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Llewellyn MJ, Griffin EK, Caspar RJ, Timshina AS, Bowden JA, Miller CJ, Baker BB, Baker TR. Identification and quantification of novel per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in a Great Lakes urban-dominated watershed. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 941:173325. [PMID: 38797403 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of synthetic organic fluoro-compounds that are oil-, water-, and flame-resistant, making them useful in a wide range of commercial and consumer products, as well as resistant to environmental degradation. To assess the impact of urbanization and wastewater treatment processes, surface water and sediment samples were collected at 27 sites within the Great Lakes in the Lake Huron to Lake Erie corridor (HEC), an international waterway including the highly urbanized Detroit and Rouge Rivers. Samples were analyzed for 92 PFAS via UHPLC-MS/MS. Our previous data in the HEC found the highest amount of PFAS contamination at the Rouge River mouth. In addition to evaluating the input of the Rouge River into the HEC, we evaluated the transport of PFAS into the HEC from other major tributaries. PFAS were detected in both surface water and sediment at all sites in this study, with a total of 10 congeners quantified in all surface water samples and 16 congeners quantified in all sediment samples, indicating ubiquitous contamination. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were pervasive in the HEC as these two compounds were detected in all sites and matrices, often at concentrations above the US EPA's recommended lifetime interim updated health advisories. Surface water samples contained more perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) than any other congener, with average aqueous PFHxA across all surface water samples exceeding the average concentration previously reported in the Great Lakes. Sediment samples were dominated by PFOS, but novel congeners, notably 3-Perfluoropentyl propanoic acid (FPePA), were also quantified in sediment. The Rouge River and other tributaries contribute significantly to the PFAS burden in the HEC including Lake Erie. Overall, our results indicate the need for expanding toxicological research and risk assessment focused on congeners such as PFHxA and PFAS mixtures, as well as regulation that is tighter at the onset of production and encompasses PFAS as a group at a national level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mallory J Llewellyn
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, United States of America.
| | - Emily K Griffin
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, United States of America.
| | - Rachel J Caspar
- Department of Biology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida, United States of America
| | - Alina S Timshina
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, College of Engineering, University of Florida, United States of America.
| | - John A Bowden
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, United States of America.
| | - Carol J Miller
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Wayne State University, United States of America.
| | - Bridget B Baker
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, United States of America.
| | - Tracie R Baker
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, United States of America; Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, United States of America.
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2
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Zhao X, Liu Z, Zhang Y, Pan Y, Wang T, Wang Z, Li Z, Zeng Q, Qian Y, Qiu J, Mu X. Developmental effects and lipid disturbances of zebrafish embryos exposed to three newly recognized bisphenol A analogues. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 189:108795. [PMID: 38857550 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108795] [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: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Bisphenol G (BPG), bisphenol M (BPM) and bisphenol TMC (BPTMC), are newly recognized analogues of bisphenol A (BPA), which have been detected in multiple environmental media. However, the understanding of their negative impacts on environmental health is limited. In this study, zebrafish embryos were exposed to BPA and the three analogues (0.1, 10, and 1000 μg/L) to identify their developmental toxic effects. According to our results, all of the three analogues induced significant developmental disorders on zebrafish embryos including inhibited yolk sac absorption, altered heart rate, and teratogenic effects. Oil Red O staining indicated lipid accumulation in the yolk sac region of zebrafish after bisphenol analogues exposure, which was consistent with the delayed yolk uptake. Untargeted lipidomic analysis indicated the abundance of triacylglycerols, ceramides and fatty acids was significantly altered by the three analogues. The combined analysis of lipidomics and transcriptomics results indicated BPG and BPM affected lipid metabolism by disrupting peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor pathway and interfering with lipid homeostasis and transport. This partly explained the morphological changes of embryos after bisphenol exposure. In conclusion, our study reveals that BPG, BPM and BPTMC possess acute and developmental toxicity toward zebrafish, and the developmental abnormalities are associated with the disturbances in lipid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Zhao
- Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zaiteng Liu
- Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yining Zhang
- Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yecan Pan
- Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Tiancai Wang
- Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zishuang Wang
- Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zishu Li
- Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingxiao Zeng
- Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongzhong Qian
- Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Qiu
- Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiyan Mu
- Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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Abou-Khalil C, Chernysheva L, Miller A, Abarca-Perez A, Peaslee G, Herckes P, Westerhoff P, Doudrick K. Enhancing the Thermal Mineralization of Perfluorooctanesulfonate on Granular Activated Carbon Using Alkali and Alkaline-Earth Metal Additives. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:11162-11174. [PMID: 38857410 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09795] [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: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Thermal treatment has emerged as a promising approach for either the end-of-life treatment or regeneration of granular activated carbon (GAC) contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, its effectiveness has been limited by the requirement for high temperatures, the generation of products of incomplete destruction, and the necessity to scrub HF in the flue gas. This study investigates the use of common alkali and alkaline-earth metal additives to enhance the mineralization of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) adsorbed onto GAC. When treated at 800 °C without an additive, only 49% of PFOS was mineralized to HF. All additives tested demonstrated improved mineralization, and Ca(OH)2 had the best performance, achieving a mineralization efficiency of 98% in air or N2. Its ability to increase the reaction rate and shift the byproduct selectivity suggests that its role may be catalytic. Moreover, additives reduced HF in the flue gas by instead reacting with the additive to form inorganic fluorine (e.g., CaF2) in the starting waste material. A hypothesized reaction mechanism is proposed that involves the electron transfer from O2- defect sites of CaO to intermediates formed during the thermal decomposition of PFOS. These findings advocate for the use of additives in the thermal treatment of GAC for disposal or reuse, with the potential to reduce operating costs and mitigate the environmental impact associated with incinerating PFAS-laden wastes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charbel Abou-Khalil
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Liliya Chernysheva
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Anthony Miller
- Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Angela Abarca-Perez
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Graham Peaslee
- Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Pierre Herckes
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Paul Westerhoff
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Kyle Doudrick
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
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Wang X, Wang K, Mao W, Fan Z, Liu T, Hong R, Chen H, Pan C. Emerging perfluoroalkyl substances retard skeletal growth by accelerating osteoblasts senescence via ferroptosis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 258:119483. [PMID: 38914254 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Due to the persistent nature and significant negative impacts of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) on human health and other organisms, the emergence of new PFOA alternatives, such as perfluoro (2-methyl-3-oxhexanoic) acid (GenX) and perfluoro-3,6,9-trioxyundecanoic acid (PFO3TDA), have drawn significant attention. However, the toxic effects of PFOA and its substitutes on bones remain limited. In this study, we administered different concentrations of PFOA, GenX, and PFO3TDA via gavage to 3-week-old male BALB/C mice for four weeks. X-ray and micro-CT scans revealed shortening of the femur and tibia and significant reduction in bone density. Additionally, PFOA, GenX, and PFO3TDA promoted osteoblast senescence and impaired osteogenic capabilities. This was characterized by a decrease in the expression of osteogenesis-related genes (OCN, ALP, Runx2, etc.) and an increase in the expression of aging and inflammation-related factors (p16INK4a, P21, MMP3, etc). Furthermore, RNA sequencing revealed activation of the ferroptosis pathway in PFOA-treated osteoblasts, characterized by notable lipid peroxidation and excessive iron accumulation. Finally, by inhibiting the ferroptosis pathway with ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1), we effectively alleviated the senescence of MC3T3-E1 cells treated with PFOA, GenX, and PFO3TDA, and improved their osteogenic capabilities. Therefore, our study provides a new therapeutic insight into the impact of PFOA and its substitutes on bone growth and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinglong Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Kehan Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Wenwen Mao
- Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Zhencheng Fan
