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Cao CS, Wang J, Yang L, Wang J, Zhang Y, Zhu L. A review on the advancement in photocatalytic degradation of poly/perfluoroalkyl substances in water: Insights into the mechanisms and structure-function relationship. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 946:174137. [PMID: 38909806 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Poly/perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants and ubiquitous in aquatic environment, which are hazardous to organisms and human health. Several countries and regions have taken actions to regulate or limit the production and emission of some PFAS. Even though a series of water treatment technologies have been developed for removal of PFAS to eliminate their potential adverse effects, the removal and degradation performance are usually unsatisfactory. Photocatalytic degradation of PFAS is considered as one of the most effective approaches due to the mild operation conditions and environmental friendliness. This review systematically summarized the recent advances in photocatalytic degradation of PFAS based on heterogeneous photocatalysts, including TiO2-, Ga2O3-, In2O3-, ZnO-, Bi-based, and others. Overall, two mainly degradation mechanisms were involved, including photo-oxidation (involving the holes and oxidative radicals) and photo-reduction types (by e- and reductive radicals). The band structures of the photocatalysts, degradation pathways, structure-function relationship, and impacting factors were further discussed to elucidate the essential reasons for the enhanced degradation of PFAS. Furthermore, the review identified the major knowledge gaps to solve the issues of photocatalysis in real application. This paper also propounded several strategies to promote the design and optimization of high-efficient photocatalysts, and meet the challenges to remove PFAS through photodegradation technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Shuai Cao
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Technology and Process Engineering, School of Chemistry, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China; Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Jingzhen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Liping Yang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Jingwen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yinqing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Lingyan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
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2
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Vujic E, Ferguson SS, Brouwer KLR. Effects of PFAS on human liver transporters: implications for health outcomes. Toxicol Sci 2024; 200:213-227. [PMID: 38724241 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfae061] [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: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become internationally recognized over the past three decades as persistent organic pollutants used in the production of various consumer and industrial goods. Research efforts continue to gauge the risk that historically used, and newly produced, PFAS may cause to human health. Numerous studies report toxic effects of PFAS on the human liver as well as increased serum cholesterol levels in adults. A major concern with PFAS, also dubbed "forever chemicals," is that they accumulate in the liver and kidney and persist in serum. The mechanisms responsible for their disposition and excretion in humans are poorly understood. A better understanding of the interaction of PFAS with liver transporters, as it pertains to the disposition of PFAS and other xenobiotics, could provide mechanistic insight into human health effects and guide efforts toward risk assessment of compounds in development. This review summarizes the current state of the literature on the emerging relationships (eg, substrates, inhibitors, modulators of gene expression) between PFAS and specific hepatic transporters. The adaptive and toxicological responses of hepatocytes to PFAS that reveal linkages to pathologies and epidemiological findings are highlighted. The evidence suggests that our understanding of the molecular landscape of PFAS must improve to determine their impact on the expression and function of hepatocyte transporters that play a key role in PFAS or other xenobiotic disposition. From here, we can assess what role these changes may have in documented human health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ena Vujic
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Stephen S Ferguson
- Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kim L R Brouwer
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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3
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Bangma J, Pu S, Robuck A, Boettger J, Guillette T, McCord J, Rock KD, Sobus J, Jackson TW, Belcher SM. Combined screening and retroactive data mining for emerging perfluoroethers in wildlife and pets in the Cape Fear region of North Carolina. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 363:142898. [PMID: 39032729 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
The recent application of non-targeted analysis (NTA) techniques in environmental monitoring has revealed numerous novel fluorinated species in surface water, wildlife, and humans in the Cape Fear River (CFR) region of North Carolina. In this study, we have re-examined archived alligator, striped bass, horse, and dog serum as well as archived seabird tissue data from previously reported exposure studies in order to extend the panel of detected novel PFAS. In this study, the compounds CF3-(OCF2)x-COOH, x = 6, 7, 8 (Abbreviated PFO6TeDA, PFO7HxDA, PFO8OcDA, respectively), and 6H-Perfluoro-3-oxa,4-methylhexanesulfonic acid (Nafion byproduct 6) were detected for the first time in environmental tissues even though these analytes were not previously detected in the CFR. Analytical standards were available for PFO6TeDA and Nafion Byproduct 6, and therefore, were quantitated in investigated tissues. PFO7HxDA and PFO8OcDA had no available standards and were semi-quantitated using NTA techniques. Of note, PFO6TeDA, PFO7HxDA, and PFO8OcDA were observed in alligator, bass, and seabird but not horse and dog. PFO6TeDA was detected at the highest frequency in all investigated tissues with PFO7HxDA and PFO8OcDA detected at lower frequencies. No Nafion Byproduct 6 values are reported in serum due to poor analytical reproducibility of the measurements. Seabird tissue to blood ratios suggests PFO6TeDA is highest in the heart, kidney, and liver and lowest in the brain. Overall, additional studies are needed to fully understand the potential impact of these additional novel PFAS on both wildlife and humans in the CFR region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Bangma
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, US Environmental Protection Agency, USA.
| | - Shirley Pu
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US Environmental Protection Agency, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA.
| | - Anna Robuck
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, US Environmental Protection Agency, USA.
| | - Jason Boettger
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, USA.
| | | | - James McCord
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, US Environmental Protection Agency, USA.
| | - Kylie D Rock
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA.
| | - Jon Sobus
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US Environmental Protection Agency, USA.
| | - Thomas W Jackson
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, USA.
| | - Scott M Belcher
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA.
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Lu T, Zheng W, Hu F, Lin X, Tao R, Li M, Guo LH. Disruption of zebrafish sex differentiation by emerging contaminants hexafluoropropylene oxides at environmental concentrations via antagonizing androgen receptor pathways. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 190:108868. [PMID: 38976939 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
As alternatives of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimeric acid (HFPO-DA) and trimeric acid (HFPO-TA) have been detected increasingly in environmental media and even humans. They have been shown to exhibit reproductive toxicity to model species, but their effects on human remain unclear due to the knowledge gap in their mode of action. Herein, (anti-)androgenic effects of the two HFPOs and PFOA were investigated and underlying toxicological mechanism was explored by combining zebrafish test, cell assay and molecular docking simulation. Exposure of juvenile zebrafish to the chemicals during sex differentiation promoted feminization, with HFPO-TA acting at an environmental concentration of 1 μg/L. The chemicals inhibited proliferation of human prostate cells and transcriptional activity of human and zebrafish androgen receptors (AR), with HFPO-TA displaying the strongest potency. Molecular docking revealed that the chemicals bind to AR in a conformation similar to a known AR antagonist. Combined in vivo, in vitro and in silico results demonstrated that the chemicals disrupted sex differentiation likely by antagonizing AR-mediated pathways, and provided more evidence that HFPO-TA is not a safe alternative to PFOA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingyu Lu
- College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
| | - Wei Zheng
- College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
| | - Fanglin Hu
- College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
| | - Xicha Lin
- College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
| | - Ran Tao
- College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
| | - Minjie Li
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
| | - Liang-Hong Guo
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
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5
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Degitz SJ, Degoey PP, Haselman JT, Olker JH, Stacy EH, Blanksma C, Meyer S, Mattingly KZ, Blackwell B, Opseth AS, Hornung MW. Evaluating potential developmental toxicity of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in Xenopus laevis embryos and larvae. J Appl Toxicol 2024; 44:1040-1049. [PMID: 38531109 DOI: 10.1002/jat.4599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
As part of the US Environmental Protection Agency's perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) Action Plan, the agency is committed to increasing our understanding of the potential ecological effects of PFAS. The objective of these studies was to examine the developmental toxicity of PFAS using the laboratory model amphibian species Xenopus laevis. We had two primary aims: (1) to understand the developmental toxicity of a structurally diverse set of PFAS compounds in developing embryos and (2) to characterize the potential impacts of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (HFPO-DA a.k.a. GenX), on growth and thyroid hormone-controlled metamorphosis. We employed a combination of static renewal and flow-through exposure designs. Embryos were exposed to 17 structurally diverse PFAS starting at the midblastula stage through the completion of organogenesis (96 h). To investigate impacts on PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA on development and metamorphosis, larvae were exposed from premetamorphosis (Nieuwkoop Faber stage 51 or 54) through pro metamorphosis. Of the PFAS tested in embryos, only 1H,1H,10H,10H-perfluorodecane-1,10-diol (FC10-diol) and perfluorohexanesulfonamide (FHxSA) exposure resulted in clear concentration-dependent developmental toxicity. For both of these PFAS, a significant increase in mortality was observed at 2.5 and 5 mg/L. For FC10-diol, 100% of the surviving embryos were malformed at 1.25 and 2.5 mg/L, while for FHxSA, a significant increase in malformations (100%) was observed at 2.5 and 5 mg/L. Developmental stage achieved was the most sensitive endpoint with significant effects observed at 1.25 and 0.625 mg/L for FC10-diol and FHxSA, respectively. In larval studies, we observed impacts on growth following exposure to PFHxS and PFOS at concentrations of 100 and 2.5 mg/L, respectively, while no impacts were observed in larvae when exposed to PFOA and HFPO-DA at concentration of 100 mg/L. Further, we did not observe impacts on thyroid endpoints in exposed larvae. These experiments have broadened our understanding of the impact of PFAS on anuran development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sigmund J Degitz
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division (GLTED), Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Philip P Degoey
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division (GLTED), Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jonathan T Haselman
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division (GLTED), Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jennifer H Olker
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division (GLTED), Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Emma H Stacy
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division (GLTED), Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Chad Blanksma
- SpecPro Professional Services, c/o US EPA, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Scott Meyer
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division (GLTED), Duluth, Minnesota, USA
- California Department of Water Resources, West Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Kali Z Mattingly
- SpecPro Professional Services, c/o US EPA, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Brett Blackwell
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division (GLTED), Duluth, Minnesota, USA
- Biochemistry and Biotechnology Group, Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
| | - Anne S Opseth
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division (GLTED), Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Michael W Hornung
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division (GLTED), Duluth, Minnesota, USA
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6
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Coperchini F, Teliti M, Greco A, Croce L, Rotondi M. Per-polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as thyroid disruptors: is there evidence for multi-transgenerational effects? Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab 2024; 19:307-315. [PMID: 38764236 DOI: 10.1080/17446651.2024.2351885] [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: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The environmental spread of pollutants has led to a persistent exposure of living beings to multiple chemicals, by now become ubiquitous in the surrounding environment. Environmental exposure to these substances has been reported to cause multi- and/or transgenerational health effects. Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) raise great concern, given their known effects both as endocrine disruptors and potential carcinogens. The multi/trans-generational effects of different endocrine disruptors have been investigated by several studies, and harmful effects observed also for PFAS. AREAS COVERED This review examines the current data on the multi-trans-generational effects of PFAS, with a focus on their impact on the thyroid axis. The aim is to determine if there is evidence of potential multi-trans-generational effects of PFAS on the thyroid and/or if more research is needed. EXPERT OPINION PFAS exposure impacts thyroid homeostasis and can cross the placental barrier. In addition PFAS have shown multi-transgenerational effects in laboratory experiences and animal models, but thyroid disruptive effects of PFAS were also investigated only in a small number of these studies. Efforts are needed to study the adverse effects of PFAS, as not all PFAS are regulated and removal strategies are still being developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Coperchini
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Marsida Teliti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Alessia Greco
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Laura Croce
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Lombardia, Italy
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Unit of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Laboratory for Endocrine Disruptors, Pavia, Italy
| | - Mario Rotondi
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Lombardia, Italy
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Unit of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Laboratory for Endocrine Disruptors, Pavia, Italy
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Morales-Grahl E, Hilz EN, Gore AC. Regrettable Substitutes and the Brain: What Animal Models and Human Studies Tell Us about the Neurodevelopmental Effects of Bisphenol, Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, and Phthalate Replacements. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6887. [PMID: 38999997 PMCID: PMC11241431 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25136887] [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: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, emerging evidence has identified endocrine and neurologic health concerns related to exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including bisphenol A (BPA), certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFASs), and phthalates. This has resulted in consumer pressure to remove these chemicals from the market, especially in food-contact materials and personal care products, driving their replacement with structurally or functionally similar substitutes. However, these "new-generation" chemicals may be just as or more harmful than their predecessors and some have not received adequate testing. This review discusses the research on early-life exposures to new-generation bisphenols, PFASs, and phthalates and their links to neurodevelopmental and behavioral alterations in zebrafish, rodents, and humans. As a whole, the evidence suggests that BPA alternatives, especially BPAF, and newer PFASs, such as GenX, can have significant effects on neurodevelopment. The need for further research, especially regarding phthalate replacements and bio-based alternatives, is briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Morales-Grahl
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Emily N Hilz
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Andrea C Gore
