genetic variation. Harnessing the natural genetic diversity of C. elegans and the structural complexity of PFAS is a powerful New Approach Methodology (NAM) to investigate structure-activity relationships and mechanisms of toxicity which may inform regulation of other PFAS to improve human and environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tess C. Leuthner
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sharon Zhang
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Brendan F Kohrn
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Heather M. Stapleton
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - L. Ryan Baugh
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, North Carolina, USA
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Bline AP, DeWitt JC, Kwiatkowski CF, Pelch KE, Reade A, Varshavsky JR. Public Health Risks of PFAS-Related Immunotoxicity Are Real. Curr Environ Health Rep 2024; 11:118-127. [PMID: 38526771 PMCID: PMC11081924 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-024-00441-y] [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] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The discovery of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment and humans worldwide has ignited scientific research, government inquiry, and public concern over numerous adverse health effects associated with PFAS exposure. In this review, we discuss the use of PFAS immunotoxicity data in regulatory and clinical decision-making contexts and question whether recent efforts adequately account for PFAS immunotoxicity in public health decision-making. RECENT FINDINGS Government and academic reviews confirm the strongest human evidence for PFAS immunotoxicity is reduced antibody production in response to vaccinations, particularly for tetanus and diphtheria. However, recent events, such as the economic analysis supporting the proposed national primary drinking water regulations and clinical monitoring recommendations, indicate a failure to adequately incorporate these data into regulatory and clinical decisions. To be more protective of public health, we recommend using all relevant immunotoxicity data to inform current and future PFAS-related chemical risk assessment and regulation. Biological measures of immune system effects, such as reduced antibody levels in response to vaccination, should be used as valid and informative markers of health outcomes and risks associated with PFAS exposure. Routine toxicity testing should be expanded to include immunotoxicity evaluations in adult and developing organisms. In addition, clinical recommendations for PFAS-exposed individuals and communities should be revisited and strengthened to provide guidance on incorporating immune system monitoring and other actions that can be taken to protect against adverse health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail P Bline
- Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Silent Spring Institute, Newton, MA, 02460, USA.
| | - Jamie C DeWitt
- Department of Environmental & Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Carol F Kwiatkowski
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | | | - Anna Reade
- Natural Resources Defense Council, San Francisco, CA, 94104, USA
| | - Julia R Varshavsky
- Departments of Health Sciences and Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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3
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Bline AP, Ellis LB, Pelch KE, Lam J, Sen S, Zlatnik M, Varshavsky J. The effect of per and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure on gestational diabetes mellitus and its subclinical risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 188:108711. [PMID: 38754246 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple lines of evidence suggest that exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may alter glucose homeostasis, particularly during pregnancy, and may affect risk for developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). While previous systematic reviews have been conducted on this topic, they did not assess internal validity of the included studies and their search strategies were narrowly focused. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to assess the effect of higher PFAS exposure (defined by individual compounds or mixtures measured before or during pregnancy) on GDM and subclinical measures of impaired glucose homeostasis (measured during pregnancy) compared to lower PFAS exposure in pregnant. METHODS We developed our systematic review protocol in accordance with the Navigation Guide. Peer-reviewed journal and grey literature searches were piloted in to identify relevant studies and refine our search terms and strategy. We also piloted the study screening criteria and data extraction form in DistillerSR, and refined our protocol accordingly. The risk of bias assessment protocol was adapted from Navigation Guide guidance and will be piloted and performed in DistillerSR. Pending the identification of comparable studies, quantitative meta-analyses will be performed where possible. Study results that cannot be quantitatively synthesized will be included in a narrative synthesis. The quality and strength of the body of evidence will be evaluated using Navigation Guide methodology, which is informed by guidance from the Cochrane Collaboration and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). We also made refinements to the quality of evidence considerations based on guidance from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT). FUNDING This work was supported by the Systematizing Data on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Health Northeastern University TIER 1 Award.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail P Bline
- Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States; Silent Spring Institute, Newton, MA, United States.
| | - Lauren B Ellis
- Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States.
| | - Katherine E Pelch
- Natural Resources Defense Council, San Francisco, CA, United States.
| | - Juleen Lam
- Department of Public Health, California State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA, United States.
| | - Saunak Sen
- College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States.
| | - Marya Zlatnik
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.
| | - Julia Varshavsky
- Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States.