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Tingting Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Runyang Hong
- Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
| | - Chun Pan
- Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China; Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
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Liu Y, Yu G, Medsker H, Luo T, Meng X, Wang C, Feng L, Zhang J. Perinatal exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate and the risk of hepatic inflammation in rat offspring: Perturbation of gut-liver crosstalk. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024:119442. [PMID: 38901810 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) exposure is associated with harmful hepatic outcomes. Growing evidence indicates that crosstalk between the gut microbiome, immune system, and liver plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of liver diseases. However, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of PFOS exposure during pregnancy and lactation on hepatic inflammation in rat offspring. Features of hepatic inflammation and increased levels of aspartate-amino transferase (AST) were found in pups on postnatal day 28 (PND28) in PFOS-exposed groups. Gut microbiota analysis identified Chitinophaga, Ralstonia, and Alloprevotella as the key genera in distinguishing the PFOS-exposed group from the control group. Metabolic and transcriptomic analyses found that PFOS exposure resulted in 48 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) in the serum, 62 DEMs in the liver, and 289 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the liver of PND28 pups. The immune response is significantly enriched in PFOS-exposed liver on PND28; multi-omics analysis indicated that PFOS might lead to immune response perturbation by disturbing the metabolic profiling in the liver. The changed gut microbiota was significantly related to the serum level of the liver function index. Specifically, Alloprevotella, Chitinophage, Ruminococcus, and Allobaculum were significantly associated with the metabolic abundance changes of 4-Hydroxydebrisoquine, L-Norvaline, and Eremopetasinorol, and the gene expression changes of Acat211, Msmol, Idi1, Sqle, and Gadd45b in the liver. These findings suggest that early-life PFOS exposure may be associated with adverse hepatic inflammation in young offspring via disruption of the gut-liver crosstalk, which may provide mechanistic clues for clarifying the hepatotoxicity in offspring associated with perinatal PFOS exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjie Liu
- Ministry of Education and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, Shanghai Academy of Environment Sciences, Shanghai 200233, P. R. China
| | - Guoqi Yu
- Ministry of Education and 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
| | - Hannah Medsker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, USA
| | - Tingyu Luo
- School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
| | - Xi Meng
- Ministry of Education and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Cuiping Wang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, P. R. China.
| | - Liping Feng
- Ministry of Education and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, USA.
| | - Jun Zhang
- Ministry of Education and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.
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6
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Leuthner TC, Zhang S, Kohrn BF, Stapleton HM, Baugh LR. Structure-specific variation in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances toxicity among genetically diverse Caenorhabditis elegans strains. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.29.596269. [PMID: 38854041 PMCID: PMC11160736 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.29.596269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Background There are >14,500 structurally diverse per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Despite knowledge that these "forever chemicals" are in 99% of humans, mechanisms of toxicity and adverse health effects are incompletely known. Furthermore, the contribution of genetic variation to PFAS susceptibility and health consequences is unknown. Objectives We determined the toxicity of a structurally distinct set of PFAS in twelve genetically diverse strains of the genetic model system Caenorhabditis elegans. Methods Dose-response curves for four perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFNA, PFOA, PFPeA, and PFBA), two perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFOS and PFBS), two perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides (PFOSA and PFBSA), two fluoroether carboxylic acids (GenX and PFMOAA), one fluoroether sulfonic acid (PFEESA), and two fluorotelomers (6:2 FCA and 6:2 FTS) were determined in the C. elegans laboratory reference strain, N2, and eleven genetically diverse wild strains. Body length was quantified by image analysis at each dose after 48 hr of developmental exposure of L1 arrest-synchronized larvae to estimate effective concentration values (EC50). Results There was a significant range in toxicity among PFAS: PFOSA > PFBSA ≈ PFOS ≈ PFNA > PFOA > GenX ≈ PFEESA > PFBS ≈ PFPeA ≈ PFBA. Long-chain PFAS had greater toxicity than short-chain, and fluorosulfonamides were more toxic than carboxylic and sulfonic acids. Genetic variation explained variation in susceptibility to PFBSA, PFOS, PFBA, PFOA, GenX, PFEESA, PFPeA, and PFBA. There was significant variation in toxicity among C. elegans strains due to chain length, functional group, and between legacy and emerging PFAS. Conclusion C. elegans respond to legacy and emerging PFAS of diverse structures, and this depends on specific structures and genetic variation. Harnessing the natural genetic diversity of C. elegans and the structural complexity of PFAS is a powerful New Approach Methodology (NAM) to investigate structure-activity relationships and mechanisms of toxicity which may inform regulation of other PFAS to improve human and environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tess C. Leuthner
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sharon Zhang
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Brendan F Kohrn
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Heather M. Stapleton
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - L. Ryan Baugh
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, North Carolina, USA
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Shen H, Fu L, Cai Y, Zhu K, Chen X. Hexafluoropropylene oxide trimer acid (HFPO-TA) exerts cytotoxic effects on leydig cells via the ER stress/JNK/β-trcp/mcl-1 axis. Food Chem Toxicol 2024; 188:114678. [PMID: 38643823 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2024.114678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Hexafluoropropylene oxide trimer acid (HFPO-TA) is an alternative to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and is widely used in various industries. The effects of HFPO-TA on the male reproductive system and the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. In this study, TM3 mouse Leydig cells were used as the main model to evaluate the cytotoxicity of HFPO-TA in vitro. HFPO-TA inhibited the viability and expression of multiple biomarkers of Leydig cells. HFPO-TA also induced Leydig cell apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner. Moreover, HFPO-TA induced the ubiquitination and degradation of Mcl-1 in a β-TrCP-dependent manner. Further investigations showed that HFPO-TA treatment led to the upregulation of ROS, which activated the ER stress/JNK/β-TrCP axis in Leydig cells. Overall, our study provides novel insights into the cytotoxic effects of HFPO-TA on the male reproductive system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongping Shen
- Department of Traditonal Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Lingling Fu
- Jinhua Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yili Cai
- Department of Acupuncture, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Keqi Zhu
- Department of Traditonal Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xueqin Chen
- Department of Traditonal Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China.
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Dunn F, Paquette SE, Pennell KD, Plavicki JS, Manz KE. Metabolomic changes following GenX and PFBS exposure in developing zebrafish. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 271:106908. [PMID: 38608566 PMCID: PMC11209921 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2024.106908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Short chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX) and perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), are replacement chemicals for environmentally persistent, long-chain PFAS. Although GenX and PFBS have been detected in surface and ground water worldwide, few studies provide information on the metabolic alterations or risks associated with their exposures. In this study, larval zebrafish were used to investigate the toxicity of early-life exposure to GenX or PFBS. Zebrafish were chronically exposed from 4 h post-fertilization (hpf) to 6 days post-fertilization (dpf) to 150 µM GenX or 95.0 µM PFBS. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography paired with high-resolution mass spectrometry was used to quantify uptake of GenX and PFBS into zebrafish larvae and perform targeted and untargeted metabolomics. Our results indicate that PFBS was 20.4 % more readily absorbed into the zebrafish larvae compared to GenX. Additionally, PFBS exposure significantly altered 13 targeted metabolites and 21 metabolic pathways, while GenX exposure significantly altered 1 targeted metabolite and 17 metabolic pathways. Exposure to GenX, and to an even greater extent PFBS, resulted in a number of altered metabolic pathways in the amino acid metabolism, with other significant alterations in the carbohydrate, lipid, cofactors and vitamins, nucleotide, and xenobiotics metabolisms. Our results indicate that GenX and PFBS impact the zebrafish metabolome, with implications of global metabolic dysregulation, particularly in metabolic pathways relating to growth and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Dunn
- School of Engineering, Brown University, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI, 02912, United States
| | - Shannon E Paquette
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, 70 Ship Street, Providence, RI, 02903, United States
| | - Kurt D Pennell
- School of Engineering, Brown University, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI, 02912, United States
| | - Jessica S Plavicki
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, 70 Ship Street, Providence, RI, 02903, United States.
| | - Katherine E Manz
- School of Engineering, Brown University, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI, 02912, United States; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, United States.