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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O'Shaughnessy KL, Bell KS, Sasser AL, Gilbert ME, Riutta C, Ford JL, McCord J, Wood CR. The pollutant perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) reduces serum thyroxine but does not alter thyroid action in the postnatal rat brain. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 190:108838. [PMID: 38963985 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Known as "forever chemicals", per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic compounds used in consumer goods but pose significant public health concerns, including disruption of the thyroid system. As thyroid hormones (THs) are required for normal brain development, PFAS may also be developmental neurotoxicants. However, this is not well understood. Here we examine the endocrine and neurodevelopmental consequences of perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) exposure in pregnant, lactating, and developing rats, and compare its effects to an anti-thyroid pharmaceutical (propylthiouracil, PTU) that induces thyroid-mediated developmental neurotoxicity. We show that PFHxS dramatically reduces maternal serum thyroxine (T4), nearly equivalently to PTU (-55 and -51%, respectively). However, only PTU increases thyroid stimulating hormone. The lactational transfer of PFHxS is significant and reduces pup serum T4 across the postnatal period. Surprisingly, brain THs are only minimally decreased by PFHxS, whereas PTU drastically diminishes them. Evaluation of brain TH action by phenotyping, RNA-Sequencing, and quantification of radial glia cell morphology supports that PTU interrupts TH signaling while PFHxS has limited to no effect. These data show that PFHxS induces abnormal serum TH profiles; however, there were no indications of hypothyroidism in the postnatal brain. We suggest the stark differences between the neurodevelopmental effects of PFHxS and a typical antithyroid agent may be due to its interaction with TH distributing proteins like transthyretin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine L O'Shaughnessy
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Kiersten S Bell
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge 37831, TN, USA
| | - Aubrey L Sasser
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge 37831, TN, USA
| | - Mary E Gilbert
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Cal Riutta
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge 37831, TN, USA
| | - Jermaine L Ford
- Chemical Characterization and Exposure Division, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - James McCord
- Watershed and Ecosystem Characterization Division, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, United States Environmental Protection Agency Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Carmen R Wood
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
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9
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Yu G, Luo T, Liu Y, Huo X, Mo C, Huang B, Li Y, Feng L, Sun Y, Zhang J, Zhang Z. Multi-omics reveal disturbance of glucose homeostasis in pregnant rats exposed to short-chain perfluorobutanesulfonic acid. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 278:116402. [PMID: 38728940 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116402] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), a short-chain alternative to perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), is widely used in various products and is increasingly present in environmental media and human bodies. Recent epidemiological findings have raised concerns about its potential adverse health effects, although the specific toxic mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the metabolic toxicity of gestational PFBS exposure in maternal rats. Pregnant Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned to three groups and administered either 3% starch gel (control), 5, or 50 mg/kg bw·d PFBS. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) and lipid profiles were measured, and integrated omics analysis (transcriptomics and non-targeted metabolomics) was employed to identify changes in genes and metabolites and their relationships with metabolic phenotypes. The results revealed that rats exposed to 50 mg/kg bw·d PFBS exhibited a significant decrease in 1-h glucose levels and the area under the curve (AUC) of OGTT compared with the starch group. Transcriptomics analysis indicated significant alterations in gene expression related to cytochrome P450 exogenous metabolism, glutathione metabolism, bile acid secretion, tumor pathways, and retinol metabolism. Differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were enriched in pathways such as pyruvate metabolism, the glucagon signaling pathway, central carbon metabolism in cancer, and the citric acid cycle. Co-enrichment analysis and pairwise correlation analysis among genes, metabolites, and outcomes identified several differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including Gstm1, Kit, Adcy1, Gck, Ppp1r3c, Ppp1r3d, and DEMs such as fumaric acid, L-lactic acid, 4-hydroxynonenal, and acetylvalerenolic acid. These DEGs and DEMs may play a role in the modulation of glucolipid metabolic pathways. In conclusion, our results suggest that gestational exposure to PFBS may induce molecular perturbations in glucose homeostasis. These findings provide insights into the potential mechanisms contributing to the heightened risk of abnormal glucose tolerance associated with PFBS exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqi Yu
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; Global Centre for Asian Women's Health, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117549, Singapore; Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117549, Singapore
| | - Tingyu Luo
- School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
| | - Yongjie Liu
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xiaona Huo
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Chunbao Mo
- School of Public Health and Emergency Management, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Bo Huang
- School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
| | - You Li
- School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
| | - Liping Feng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Yan Sun
- School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Zhiyong Zhang
- School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China; The Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposomics and Entire Lifecycle Heath, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China.
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10
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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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11
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Mao X, Liu Y, Wei Y, Li X, Liu Y, Su G, Wang X, Jia J, Yan B. Threats of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl pollutants to susceptible populations. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 921:171188. [PMID: 38395163 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171188] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Environmental exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has raised significant global health concerns due to potential hazards in healthy adults. However, the impact of PFAS on susceptible populations, including pregnant individuals, newborns, the older people, and those with underlying health conditions, has been overlooked. These susceptible groups often have physiological changes that make them less resilient to the same exposures. Consequently, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive understanding of the health risks posed by PFAS exposure to these populations. In this review, we delve into the potential health risks of PFAS exposure in these susceptible populations. Equally important, we also examine and discuss the molecular mechanisms that underlie this susceptibility. These mechanisms include the induction of oxidative stress, disruption of the immune system, impairment of cellular metabolism, and alterations in gut microbiota, all of which contribute to the enhanced toxicity of PFAS in susceptible populations. Finally, we address the primary research challenges and unresolved issues that require further investigation. This discussion aims to foster research for a better understanding of how PFAS affect susceptible populations and to pave the way for strategies to minimize their adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Mao
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yujiao Liu
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yongyi Wei
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiaodi Li
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yin Liu
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Gaoxing Su
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Xiaohong Wang
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Jianbo Jia
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Bing Yan
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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12
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Wan G, Zhang Z, Chen J, Li M, Li J. GenX caused liver injury and potential hepatocellular carcinoma of mice via drinking water even at environmental concentration. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 346:123574. [PMID: 38365076 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123574] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX) is an alternative to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), whose environmental concentration is close to its maximum allowable value established by the US Environmental Protection Agency, so its effects on human health are of great concern. The liver is one of the most crucial target organ for GenX, but whether GenX exposure induces liver cancer still unclear. In this research project, male C57 mice were disposed to GenX in drinking water at environmental concentrations (0.1 and 10 μg/L) and higher concentrations (1 and 100 mg/L) for 14 weeks to explore its effects on liver injury and potential carcinogenicity in mice. GenX was found to cause a dose-dependent increase in the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TG). As the content of GenX in drinking water increased, so did the concentrations of Glypican-3 (GPC-3) and detachment gamma-carboxyprothrombin (DCP), indicators of early hepatocellular cancer. GenX destroyed the boundaries and arrangements of hepatocytes, in which monocyte infiltration, balloon-like transformation, and obvious lipid vacuoles were observed between cells. Following exposure to GenX, Masson sections revealed a significant quantity of collagen deposition in the liver. Alpha-feto protein (AFP), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Ki67, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) gene expression increased in a dose-dependent manner in the treatment group relative to the control group. In general, drinking water GenX exposure induced liver function impairment, elevated blood lipid level, caused liver pathological structure damage and liver fibrosis lesions, changed the liver inflammatory microenvironment, and increased the concentration of liver-related tumor indicator even in the environmental concentration, suggesting GenX is a potential carcinogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guojun Wan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Zengli Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Jingsi Chen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Mei Li
- School of Civil Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, 215011, China
| | - Jiafu Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
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13
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Ren W, Wang Z, Guo H, Gou Y, Dai J, Zhou X, Sheng N. GenX analogs exposure induced greater hepatotoxicity than GenX mainly via activation of PPARα pathway while caused hepatomegaly in the absence of PPARα in female mice. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 344:123314. [PMID: 38218542 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123314] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Despite their use as substitutes for perfluorooctanoic acid, the potential toxicities of hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, commercial name: GenX) and its analogs (PFDMOHxA, PFDMO2HpA, and PFDMO2OA) remain poorly understood. To assess the hepatotoxicity of these chemicals on females, each chemical was orally administered to female C57BL/6 mice at the dosage of 0.5 mg/kg/d for 28 d. The contribution of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARα and γ) and other nuclear receptors involving in these toxic effects of GenX and its analogs were identified by employing two PPAR knockout mice (PPARα-/- and PPARγΔHep) in this study. Results showed that the hepatotoxicity of these chemicals increased in the order of GenX < PFDMOHxA < PFDMO2HpA < PFDMO2OA. The increases of relative liver weight and liver injury markers were significantly much lower in PPARα-/- mice than in PPARα+/+ mice after GenX analog exposure, while no significant differences were observed between PPARγΔHep and its corresponding wildtype groups (PPARγF/F mice), indicating that GenX analog induce hepatotoxicity mainly via PPARα instead of PPARγ. The PPARα-dependent complement pathways were inhibited in PFDMO2HpA and PFDMO2OA exposed PPARα+/+ mice, which might be responsible for the observed liver inflammation. In PPARα-/- mice, hepatomegaly and increased liver lipid content were observed in PFDMO2HpA and PFDMO2OA treated groups. The activated pregnane X receptor (PXR) and constitutive activated receptor (CAR) pathways in the liver of PPARα-/- mice, which were highlighted by bioinformatics analysis, provided a reasonable explanation for hepatomegaly in the absence of PPARα. Our results indicate that GenX analogs could induce more serious hepatotoxicity than GenX whether there is a PPARα receptor or not. These chemicals, especially PFDMO2HpA and PFDMO2OA, may not be appropriate PFOA alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanlan Ren
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; 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; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhiru Wang
- 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
| | - Hua Guo
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China
| | - Yong Gou
- Key Laboratory of Organofluorine Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, 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; Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Xuming Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, 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.
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14
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Liao Q, Huang H, Tang P, Liang J, Chen J, Mu C, Pan D, Lv F, Zhou L, Long J, Chen Q, Zeng X, Liu S, Huang D, Qiu X. Associations of prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and fetal sex hormones in the Guangxi Zhuang Birth Cohort Study: Greater effect of long-chain PFAS. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 272:116054. [PMID: 38310819 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116054] [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: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Fetal sex hormone homeostasis disruption could lead to reproductive and developmental abnormalities. However, previous studies have reported inconsistent findings regarding the association of maternal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure with fetal sex hormone levels. A total of 277 mother-infant pairs from the Guangxi Zhuang Birth Cohort Study between 2015 and 2019 were selected. We quantified nine PFAS in maternal serum in early pregnancy, and detected three sex hormones, namely, estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4) and testosterone (TT), in cord blood. The generalized linear model (GLM) and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model were used for single- and multiple-exposure analyses, respectively. In the GLM, there was no significant association between an individual PFAS and any hormone level or the E2/TT ratio, but a negative association between perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) exposure and P4 levels in female infants was observed after stratification by sex. In the BKMR, a mixture of nine PFAS was positively associated with E2 levels and the E2/TT ratio, with the same main contributors, i.e., perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA). And PFAS mixtures were not associated with P4 or TT levels. After stratification by infant sex, positive associations of PFAS mixtures with E2 levels and the E2/TT ratio were observed only in male infants, with the same main contributors, i.e., PFUnA. There was a positive association between PFAS mixtures and P4 levels in male infants, in which PFUnA was the main contributor; but a reverse association between PFAS mixtures and P4 levels in female infants, in which PFDoA was the main contributor. This study suggested that prenatal exposure to PFAS mixtures is associated with fetal sex hormones, and long-chain PFAS may play an important role in this association. Furthermore, sex differences in the association of maternal PFAS exposure with E2 and P4 levels need additional attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Liao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Huishen Huang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Peng Tang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jun Liang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Jiehua Chen
- Department of Microbiology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Changhui Mu
- Department of Sanitary Chemistry, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Dongxiang Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Fangfang Lv
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Lihong Zhou
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Jinghua Long
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Xiaoyun Zeng
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China; Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, Guangxi, China
| | - Shun Liu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Dongping Huang
- Department of Microbiology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Qiu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China.