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4
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Starnes HM, Jackson TW, Rock KD, Belcher SM. Quantitative cross-species comparison of serum albumin binding of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from five structural classes. Toxicol Sci 2024; 199:132-149. [PMID: 38518100 PMCID: PMC11057469 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfae028] [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: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of over 8000 chemicals, many of which are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic to humans, livestock, and wildlife. Serum protein binding affinity is instrumental in understanding PFAS toxicity, yet experimental binding data is limited to only a few PFAS congeners. Previously, we demonstrated the usefulness of a high-throughput, in vitro differential scanning fluorimetry assay for determination of relative binding affinities of human serum albumin for 24 PFAS congeners from 6 chemical classes. In the current study, we used this assay to comparatively examine differences in human, bovine, porcine, and rat serum albumin binding of 8 structurally informative PFAS congeners from 5 chemical classes. With the exception of the fluorotelomer alcohol 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctanol (6:2 FTOH), each PFAS congener bound by human serum albumin was also bound by bovine, porcine, and rat serum albumin. The critical role of the charged functional headgroup in albumin binding was supported by the inability of albumin of each species tested to bind 6:2 FTOH. Significant interspecies differences in serum albumin binding affinities were identified for each of the bound PFAS congeners. Relative to human albumin, perfluoroalkyl carboxylic and sulfonic acids were bound with greater affinity by porcine and rat serum albumin, and the perfluoroalkyl ether acid congener bound with lower affinity to porcine and bovine serum albumin. These comparative affinity data for PFAS binding by serum albumin from human, experimental model, and livestock species reduce critical interspecies uncertainty and improve accuracy of predictive bioaccumulation and toxicity assessments for PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M Starnes
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, USA
| | - Thomas W Jackson
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, USA
| | - Kylie D Rock
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, USA
| | - Scott M Belcher
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, USA
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Heinsberg LW, Niu S, Arslanian KJ, Chen R, Bedi M, Unasa-Apelu F, Fidow UT, Soti-Ulberg C, Conley YP, Weeks DE, Ng CA, Hawley NL. Characterization of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) concentrations in a community-based sample of infants from Samoa. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 353:141527. [PMID: 38401869 PMCID: PMC10997188 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent contaminants with documented harmful health effects. Despite increasing research, little attention has been given to studying PFAS contamination in low- and middle-income countries, including Samoa. Using data and biosamples collected through the Foafoaga o le Ola ("Beginning of Life") Study, which recruited a sample of mothers and infants from Samoa, we conducted an exploratory study to describe concentrations of 40 PFAS analytes in infant cord blood collected at birth (n = 66) and infant dried blood spots (DBS) collected at 4 months post-birth (n = 50). Of the 40 PFAS analytes tested, 19 were detected in cord blood, with 10 detected in >50% of samples (PFBA, PFPeA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnA, PFTrDA, PFHxS, PFOS, and 9Cl-PF3ONS); and 12 analytes were detected in DBS, with 3 detected in >50% of samples (PFBA, PFHxS, and PFOS). PFAS concentrations were generally lower than those reported in existing literature, with the exception of PFHxS, which was detected at higher concentrations. In cord blood, we noted suggestive (p < 0.05) or significant (p < 0.006) associations between higher PFHxS and male sex; higher PFPeA and residence in Northwest 'Upolu (NWU) compared to the Apia Urban Area (AUA); lower PFUnA and 9Cl-PF3ONS and greater socioeconomic resources; lower PFOA and higher parity; higher PFDA and higher maternal age; and lower PFUnA, PFTrDA, and 9Cl-PF3ONS and higher maternal BMI. In DBS, we found suggestive (p < 0.05) or significant (p < 0.025) associations between lower PFBA and residence in NWU versus AUA; lower PFBA and PFHxS and higher maternal age; and higher PFBA and higher maternal BMI. Finally, we observed associations between nutrition source at 4 months and DBS PFBA and PFHxS, with formula- or mixed-fed infants having higher concentrations compared to exclusively breastfed infants. This study represents the first characterization of PFAS contamination in Samoa. Additional work in larger samples is needed to identify potentially modifiable determinants of PFAS concentrations, information that is critical for informing environmental and health policy measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lacey W Heinsberg
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Shan Niu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Kendall J Arslanian
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Ruiwen Chen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Megha Bedi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Folla Unasa-Apelu
- Obesity, Lifestyle and Genetic Adaptations Study Group, Apia, Samoa.