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9
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Marin M, Annunziato KM, Tompach MC, Liang W, Zahn SM, Li S, Doherty J, Lee J, Clark JM, Park Y, Timme-Laragy AR. Maternal PFOS exposure affects offspring development in Nrf2-dependent and independent ways in zebrafish (Danio rerio). AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 271:106923. [PMID: 38669778 PMCID: PMC11177596 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2024.106923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) is a ubiquitous legacy environmental contaminant detected broadly in human samples and water supplies. PFOS can cross the placenta and has been detected in cord blood and breastmilk samples, underscoring the importance of understanding the impacts of maternal PFOS exposure during early development. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a preconception exposure to PFOS on developmental endpoints in offspring, as well as examine the role of the transcription factor Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor (Nrf2a) in mediating these effects. This transcription factor regulates the expression of several genes that protect cells against oxidative stress including during embryonic development. Adult female zebrafish were exposed to 0.02, 0.08 or 0.14 mg/L PFOS for 1 week (duration of one cycle of oocyte maturation) and then paired with unexposed males from Nrf2a mutant or wildtype strains. Embryos were collected for two weeks or until completion of 5 breeding events. PFOS was maternally transferred to offspring independent of genotype throughout all breeding events in a dose-dependent manner, ranging from 2.77 to 23.72 ng/embryo in Nrf2a wildtype and 2.40 to 15.80 ng/embryo in Nrf2a mutants. Although embryo viability at collection was not impacted by maternal PFOS exposure, developmental effects related to nutrient uptake, growth and pancreatic β-cell morphology were observed and differed based on genotype. Triglyceride levels were increased in Nrf2a wildtype eggs from the highest PFOS group. In Nrf2a wildtype larvae there was a decrease in yolk sac uptake while in Nrf2a mutants there was an increase. Additionally, there was a significant decrease in pancreatic β-cell (islet) area in wildtype larvae from the 0.14 mg/L PFOS accompanied by an increase in the prevalence of abnormal islet morphologies compared to controls. Abnormal morphology was also observed in the 0.02 and 0.08 mg/L PFOS groups. Interestingly, in Nrf2a mutants there was a significant increase in the pancreatic β-cell area in the 0.02 and 0.08 mg/L PFOS groups and no changes in the prevalence of abnormal islet morphologies. These results suggest that the regulation of processes like nutrient consumption, growth and pancreatic β-cell development are at least partially modulated by the presence of a functional Nrf2a transcriptomic response. Overall, preconception exposure to environmental pollutants, such as PFOS, may impact the maturing oocyte and cause subtle changes that can ultimately impact offspring health and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjorie Marin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA; Biotechnology Training Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Kate M Annunziato
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Madeline C Tompach
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA; Biotechnology Training Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA; Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Wenle Liang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Sarah M Zahn
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Sida Li
- Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Jeffery Doherty
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Jonghwa Lee
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - John M Clark
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Yeonhwa Park
- Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Alicia R Timme-Laragy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA; Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.
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10
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Yang SL, Ma BJ, Lu YS, Chen J, Yu J, Qiu J, Qian YZ, Xu YY. Multi-omics reveals the molecular mechanism of the combined toxic effects of PFOA and 4-HBP exposure in MCF-7 cells and the key player: mTORC1. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 188:108778. [PMID: 38815467 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
With the discovery of evidence that many endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the environment influence human health, their toxic effects and mechanisms have become a hot topic of research. However, investigations into their endocrine-disrupting toxicity under combined binary exposure, especially the molecular mechanism of combined effects, have rarely been documented. In this study, two typical EDCs, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and 4-hydroxybenzophenone (4-HBP), were selected to examine their combined effects and molecular mechanism on MCF-7 cell proliferation at environmentally relevant exposure concentrations. We have successfully established a model to evaluate the binary combined toxic effects of endocrine disruptors, presenting combined effects in a simple and direct way. Results indicated that the combined effect changed from additive to synergistic from 1.25 × 10-8 M to 4 × 10-7 M. Metabolomics analyses suggested that exposure to PFOA and 4-HBP caused significant alterations in purine metabolism, arginine, and proline metabolism and had superimposed influences on metabolism. Enhanced combined effects were observed in glycine, serine, and threonine metabolic pathways compared to exposure to PFOS and 4-HBP alone. Additionally, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are primarily involved in Biological Processes, especially protein targeting the endoplasmic reticulum, and significantly impact the oxidative phosphorylation and thermogenesis-related KEGG pathway. By integrating metabolome and transcriptome analyses, PFOA and 4-HBP regulate purine metabolism, the TCA cycle, and endoplasmic reticulum protein synthesis in MCF-7 cells via mTORC1, which provides genetic material, protein, and energy for cell proliferation. Furthermore, molecular docking confirmed the ability of PFOA and 4-HBP to stably bind the estrogen receptor, indicating that they have different binding pockets. Collectively, these findings will offer new insights into understanding the mechanisms by which EDCs produce combined toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang-Lin Yang
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bing-Jie Ma
- Faculty of Printing and Packaging and Digital Media, Xi' an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
| | - Yu-Shun Lu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Ju Chen
- Faculty of Printing and Packaging and Digital Media, Xi' an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
| | - Jiang Yu
- Faculty of Printing and Packaging and Digital Media, Xi' an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
| | - Jing Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yong-Zhong Qian
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yan-Yang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
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11
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Lockington C, Favetta LA. How Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances Affect Gamete Viability and Fertilization Capability: Insights from the Literature. J Xenobiot 2024; 14:651-678. [PMID: 38804291 PMCID: PMC11130945 DOI: 10.3390/jox14020038] [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: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
There has been emerging research linking per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to gamete viability and fertility. PFAS, prevalent in the environment and water supplies, undergo slow degradation due to their C-F bond and a long half-life (2.3-8.5 years). In females, PFAS inhibit the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, reducing follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, leading to the inhibition of androgen and estradiol production. PFAS have been found to cause detrimental effects on egg quality through impairing folliculogenesis. In males, PFAS can impair sperm motility and morphology: two fundamental qualities of successful fertilization. PFAS exposure has been proven to inhibit testosterone production, sperm capacitation, and acrosomal reaction. After fertilization, the results of PFAS exposure to embryos have also been investigated, showing reduced development to the blastocyst stage. The aim of this review is to report the main findings in the literature on the impact of PFAS exposure to gamete competency and fertilization capability by highlighting key studies on both male and female fertility. We report that there is significant evidence demonstrating the negative impacts on fertility after PFAS exposure. At high doses, these environmentally abundant and widespread compounds can significantly affect human fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura A. Favetta
- Reproductive Health and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;
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12