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15
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Conley JM, Lambright CS, Evans N, Bangma J, Ford J, Hill D, Medlock-Kakaley E, Gray LE. Maternal and Neonatal Effects of Maternal Oral Exposure to Perfluoro-2-methoxyacetic Acid (PFMOAA) during Pregnancy and Early Lactation in the Sprague-Dawley Rat. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:1064-1075. [PMID: 38163761 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Perfluoro-2-methoxyacetic acid (PFMOAA) is a short-chain perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acid that has been detected at high concentrations (∼10 μg/L) in drinking water in eastern North Carolina, USA, and in human serum and breastmilk in China. Despite documented human exposure there are almost no toxicity data available to inform risk assessment of PFMOAA. Here we exposed pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats to a range of PFMOAA doses (10-450 mg/kg/d) via oral gavage from gestation day (GD) 8 to postnatal day (PND) 2 and compared results to those we previously reported for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (HFPO-DA or GenX). Newborn pups displayed reduced birthweight (≥30 mg/kg), depleted liver glycogen concentrations (all doses), hypoglycemia (≥125 mg/kg), and numerous significantly altered genes in the liver associated with fatty acid and glucose metabolism similar to gene changes produced by HFPO-DA. Pup survival was significantly reduced at ≥125 mg/kg, and at necropsy on PND2 both maternal and neonatal animals displayed increased liver weights, increased serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and reduced serum thyroid hormones at all doses (≥10 mg/kg). Pups also displayed highly elevated serum cholesterol at all doses. PFMOAA concentrations in serum and liver increased with maternal oral dose in both maternal and F1 animals and were similar to those we reported for PFOA but considerably higher than HFPO-DA. We calculated 10% effect levels (ED10 or EC10) and relative potency factors (RPF; PFOA = index chemical) among the three compounds based on maternal oral dose and maternal serum concentration (μM). Reduced pup liver glycogen, increased liver weights and reduced thyroid hormone levels (maternal and pup) were the most sensitive end points modeled. PFMOAA was ∼3-7-fold less potent than PFOA for most end points based on maternal serum RPFs, but slightly more potent for increased maternal and pup liver weights. PFMOAA is a maternal and developmental toxicant in the rat producing a constellation of adverse effects similar to PFOA and HFPO-DA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin M Conley
- Office of Research & Development/Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709 United States
| | - Christy S Lambright
- Office of Research & Development/Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709 United States
| | - Nicola Evans
- Office of Research & Development/Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709 United States
| | - Jacqueline Bangma
- Office of Research & Development/Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Jermaine Ford
- Office of Research & Development/Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709 United States
| | - Donna Hill
- Office of Research & Development/Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709 United States
| | - Elizabeth Medlock-Kakaley
- Office of Research & Development/Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709 United States
| | - L Earl Gray
- Office of Research & Development/Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709 United States
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Zhang QY, Xu LL, Zhong MT, Chen YK, Lai MQ, Wang Q, Xie XL. Gestational GenX and PFOA exposures induce hepatotoxicity, metabolic pathway, and microbiome shifts in weanling mice. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:168059. [PMID: 37884144 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Ammonium perfluoro (2-methyl-3-oxahexanoate) (GenX), a replacement for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), has been detected in multiple environmental media and biological samples worldwide. Accumulated evidence implies that GenX exposure might exert adverse health effects, although the underlying mechanisms have not been fully revealed. In this study, pregnant BALB/c mice were exposed to GenX (2 mg/kg/day), PFOA (1 mg/kg/day), or Milli-Q water by gavage from the first day of gestation (GD0) until GD21. Necropsy and tissue collection were conducted in pups at 4 weeks of age. PFOA and GenX induced similar histopathological changes in both the liver and the intestinal mucosa, accompanied by higher serum levels of alanine and aspartate aminotransferase. Moreover, the capacity of hepatic glycogen storage and intestinal mucus secretion were significantly decreased, suggesting dysfunction of liver metabolism and the intestinal mucosal barrier. A total of 637 and 352 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the liver tissues of GenX and PFOA group, respectively. Most of the enriched pathways from the DEGs by KEGG enrichment analysis were metabolism-associated. Moreover, overexpression of CYP4A14, Sult2a1, Cpt1b, Acaa1b, Igfbp1, Irs-2 and decreased expression of Gys2 were observed in livers of GenX exposed pups, supporting the hypothesis that there was metabolic disruption. Furthermore, DNA damage and cell cycle arrest proteins (Gadd45β, p21, Ppard) were significantly increased, while cell proliferation-related proteins (Cyclin E, Myc, EGFR) were decreased by gestational GenX exposure in the pups' liver. In addition, imbalance of gut microbiota and dysfunction of the intestinal mucosa barrier might contribute to hepatotoxicity at least in part. Taken together, our results suggested that gestational GenX exposure triggered metabolic disorder, which might be responsible for the hepatotoxicity in the pups in addition to dysfunction of the intestinal mucosa barrier. This study enriches the mechanisms of GenX-induced developmental hepatotoxicity by associating metabolic disorder with intestinal homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin-Yao Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University (Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research), No. 1838 North Guangzhou Road, 510515 Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling-Ling Xu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University (Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research), No. 1838 North Guangzhou Road, 510515 Guangzhou, China
| | - Mei-Ting Zhong
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University (Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research), No. 1838 North Guangzhou Road, 510515 Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu-Kui Chen
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University (Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research), No. 1838 North Guangzhou Road, 510515 Guangzhou, China
| | - Ming-Quan Lai
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University (Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research), No. 1838 North Guangzhou Road, 510515 Guangzhou, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, No. 1838 North Guangzhou Road, 510515 Guangzhou, China.
| | - Xiao-Li Xie
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University (Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research), No. 1838 North Guangzhou Road, 510515 Guangzhou, China.
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17
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Lv D, Liu H, An Q, Lei C, Wang Y, Sun J, Li C, Lin Y, Dong Q, Yang Z, Che K, Liu W, Han W. Association of adverse fetal outcomes with placental inflammation after oral gestational exposure to hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX) in Sprague-Dawley rats. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 461:132536. [PMID: 37717439 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132536] [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: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA), known as "GenX" for its trade name, is gradually taking the place of Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). However, there is a poor understanding of the developmental effects of GenX. This study aims to explore whether GenX produces adverse effects on offspring development in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and the underlying mechanisms. Pregnant rats were orally administered with GenX (0, 1, 10 and 100 mg/kg/day) from gestational 0.5-19.5 days. Experimental data showed that the exposure to GenX resulted in increased rats' gestational weight gain, whereas both body weight and body length of their fetuses born naturally were significantly reduced. This could contribute to the developmental delays of fetal body weight, body length and tail length from postnatal 1-21 days. Histopathological evaluation of placenta indicated that GenX exposure led to neutrophil infiltration in decidual zone and congestion in labyrinth zone. Moreover, placental proteomics showed changes at the expression levels of the inflammation-related proteins in the Rap1 signaling pathway. In conclusion, gestational exposure to GenX induced fetal intrauterine and extrauterine development retardation in SD rats. Placental inflammation may play a key role in this process through the Rap1 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Lv
- Pediatrics Department, Qingdao Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Municipal Hospital), Qingdao 266071, China; Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Hongyun Liu
- Pathology Department, Qingdao Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Municipal Hospital), Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Qi An
- Child Healthcare Department, Qingdao Women and Children's Hospital, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Chengwei Lei
- Pediatrics Department, Qingdao Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Municipal Hospital), Qingdao 266071, China; Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Yanxuan Wang
- Pediatrics Department, Qingdao Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Municipal Hospital), Qingdao 266071, China; Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Jin Sun
- Department of Developmental Pediatrics and Child Health Care, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Chuanhai Li
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Yongfeng Lin
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Qing Dong
- Pediatrics Department, The Affiliated Taian City Central Hospital of Qingdao University, Taian 271000, China
| | - Zhugen Yang
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK
| | - Kui Che
- Key Laboratory of Thyroid Diseases, Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Wendong Liu
- Pediatrics Department, Qingdao Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Municipal Hospital), Qingdao 266071, China.
| | - Wenchao Han
- Pediatrics Department, Qingdao Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Municipal Hospital), Qingdao 266071, China.
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18
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Wasel O, King H, Choi YJ, Lee LS, Freeman JL. Differential Developmental Neurotoxicity and Tissue Uptake of the Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Alternatives, GenX and PFBS. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:19274-19284. [PMID: 37943624 PMCID: PMC11299994 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05023] [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] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic chemicals with several applications. Multiple adverse health effects are reported for longer carbon chain (≤C8) PFAS. Shorter carbon chain PFAS, [e.g., hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA; GenX) and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)] were introduced as alternatives. Past studies indicate that longer-chain PFAS are neurotoxic targeting the dopamine pathway, but it is not known if shorter-chain PFAS act similarly. This study aimed to evaluate developmental neurotoxicity and tissue uptake of GenX and PFBS using the zebrafish (Danio rerio). First, acute toxicity was assessed by measuring LC50 at 120 h postfertilization (hpf). Body burden was determined after embryonic exposure (1-72 hpf) to sublethal concentrations of GenX or PFBS by LC-ESI-MS/MS. Locomotor activity using a visual motor response assay at 120 hpf and dopamine levels at 72 hpf was assessed after embryonic exposure. PFBS was more acutely toxic and bioaccumulative than GenX. GenX and PFBS caused hyperactivity at 120 hpf, but stronger behavioral alterations were observed for PFBS. An increase in whole organism dopamine occurred at 40 ppb of GenX, while a decrease was observed at 400 ppb of PFBS. Differences detected in dopamine for these two PFAS indicate differential mechanisms of developmental neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ola Wasel
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Hanna King
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Youn J Choi
- Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Linda S Lee
- Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Jennifer L Freeman
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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Robarts DR, Dai J, Lau C, Apte U, Corton JC. Hepatic Transcriptome Comparative In Silico Analysis Reveals Similar Pathways and Targets Altered by Legacy and Alternative Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Mice. TOXICS 2023; 11:963. [PMID: 38133364 PMCID: PMC10748317 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11120963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large class of fluorinated carbon chains that include legacy PFAS, such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS). These compounds induce adverse health effects, including hepatotoxicity. Potential alternatives to the legacy PFAS (HFPO-DA (GenX), HFPO4, HFPO-TA, F-53B, 6:2 FTSA, and 6:2 FTCA), as well as a byproduct of PFAS manufacturing (Nafion BP2), are increasingly being found in the environment. The potential hazards of these new alternatives are less well known. To better understand the diversity of molecular targets of the PFAS, we performed a comparative toxicogenomics analysis of the gene expression changes in the livers of mice exposed to these PFAS, and compared these to five activators of PPARα, a common target of many PFAS. Using hierarchical clustering, pathway analysis, and predictive biomarkers, we found that most of the alternative PFAS modulate molecular targets that overlap with legacy PFAS. Only three of the 11 PFAS tested did not appreciably activate PPARα (Nafion BP2, 6:2 FTSA, and 6:2 FTCA). Predictive biomarkers showed that most PFAS (PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, HFPO-TA, F-53B, HFPO4, Nafion BP2) activated CAR. PFNA, PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS, HFPO4, HFPO-TA, F-53B, Nafion BP2, and 6:2 FTSA suppressed STAT5b, activated NRF2, and activated SREBP. There was no apparent relationship between the length of the carbon chain, type of head group, or number of ether linkages and the transcriptomic changes. This work highlights the similarities in molecular targets between the legacy and alternative PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dakota R. Robarts
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Jiayin Dai
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Christopher Lau
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Udayan Apte
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - J. Christopher Corton
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
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20
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Chen L, Lin X, Shi S, Li M, Mortimer M, Fang W, Li F, Guo LH. Activation of estrogen-related receptor: An alternative mechanism of hexafluoropropylene oxide homologs estrogenic effects. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 901:166257. [PMID: 37574057 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) alternatives such as hexafluoropropylene oxide homologs (HFPOs) cause concern due to increased occurrence in the environment as well as potential bioaccumulation and toxicity. HFPOs have been demonstrated to activate the estrogen receptor (ER) pathway. The ER pathway is homologous and connected to the estrogen-related receptor (ERR) pathway, but HFPOs effects on the ERR pathway have not been studied. Hence, we assessed the potential estrogenic effects of HFPOs via ERRγ pathway. In vitro assays revealed that HFPO dimeric, trimeric, and tetrameric acids (HFPO-DA, -TA, and -TeA, respectively), acted as ERRγ agonists, activating the transcription of both human and zebrafish ERRγ at low concentrations, but inhibiting zebrafish ERRγ at high concentrations. We also found that HFPO-TA promoted the human endometrial cancer cells (Ishikawa cells) proliferation via ERRγ/EGF, Cyclin D1 pathway. The HFPO-TA-induced proliferation of Ishikawa cells was inhibited by co-exposure with a specific antagonist of ERRγ, GSK5182. In vivo exposure of female zebrafish to HFPO-TA disturbed sex hormone levels, interfered with the gene expression involved in estrogen synthesis and follicle regulation, and caused histopathological lesions in the ovaries, which were similar to those induced by a known ERRγ agonist GSK4716. Taken together, this study revealed a new mechanism concerning the estrogenic effect of HFPOs via activation of the ERRγ pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Chen
- College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, 258 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, 168 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
| | - Xicha Lin
- College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, 258 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, 168 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
| | - Sha Shi
- College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, 258 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, 168 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
| | - Minjie Li
- College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, 258 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
| | - Monika Mortimer
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, 168 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, 258 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
| | - Wendi Fang
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, 168 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, 258 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
| | - Fangfang Li
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, 168 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, 258 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
| | - Liang-Hong Guo
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, 168 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, 258 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
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21
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Renyer A, Ravindra K, Wetmore BA, Ford JL, DeVito M, Hughes MF, Wehmas LC, MacMillan DK. Dose Response, Dosimetric, and Metabolic Evaluations of Replacement PFAS Perfluoro-(2,5,8-trimethyl-3,6,9-trioxadodecanoic) Acid (HFPO-TeA). TOXICS 2023; 11:951. [PMID: 38133352 PMCID: PMC10747602 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11120951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Few studies are available on the environmental and toxicological effects of perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acids (PFECAs), such as GenX, which are replacing legacy PFAS in manufacturing processes. To collect initial data on the toxicity and toxicokinetics of a longer-chain PFECA, male and female Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to perfluoro-(2,5,8-trimethyl-3,6,9-trioxadodecanoic) acid (HFPO-TeA) by oral gavage for five days over multiple dose levels (0.3-335.2 mg/kg/day). Clinically, we observed mortality at doses >17 mg/kg/day and body weight changes at doses ≤17 mg/kg/day. For the 17 mg/kg/day dose level, T3 and T4 thyroid hormone concentrations were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) from controls and HFPO-TeA plasma concentrations were significantly different between sexes. Non-targeted analysis of plasma and in vitro hepatocyte assay extractions revealed the presence of another GenX oligomer, perfluoro-(2,5-dimethyl-3,6-dioxanonanoic) acid (HFPO-TA). In vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) parameterized with in vitro toxicokinetic data predicted steady-state blood concentrations that were within seven-fold of those observed in the in vivo study, demonstrating reasonable predictivity. The evidence of thyroid hormone dysregulation, sex-based differences in clinical results and dosimetry, and IVIVE predictions presented here suggest that the replacement PFECA HFPO-TeA induces a complex and toxic exposure response in rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aero Renyer
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA;
| | - Krishna Ravindra
- Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA;
| | - Barbara A. Wetmore
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Durham, NC 27709, USA; (B.A.W.); (J.L.F.); (M.D.); (M.F.H.); (L.C.W.)