| | | | | | - Yvette P Conley
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Health Promotion and Development, School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Daniel E Weeks
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Carla A Ng
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Nicola L Hawley
- Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Yang A, Tam CHT, Wong KK, Ozaki R, Lowe WL, Metzger BE, Chow E, Tam WH, Wong CKC, Ma RCW. Epidemic-specific association of maternal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their components with maternal glucose metabolism: A cross-sectional analysis in a birth cohort from Hong Kong. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170220. [PMID: 38278268 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent chemicals that have been linked to increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and may affect glucose metabolisms during pregnancy. We examined the associations between maternal PFAS exposure and maternal glucose metabolisms and GDM risk among 1601 mothers who joined the Hyperglycaemia-and-Adverse-Pregnancy-Outcome (HAPO) Study in Hong Kong in 2001-2006. All mothers underwent a 75 g-oral-glucose-tolerance test at 24-32 weeks of gestation. We measured serum concentrations of six PFAS biomarkers using high-performance liquid-chromatography-coupled-with-tandem-mass-spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). We fitted conventional and advanced models (quantile-g-computation [qgcomp] and Bayesian-kernel machine regression [BKMR]) to assess the associations of individual and a mixture of PFAS with glycaemic traits. Subgroup analyses were performed based on the enrollment period by the severe-acute-respiratory-syndrome (SARS) epidemic periods in Hong Kong between March 2003 and May 2004. PFOS and PFOA were the main components of PFAS mixture among 1601 pregnant women in the Hong Kong HAPO study, with significantly higher median PFOS concentrations (19.09 ng/mL), compared to Chinese pregnant women (9.40 ng/mL) and US women (5.27 ng/mL). Maternal exposure to PFAS mixture was associated with higher HbA1c in the qgcomp (β = 0.04, 95 % CI: 0.01-0.06) model. We did not observe significant associations of PFAS mixture with fasting plasma glucose (PG), 1-h and 2-h PG in either model, except for 2-h PG in the qgcmop model (β = 0.074, 95 % CI: 0.01-0.15). PFOS was the primary contributor to the overall positive effects on HbA1c. Epidemic-specific analyses showed specific associations between PFAS exposure and the odds of GDM in the pre-SARS epidemic period. The median concentration of PFOS was highest during the peri-SARS epidemic (21.2 [14.5-43.6] ng/mL) compared with the pre-SARS (12.3 [9.2-19.9] ng/mL) and post-SARS (20.3 [14.2-46.3] ng/mL) epidemic periods. Potential interactions and exposure-response relationships between PFOA and PFNA with elevated HbA1c were observed in the peri-SARS period in BKMR model. Maternal exposure to PFAS mixture was associated with altered glucose metabolism during pregnancy. SARS epidemic-specific associations call for further studies on its long-term adverse health effects, especially potential modified associations by lifestyle changes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimin Yang
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Claudia H T Tam
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Kwun Kiu Wong
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Risa Ozaki
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - William L Lowe
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA.
| | - Boyd E Metzger
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA.
| | - Elaine Chow
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Wing Hung Tam
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Chris K C Wong
- Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Ronald C W Ma
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Ford LC, Lin HC, Tsai HHD, Zhou YH, Wright FA, Sedykh A, Shah RR, Chiu WA, Rusyn I. Hazard and risk characterization of 56 structurally diverse PFAS using a targeted battery of broad coverage assays using six human cell types. Toxicology 2024; 503:153763. [PMID: 38423244 PMCID: PMC11214689 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2024.153763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are extensively used in commerce leading to their prevalence in the environment. Due to their chemical stability, PFAS are considered to be persistent and bioaccumulative; they are frequently detected in both the environment and humans. Because of this, PFAS as a class (composed of hundreds to thousands of chemicals) are contaminants of very high concern. Little information is available for the vast majority of PFAS, and regulatory agencies lack safety data to determine whether exposure limits or restrictions are needed. Cell-based assays are a pragmatic approach to inform decision-makers on potential health hazards; therefore, we hypothesized that a targeted battery of human in vitro assays can be used to determine whether there are structure-bioactivity relationships for PFAS, and to characterize potential risks by comparing bioactivity (points of departure) to exposure estimates. We tested 56 PFAS from 8 structure-based subclasses in concentration response (0.1-100 μM) using six human cell types selected from target organs with suggested adverse effects of PFAS - human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived hepatocytes, neurons, and cardiomyocytes, primary human hepatocytes, endothelial and HepG2 cells. While many compounds were without effect; certain PFAS demonstrated cell-specific activity highlighting the necessity of using a compendium of in vitro models to identify potential hazards. No class-specific groupings were evident except for some chain length- and structure-related trends. In addition, margins of exposure (MOE) were derived using empirical and predicted exposure data. Conservative MOE calculations showed that most tested PFAS had a MOE in the 1-100 range; ∼20% of PFAS had MOE<1, providing tiered priorities for further studies. Overall, we show that a compendium of human cell-based models can be used to derive bioactivity estimates for a range of PFAS, enabling comparisons with human biomonitoring data. Furthermore, we emphasize that establishing structure-bioactivity relationships may be challenging for the tested PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie C Ford