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Luo Y, Ma S, Zhang J, Zhang Q, Zhang Y, Mao J, Yuan H, Ouyang G, Zhang S, Zhao W. Developing a novel strategy for fabricating matrix film to assess the distribution of potassium perfluorooctanic sulfonate by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging. Anal Chim Acta 2024; 1303:342528. [PMID: 38609267 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2024.342528] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Matrix deposition plays a critical role in image quality of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI). To improve the ionization efficiency and overcome the limitation of traditional matrix deposition methods in the face of difficult-to-sublimate or difficult-to-dissolve matrix, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) named COF-DhaTab was successfully synthesized and firstly used as matrix film. It was fabricated by imprinting of sieved COF-DhaTab powder on the surface of a double-sided adhesive tape. Outstanding reproducibility and uniformity of COF-DhaTab film were demonstrated by relative standard deviation (RSD) within 8.37% and 7.71% from dot-to-dot and plate-to-plate, respectively. With the introduction of double-sided adhesive tape, water contact angle (WCA) of COF-DhaTab film increased from 55° to 141°, resulting in significant suppression of analyte diffusion. Moreover, the intensity of potassium perfluorooctanic sulfonate (PFOS, C8F17SO3-, m/z 498.93) was 9.3 × 105, more than six hundred times higher than that using DHB matrix. This enhancement was attributed to the rough surface and multiple branches of the synthesized COF-DhaTab. To verify the ability of COF-DhaTab film as substrate, the spatial distribution of PFOS in zebrafish, rat liver and kidney tissues was explored. Superior imaging capability was displayed with high-spatial resolution and reliable location distribution. These results not only demonstrate the outstanding ability of COF-DhaTab as matrix for MALDI-MS and MALDI-MSI, but also provide a facile approach for fabrication of novel matrix films for MALDI-MSI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yake Luo
- College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Shanshan Ma
- College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Jianxun Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; The Key Laboratory of Tobacco Flavor Basic Research of CNTC, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Qidong Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; The Key Laboratory of Tobacco Flavor Basic Research of CNTC, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Yanhao Zhang
- College of Ecology and Environment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
| | - Jian Mao
- College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; The Key Laboratory of Tobacco Flavor Basic Research of CNTC, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Hang Yuan
- College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; College of Ecology and Environment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Gangfeng Ouyang
- College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Shusheng Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; College of Ecology and Environment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Wuduo Zhao
- College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; College of Ecology and Environment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
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13
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Luo YS, Ying RY, Chen XT, Yeh YJ, Wei CC, Chan CC. Integrating high-throughput phenotypic profiling and transcriptomic analyses to predict the hepatosteatosis effects induced by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 469:133891. [PMID: 38457971 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133891] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is a large compound class (n > 12,000) that is extensively present in food, drinking water, and aquatic environments. Reduced serum triglycerides and hepatosteatosis appear to be the common phenotypes for different PFAS chemicals. However, the hepatosteatosis potential of most PFAS chemicals remains largely unknown. This study aims to investigate PFAS-induced hepatosteatosis using in vitro high-throughput phenotype profiling (HTPP) and high-throughput transcriptomic (HTTr) data. We quantified the in vitro hepatosteatosis effects and mitochondrial damage using high-content imaging, curated the transcriptomic data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and then calculated the point of departure (POD) values for HTPP phenotypes or HTTr transcripts, using the Bayesian benchmark dose modeling approach. Our results indicated that PFAS compounds with fully saturated C-F bonds, sulfur- and nitrogen-containing functional groups, and a fluorinated carbon chain length greater than 8 have the potential to produce biological effects consistent with hepatosteatosis. PFAS primarily induced hepatosteatosis via disturbance in lipid transport and storage. The potency rankings of PFAS compounds are highly concordant among in vitro HTPP, HTTr, and in vivo hepatosteatosis phenotypes (ρ = 0.60-0.73). In conclusion, integrating the information from in vitro HTPP and HTTr analyses can accurately project in vivo hepatosteatosis effects induced by PFAS compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Syuan Luo
- Institute of Food Safety and Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan; Master of Public Health Program, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan.
| | - Ren-Yan Ying
- Institute of Food Safety and Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Xsuan-Ting Chen
- Institute of Food Safety and Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Jia Yeh
- Institute of Food Safety and Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Cheng Wei
- Institute of Food Safety and Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chang-Chuan Chan
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
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14
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Zhong X, Chen J, Zhang Z, Zhu Q, Ji D, Ke W, Niu C, Wang C, Zhao N, Chen W, Jia K, Liu Q, Song M, Liu C, Wei Y. Development of an Automated Morphometric Approach to Assess Vascular Outcomes following Exposure to Environmental Chemicals in Zebrafish. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2024; 132:57001. [PMID: 38701112 PMCID: PMC11068156 DOI: 10.1289/ehp13214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disruptions in vascular formation attributable to chemical insults is a pivotal risk factor or potential etiology of developmental defects and various disease settings. Among the thousands of chemicals threatening human health, the highly concerning groups prevalent in the environment and detected in biological monitoring in the general population ought to be prioritized because of their high exposure risks. However, the impacts of a large number of environmental chemicals on vasculature are far from understood. The angioarchitecture complexity and technical limitations make it challenging to analyze the entire vasculature efficiently and identify subtle changes through a high-throughput in vivo assay. OBJECTIVES We aimed to develop an automated morphometric approach for the vascular profile and assess the vascular morphology of health-concerning environmental chemicals. METHODS High-resolution images of the entire vasculature in Tg(fli1a:eGFP) zebrafish were collected using a high-content imaging platform. We established a deep learning-based quantitative framework, ECA-ResXUnet, combined with MATLAB to segment the vascular networks and extract features. Vessel scores based on the rates of morphological changes were calculated to rank vascular toxicity. Potential biomarkers were identified by vessel-endothelium-gene-disease integrative analysis. RESULTS Whole-trunk blood vessels and the cerebral vasculature in larvae exposed to 150 representative chemicals were automatically segmented as comparable to human-level accuracy, with sensitivity and specificity of 95.56% and 95.81%, respectively. Chemical treatments led to heterogeneous vascular patterns manifested by 31 architecture indexes, and the common cardinal vein (CCV) was the most affected vessel. The antipsychotic medicine haloperidol, flame retardant 2,2-bis(chloromethyl)trimethylenebis[bis(2-chloroethyl) phosphate], and tert-butylphenyl diphenyl phosphate ranked as the top three in vessel scores. Pesticides accounted for the largest group, with a vessel score of ≥ 1 , characterized by a remarkable inhibition of subintestinal venous plexus and delayed development of CCV. Multiple-concentration evaluation of nine per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) indicated a low-concentration effect on vascular impairment and a positive association between carbon chain length and benchmark concentration. Target vessel-directed single-cell RNA sequencing of f l i 1 a + cells from larvae treated with λ -cyhalothrin , perfluorohexanesulfonic acid, or benzylbutyl phthalate, along with vessel-endothelium-gene-disease integrative analysis, uncovered potential associations with vascular disorders and identified biomarker candidates. DISCUSSION This study provides a novel paradigm for phenotype-driven screenings of vascular-disrupting chemicals by converging morphological and transcriptomic profiles at a high-resolution level, serving as a powerful tool for large-scale toxicity tests. Our approach and the high-quality morphometric data facilitate the precise evaluation of vascular effects caused by environmental chemicals. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13214.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiali Zhong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junzhou Chen
- School of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhuyi Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qicheng Zhu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Di Ji
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weijian Ke
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Congying Niu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Can Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Nan Zhao
- School of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wenquan Chen
- School of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kunkun Jia
- School of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Maoyong Song
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chunqiao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanhong Wei
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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15