| | - Jermaine L. Ford
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Durham, NC 27709, USA; (B.A.W.); (J.L.F.); (M.D.); (M.F.H.); (L.C.W.)
| | - Michael DeVito
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Durham, NC 27709, USA; (B.A.W.); (J.L.F.); (M.D.); (M.F.H.); (L.C.W.)
| | - Michael F. Hughes
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Durham, NC 27709, USA; (B.A.W.); (J.L.F.); (M.D.); (M.F.H.); (L.C.W.)
| | - Leah C. Wehmas
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Durham, NC 27709, USA; (B.A.W.); (J.L.F.); (M.D.); (M.F.H.); (L.C.W.)
| | - Denise K. MacMillan
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Durham, NC 27709, USA; (B.A.W.); (J.L.F.); (M.D.); (M.F.H.); (L.C.W.)
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22
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Currie SD, Doherty JP, Xue KS, Wang JS, Tang L. The stage-specific toxicity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 336:122429. [PMID: 37619695 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122429] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a diverse class of industrial chemicals that have been used for decades in industrial and commercial applications. Due to their widespread usages, persistence in the environment, and bioaccumulation in animals and humans, great public health concerns have been raised on adverse health risks of PFAS. In this study, ten PFAS were selected according to their occurrence in different water bodies. The wild-type worms were exposed to individual PFAS at 0, 0.1, 1,10, 100, and 200 μM, and the toxic effects of PFAS on growth, development, fecundity, and behavior at different life stages were investigated using a high-throughput screening (HTS) platform. Our results showed that perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), 1H,1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA), perfluorobutanesulfonic (PFBS), and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) exhibited significant inhibitive effects on the growth in the L4 larva and later stages of worms with concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 200 μmol/L. PFOS and PFBS significantly decreased the brood size of worms across all tested concentrations (p < 0.05), and the most potent PFAS is PFOS with BMC of 0.02013 μM (BMCL, 1.6e-06 μM). During adulthood, all PFAS induced a significant reduction in motility (p < 0.01), while only PFOS can significantly induce behavior alteration at the early larvae stage. Furthermore, the adverse effects occurred in larval stages were found to be the most susceptible to the PFAS exposure. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential adverse effects associated with PFAS exposure and show the importance of considering developmental stages in toxicity assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth D Currie
- Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Joseph Patrick Doherty
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Kathy S Xue
- Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Jia-Sheng Wang
- Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Lili Tang
- Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
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23
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Chen B, Yue Y, Li J, Yuan C, Guo T, Zhang D, Liu J, Yang B, Lu Z. Global DNA Methylation, miRNA, and mRNA Profiles in Sheep Skeletal Muscle Promoted by Hybridization. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:15398-15406. [PMID: 37815113 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c02173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
With the development of high-throughput sequencing technology, several nongenetic variations, including noncoding RNAs such as miRNAs, and DNA methylation, have been found to play an important role in animal muscle development and fat metabolism. In this study, Southdown and Suffolk were selected as male parents for hybridization with Hu sheep (Southdown × Hu (NH), Suffolk × Hu (SH), and Hu × Hu (HH)). RNA sequencing, bisulfite sequencing, and small-RNA sequencing were used to study the methylation patterns and differences in miRNA and mRNA expression in the F1 sheep longissimus dorsi muscle tissue. We identified 765 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 10,161 differentially methylated regions (DMRs), and 164 differentially expressed miRNAs, which were significantly enriched in AMPK signaling, fatty acid degradation, metabolism, and other related pathways (P < 0.05). In addition, we constructed a DNA methylation-mRNA and miRNA-mRNA coexpression network. A total of 42 common genes were identified from DMRs and DEGs. Importantly, we predicted that 33 differentially expressed miRNAs directly or indirectly targeted the SLC27A6. The data obtained in this study provide useful information and evidence to support further understanding of the miRNA and DNA methylation of key genes regulating muscle growth and fat metabolism in hybrid sheep populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on the Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, People's Republic of China
- Sheep Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaojing Yue
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on the Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, People's Republic of China
- Sheep Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianye Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on the Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, People's Republic of China
- Sheep Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on the Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, People's Republic of China
- Sheep Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, People's Republic of China
| | - Tingting Guo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on the Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, People's Republic of China
- Sheep Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on the Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, People's Republic of China
- Sheep Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianbin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on the Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, People's Republic of China
- Sheep Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, People's Republic of China
| | - Bohui Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on the Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, People's Republic of China
- Sheep Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, People's Republic of China
| | - Zengkui Lu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on the Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, People's Republic of China
- Sheep Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, People's Republic of China
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24
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Mantripragada S, Deng D, Zhang L. Algae-Enhanced Electrospun Polyacrylonitrile Nanofibrous Membrane for High-Performance Short-Chain PFAS Remediation from Water. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:2646. [PMID: 37836287 PMCID: PMC10574606 DOI: 10.3390/nano13192646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
As a short-chain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance), GenX was produced in recent years to replace traditional long-chain PFASs, such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). However, GenX turns out to be more toxic than people originally thought, posing health risks as a persistent environmental pollutant. In this research, for the first time, we incorporated chlorella, a single-celled green freshwater microalga that grows worldwide, with polyacrylonitrile (PAN) in equal amounts in electrospun nanofibers and studied the capability of the electrospun PAN/Algae bicomponent nanofibrous membrane (ES(PAN/Algae)) to bind and remove GenX from water. The incorporation of algae demonstrated a synergistic effect and significantly improved the GenX removal efficiency of the nanofibrous membrane. The maximum GenX removal capacity reached 0.9 mmol/g at pH 6, which is significantly higher than that of most of the reported GenX adsorbents as well as activated carbon. The GenX removal mechanism was investigated and discussed by using water contact angle, zeta potential, FTIR, and XPS techniques. This research demonstrated the potential to make highly efficient adsorbent/filter materials from common and economic materials to practically remediate short-chain PFASs from various water bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shobha Mantripragada
- Department of Nanoengineering, Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27401, USA
| | - Dongyang Deng
- Department of Built Environment, College of Science and Technology, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
| | - Lifeng Zhang
- Department of Nanoengineering, Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27401, USA
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25
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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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26
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Zhang C, Xu Y, Liu W, Zhou H, Zhang N, Fang Z, Gao J, Sun X, Feng D, Sun X. New insights into the degradation mechanism and risk assessment of HFPO-DA by advanced oxidation processes based on activated persulfate in aqueous solutions. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 263:115298. [PMID: 37499385 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) is widely used as a substitute for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). HFPO-DA exhibits high water solubility and low adsorption potential, conferring significant fluidity in aquatic environments. Given that the toxicity of HFPO-DA is similar to PFOA, it is necessary to control its content in aquatic environments. Electrochemical and thermally-activated persulfates have been successfully used to degrade HFPO-DA, but UV-activated persulfates cannot degrade the compound. Given that research on degradation mechanisms is still incomplete and lacks kinetic research, the mechanism and kinetic calculations of oxidative degradation were studied in detail using DFT calculations. And the toxicity of HFPO-DA degradation intermediates and products was evaluated to reveal the feasibility of using advanced oxidation process (AOP) technology based on persulfate to degrade HFPO-DA in wastewater. The results showed that the committed step of HFPO-DA degradation was initiated by the electron transfer reaction of SO4•- radicals. This reaction is not spontaneous at room temperature and requires sufficient electrical or thermal energy to be absorbed from the external environment. The perfluoroalcohol produced during this reaction can subsequently undergo four possible reactions: H atom abstraction from alcohol groups by an OH radical; H atom abstraction by SO4•-; direct HF removal; and HF removal with water as the catalyst. The final degradation products of HFPO-DA mainly include CO2, CF3CF2COOH, CF3COOH, FCOOH and HF, which has been identified through previous experimental analysis. Ecotoxicity assessment indicates that degradation does not produce highly toxic intermediates, and that the final products are non-toxic, supporting the feasibility of persulfate-based AOP technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxi Zhang
- Shandong Facility Horticulture Bioengineering Research Center, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang 262700, China; Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Youxin Xu
- Shandong Facility Horticulture Bioengineering Research Center, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang 262700, China; Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Wenyan Liu
- School of agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
| | - Huaiyu Zhou
- Shandong Facility Horticulture Bioengineering Research Center, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang 262700, China
| | - Ningning Zhang
- Shandong Facility Horticulture Bioengineering Research Center, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang 262700, China
| | - Zhihao Fang
- Shandong Facility Horticulture Bioengineering Research Center, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang 262700, China
| | - Junping Gao
- Shandong Facility Horticulture Bioengineering Research Center, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang 262700, China
| | - Xiaoan Sun
- Shandong Facility Horticulture Bioengineering Research Center, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang 262700, China
| | - Di Feng
- Shandong Facility Horticulture Bioengineering Research Center, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang 262700, China.
| | - Xiaomin Sun
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China.