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Hsing-Chieh Lin
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Han-Hsuan D Tsai
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Yi-Hui Zhou
- Department of Biological Sciences and Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Fred A Wright
- Department of Biological Sciences and Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | | | | | - Weihsueh A Chiu
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Ivan Rusyn
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
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Shirke AV, Radke EG, Lin C, Blain R, Vetter N, Lemeris C, Hartman P, Hubbard H, Angrish M, Arzuaga X, Congleton J, Davis A, Dishaw LV, Jones R, Judson R, Kaiser JP, Kraft A, Lizarraga L, Noyes PD, Patlewicz G, Taylor M, Williams AJ, Thayer KA, Carlson LM. Expanded Systematic Evidence Map for Hundreds of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Comprehensive PFAS Human Health Dashboard. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2024; 132:26001. [PMID: 38319881 PMCID: PMC10846678 DOI: 10.1289/ehp13423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) encompass a class of chemically and structurally diverse compounds that are extensively used in industry and detected in the environment. The US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) 2021 PFAS Strategic Roadmap describes national research plans to address the challenge of PFAS. OBJECTIVES Systematic Evidence Map (SEM) methods were used to survey and summarize available epidemiological and mammalian bioassay evidence that could inform human health hazard identification for a set of 345 PFAS that were identified by the US EPA's Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE) for in vitro toxicity and toxicokinetic assay testing and through interagency discussions on PFAS of interest. This work builds from the 2022 evidence map that collated evidence on a separate set of ∼ 150 PFAS. Like our previous work, this SEM does not include PFAS that are the subject of ongoing or completed assessments at the US EPA. METHODS SEM methods were used to search, screen, and inventory mammalian bioassay and epidemiological literature from peer-reviewed and gray literature sources using manual review and machine-learning software. For each included study, study design details and health end points examined were summarized in interactive web-based literature inventories. Some included studies also underwent study evaluation and detailed extraction of health end point data. All underlying data is publicly available online as interactive visuals with downloadable metadata. RESULTS More than 13,000 studies were identified from scientific databases. Screening processes identified 121 mammalian bioassay and 111 epidemiological studies that met screening criteria. Epidemiological evidence (available for 12 PFAS) mostly assessed the reproductive, endocrine, developmental, metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune systems. Mammalian bioassay evidence (available for 30 PFAS) commonly assessed effects in the reproductive, whole-body, nervous, and hepatic systems. Overall, 41 PFAS had evidence across mammalian bioassay and epidemiology data streams (roughly 11% of searched chemicals). DISCUSSION No epidemiological and/or mammalian bioassay evidence were identified for most of the PFAS included in our search. Results from this SEM, our 2022 SEM on ∼ 150 PFAS, and other PFAS assessment products from the US EPA are compiled into a comprehensive PFAS dashboard that provides researchers and regulators an overview of the current PFAS human health landscape including data gaps and can serve as a scoping tool to facilitate prioritization of PFAS-related research and/or risk assessment activities. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13423.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avanti V. Shirke
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division (CPAD), US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), Washington, DC, USA
| | - Elizabeth G. Radke
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division (CPAD), US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), Washington, DC, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Xabier Arzuaga
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division (CPAD), US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), Washington, DC, USA
| | - Johanna Congleton
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division (CPAD), US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), Washington, DC, USA
| | - Allen Davis
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division (CPAD), US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Ryan Jones
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Health & Environmental Effects Assessment Division (HEEAD), US EPA, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Richard Judson
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), US EPA, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Andrew Kraft
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division (CPAD), US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Pamela D. Noyes