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Pannu MW, Huang A, Plumlee MH. Variable PFAS removal by adsorbent media with sufficient prediction of breakthrough despite reduced contact time at pilot scale. WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH : A RESEARCH PUBLICATION OF THE WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION 2024; 96:e11035. [PMID: 38761092 DOI: 10.1002/wer.11035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
One alternative adsorbent (AA) and five ion exchange (IX) resins were tested for the removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from groundwater in pilot-scale columns for up to 19 months using empty bed contact times (EBCTs) representative of full-scale treatment. For the six detected PFAS in the pilot feed water, the long-chain PFAS (perfluorooctanoic acid [PFOA], perfluorooctanesulfonic acid [PFOS], and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid [PFHxS]) were well removed with only PFOA, which is a perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid (PFCA) eventually breaking through as the media became exhausted. Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), a short-chain perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA), was also well removed, whereas short-chain PFCAs (perfluoropentanoic acid [PFPeA] and perfluorobutanoic acid [PFBA]) were not removed (i.e., immediate breakthrough). Overall, IX and AA demonstrated superior removal of PFSAs compared to PFCAs (i.e., later breakthrough of PFSAs translating to longer media life). Media life varied, ranging from 6 to 15 months before adsorbents reached a significant PFOA breakthrough. The performance of the two adsorbents piloted at shorter EBCT reasonably predicted the longer (representative) pilot EBCT results (within ±20-30%) for the same adsorbents following data scaling. This suggests that pilot-scale testing may be conducted at a faster pace and therefore more economically. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Long-chain PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, and PFHxS) were well removed by five ion exchange and one alternative adsorbent tested herein. One short-chain PFAS (PFBS) was well removed with no removal of two other short-chain PFAS (PFBA and PFPeA). Performance of the two adsorbents piloted at shorter EBCT reasonably predicted the longer (representative) pilot EBCT results for the same adsorbents following data scaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manmeet W Pannu
- Research and Development Department, Orange County Water District, Anaheim, California, USA
| | - Andrew Huang
- Research and Development Department, Orange County Water District, Fountain Valley, California, USA
| | - Megan H Plumlee
- Research and Development Department, Orange County Water District, Fountain Valley, California, USA
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16
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Kreychman M, Ivantsova E, Lu A, Bisesi JH, Martyniuk CJ. A comparative review of the toxicity mechanisms of perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and perfluorohexanesulphonic acid (PFHxS) in fish. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2024; 279:109874. [PMID: 38423199 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2024.109874] [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: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Industrial and consumer goods contain diverse perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These substances, like perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and perfluorohexanesulphonic acid (PFHxS), are under increased scrutiny due to their potential toxicity to aquatic organisms. However, our understanding of their biological impacts and mechanisms of action remains limited. The objectives of this review were to compare data for levels of PFHxA and PFHxS in aquatic environments and fish tissues, as well as toxicity mechanisms related to morphological, endocrine, metabolic, and behavioral endpoints. A computational assessment was also performed to identify putative mechanisms of toxicity and to characterize exposure biomarkers. Studies have shown that both PFHxA and PFHxS residues are present in diverse marine and freshwater fish tissues, suggesting the importance of monitoring these PFAS in aquatic organisms. In fish tissues, these chemicals have been reported to be as high as 37.5 ng/g for PFHxA and 1290 ng/g for PFHxS, but their persistence in aquatic environments and degradation in tissues requires further study. In terms of mechanisms of toxicity, both oxidative stress and endocrine disruption have been reported. Based on evidence for endocrine disruption, we modeled interactions of estrogen and androgen receptors of several fish species with PFHxA and PFHxS. Molecular docking revealed that PFHxS has a stronger affinity for interacting with the estrogen and androgen receptors of fish compared to PFHxA and that estrogen and androgen receptors of fathead minnow, zebrafish, Atlantic salmon, and largemouth bass show comparable binding affinities for each chemical except for salmon Esr2b, which was predicted to have lower affinity for PFHxA relative to Esr2a. While mechanistic data are lacking in fish in general for these chemicals, a computational approach revealed that PFHxA can perturb the endocrine system, nervous system, and is linked to changes in kidney and liver weight. Proteins associated with PFHxA and PFHxS exposures in fish include those related to lipid and glucose regulation, reproductive proteins like KISS metastasis suppressor, and proteins associated with the immune system (specifically RAG1, RAG2), all of which are potential biomarkers of exposure. Taken together, we synthesize current knowledge regarding the environmental fate and ecotoxicology of PFHxA/PFHxS in fish species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Kreychman
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Emma Ivantsova
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Austin Lu
- Blind Brook High School, Rye Brook, NY 10573, USA
| | - Joseph H Bisesi
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Christopher J Martyniuk
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; UF Genetics Institute, Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences Neuroscience, University of Florida, USA.
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17
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Gasparini C, Iori S, Pietropoli E, Bonato M, Giantin M, Barbarossa A, Bardhi A, Pilastro A, Dacasto M, Pauletto M. Sub-acute exposure of male guppies (Poecilia reticulata) to environmentally relevant concentrations of PFOA and GenX induces significant changes in the testis transcriptome and reproductive traits. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 187:108703. [PMID: 38705092 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108703] [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: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are frequently detected in the environment and are linked to adverse reproductive health outcomes in humans. Although legacy PFAS have been phased out due to their toxicity, alternative PFAS are increasingly used despite the fact that information on their toxic effects on reproductive traits is particularly scarce. Here, we exposed male guppies (Poecilia reticulata) for a short period (21 days) to an environmentally realistic concentration (1 ppb) of PFOA, a legacy PFAS, and its replacement compound, GenX, to assess their impact on reproductive traits and gene expression. Exposure to PFAS did not impair survival but instead caused sublethal effects. Overall, PFAS exposure caused changes in male sexual behaviour and had detrimental effects on sperm motility. Sublethal variations were also seen at the transcriptional level, with the modulation of genes involved in immune regulation, spermatogenesis, and oxidative stress. We also observed bioaccumulation of PFAS, which was higher for PFOA than for GenX. Our results offer a comprehensive comparison of these two PFAS and shed light on the toxicity of a newly emerging alternative to legacy PFAS. It is therefore evident that even at low concentrations and with short exposure, PFAS can have subtle yet significant effects on behaviour, fertility, and immunity. These findings underscore the potential ramifications of pollution under natural conditions and their impact on fish populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Gasparini
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, I-35131, Padova, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center, Piazza Marina 61, I-90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - S Iori
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, viale dell'Università 16, I-35020 Agripolis Legnaro (Padova), Italy
| | - E Pietropoli
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, viale dell'Università 16, I-35020 Agripolis Legnaro (Padova), Italy
| | - M Bonato
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, I-35131, Padova, Italy
| | - M Giantin
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, viale dell'Università 16, I-35020 Agripolis Legnaro (Padova), Italy
| | - A Barbarossa
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, via Tolara di Sopra 50, I-40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bologna), Italy; Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research (CIRI-SDV), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, I-40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bologna), Italy
| | - A Bardhi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, via Tolara di Sopra 50, I-40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bologna), Italy
| | - A Pilastro
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, I-35131, Padova, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center, Piazza Marina 61, I-90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - M Dacasto
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, viale dell'Università 16, I-35020 Agripolis Legnaro (Padova), Italy
| | - M Pauletto
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, viale dell'Università 16, I-35020 Agripolis Legnaro (Padova), Italy.