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Chen L, Xie Y, Li M, Mortimer M, Li F, Guo LH. Toxicological Mechanisms of Emerging Per-/poly-fluoroalkyl Substances: Focusing on Transcriptional Activity and Gene Expression Disruption. Toxicology 2023:153566. [PMID: 37263573 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2023.153566] [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: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Environmental and human monitoring studies have witnessed increasing occurrence of emerging per-/poly-fluoroalkyl substances (ePFASs) worldwide. Three classes of ePFASs, namely chlorinated polyfluoroalkylether sulfonic acids, hexafluoropropylene oxide homologues and short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids attracted the most attention. It is, therefore, the goal of this review to systematically and critically analyse the toxicity and toxicological mechanisms of these ePFASs based on the papers published between 2017 and 2022. The review summarized the main findings from both in vivo and in vitro studies, covering the hepatotoxicity of ePFASs and their interference with the endocrine system, including reproductive, developmental and thyroid toxicity. It also summarized the changes in gene expression in the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis of the model organisms after ePFASs exposure. The changes in gene expression in vitro and in vivo provide a clearer understanding of the toxicological mechanisms of ePFASs interference on hormonal levels (i.e., estradiol, testosterone, and thyroid hormones), developmental disturbance (e.g., swim bladder dysfunction) and lipid metabolism disruption (e.g., lipid droplet accumulation and hepatomegaly). In the end, future research directions on the toxicological mechanisms of ePFASs are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Chen
- College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, 258 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310018, China; Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, 168 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310018, China.
| | - Yue Xie
- College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, 258 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310018, China; Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, 168 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310018, China.
| | - Minjie Li
- College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, 258 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310018, China.
| | - Monika Mortimer
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, 168 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310018, China; College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, 258 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310018, China.
| | - Fangfang Li
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, 168 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310018, China; College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, 258 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310018, China.
| | - Liang-Hong Guo
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, 168 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310018, China; College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, 258 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310018, China.
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Wu S, Xie J, Zhao H, Sanchez O, Zhao X, Freeman JL, Yuan C. Pre-differentiation GenX exposure induced neurotoxicity in human dopaminergic-like neurons. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 332:138900. [PMID: 37172627 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
GenX, also known as hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO) was introduced as a safer alternative to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in 2009. After nearly two decades of applications there are increasing safety concerns about GenX due to its association with various organ damages. Few studies, however, have systematically assessed the molecular neurotoxicity of low-dose GenX exposure. Here, we evaluated the effects of pre-differentiation exposure of GenX on dopaminergic (DA) -like neurons using SH-SY5Y cell line; and assessed changes in epigenome, mitochondrion, and neuronal characteristics. Low dose GenX exposure at 0.4 and 4 μg/L prior to differentiation induces persistent changes in nuclear morphology and chromatin arrangements, manifested specifically in the facultative repressive marker H3K27me3. We also observed impaired neuronal network, increased calcium activity along with alterations in Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and α-Synuclein after prior exposure to GenX. Collectively, our results identified neurotoxicity of low-dose GenX exposure in human DA-like neurons following a developmental exposure scheme. The observed changes in neuronal characteristics suggest GenX as a potential neurotoxin and risk factor for Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shichen Wu
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Junkai Xie
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Han Zhao
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Oscar Sanchez
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Xihui Zhao
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Jennifer L Freeman
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA; Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Chongli Yuan
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA; Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
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29
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Wen ZJ, Wei YJ, Zhang YF, Zhang YF. A review of cardiovascular effects and underlying mechanisms of legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Arch Toxicol 2023; 97:1195-1245. [PMID: 36947184 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03477-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) poses the leading threats to human health and life, and their occurrence and severity are associated with exposure to environmental pollutants. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of widely used industrial chemicals, are characterized by persistence, long-distance migration, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. Some PFAS, particularly perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), have been banned, leaving only legacy exposure to the environment and human body, while a number of novel PFAS alternatives have emerged and raised concerns, such as polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonic and carboxylic acid (PFESA and PFECA) and sodium p-perfluorous nonenoxybenzene sulfonate (OBS). Overall, this review systematically elucidated the adverse cardiovascular (CV) effects of legacy and emerging PFAS, emphasized the dose/concentration-dependent, time-dependent, carbon chain length-dependent, sex-specific, and coexposure effects, and discussed the underlying mechanisms and possible prevention and treatment. Extensive epidemiological and laboratory evidence suggests that accumulated serum levels of legacy PFAS possibly contribute to an increased risk of CVD and its subclinical course, such as cardiac toxicity, vascular disorder, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. The underlying biological mechanisms may include oxidative stress, signaling pathway disturbance, lipid metabolism disturbance, and so on. Various emerging alternatives to PFAS also play increasingly prominent toxic roles in CV outcomes that are milder, similar to, or more severe than legacy PFAS. Future research is recommended to conduct more in-depth CV toxicity assessments of legacy and emerging PFAS and explore more effective surveillance, prevention, and treatment strategies, accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeng-Jin Wen
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yi-Jing Wei
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yi-Fei Zhang
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yin-Feng Zhang
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
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30
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Bohannon ME, Narizzano AM, Guigni BA, East AG, Quinn MJ. Next-generation PFAS 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate reduces plaque formation in exposed white-footed mice. Toxicol Sci 2023; 192:97-105. [PMID: 36629485 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS) has been used as a replacement for legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). We assessed reproductive and developmental effects in a human-wildlife hybrid animal model based on the association of adverse effects linked to legacy PFAS with these sensitive life stages. In this study, white-footed mice were exposed orally to 0, 0.2, 1, 5, or 25 mg/kg-day 6:2 FTS for 112 days (4 weeks premating exposure plus at least 4 weeks mating exposure). Pregnancy and fertility indices were calculated, and litter production, total litter size, live litter size, stillbirths, litter loss, average pup weight, and pinna unfolding were assessed. Sex steroid and thyroid hormone serum levels were assessed. Body weight, histopathology, and immune function were also assessed in this study. Reproductive endpoints were not significantly altered in response to 6:2 FTS. Spleen weight increased in male mice dosed with 6:2 FTS. Immune function determined via a plaque-forming cell (PFC) assay was decreased in both male and female mice in the 2 highest doses. A low benchmark dose was calculated based on PFCs as the critical effect and was found to be 2.63 and 2.26 mg/kg-day 6:2 FTS in male and female mice, respectively. This study characterizes 6:2 FTS as being potentially immunotoxic with little evidence of effect on reproduction and development; furthermore, it models acceptable levels of exposure. These 2 pieces of information together will aid regulators in setting environmental exposure limits for this PFAS currently thought to be less toxic than other PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith E Bohannon
- Toxicology Directorate, U.S. Army Public Health Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, USA
| | - Allison M Narizzano
- Toxicology Directorate, U.S. Army Public Health Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, USA
| | - Blas A Guigni
- Toxicology Directorate, U.S. Army Public Health Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, USA
| | - Andrew G East
- Toxicology Directorate, U.S. Army Public Health Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, USA
| | - Michael J Quinn
- Toxicology Directorate, U.S. Army Public Health Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, USA
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31
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Heintz MM, Haws LC, Klaunig JE, Cullen JM, Thompson CM. Assessment of the mode of action underlying development of liver lesions in mice following oral exposure to HFPO-DA and relevance to humans. Toxicol Sci 2023; 192:15-29. [PMID: 36629480 PMCID: PMC10025879 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad004] [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: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
HFPO-DA (ammonium, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)propanoate) is a short-chain polyfluorinated alkyl substance (PFAS) used in the manufacture of some types of fluorinated polymers. Like many PFAS, toxicity studies with HFPO-DA indicate the liver is the primary target of toxicity in rodents following oral exposure. Due to the structural diversity of PFAS, the mode of action (MOA) can differ between PFAS for the same target tissue. There is significant evidence for involvement of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) activation based on molecular and histopathological responses in the liver following HFPO-DA exposure, but other MOAs have also been hypothesized based on limited evidence. The MOA underlying the liver effects in mice exposed to HFPO-DA was assessed in the context of the Key Events (KEs) outlined in the MOA framework for PPARα activator-induced rodent hepatocarcinogenesis. The first 3 KEs (ie, PPARα activation, alteration of cell growth pathways, and perturbation of cell growth/survival) are supported by several lines of evidence from both in vitro and in vivo data available for HFPO-DA. In contrast, alternate MOAs, including cytotoxicity, PPARγ and mitochondrial dysfunction are generally not supported by the scientific literature. HFPO-DA-mediated liver effects in mice are not expected in humans as only KE 1, PPARα activation, is shared across species. PPARα-mediated gene expression in humans produces only a subset (ie, lipid modulating effects) of the responses observed in rodents. As such, the adverse effects observed in rodent livers should not be used as the basis of toxicity values for HFPO-DA for purposes of human health risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - James E Klaunig
- School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
| | - John M Cullen
- North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, USA
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Rashid F, Dubinkina V, Ahmad S, Maslov S, Irudayaraj JMK. Gut Microbiome-Host Metabolome Homeostasis upon Exposure to PFOS and GenX in Male Mice. TOXICS 2023; 11:281. [PMID: 36977046 PMCID: PMC10051855 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11030281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Alterations of the normal gut microbiota can cause various human health concerns. Environmental chemicals are one of the drivers of such disturbances. The aim of our study was to examine the effects of exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-specifically, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy) propanoic acid (GenX)-on the microbiome of the small intestine and colon, as well as on liver metabolism. Male CD-1 mice were exposed to PFOS and GenX in different concentrations and compared to controls. GenX and PFOS were found to have different effects on the bacterial community in both the small intestine and colon based on 16S rRNA profiles. High GenX doses predominantly led to increases in the abundance of Clostridium sensu stricto, Alistipes, and Ruminococcus, while PFOS generally altered Lactobacillus, Limosilactobacillus, Parabacteroides, Staphylococcus, and Ligilactobacillus. These treatments were associated with alterations in several important microbial metabolic pathways in both the small intestine and colon. Untargeted LC-MS/MS metabolomic analysis of the liver, small intestine, and colon yielded a set of compounds significantly altered by PFOS and GenX. In the liver, these metabolites were associated with the important host metabolic pathways implicated in the synthesis of lipids, steroidogenesis, and in the metabolism of amino acids, nitrogen, and bile acids. Collectively, our results suggest that PFOS and GenX exposure can cause major perturbations in the gastrointestinal tract, aggravating microbiome toxicity, hepatotoxicity, and metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faizan Rashid
- Biomedical Research Center, Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Veronika Dubinkina
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Saeed Ahmad
- Biomedical Research Center, Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Sergei Maslov
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Joseph Maria Kumar Irudayaraj
- Biomedical Research Center, Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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Manojkumar Y, Pilli S, Rao PV, Tyagi RD. Sources, occurrence and toxic effects of emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Neurotoxicol Teratol 2023; 97:107174. [PMID: 36907230 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2023.107174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) cause potential threats to biota and are persistent and never-ending substances in the environment. Regulations and ban on legacy PFAS by various global organizations and national level regulatory agencies had shifted the fluorochemical production to emerging PFAS and fluorinated alternatives. Emerging PFAS are mobile and more persistent in aquatic systems, posing potential greater threats to human and environmental health. Emerging PFAS have been found in aquatic animals, rivers, food products, aqueous film-forming foams, sediments, and a variety of other ecological media. This review summarizes the physicochemical properties, sources, occurrence in biota and the environment, and toxicity of the emerging PFAS. Fluorinated and non-fluorinated alternatives for several industrial applications and consumer goods as the replacement of historical PFAS are also discussed in the review. Fluorochemical production plants and wastewater treatment plants are the main sources of emerging PFAS to various environmental matrices. Information and research are scarcely available on the sources, existence, transport, fate, and toxic effects of emerging PFAS to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Manojkumar
- Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Warangal 506004, Telangana, India
| | - Sridhar Pilli
- Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Warangal 506004, Telangana, India.