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division (CPAD), US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), Washington, DC, USA
| | - Grace Patlewicz
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), US EPA, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Antony J. Williams
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), US EPA, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Laura M. Carlson
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Health & Environmental Effects Assessment Division (HEEAD), US EPA, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Starnes HM, Jackson TW, Rock KD, Belcher SM. Quantitative Cross-Species Comparison of Serum Albumin Binding of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Five Structural Classes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.10.566613. [PMID: 38014292 PMCID: PMC10680784 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.10.566613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of over 8,000 chemicals that are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic to humans, livestock, and wildlife. Serum protein binding affinity is instrumental in understanding PFAS toxicity, yet experimental binding data is limited to only a few PFAS congeners. Previously, we demonstrated the usefulness of a high-throughput, in vitro differential scanning fluorimetry assay for determination of relative binding affinities of human serum albumin for 24 PFAS congeners from 6 chemical classes. In the current study, we used this differential scanning fluorimetry assay to comparatively examine differences in human, bovine, porcine, and rat serum albumin binding of 8 structurally informative PFAS congeners from 5 chemical classes. With the exception of the fluorotelomer alcohol 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctanol (6:2 FTOH), each PFAS congener bound by human serum albumin was also bound by bovine, porcine, and rat serum albumin. The critical role of the charged functional headgroup in albumin binding was supported by the inability of serum albumin of each species tested to bind 6:2 FTOH. Significant interspecies differences in serum albumin binding affinities were identified for each of the bound PFAS congeners. Relative to human albumin, perfluoroalkyl carboxylic and sulfonic acids were bound with greater affinity by porcine and rat serum albumin, and perfluoroalkyl ether congeners bound with lower affinity to porcine and bovine serum albumin. These comparative affinity data for PFAS binding by serum albumin from human, experimental model and livestock species reduce critical interspecies uncertainty and improve accuracy of predictive toxicity assessments for PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M. Starnes
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Thomas W. Jackson
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
- Current address: Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Kylie D. Rock
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
- Current address: Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Scott M. Belcher
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
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10
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Heinsberg LW, Niu S, Arslanian KJ, Chen R, Bedi M, Unasa-Apelu F, Fidow UT, Soti-Ulberg C, Conley YP, Weeks DE, Ng CA, Hawley NL. Characterization of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) concentrations in a community-based sample of infants from Samoa. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.11.10.23298357. [PMID: 37986966 PMCID: PMC10659488 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.10.23298357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent contaminants with documented harmful health effects. Despite increasing research, little attention has been given to studying PFAS contamination in low- and middle-income countries, including Samoa, where there is more recent modernization and potential window to examine earlier stages of PFAS exposure and consequences. Using data and biosamples collected through the Foafoaga o le Ola ("Beginning of Life") Study, which recruited a sample of mothers and infants from Samoa, we conducted an exploratory study to describe concentrations of 40 PFAS analytes in infant cord blood collected at birth (n=66) and dried blood spots (DBS) collected at 4 months post-birth (n=50). Of the 40 PFAS analytes tested, 19 were detected in cord blood, with 11 detected in >10% of samples (PFBA, PFPeA, PFHpA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnA, PFTrDA, PFHxS, PFOS, and 9Cl-PF3ONS); 12 analytes were detected in DBS, with 3 detected in >10% of samples (PFBA, PFHxS, and PFOS). PFAS concentrations were generally lower than those reported in existing literature, with the exception of PFHxS, which was detected at higher concentrations. In cord blood, we noted associations between higher PFHxS and male sex, higher PFPeA and residence in Northwest 'Upolu (NWU) compared to the Apia Urban Area (AUA), and lower PFUnA and 9Cl-PF3ONS with greater socioeconomic resources. In DBS, we found associations between higher PFBA and greater socioeconomic resources, and between lower PFBA and PFHxS and residence in NWU versus AUA. However, the latter association did not hold when controlling for socioeconomic resources. Finally, we observed associations between nutrition source at 4 months and DBS PFBA and PFHxS, with formula- or mixed-fed infants having higher concentrations compared to exclusively breastfed infants. This study presents the first evidence of PFAS contamination in Samoa. Additional work in larger samples is needed to identify potentially modifiable determinants of PFAS concentrations, information that is critical for informing environmental and health policy measures.