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Tal T, Myhre O, Fritsche E, Rüegg J, Craenen K, Aiello-Holden K, Agrillo C, Babin PJ, Escher BI, Dirven H, Hellsten K, Dolva K, Hessel E, Heusinkveld HJ, Hadzhiev Y, Hurem S, Jagiello K, Judzinska B, Klüver N, Knoll-Gellida A, Kühne BA, Leist M, Lislien M, Lyche JL, Müller F, Colbourne JK, Neuhaus W, Pallocca G, Seeger B, Scharkin I, Scholz S, Spjuth O, Torres-Ruiz M, Bartmann K. New approach methods to assess developmental and adult neurotoxicity for regulatory use: a PARC work package 5 project. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2024; 6:1359507. [PMID: 38742231 PMCID: PMC11089904 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2024.1359507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
In the European regulatory context, rodent in vivo studies are the predominant source of neurotoxicity information. Although they form a cornerstone of neurotoxicological assessments, they are costly and the topic of ethical debate. While the public expects chemicals and products to be safe for the developing and mature nervous systems, considerable numbers of chemicals in commerce have not, or only to a limited extent, been assessed for their potential to cause neurotoxicity. As such, there is a societal push toward the replacement of animal models with in vitro or alternative methods. New approach methods (NAMs) can contribute to the regulatory knowledge base, increase chemical safety, and modernize chemical hazard and risk assessment. Provided they reach an acceptable level of regulatory relevance and reliability, NAMs may be considered as replacements for specific in vivo studies. The European Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC) addresses challenges to the development and implementation of NAMs in chemical risk assessment. In collaboration with regulatory agencies, Project 5.2.1e (Neurotoxicity) aims to develop and evaluate NAMs for developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) and adult neurotoxicity (ANT) and to understand the applicability domain of specific NAMs for the detection of endocrine disruption and epigenetic perturbation. To speed up assay time and reduce costs, we identify early indicators of later-onset effects. Ultimately, we will assemble second-generation developmental neurotoxicity and first-generation adult neurotoxicity test batteries, both of which aim to provide regulatory hazard and risk assessors and industry stakeholders with robust, speedy, lower-cost, and informative next-generation hazard and risk assessment tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Tal
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Chemicals in the Environment Research Section, Leipzig, Germany
- University of Leipzig, Medical Faculty, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Oddvar Myhre
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health – NIPH, Department of Chemical Toxicology, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ellen Fritsche
- IUF – Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany
- DNTOX GmbH, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Joëlle Rüegg
- Uppsala University, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kai Craenen
- European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Caroline Agrillo
- Uppsala University, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Patrick J. Babin
- Université de Bordeaux, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Maladies Rares: Génétique et Métabolisme (MRGM), Pessac, France
| | - Beate I. Escher
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Chemicals in the Environment Research Section, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hubert Dirven
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health – NIPH, Department of Chemical Toxicology, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Kristine Dolva
- University of Oslo, Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, Olso, Norway
| | - Ellen Hessel
- Dutch Nation Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Centre for Health Protection, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Harm J. Heusinkveld
- Dutch Nation Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Centre for Health Protection, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Yavor Hadzhiev
- University of Birmingham, Centre for Environmental Research and Justice, Birmingham, UK
| | - Selma Hurem
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ås, Norway
| | - Karolina Jagiello
- University of Gdansk, Laboratory of Environmental Chemoinformatics, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Beata Judzinska
- University of Gdansk, Laboratory of Environmental Chemoinformatics, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Nils Klüver
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Chemicals in the Environment Research Section, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anja Knoll-Gellida
- Université de Bordeaux, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Maladies Rares: Génétique et Métabolisme (MRGM), Pessac, France
| | - Britta A. Kühne
- University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Institute for Food Quality and Food Safety, Hannover, Germany
| | - Marcel Leist
- University of Konstanz, In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine/CAAT-Europe, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Malene Lislien
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health – NIPH, Department of Chemical Toxicology, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jan L. Lyche
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ås, Norway
| | - Ferenc Müller
- University of Birmingham, Centre for Environmental Research and Justice, Birmingham, UK
| | - John K. Colbourne
- University of Birmingham, Centre for Environmental Research and Justice, Birmingham, UK
| | - Winfried Neuhaus
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Center Health and Bioresources, Vienna, Austria
- Danube Private University, Faculty of Dentistry and Medicine, Department of Medicine, Krems, Austria
| | - Giorgia Pallocca
- University of Konstanz, In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine/CAAT-Europe, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Bettina Seeger
- University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Institute for Food Quality and Food Safety, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ilka Scharkin
- IUF – Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Stefan Scholz
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Chemicals in the Environment Research Section, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ola Spjuth
- Uppsala University and Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Monica Torres-Ruiz
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Environmental Toxicology Unit, Majadahonda, Spain
| | - Kristina Bartmann
- IUF – Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany
- DNTOX GmbH, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Feng S, Lu X, Ouyang K, Su G, Li Q, Shi B, Meng J. Environmental occurrence, bioaccumulation and human risks of emerging fluoroalkylether substances: Insight into security of alternatives. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171151. [PMID: 38395160 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widely used due to their unique structure and excellent performance, while also posing threats on ecosystem, especially long-chain perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). As the control of conventional PFASs, fluoroalkylether substances (ether-PFASs) as alternatives are constantly emerging. Subsequently, the three representative ether-PFASs, chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonic acid (F-53B), hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (HFPO-DA), and 4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoicacid (ADONA) are discovered and have received more attention in the environment and ecosystem. But their security is now also being challenged. This review systematically assesses their security from six dimensions including environmental occurrence in water, soil and atmosphere, as well as bioaccumulation and risk in plants, animals and humans. High substitution level is observed for F-53B, whether in environment or living things. Like PFOS or even more extreme, F-53B exhibits high biomagnification ability, transmission efficiency from maternal to infant, and various biological toxicity effects. HFPO-DA still has a relatively low substitution level for PFOA, but its use has emerged in Europe. Although it is less detected in human bodies and has a higher metabolic rate than PFOA, the strong migration ability of HFPO-DA in plants may pose dietary safety concerns for humans. Research on ADONA is limited, and currently, it is detected in Germany frequently while remaining at trace levels globally. Evidently, F-53B has shown increasing risk both in occurrence and toxicity compared to PFOS, and HFPO-DA is relatively safe based on available data. There are still knowledge gaps on security of alternatives that need to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siting Feng
- School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects Research, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Xiaofei Lu
- School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China
| | - Kaige Ouyang
- School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects Research, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Guijin Su
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects Research, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qianqian Li
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects Research, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bin Shi
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects Research, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jing Meng
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects Research, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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20