| | - P Venkateswara Rao
- Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Warangal 506004, Telangana, India
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Wang X, Zhang W, Lamichhane S, Dou F, Ma X. Effects of physicochemical properties and co-existing zinc agrochemicals on the uptake and phytotoxicity of PFOA and GenX in lettuce. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:43833-43842. [PMID: 36680712 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25435-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Even though the potential toxicity and treatment methods for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have attracted extensive attention, the plant uptake and accumulation of PFAS in edible plant tissues as a potential pathway for human exposure received little attention. Our study in a hydroponic system demonstrated that perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and its replacing compound, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy) propanoic acid (GenX) displayed markedly different patterns of plant uptake and accumulation. For example, the root concentration factor (RCF) of PFOA in lettuce is almost five times of that of GenX while the translocation factor (TF) of GenX is about 66.7% higher than that for PFOA. The co-presence of zinc amendments affected the phyto-effect of these two compounds and their accumulation in plant tissues, and the net effect on their plant accumulation depended on both the properties of Zn amendments and PFAS. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) at 100 mg/L did not affect the uptake of PFOA in either lettuce roots or shoots; however, Zn2+ at the same concentration significantly increased PFOA accumulation in both tissues. In contrast, both Zn amendments significantly lowered the accumulation of GenX in lettuce roots, but only ZnONPs significantly hindered the GenX accumulation in lettuce shoots. The co-exposure to ZnONPs and PFOA/GenX resulted in lower oxidative stress than the plants exposed to PFOA or GenX alone. However, both zinc agrochemicals with or without PFAS led to lower root dry biomass. The results shed light on the property-dependent plant uptake of PFAS and the potential impact of co-existing nanoagrochemicals and their dissolved ions on plant uptake of PFOA and GenX.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxuan Wang
- Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Weilan Zhang
- Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | | | - Fugen Dou
- Texas A&M Agrilife Research Center, Beaumont, TX, 77713, USA
| | - Xingmao Ma
- Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
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35
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Gong S, McLamb F, Shea D, Vu JP, Vasquez MF, Feng Z, Bozinovic K, Hirata KK, Gersberg RM, Bozinovic G. Toxicity assessment of hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid on morphology, heart physiology, and gene expression during zebrafish (Danio rerio) development. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:32320-32336. [PMID: 36462083 PMCID: PMC10017623 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24542-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (HFPO-DA) is one of the emerging replacements for the "forever" carcinogenic and toxic long-chain PFAS. HFPO-DA is a polymerization aid used for manufacturing fluoropolymers, whose global distribution and undetermined toxic properties are a concern regarding human and ecological health. To assess embryotoxic potential, zebrafish embryos were exposed to HFPO-DA at concentrations of 0.5-20,000 mg/L at 24-, 48-, and 72-h post-fertilization (hpf). Heart rate increased significantly in embryos exposed to 2 mg/L and 10 mg/L HFPO-DA across all time points. Spinal deformities and edema phenotypes were evident among embryos exposed to 1000-16,000 mg/L HFPO-DA at 72 hpf. A median lethal concentration (LC50) was derived as 7651 mg/L at 72 hpf. Shallow RNA sequencing analysis of 9465 transcripts identified 38 consistently differentially expressed genes at 0.5 mg/L, 1 mg/L, 2 mg/L, and 10 mg/L HFPO-DA exposures. Notably, seven downregulated genes were associated with visual response, and seven upregulated genes were expressed in or regulated the cardiovascular system. This study identifies biological targets and molecular pathways affected during animal development by an emerging, potentially problematic, and ubiquitous industrial chemical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Gong
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
- Division of Extended Studies, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0355, USA
- School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Flannery McLamb
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
- Division of Extended Studies, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0355, USA
| | | | - Jeanne P Vu
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
- Division of Extended Studies, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0355, USA
- School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Miguel F Vasquez
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
- Division of Extended Studies, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0355, USA
| | - Zuying Feng
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
- School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Kesten Bozinovic
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
- Division of Extended Studies, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0355, USA
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Ken K Hirata
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
- Division of Extended Studies, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0355, USA
| | | | - Goran Bozinovic
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, San Diego, CA, USA.
- School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0355, USA.
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36
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Ehrlich V, Bil W, Vandebriel R, Granum B, Luijten M, Lindeman B, Grandjean P, Kaiser AM, Hauzenberger I, Hartmann C, Gundacker C, Uhl M. Consideration of pathways for immunotoxicity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Environ Health 2023; 22:19. [PMID: 36814257 PMCID: PMC9944481 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-022-00958-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are of public health concern, because of their ubiquitous and extremely persistent occurrence, and depending on their structure, their bio-accumulative, mobile and toxic properties. Human health effects associated with exposure to PFAS include adverse effects on the immune system. In 2020, EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) defined adverse effects on the immune system as the most critical effect for human health risk assessment, based on reduced antibody responses to childhood vaccines and similar effects observed in experimental animal studies. Likewise, the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) considers PFAS-induced immunotoxicity, especially in children, as the critical effect for risk assessment. However, the mechanisms by which antibody concentrations are impacted are not completely understood. Furthermore, other targets of the immune system functions have been reported in the literature. OBJECTIVE The aim of this review is to explore PFAS-associated immune-related effects. This includes, relevant mechanisms that may underlie the observed effects on the immune system, immunosuppression as well as immunoenhancement, such as i) modulation of cell signalling and nuclear receptors, such as NF-κB and PPARs; ii) alteration of calcium signalling and homoeostasis in immune cells; iii) modulation of immune cell populations; iv) oxidative stress and v) impact on fatty acid metabolism & secondary effects on the immune system. METHODS A literature research was conducted using three databases (Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus), which were searched in July 2021 for relevant studies published in the time frame from 2018 to 2021. In total, 487 publications were identified as potentially eligible and following expert-based judgement, articles relevant for mechanisms of PFAS induced immunotoxicity are discussed. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, we show that there is substantial evidence from both in vitro and in vivo experimental as well as epidemiological studies, supporting that various PFAS, not only PFOA and PFOS, affect multiple aspects of the immune system. Timing of exposure is critical, because the developing immune system is especially vulnerable to toxic insults, resulting in a higher risk of particularly adverse immune effects but also other organs later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Ehrlich
- Environment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt GmbH), Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wieneke Bil
- Centre for Safety of Substances and Products, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Rob Vandebriel
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Berit Granum
- Division of Climate and Environment Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mirjam Luijten
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Birgitte Lindeman
- Division of Climate and Environment Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Philippe Grandjean
- Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Andreas-Marius Kaiser
- Environment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt GmbH), Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ingrid Hauzenberger
- Environment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt GmbH), Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christina Hartmann
- Environment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt GmbH), Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Claudia Gundacker
- Center for Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maria Uhl
- Environment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt GmbH), Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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Jia Y, Zhu Y, Wang R, Ye Q, Xu D, Zhang W, Zhang Y, Shan G, Zhu L. Novel insights into the mediating roles of cluster of differentiation 36 in transmembrane transport and tissue partition of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in mice. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 442:130129. [PMID: 36303356 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130129] [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: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Transmembrane transport is important for bioaccumulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in organisms, but has not yet been well understood. Here, the roles of cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) in accumulation of PFASs were investigated. CD36 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli to get CD36-BL21 strain, and the binding affinities of 20 PFASs with CD36 were determined by microscale thermophoresis, which grew up to 17.5 μM with increasing carbon chain length. Consequently, the accumulation of most PFASs was remarkably promoted in CD36-BL21 in comparison to the wild strain, and the enhancement was proportional to their binding affinities with CD36 (r = -0.96). However, this effect was depressed greatly as CD36 was inhibited by sulfo-N-succinimidyl oleate (SSO). Additionally, as the mice received SSO pretreatment before they were exposed to perfluorododecanoic acid, its accumulation in the tissues rich in CD36, such as liver, was suppressed, but increased by 1.1 times in the serum. These indicated that CD36 played critical roles in the transmembrane transport and tissue partition of PFASs in organisms. The developed relationship between liver-blood partition of PFASs and their binding affinities with intracellular proteins was distinctly improved by incorporating that with CD36 (r = -0.97).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibo Jia
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Yumin Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Rouyi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Qingqing Ye
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Dashan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Yanfeng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Guoqiang Shan
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Lingyan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China.
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38
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Blake BE, Miller CN, Nguyen H, Chappell VA, Phan TP, Phadke DP, Balik-Meisner MR, Mav D, Shah RR, Fenton SE. Transcriptional pathways linked to fetal and maternal hepatic dysfunction caused by gestational exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (HFPO-DA or GenX) in CD-1 mice. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 248:114314. [PMID: 36436258 PMCID: PMC9742811 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) comprise a diverse class of chemicals used in industrial processes, consumer products, and fire-fighting foams which have become environmental pollutants of concern due to their persistence, ubiquity, and associations with adverse human health outcomes, including in pregnant persons and their offspring. Multiple PFAS are associated with adverse liver outcomes in adult humans and toxicological models, but effects on the developing liver are not fully described. Here we performed transcriptomic analyses in the mouse to investigate the molecular mechanisms of hepatic toxicity in the dam and its fetus after exposure to two different PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and its replacement, hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (HFPO-DA, known as GenX). Pregnant CD-1 mice were exposed via oral gavage from embryonic day (E) 1.5-17.5 to PFOA (0, 1, or 5 mg/kg-d) or GenX (0, 2, or 10 mg/kg-d). Maternal and fetal liver RNA was isolated (N = 5 per dose/group) and the transcriptome analyzed by Affymetrix Array. Differentially expressed genes (DEG) and differentially enriched pathways (DEP) were obtained. DEG patterns were similar in maternal liver for 5 mg/kg PFOA, 2 mg/kg GenX, and 10 mg/kg GenX (R2: 0.46-0.66). DEG patterns were similar across all 4 dose groups in fetal liver (R2: 0.59-0.81). There were more DEGs in fetal liver compared to maternal liver at the low doses for both PFOA (fetal = 69, maternal = 8) and GenX (fetal = 154, maternal = 93). Upregulated DEPs identified across all groups included Fatty Acid Metabolism, Peroxisome, Oxidative Phosphorylation, Adipogenesis, and Bile Acid Metabolism. Transcriptome-phenotype correlation analyses demonstrated > 1000 maternal liver DEGs were significantly correlated with maternal relative liver weight (R2 >0.92). These findings show shared biological pathways of liver toxicity for PFOA and GenX in maternal and fetal livers in CD-1 mice. The limited overlap in specific DEGs between the dam and fetus suggests the developing liver responds differently than the adult liver to these chemical stressors. This work helps define mechanisms of hepatic toxicity of two structurally unique PFAS and may help predict latent consequences of developmental exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bevin E Blake
- Chemical and Pollutant Assessment Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; Mechanistic Toxicology Branch, Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Colette N Miller
- Cardiopulmonary Immunotoxicology Branch, Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Helen Nguyen
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Vesna A Chappell
- Mechanistic Toxicology Branch, Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Trina P Phan
- Mechanistic Toxicology Branch, Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | | | - Deepak Mav
- Sciome LLC, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | - Suzanne E Fenton
- Mechanistic Toxicology Branch, Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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39
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Conley JM, Lambright CS, Evans N, Medlock-Kakaley E, Dixon A, Hill D, McCord J, Strynar MJ, Ford J, Gray LE. Cumulative maternal and neonatal effects of combined exposure to a mixture of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) during pregnancy in the Sprague-Dawley rat. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 170:107631. [PMID: 36402036 PMCID: PMC9944680 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Globally, biomonitoring data demonstrate virtually all humans carry residues of multiple per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Despite pervasive co-exposure, limited mixtures-based in vivo PFAS toxicity research has been conducted. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) are commonly detected PFAS in human and environmental samples and both produce adverse effects in laboratory animal studies, including maternal and offspring effects when orally administered during pregnancy and lactation. To evaluate the effects of combined exposure to PFOA and PFOS, we orally exposed pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats from gestation day 8 (GD8) to postnatal day 2 (PND2) to PFOA (10-250 mg/kg/d) or PFOS (0.1-5 mg/kg/d) individually to characterize effects and dose response curve parameters, followed by a variable-ratio mixture experiment with a constant dose of PFOS (2 mg/kg/d) mixed with increasing doses of PFOA (3-80 mg/kg/d). The mixture study design was intended to: 1) shift the PFOA dose response curves for endpoints shared with PFOS, 2) allow comparison of dose addition (DA) and response addition (RA) model predictions, 3) conduct relative potency factor (RPF) analysis for multiple endpoints, and 4) avoid overt maternal toxicity. Maternal serum and liver concentrations of PFOA and PFOS were consistent between the individual chemical and mixture experiments. Combined exposure with PFOS significantly shifted the PFOA dose response curves towards effects at lower doses compared to PFOA-only exposure for multiple endpoints and these effects were well predicted by dose addition. For endpoints amenable to mixture model analyses, DA produced equivalent or better estimates of observed data than RA. All endpoints evaluated were accurately predicted by RPF and DA approaches except for maternal gestational weight gain, which produced less-than-additive results in the mixture. Data support the hypothesis of cumulative effects on shared endpoints from PFOA and PFOS co-exposure and dose additive approaches for predictive estimates of mixture effects.