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11
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Daugherty S, Mulabagal V, Hayworth J, Akingbemi BT. Legacy and Emerging Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Regulate Steroidogenesis in the Male Gonad. Endocrinology 2023; 164:bqad142. [PMID: 37767721 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqad142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in a variety of industrial processes and manufacturing of consumer products. Current efforts by the manufacturing industry will limit use of long-chain or legacy PFAS represented by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and replace with short-chain or emerging PFAS such as perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS). However, there is little to no information on the toxicity of new and emerging PFAS. Therefore, we performed experiments in growing Long-Evans male rats to investigate effects of low-dose prepubertal and pubertal exposures to PFAS on gonadal steroid hormone secretion. The results demonstrated that both legacy and emerging PFAS have the capacity to regulate testicular steroidogenesis. For instance, prepubertal exposures to PFOS, PFBA, and PFBS increased serum and testicular testosterone concentrations. Exposure to PFBA increased testicular 17β-estradiol (E2) concentrations, and PFOS and PFBS both decreased serum E2 concentrations while stimulating testicular E2 secretion. The data also demonstrated additive effects due to legacy and emerging PFAS mixtures compared with the individual chemicals. The gonadal effects due to PFAS exposures occurred at nanomolar concentrations, which approximate PFAS levels in the environment. Taken together, the present study supports the need for development of cost-effective and sustainable filtration media for different processes to remove PFAS from water and other sources of exposure. Current action by regulatory agencies such as the US Environmental Protection Agency to limit use of PFAS in the manufacture of consumer products will protect public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Daugherty
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, Auburn University, Auburn AL 36849, USA
| | - Vanisree Mulabagal
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn AL 36849, USA
| | - Joel Hayworth
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn AL 36849, USA
| | - Benson T Akingbemi
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, Auburn University, Auburn AL 36849, USA
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12
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Conley JM, Lambright CS, Evans N, Farraj AK, Smoot J, Grindstaff RD, Hill D, McCord J, Medlock-Kakaley E, Dixon A, Hines E, Gray LE. Dose additive maternal and offspring effects of oral maternal exposure to a mixture of three PFAS (HFPO-DA, NBP2, PFOS) during pregnancy in the Sprague-Dawley rat. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 892:164609. [PMID: 37271399 PMCID: PMC10681034 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Simultaneous exposure to multiple per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is common in humans across the globe. Individual PFAS are associated with adverse health effects, yet the nature of mixture effects after exposure to two or more PFAS remains unclear. Previously we reported that oral administration of hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (HFPO-DA, or GenX), Nafion byproduct 2 (NBP2), or perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) individually during pregnancy produced maternal and F1 effects. Here, we hypothesized that responses to the combined exposure to these three PFAS would be dose additive. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to a fixed-ratio equipotent mixture where the top dose contained each PFAS at their ED50 for neonatal mortality (100 % dose = PFOS 3 mg/kg; NBP2 10 mg/kg; HFPO-DA 110 mg/kg), followed by a dilution series (33.3, 10, 3.3, and 1 %) and vehicle controls (0 % dose). Consistent with the single chemical studies, dams were exposed from gestation day (GD)14-18 or from GD8-postnatal day (PND2). Fetal and maternal livers on GD18 displayed multiple significantly upregulated genes associated with lipid and carbohydrate metabolism at all dose levels, while dams displayed significantly increased liver weight (≥3.3 % dose) and reduced serum thyroid hormones (≥33.3 % dose). Maternal exposure from GD8-PND2 significantly reduced pup bodyweights at birth (≥33.3 % dose) and PND2 (all doses), increased neonatal liver weights (≥3.3 % dose), increased pup mortality (≥3.3 % dose), and reduced maternal bodyweights and weight gain at the top dose. Echocardiography of adult F1 males and females identified significantly increased left ventricular anterior wall thickness (~10 % increase), whereas other cardiac morphological, functional, and transcriptomic measures were unaffected. Mixture effects in maternal and neonatal animals conformed to dose addition using a relative potency factor (RPF) analysis. Results support dose addition-based cumulative assessment approaches for estimating combined effects of PFAS co-exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin M Conley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Christy S Lambright
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Nicola Evans
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Aimen K Farraj
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Jacob Smoot
- ORISE Participant, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Rachel D Grindstaff
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Donna Hill
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - James McCord
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Elizabeth Medlock-Kakaley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Aaron Dixon
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Erin Hines
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - L Earl Gray
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
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13