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Biggeri A, Stoppa G, Facciolo L, Fin G, Mancini S, Manno V, Minelli G, Zamagni F, Zamboni M, Catelan D, Bucchi L. All-cause, cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality in the population of a large Italian area contaminated by perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (1980-2018). Environ Health 2024; 23:42. [PMID: 38627679 PMCID: PMC11022451 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-024-01074-2] [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: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are associated with many adverse health conditions. Among the main effects is carcinogenicity in humans, which deserves to be further clarified. An evident association has been reported for kidney cancer and testicular cancer. In 2013, a large episode of surface, ground and drinking water contamination with PFAS was uncovered in three provinces of the Veneto Region (northern Italy) involving 30 municipalities and a population of about 150,000. We report on the temporal evolution of all-cause mortality and selected cause-specific mortality by calendar period and birth cohort in the local population between 1980 and 2018. METHODS The Italian National Institute of Health pre-processed and made available anonymous data from the Italian National Institute of Statistics death certificate archives for residents of the provinces of Vicenza, Padua and Verona (males, n = 29,629; females, n = 29,518) who died between 1980 and 2018. Calendar period analysis was done by calculating standardised mortality ratios using the total population of the three provinces in the same calendar period as reference. The birth cohort analysis was performed using 20-84 years cumulative standardised mortality ratios. Exposure was defined as being resident in one of the 30 municipalities of the Red area, where the aqueduct supplying drinking water was fed by the contaminated groundwater. RESULTS During the 34 years between 1985 (assumed as beginning date of water contamination) and 2018 (last year of availability of cause-specific mortality data), in the resident population of the Red area we observed 51,621 deaths vs. 47,731 expected (age- and sex-SMR: 108; 90% CI: 107-109). We found evidence of raised mortality from cardiovascular disease (in particular, heart diseases and ischemic heart disease) and malignant neoplastic diseases, including kidney cancer and testicular cancer. CONCLUSIONS For the first time, an association of PFAS exposure with mortality from cardiovascular disease was formally demonstrated. The evidence regarding kidney cancer and testicular cancer is consistent with previously reported data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annibale Biggeri
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Giorgia Stoppa
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
| | | | - Giuliano Fin
- Comitato mamme NO-PFAS, Vicenza, Padua, Verona, Italy
| | - Silvia Mancini
- Emilia-Romagna Cancer Registry, Romagna Cancer Institute, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) Dino Amadori, Meldola, Forlì, Italy
| | - Valerio Manno
- Statistical Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Giada Minelli
- Statistical Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Zamagni
- Emilia-Romagna Cancer Registry, Romagna Cancer Institute, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) Dino Amadori, Meldola, Forlì, Italy
| | | | - Dolores Catelan
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Lauro Bucchi
- Emilia-Romagna Cancer Registry, Romagna Cancer Institute, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) Dino Amadori, Meldola, Forlì, Italy
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21
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Kirkwood-Donelson KI, Chappel J, Tobin E, Dodds JN, Reif DM, DeWitt JC, Baker ES. Investigating mouse hepatic lipidome dysregulation following exposure to emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 354:141654. [PMID: 38462188 PMCID: PMC10995748 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmental pollutants that have been associated with adverse health effects including liver damage, decreased vaccine responses, cancer, developmental toxicity, thyroid dysfunction, and elevated cholesterol. The specific molecular mechanisms impacted by PFAS exposure to cause these health effects remain poorly understood, however there is some evidence of lipid dysregulation. Thus, lipidomic studies that go beyond clinical triglyceride and cholesterol tests are greatly needed to investigate these perturbations. Here, we have utilized a platform coupling liquid chromatography, ion mobility spectrometry, and mass spectrometry (LC-IMS-MS) separations to simultaneously evaluate PFAS bioaccumulation and lipid metabolism disruptions. For the study, liver samples collected from C57BL/6 mice exposed to either of the emerging PFAS hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA or "GenX") or Nafion byproduct 2 (NBP2) were assessed. Sex-specific differences in PFAS accumulation and liver size were observed for both PFAS, in addition to disturbed hepatic liver lipidomic profiles. Interestingly, GenX resulted in less hepatic bioaccumulation than NBP2 yet gave a higher number of significantly altered lipids when compared to the control group, implying that the accumulation of substances in the liver may not be a reliable measure of the substance's capacity to disrupt the liver's natural metabolic processes. Specifically, phosphatidylglycerols, phosphatidylinositols, and various specific fatty acyls were greatly impacted, indicating alteration of inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular signaling processes due to emerging PFAS exposure. Overall, these results provide valuable insight into the liver bioaccumulation and molecular mechanisms of GenX- and NBP2-induced hepatotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaylie I Kirkwood-Donelson
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA; Immunity, Inflammation, and Disease Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Jessie Chappel
- Bioinformatics Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Emma Tobin
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - James N Dodds
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - David M Reif
- Predictive Toxicology Branch, Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Jamie C DeWitt
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Erin S Baker
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA.
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22
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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. [PMID: 38531109 DOI: 10.1002/jat.4599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 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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Ford LC, Lin HC, Tsai HHD, Zhou YH, Wright FA, Sedykh A, Shah RR, Chiu WA, Rusyn I. Hazard and risk characterization of 56 structurally diverse PFAS using a targeted battery of broad coverage assays using six human cell types. Toxicology 2024; 503:153763. [PMID: 38423244 PMCID: PMC11214689 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2024.153763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are extensively used in commerce leading to their prevalence in the environment. Due to their chemical stability, PFAS are considered to be persistent and bioaccumulative; they are frequently detected in both the environment and humans. Because of this, PFAS as a class (composed of hundreds to thousands of chemicals) are contaminants of very high concern. Little information is available for the vast majority of PFAS, and regulatory agencies lack safety data to determine whether exposure limits or restrictions are needed. Cell-based assays are a pragmatic approach to inform decision-makers on potential health hazards; therefore, we hypothesized that a targeted battery of human in vitro assays can be used to determine whether there are structure-bioactivity relationships for PFAS, and to characterize potential risks by comparing bioactivity (points of departure) to exposure estimates. We tested 56 PFAS from 8 structure-based subclasses in concentration response (0.1-100 μM) using six human cell types selected from target organs with suggested adverse effects of PFAS - human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived hepatocytes, neurons, and cardiomyocytes, primary human hepatocytes, endothelial and HepG2 cells. While many compounds were without effect; certain PFAS demonstrated cell-specific activity highlighting the necessity of using a compendium of in vitro models to identify potential hazards. No class-specific groupings were evident except for some chain length- and structure-related trends. In addition, margins of exposure (MOE) were derived using empirical and predicted exposure data. Conservative MOE calculations showed that most tested PFAS had a MOE in the 1-100 range; ∼20% of PFAS had MOE<1, providing tiered priorities for further studies. Overall, we show that a compendium of human cell-based models can be used to derive bioactivity estimates for a range of PFAS, enabling comparisons with human biomonitoring data. Furthermore, we emphasize that establishing structure-bioactivity relationships may be challenging for the tested PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie C Ford
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Hsing-Chieh Lin
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Han-Hsuan D Tsai
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Yi-Hui Zhou
- Department of Biological Sciences and Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Fred A Wright
- Department of Biological Sciences and Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | | | | | - Weihsueh A Chiu
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Ivan Rusyn
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
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24
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Albers J, Mylroie J, Kimble A, Steward C, Chapman K, Wilbanks M, Perkins E, Garcia-Reyero N. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: Impacts on Morphology, Behavior and Lipid Levels in Zebrafish Embryos. TOXICS 2024; 12:192. [PMID: 38535925 PMCID: PMC10975676 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12030192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
The presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in aquatic environments is often persistent and widespread. Understanding the potential adverse effects from this group of chemicals on aquatic communities allows for better hazard characterization. This study examines impacts on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo physiology, behavior, and lipid levels from exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and heptadecafluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). Embryos were exposed to lethal and sublethal levels of each chemical and monitored for alterations in physiological malformations, mortality, lipid levels, and behavior (only PFOA and PFHxS). The predicted 50% lethal concentrations for 120 hpf embryos were 528.6 ppm PFOA, 14.28 ppm PFHxS, and 2.14 ppm PFOS. Spine curvature and the inability of the 120 hpf embryos to maintain a dorsal-up orientation was significantly increased at 10.2 ppm PFHxS and 1.9 ppm PFOS exposure. All measured 120 hpf embryo behaviors were significantly altered starting at the lowest levels tested, 188 ppm PFOA and 6.4 ppm PFHxS. Lipid levels decreased at the highest PFAS levels tested (375 PFOA ppm, 14.4 PFHxS ppm, 2.42 ppm PFOS). In general, the PFAS chemicals, at the levels examined in this study, increased morphological deformities, embryo activity, and startle response time, as well as decreased lipid levels in 120 hpf zebrafish embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice Albers
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Environmental Laboratory, US Army Engineer Research & Development Center, Vicksburg, MS 39180, USA
| | - John Mylroie
- Environmental Laboratory, US Army Engineer Research & Development Center, Vicksburg, MS 39180, USA (N.G.-R.)