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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.
| | - 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.
| | - 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.
| | - Mark J Strynar
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Research & Development/Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Jermaine Ford
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Research & Development/Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, 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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40
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Qin H, Niu Y, Luan H, Li M, Zheng L, Pan Y, Liu W. Effects of legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on PPARα/β/γ regulation and osteogenic/adipogenic differentiation. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 170:107584. [PMID: 36265359 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
As the primary molecular target, there is still a gap between the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) regulation and the adverse health effects caused by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). The effects of PFASs on cellular differentiation regulated by PPARs is likely significant given the association of PFASs exposure with obesity and decreased bone density. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were used as an in vitro model to assess the roles of PPAR subtypes in the multipotent differentiation of hMSCs affected by perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and their replacement compounds. PFASs increased the expression of three PPAR subtypes in proliferating and differentiating hMSCs. Meanwhile, PFOS and PFOA decreased osteogenesis, enhanced adipogenesis, and increased bone turnover in hMSCs. Similarly, PFOA alternatives, hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) and hexafluoropropylene oxide trimer acid (HFPO-TA), exhibited similar or even higher potency in affecting stem cell differentiation compared with PFOA. Perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) inhibited osteogenesis with comparable potency to PFOS. In contrast, 6:2 chlorinated poly-fluoroalkyl ether sulfonate (6:2Cl-PFESA) enhanced osteogenesis. PPARβ expression is significantly positively correlated with osteogenesis and osteoprotegerin (OPG) secretion in 6:2Cl-PFESA treated cells. shRNA knockdown of PPARβ remarkably reversed the osteogenic effects of 6:2Cl-PFESA and enhanced the adipogenic effects of the six chemicals. The results suggested that the adverse effects and relative potency of PFASs on the multipotent differentiation of hMSCs were dependent on the integrated action of the three PPAR subtypes, which facilitates a better understanding of the molecular initiating events of PFASs. The present study may well explain the mechanism of the decreased bone density and increased obesity incidence among those exposed to legacy PFASs, and indicates the necessity of further health risk assessment for the alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Qin
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Yuxin Niu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Haiyang Luan
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Minghan Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Lu Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Yifan Pan
- College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
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Bangma J, Guillette TC, Strynar M, Lindstrom A, McCord J, Hill D, Lau C, Chernoff N, Lang JR. A rapid assessment bioaccumulation screening (RABS) study design for emerging per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances in mice exposed to industrially impacted surface water. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 308:136159. [PMID: 36064024 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The shift away from PFOS and PFOA production in the past 20 years towards shorter chain and replacement PFAS has led to the environmental release of complex mixtures of emerging PFAS for which bioaccumulation potential and toxicology are largely unknown. The rate at which emerging PFAS can be prioritized for research in these complex mixtures is often limited by the lack of available chemical standards. We developed a study design that rapidly assesses which emerging PFAS in an environmentally derived mixture have the potential for mammalian bioaccumulation and thus prioritize these emerging chemicals for standard synthesis and toxicity testing. Surface water was collected at an impacted site downstream of an industrial fluorochemical manufacturing outfall and concentrated 100-fold via weak anion exchange, solid-phase extraction. The concentrated extract contained 13 previously identified emerging PFAS, including hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (HFPO-DA). BALB/c mice were orally dosed with surface water concentrate once a day for seven days. Twenty-four hours after the last dose, liver, serum, urine, and feces were collected and the emerging PFAS were semi-quantified based on peak area counts. Of the 13 emerging PFAS, Nafion byproduct-2 (Nafion BP2), Hydro-EVE, PFO4DA, and PFO5DoA had the largest increases in percent composition when comparing serum and liver to the dosing solution, suggesting that these PFAS may have the highest bioaccumulation potential. This finding supports other studies that detected bioaccumulation of the same four PFAS in human serum collected from communities with contaminated drinking water. In the future, the Rapid Assessment Bioaccumulation Screening (RABS) study design can be extended to other complex industrial chemical mixtures impacting surface water in order to better inform chemical prioritization for acquisition and in vitro/in vivo toxicity testing of the potential pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Bangma
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA; Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA.
| | | | - Mark Strynar
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Andrew Lindstrom
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - James McCord
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Donna Hill
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Christopher Lau
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Neil Chernoff
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Johnsie R Lang
- Arcadis G&M of North Carolina, Inc. 5420 Wade Park Blvd Suite 350, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA
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42
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Crute CE, Hall SM, Landon CD, Garner A, Everitt JI, Zhang S, Blake B, Olofsson D, Chen H, Murphy SK, Stapleton HM, Feng L. Evaluating maternal exposure to an environmental per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) mixture during pregnancy: Adverse maternal and fetoplacental effects in a New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit model. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156499. [PMID: 35679923 PMCID: PMC9374364 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Mixtures of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are often found in drinking water, and serum PFAS are detected in up to 99% of the population. However, very little is known about how exposure to mixtures of PFAS affects maternal and fetal health. The aim of this study was to investigate maternal, fetal, and placental outcomes after preconceptional and gestational exposure to an environmentally relevant PFAS mixture in a New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit model. Dams were exposed via drinking water to control (no detectable PFAS) or a PFAS mixture for 32 days. This mixture was formulated with PFAS to resemble levels measured in tap water from Pittsboro, NC (10 PFAS compounds; total PFAS load = 758.6 ng/L). Maternal, fetal, and placental outcomes were evaluated at necropsy. Thyroid hormones were measured in maternal serum and kit blood. Placental gene expression was evaluated by RNAseq and qPCR. PFAS exposure resulted in higher body weight (p = 0.01), liver (p = 0.01) and kidney (p = 0.01) weights, blood pressure (p = 0.05), and BUN:CRE ratio (p = 0.04) in dams, along with microscopic changes in renal cortices. Fetal weight, measures, and histopathology were unchanged, but a significant interaction between dose and sex was detected in the fetal: placental weight ratio (p = 0.036). Placental macroscopic changes were present in PFAS-exposed dams. Dam serum showed lower T4 and a higher T3:T4 ratio, although not statistically significant. RNAseq revealed that 11 of the 14 differentially expressed genes (adj. p < 0.1) are involved in placentation or pregnancy complications. In summary, exposure elicited maternal weight gain and signs of hypertension, renal injury, sex-specific changes in placental response, and differential expression of genes involved in placentation and preeclampsia. Importantly, these are the first results to show adverse maternal and placental effects of an environmentally-relevant PFAS mixture in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine E Crute
- Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health Program, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Samantha M Hall
- Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health Program, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Chelsea D Landon
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Angela Garner
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jeffrey I Everitt
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Sharon Zhang
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Bevin Blake
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Didrik Olofsson
- Omiqa Bioinformatics GmbH, Altensteinstasse 40, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Henry Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Susan K Murphy
- Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health Program, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Heather M Stapleton
- Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health Program, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Liping Feng
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
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43
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Evans N, Conley JM, Cardon M, Hartig P, Medlock-Kakaley E, Gray LE. In vitro activity of a panel of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), fatty acids, and pharmaceuticals in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha, PPAR gamma, and estrogen receptor assays. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2022; 449:116136. [PMID: 35752307 PMCID: PMC9341220 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2022.116136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Data demonstrate numerous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), however, additional work is needed to characterize PFAS activity on PPAR gamma (PPARγ) and other nuclear receptors. We utilized in vitro assays with either human or rat PPARα or PPARγ ligand binding domains to evaluate 16 PFAS (HFPO-DA, HFPO-DA-AS, NBP2, PFMOAA, PFHxA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFOS, PFBS, PFHxS, PFOSA, EtPFOSA, and 4:2, 6:2 and 8:2 FTOH), 3 endogenous fatty acids (oleic, linoleic, and octanoic), and 3 pharmaceuticals (WY14643, clofibrate, and the metabolite clofibric acid). We also tested chemicals for human estrogen receptor (hER) transcriptional activation. Nearly all compounds activated both PPARα and PPARγ in both human and rat ligand binding domain assays, except for the FTOH compounds and PFOSA. Receptor activation and relative potencies were evaluated based on effect concentration 20% (EC20), top percent of max fold induction (pmaxtop), and area under the curve (AUC). HFPO-DA and HFPO-DA-AS were the most potent (lowest EC20, highest pmaxtop and AUC) of all PFAS in rat and human PPARα assays, being slightly less potent than oleic and linoleic acid, while NBP2 was the most potent in rat and human PPARγ assays. Only PFHxS, 8:2 and 6:2 FTOH exhibited hER agonism >20% pmax. In vitro measures of human and rat PPARα and PPARγ activity did not correlate with oral doses or serum concentrations of PFAS that induced increases in male rat liver weight from the National Toxicology Program 28-d toxicity studies. Data indicate that both PPARα and PPARγ activation may be molecular initiating events that contribute to the in vivo effects observed for many PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Evans
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Research & Development/Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment/Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA.
| | - Justin M Conley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Research & Development/Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment/Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA.
| | - Mary Cardon
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Research & Development/Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment/Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA.
| | - Phillip Hartig
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Research & Development/Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment/Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA.
| | - Elizabeth Medlock-Kakaley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Research & Development/Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment/Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA.
| | - L Earl Gray
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Research & Development/Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment/Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA.