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Groisman L, Berman T, Quinn A, Pariente G, Rorman E, Karakis I, Gat R, Sarov B, Novack L. Levels of PFAS concentrations in the placenta and pregnancy complications. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 262:115165. [PMID: 37348217 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent research has raised concerns about the potential health effects of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure, particularly during critical periods of development such as pregnancy. In this study, we sought to investigate the presence and potential impacts of PFAS in the placenta. METHODS We measured 13 PFAS compounds in placental tissue samples among 50 women who gave birth at a tertiary medical center in southern Israel. The sample comprised of 10 women with pregnancy-related complications (preterm birth, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes or small-for-gestational age) and 40 women without complications individually matched to cases by age. RESULTS For five (5) out of 13 PFAS compounds (Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorohexanesulphonic acid (PFHxS), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)) median concentrations were lower or comparable to placental measurements in different international populations. Geometric mean was estimated at 0.09 ng/g (90%CI:0.07;0.10) for PFOA, 0.05 ng/g for PFNA (90%CI:0.04;0.07), 0.03 ng/g for PFDA (90%CI:0.01;0.03), 0.06 ng/g for PFHxS (90%CI:0.05;0.07), 0.23 ng/g for PFOS linear measurement (90%CI:0.20;0.26) and 0.25 ng/g (90%CI:0.22;0.30) for PFOS summed concentrations that included non-linear isomers. Composite outcome of pregnancy-related complications was associated with elevated PFOA placental concentrations at an odds ratio (OR)= 1.82 (90%CI:1.06;3.13) for an increase of one quintile of PFOA value and adjusted to maternal gravidity in a conditional logistic regression. CONCLUSION This pilot study indicates a widespread exposure to multiple PFAS compounds in placental tissue of pregnant women in Israel. These findings warrant further validation through comprehensive national human biomonitoring initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luda Groisman
- National Public Health Laboratory, Israel Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Tamar Berman
- Department of Health Promotion, Tel Aviv University, Israel; Department of Environmental Health, Israel Ministry of Health, Israel, Tel Aviv University, Israel
| | - Anna Quinn
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Faculty of Health Sciences, Israel
| | - Gali Pariente
- The Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, Israel
| | - Efrat Rorman
- National Public Health Laboratory, Israel Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Isabella Karakis
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Faculty of Health Sciences, Israel; Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Israel Ministry of Health, Israel
| | - Roni Gat
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Faculty of Health Sciences, Israel; Soroka University Medical Center, Negev Environmental Health Research Institute, Israel
| | - Batia Sarov
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Faculty of Health Sciences, Israel
| | - Lena Novack
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Faculty of Health Sciences, Israel; Soroka University Medical Center, Negev Environmental Health Research Institute, Israel.
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14
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Radke EG, Christensen K. Invited Perspective: Challenges in Evaluating the Effect of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Mixtures on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:51301. [PMID: 37134252 PMCID: PMC10156132 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth G Radke
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Krista Christensen
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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15
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Vandenberg LN, Zoeller RT, Prins GS, Trasande L. Evaluating adverse effects of environmental agents in food: a brief critique of the US FDA's criteria. Environ Health 2023; 22:38. [PMID: 37085808 PMCID: PMC10120250 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-023-00971-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) is charged with protecting the safety of food from both pathogens and chemicals used in food production and food packaging. To protect the public in a transparent manner, the FDA needs to have an operational definition of what it considers to be an "adverse effect" so that it can take action against harmful agents. The FDA has recently published two statements where, for the first time, it defines the characteristics of an adverse effect that it uses to interpret toxicity studies. OBJECTIVE In this brief review, we examine two recent actions by the FDA, a proposed rule regarding a color additive used in vegetarian burgers and a decision not to recall fish with high levels of scombrotoxin. We evaluated the FDA's description of the criteria used to determine which outcomes should be considered adverse. OVERVIEW We describe three reasons why the FDA's criteria for "adverse effects" is not public health protective. These include an unscientific requirement for a monotonic dose response, which conflates hazard assessment and dose response assessment while also ignoring evidence for non-linear and non-monotonic effects for many environmental agents; a requirement that the effect be observed in both sexes, which fails to acknowledge the many sex- and gender-specific effects on physiology, disease incidence and severity, and anatomy; and a requirement that the effects are irreversible, which does not acknowledge the role of exposure timing or appreciate transgenerational effects that have been demonstrated for environmental chemicals. CONCLUSIONS The FDA's criteria for identifying adverse effects are inadequate because they are not science-based. Addressing this is important, because the acknowledgement of adverse effects is central to regulatory decisions and the protection of public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura N Vandenberg
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts - Amherst, 240G Goessmann, 686 N. Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
| | - R Thomas Zoeller
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
- Visiting Professor, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Gail S Prins
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA
| | - Leonardo Trasande
- Departments of Pediatrics, Environmental Medicine, and Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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16
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Wright JM, Lee AL, Rappazzo KM, Ru H, Radke EG, Bateson TF. Systematic review and meta-analysis of birth weight and PFNA exposures. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 222:115357. [PMID: 36706898 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115357] [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: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
We used a systematic review that included risk of bias and study sensitivity analysis to identify 34 studies examining changes in birth weight (BWT) in relation to PFNA biomarker measures (e.g., maternal serum/plasma or umbilical cord samples). We fit a random effects model of the overall pooled estimate and stratified estimates based on sample timing and overall study confidence. We conducted a meta-regression to further examine the impact of gestational age at biomarker sample timing. We detected a -32.9 g (95%CI: -47.0, -18.7) mean BWT deficit per each ln PFNA increase from 27 included studies. We did not detect evidence of publication bias (pE = 0.30) or between-study heterogeneity in the summary estimate (pQ = 0.05; I2 = 36%). The twelve high confidence studies yielded a smaller pooled effect estimate (β = -28.0 g; 95%CI: -49.0, -6.9) than the ten medium (β = -39.0 g; 95%CI: -61.8, -16.3) or four low (β = -36.9 g; 95%CI: -82.9, 9.1) confidence studies. The stratum-specific results based on earlier pregnancy sampling periods in 11 studies showed smaller deficits (β = -22.0 g; 95%CI: -40.1, -4.0) compared to 10 mid- and late-pregnancy (β = -44.2 g; 95%CI: -64.8, -23.5) studies and six post-partum studies (β = -42.9 g; 95%CI: -88.0, 2.2). Using estimates of the specific gestational week of sampling, the meta-regression showed results consistent with the categorical sample analysis, in that as gestational age at sampling time increases across these studies, the summary effect estimate of a mean BWT deficit got larger. Overall, we detected mean BWT deficits for PFNA that were larger and more consistent across studies than previous PFAS meta-analyses. Compared to studies with later sampling, BWT deficits were smaller but remained sizeable for even the earliest sampling periods. Contrary to earlier meta-analyses for PFOA and PFOS, BWT deficits that were detected across all strata did not appear to be fully explained by potential bias due to pregnancy hemodynamics from sampling timing differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Wright
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health & Environmental Assessment, Chemical and Pollutant Assessment Division, USA.
| | - A L Lee
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health & Environmental Assessment, Chemical and Pollutant Assessment Division, USA
| | - K M Rappazzo
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health & Environmental Assessment, Public Health and Environmental Systems Division, USA
| | - H Ru
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health & Environmental Assessment, Chemical and Pollutant Assessment Division, USA
| | - E G Radke
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health & Environmental Assessment, Chemical and Pollutant Assessment Division, USA
| | - T F Bateson
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health & Environmental Assessment, Chemical and Pollutant Assessment Division, USA
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17
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Thayer KA, Shaffer RM, Angrish M, Arzuaga X, Carlson LM, Davis A, Dishaw L, Druwe I, Gibbons C, Glenn B, Jones R, Kaiser JP, Keshava C, Keshava N, Kraft A, Lizarraga L, Markey K, Persad A, Radke EG, Rice G, Schulz B, Shannon T, Shapiro A, Thacker S, Vulimiri S, Woodall G, Yost E. Use of systematic evidence maps within the US environmental protection agency (EPA) integrated risk information system (IRIS) program: Advancements to date and looking ahead. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 169:107363. [PMID: 36057470 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107363] [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: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Systematic evidence maps (SEMs) are increasingly used to inform decision-making and risk management priority-setting and to serve as problem formulation tools to refine the focus of questions that get addressed in full systematic reviews. Within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD) Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), SEMs have been used to inform data gaps, determine the need for updated assessments, inform assessment priorities, and inform development of study evaluation considerations, among other uses. Increased utilization of SEMs across the environmental health field has the potential to increase transparency and efficiency for data gathering, problem formulation, read-across, and evidence surveillance. Use of the SEM templates published in the companion text (Thayer et al.) can promote harmonization in the environmental health community and create more opportunities for sharing extracted content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina A Thayer
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - Rachel M Shaffer
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - Michelle Angrish
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - Xabier Arzuaga
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - Laura M Carlson
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Health & Environmental Effects Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - Allen Davis
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - Laura Dishaw
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - Ingrid Druwe
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - Catherine Gibbons
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - Barbara Glenn
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - Ryan Jones
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Health & Environmental Effects Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - J Phillip Kaiser
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - Channa Keshava
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - Nagalakshmi Keshava
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Health & Environmental Effects Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - Andrew Kraft
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - Lucina Lizarraga
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - Kristan Markey
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - Amanda Persad
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - Elizabeth G Radke
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - Glenn Rice
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | | | - Teresa Shannon
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - Andrew Shapiro
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Health & Environmental Effects Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - Shane Thacker
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Health & Environmental Effects Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - Suryanarayana Vulimiri
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - George Woodall
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Health & Environmental Effects Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA.
| | - Erin Yost
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Chemical & Pollutant Assessment Division, US EPA, NC, USA
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