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Robarts DR, Venneman KK, Gunewardena S, Apte U. GenX induces fibroinflammatory gene expression in primary human hepatocytes. Toxicology 2022; 477:153259. [PMID: 35850385 PMCID: PMC9741548 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2022.153259] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The toxicity induced by the persistent organic pollutants per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is dependent on the length of their polyfluorinated tail. Long-chain PFASs have significantly longer half-lives and profound toxic effects compared to their short-chain counterparts. Recently, production of a short-chain PFAS substitute called ammonium 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy) propanoate, also known as GenX, has significantly increased. However, the adverse health effects of GenX are not completely known. In this study, we investigated the dose-dependent effects of GenX on primary human hepatocytes (PHH). Freshly isolated PHH were treated with either 0.1, 10, or 100 μM of GenX for 48 and 96 h; then, global transcriptomic changes were determined using Human Clariom™ D arrays. GenX-induced transcriptional changes were similar at 0.1 and 10 μM doses but were significantly different at the 100 μM dose. Genes involved in lipid, monocarboxylic acid, and ketone metabolism were significantly altered following exposure of PHH at all doses. However, at the 100 μM dose, GenX caused changes in genes involved in cell proliferation, inflammation and fibrosis. A correlation analysis of concentration and differential gene expression revealed that 576 genes positively (R > 0.99) and 375 genes negatively (R < -0.99) correlated with GenX concentration. The upstream regulator analysis indicated HIF1α was inhibited at the lower doses but were activated at the higher dose. Additionally, VEGF, PPARα, STAT3, and SMAD4 signaling was induced at the 100 µM dose. These data indicate that at lower doses GenX can interfere with metabolic pathways and at higher doses can induce fibroinflammatory changes in human hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dakota R Robarts
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
| | - Kaitlyn K Venneman
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
| | - Sumedha Gunewardena
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
| | - Udayan Apte
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
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Bil W, Zeilmaker MJ, Bokkers BG. Internal Relative Potency Factors for the Risk Assessment of Mixtures of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Human Biomonitoring. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:77005. [PMID: 35881550 PMCID: PMC9320915 DOI: 10.1289/ehp10009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In human biomonitoring, blood is often used as a matrix to measure exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Because the toxicokinetics of a substance (determining the steady-state blood concentration) may affect the toxic potency, the difference in toxicokinetics among PFAS has to be accounted for when blood concentrations are used in mixture risk assessment. OBJECTIVES This research focuses on deriving relative potency factors (RPFs) at the blood serum level. These RPFs can be applied to PFAS concentrations in human blood, thereby facilitating mixture risk assessment with primary input from human biomonitoring studies. METHODS Toxicokinetic models are generated for 10 PFAS to estimate the internal exposure in the male rat at the blood serum level over time. By applying dose-response modeling, these internal exposures are used to derive quantitative internal RPFs based on liver effects. RESULTS Internal RPFs were successfully obtained for nine PFAS. Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoDA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (HFPO-DA, or GenX) were found to be more potent than perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) at the blood serum level in terms of relative liver weight increase, whereas perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) were found to be less potent. The practical implementation of these internal RPFs is illustrated using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) biomonitoring data of 2017-2018. DISCUSSION It is recommended to assess the health risk resulting from exposure to PFAS as combined, aggregate exposure to the extent feasible. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10009.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wieneke Bil
- Centre for Safety of Substances and Products, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Marco J. Zeilmaker
- Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Bas G.H. Bokkers
- Centre for Safety of Substances and Products, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
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Liu Z, Xu C, Johnson AC, Sun X, Wang M, Xiong J, Chen C, Wan X, Ding X, Ding M. Exploring the source, migration and environmental risk of perfluoroalkyl acids and novel alternatives in groundwater beneath fluorochemical industries along the Yangtze River, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 827:154413. [PMID: 35276179 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The widely used legacy perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) with serious environmental hazards are gradually restricted and being replaced by novel alternatives. Here, for an efficient control of emerging environmental risks in groundwater, we systematically studied the source apportionment, spatial attenuation, composition change and risk zoning of 12 PFAAs and five novel alternatives within a region of ~200 km2 around a mega fluorochemical industrial park (FIP) along the Yangtze River, and in-depth explored potential association between groundwater and soil pollution as well as influencing factors on contaminant migration and risk distribution in the aquifer. Short-chain PFAAs and novel alternatives together accounted for over 70% in groundwater, revealing their prevalence in replacing legacy perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Novel alternatives for PFOA were mainly hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX) and hexafluoropropylene oxide trimer acid (HFPO-TA), while those for PFOS were 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonic acid (6:2 Cl-PFESA) and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS). PFAAs (maximum total: 1339 ng/L) and novel alternatives (maximum total: 208 ng/L) in groundwater were mostly derived from the FIP, and exhibited an exponentially decreasing trend with increasing distance. Compared with those in groundwater, more diverse sources of PFAAs and novel alternatives in surface soil were identified. The transport of these chemicals may be retarded by clayed surface soils with high organic matter contents. High aquifer permeability could generally promote the dilution and migration of PFAAs and novel alternatives in groundwater, as well as reduce the differences in their spatial distribution. Shorter-chain components with smaller molecules and higher hydrophilicity exhibited greater migration capacities in the aquifer. In addition, different levels of health risk from PFOS and PFOA were zoned based on drinking groundwater, and high risks tended to be distributed in areas with relatively poor aquifer water yield due to higher pollutant accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoyang Liu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Health and Green Remediation, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Chang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Andrew C Johnson
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Crowmarsh Gifford Wallingford, Oxon OX 10 8BB, UK
| | - Xiaoyan Sun
- Jiangxi Engineering and Technology Research Center for Ecological Remediation of Heavy Metal Pollution, Institute of Microbe, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang 330096, China
| | - Mingxia Wang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Health and Green Remediation, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Juan Xiong
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Health and Green Remediation, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Chang Chen
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Health and Green Remediation, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xiang Wan
- Hubei Geological Survey, Wuhan 430034, China
| | - Xiaoyan Ding
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Muyang Ding
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
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Guo H, Chen J, Zhang H, Yao J, Sheng N, Li Q, Guo Y, Wu C, Xie W, Dai J. Exposure to GenX and Its Novel Analogs Disrupts Hepatic Bile Acid Metabolism in Male Mice. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:6133-6143. [PMID: 34427428 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Due to its wide usage and recent detection in environmental matrices, hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, commercial name GenX) has attracted considerable attention. Here, we explored and compared the toxicity of GenX and its novel analogs with that of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) to provide guidance on the structural design and optimization of novel alternatives to poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Adult male BALB/c mice were continuously exposed to PFOA, GenX, perfluoro-2-methyl-3,6-dioxo-heptanoic acid (PFMO2HpA), and perfluoro-2-methyl-3,6,8-trioxo-nonanoic acid (PFMO3NA; 0, 0.4, 2, or 10 mg/kg/d) via oral gavage for 28 days. The PFOA, GenX, and PFMO3NA treatment groups showed an increase in relative liver weight, and bile acid metabolism was the most significantly affected pathway in all treatment groups, as shown via weighted gene coexpression network analysis. The highest total bile acid levels were observed in the 2 and 10 mg/kg/d PFMO3NA groups. The ratios of primary bile acids to all bile acids increased in the high-dose groups, while the ratios of secondary bile acids showed a downward trend. Thus, bile acid metabolism disorder may be a prominent adverse effect induced by exposure to GenX, its analogs, and PFOA. Results also showed that the hepatotoxicity of PFMO2HpA was lower than that of GenX, whereas the hepatotoxicity of PFMO3NA was stronger, suggesting that PFMO2HpA may be a potential alternative to GenX.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Guo
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200240, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jiamiao Chen
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Hongxia Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jingzhi Yao
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200240, 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, 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Qi Li
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Yong Guo
- Key Laboratory of Organofluorine Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Chengying Wu
- Sanming Hexafluo Chemicals Co., Ltd., Fluorinated New Material Industry Park, Mingxi, Fujian 365200, China
| | - Weidong Xie
- Sanming Hexafluo Chemicals Co., Ltd., Fluorinated New Material Industry Park, Mingxi, Fujian 365200, 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, 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200240, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
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48
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Zhang C, McElroy AC, Liberatore HK, Alexander NLM, Knappe DR. Stability of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Solvents Relevant to Environmental and Toxicological Analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:6103-6112. [PMID: 34734715 PMCID: PMC9065217 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widely used anthropogenic chemicals. For environmental and toxicological analysis, it is important to understand the stability of PFASs, including novel per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether acids (PFEAs), in commonly used solvents. In this study, we investigated the effects of PFAS characteristics, solvent type, water-to-organic solvent ratio, and temperature on the stability of 21 PFASs including 18 PFEAs. None of the studied PFASs showed measurable degradation in deionized water, methanol, or isopropyl alcohol over 30 days; however, nine PFEAs degraded in the polar aprotic solvents acetonitrile, acetone, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). PFEA degradation followed first-order kinetics, and first-order rate constants increased with increasing temperature and with decreasing water-to-organic solvent ratio. Monoethers with a carboxylic acid functional group adjacent to a tertiary carbon (>CF-COOH) degraded more rapidly than multiethers in which the carboxylic acid moiety was adjacent to repeating -CF2O- groups. In contrast, monoethers with a carboxylic acid moiety adjacent to a secondary carbon (-CF2-COOH) were stable in all tested solvents. Using high-resolution mass spectrometry, we determined that PFEAs with a >CF-COOH group were stoichiometrically decarboxylated in aprotic solvents and formed products with a >CFH group; e.g., hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (HFPO-DA or GenX), HFPO-trimer acid, and HFPO-tetramer acid were stoichiometrically converted to Fluoroethers E-1, E-2, and E-3, respectively. PFEA degradation results highlight the importance of solvent choice when preparing dosing solutions and performing extractions for environmental and toxicological assessments of PFEAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuhui Zhang
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Amie C. McElroy
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Hannah K. Liberatore
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States
| | - Nancy Lee M. Alexander
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Detlef R.U. Knappe
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
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49
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Xu LL, Chen YK, Zhang QY, Chen LJ, Zhang KK, Li JH, Liu JL, Wang Q, Xie XL. Gestational exposure to GenX induces hepatic alterations by the gut-liver axis in maternal mice: A similar mechanism as PFOA. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 820:153281. [PMID: 35066053 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
GenX is an alternative to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and was included in the accession list of Substances of Very High Concern in 2019. Gestational GenX exposure induces maternal hepatotoxicity in animals. However, the mechanisms of GenX toxicity have not been explored. In the present study, pregnant Balb/c mice were administered with PFOA (1 mg/kg BW/day), GenX (2 mg/kg BW/day), or Milli-Q water by gavage during gestation. Similar hepatic pathological changes, including enlargement of hepatocytes, cytoplasm loss, nucleus migration, inflammatory cell infiltration, and reduction of glycogen storage, were observed in PFOA and GenX groups. Increased expression levels of indicators of the TLR4 pathway indicated activation of inflammation in the liver of maternal mice after exposure to PFOA or GenX, consistent with the pathological changes. Overexpression of cleaved PARP-1, cleaved caspase 3, Bax and decreased Bcl-2 proteins indicated activation of apoptosis, whereas overexpression of ULK-1, p62, beclin-1, LC3-II proteins and downregulation of p-mTOR implied that PFOA and GenX exposure initiated autophagy. Decreased secretion of mucus, reduced expression levels of tight junction proteins, and higher serum levels of lipopolysaccharide indicated disruption of the intestinal barrier. Translocation of lipopolysaccharide may be recognized by TLR4, thus triggering inflammatory pathway in the maternal liver. In summary, gestational exposure to PFOA or GenX induced maternal hepatic alterations through the gut-liver axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Ling Xu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University (Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research), No. 1838 North Guangzhou Road, 510515 Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu-Kui Chen
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University (Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research), No. 1838 North Guangzhou Road, 510515 Guangzhou, China
| | - Qin-Yao Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University (Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research), No. 1838 North Guangzhou Road, 510515 Guangzhou, China
| | - Li-Jian Chen
- Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, No. 1838 North Guangzhou Road, 510515 Guangzhou, China
| | - Kai-Kai Zhang
- Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, No. 1838 North Guangzhou Road, 510515 Guangzhou, China
| | - Jia-Hao Li
- Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, No. 1838 North Guangzhou Road, 510515 Guangzhou, China
| | - Jia-Li Liu
- Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, No. 1838 North Guangzhou Road, 510515 Guangzhou, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, No. 1838 North Guangzhou Road, 510515 Guangzhou, China.
| | - Xiao-Li Xie
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University (Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research), No. 1838 North Guangzhou Road, 510515 Guangzhou, China.
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50
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Liu JJ, Cui XX, Tan YW, Dong PX, Ou YQ, Li QQ, Chu C, Wu LY, Liang LX, Qin SJ, Zeeshan M, Zhou Y, Hu LW, Liu RQ, Zeng XW, Dong GH, Zhao XM. Per- and perfluoroalkyl substances alternatives, mixtures and liver function in adults: A community-based population study in China. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 163:107179. [PMID: 35325771 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Experimental evidence has shown that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) alternatives and mixtures may exert hepatotoxic effects in animals. However, epidemiological evidence is limited. This research aimed to explore associations of PFAS and the alternatives with liver function in a general adult population. The study participants consisted of 1,303 adults from a community-based cross-sectional investigation in Guangzhou, China, from November 2018 to August 2019. We selected 13 PFAS with detection rates > 85% in serum samples and focused on perfluorooctane-sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and their alternatives [6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (6:2 Cl-PFESA), 8:2 Cl-PFESA, and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)] as predictors of outcome. Six liver function biomarkers (ALB, ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, and DBIL) were chosen as outcomes. We applied regression models with restricted cubic spline function to explore correlations between single PFAS and liver function and inspected the combined effect of PFAS mixtures on liver by applying Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). We discovered positive associations among PFAS and liver function biomarkers except for ALP. For example, compared with the 25th percentile of PFAS concentration, the level of ALT increased by 12.36% (95% CI: 7.91%, 16.98%) for ln-6:2 Cl-PFESA, 5.59% (95% CI: 2.35%, 8.92%) for ln-8:2 Cl-PFESA, 3.56% (95% CI: -0.39%, 7.68%) for ln-PFHxA, 13.91% (95% CI: 8.93%, 19.13%) for ln-PFOA, and 14.25% (95% CI: 9.91%, 18.77%) for ln-PFOS at their 75th percentile. In addition, higher exposed serum PFAS was found to be correlated with greater odds of abnormal liver function. Analysis from BKMR models also showed an adverse association between PFAS mixtures and liver function. The combined effect of the PFAS mixture appeared to be non-interactive, in which PFOS was the main contributor to the overall effect. Our findings provide evidence of associations between PFAS alternatives, PFAS mixtures, and liver function in the general adult population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao-Jiao Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xin-Xin Cui
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Ya-Wen Tan
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Peng-Xin Dong
- Nursing College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Yan-Qiu Ou
- Department of Epidemiology, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Training in Cardiovascular Diseases, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Qing-Qing Li
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Chu Chu
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Lu-Yin Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Li-Xia Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Shuang-Jian Qin
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Mohammed Zeeshan
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Li-Wen Hu
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Ru-Qing Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiao-Wen Zeng
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
| | - Guang-Hui Dong
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
| | - Xiao-Miao Zhao
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China.
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