| | - Ashley Kimble
- Environmental Laboratory, US Army Engineer Research & Development Center, Vicksburg, MS 39180, USA (N.G.-R.)
| | | | - Kacy Chapman
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Environmental Laboratory, US Army Engineer Research & Development Center, Vicksburg, MS 39180, USA
| | - Mitchell Wilbanks
- Environmental Laboratory, US Army Engineer Research & Development Center, Vicksburg, MS 39180, USA (N.G.-R.)
| | - Edward Perkins
- Environmental Laboratory, US Army Engineer Research & Development Center, Vicksburg, MS 39180, USA (N.G.-R.)
| | - Natàlia Garcia-Reyero
- Environmental Laboratory, US Army Engineer Research & Development Center, Vicksburg, MS 39180, USA (N.G.-R.)
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25
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Villeneuve DL, Bush K, Hazemi M, Hoang JX, Le M, Blackwell BR, Stacy E, Flynn KM. Derivation of Transcriptomics-Based Points of Departure for 20 Per- or Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Using a Larval Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas) Reduced Transcriptome Assay. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024. [PMID: 38415853 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Traditional toxicity testing has been unable to keep pace with the introduction of new chemicals into commerce. Consequently, there are limited or no toxicity data for many chemicals to which fish and wildlife may be exposed. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are emblematic of this issue in that ecological hazards of most PFAS remain uncharacterized. The present study employed a high-throughput assay to identify the concentration at which 20 PFAS, with diverse properties, elicited a concerted gene expression response (termed a transcriptomics-based point of departure [tPOD]) in larval fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas; 5-6 days postfertilization) exposed for 24 h. Based on a reduced transcriptome approach that measured whole-body expression of 1832 genes, the median tPOD for the 20 PFAS tested was 10 µM. Longer-chain carboxylic acids (12-13 C-F); an eight-C-F dialcohol, N-alkyl sulfonamide; and telomer sulfonic acid were among the most potent PFAS, eliciting gene expression responses at concentrations <1 µM. With a few exceptions, larval fathead minnow tPODs were concordant with those based on whole-transcriptome response in human cell lines. However, larval fathead minnow tPODs were often greater than those for Daphnia magna exposed to the same PFAS. The tPODs overlapped concentrations at which other sublethal effects have been reported in fish (available for 10 PFAS). Nonetheless, fathead minnow tPODs were orders of magnitude higher than aqueous PFAS concentrations detected in tributaries of the North American Great Lakes, suggesting a substantial margin of safety. Overall, results broadly support the use of a fathead minnow larval transcriptomics assay to derive screening-level potency estimates for use in ecological risk-based prioritization. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-16. © 2024 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Villeneuve
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Kendra Bush
- Research Participant at Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Monique Hazemi
- Research Participant at Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - John X Hoang
- Research Participant at Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Michelle Le
- Research Participant at Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Brett R Blackwell
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
- Bioscience Division, Biochemistry and Biotechnology Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, Minnesota, USA
| | - Emma Stacy
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Kevin M Flynn
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
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26
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Mattila JM, Krug JD, Roberson WR, Burnette RP, McDonald S, Virtaranta L, Offenberg JH, Linak WP. Characterizing Volatile Emissions and Combustion Byproducts from Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Using Online Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:3942-3952. [PMID: 38350647 PMCID: PMC10985785 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) are used in firefighting applications and often contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which can detrimentally impact environmental and biological health. Incineration is a potential disposal method for AFFFs, which may produce secondary PFAS and other air pollutants. We used online chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS) to measure volatile PFAS emissions from incinerating AFFF concentrate solutions. We quantified perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) during the incineration of legacy and contemporary AFFFs. These included trifluoroacetic acid, which reached mg m-3 quantities in the incinerator exhaust. These PFCAs likely arose as products of incomplete combustion of AFFF fluorosurfactants with lower peak furnace temperatures yielding higher PFCA concentrations. We also detected other short-chain PFAS, and other novel chemical products in AFFF combustion emissions. The volatile headspace above AFFF solutions contained larger (C ≥ 8), less oxidized PFAS detected by CIMS. We identified neutral PFAS resembling fluorotelomer surfactants (e.g., fluorotelomer sulfonamide alkylbetaines and fluorotelomer thioether amido sulfonates) and fluorotelomer alcohols in contemporary AFFF headspaces. Directly comparing the distinct chemical spaces of AFFF volatile headspace and combustion byproducts as measured by CIMS provides insight toward the chemistry of PFAS during thermal treatment of AFFFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M. Mattila
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Jonathan D. Krug
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - William R. Roberson
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | | | - Stella McDonald
- Jacobs Technology Inc., Cary, North Carolina 27518, United States
| | - Larry Virtaranta
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - John H. Offenberg
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - William P. Linak
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
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27
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Annunziato M, Bashirova N, Eeza MNH, Lawson A, Fernandez-Lima F, Tose LV, Matysik J, Alia A, Berry JP. An Integrated Metabolomics-Based Model, and Identification of Potential Biomarkers, of Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid Toxicity in Zebrafish Embryos. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024. [PMID: 38411227 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Known for their high stability and surfactant properties, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been widely used in a range of manufactured products. Despite being largely phased out due to concerns regarding their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity, legacy PFAS such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid continue to persist at high levels in the environment, posing risks to aquatic organisms. We used high-resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in intact zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos to investigate the metabolic pathways altered by PFOS both before and after hatching (i.e., 24 and 72 h post fertilization [hpf], respectively). Assessment of embryotoxicity found embryo lethality in the parts-per-million range with no significant difference in mortality between the 24- and 72-hpf exposure groups. Metabolic profiling revealed mostly consistent changes between the two exposure groups, with altered metabolites generally associated with oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, energy production, and mitochondrial function, as well as specific targeting of the liver and central nervous system as key systems. These metabolic changes were further supported by analyses of tissue-specific production of reactive oxygen species, as well as nontargeted mass spectrometric lipid profiling. Our findings suggest that PFOS-induced metabolic changes in zebrafish embryos may be mediated through previously described interactions with regulatory and transcription factors leading to disruption of mitochondrial function and energy metabolism. The present study proposes a systems-level model of PFOS toxicity in early life stages of zebrafish, and also identifies potential biomarkers of effect and exposure for improved environmental biomonitoring. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-19. © 2024 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Annunziato
- Institute of Environment, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
- Biomolecular Science Institute, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Narmin Bashirova
- Institute for Analytical Chemistry, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Muhamed N H Eeza
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ariel Lawson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Francisco Fernandez-Lima
- Institute of Environment, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
- Biomolecular Science Institute, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Lilian V Tose
- Institute of Environment, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
- Biomolecular Science Institute, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Jörg Matysik
- Institute for Analytical Chemistry, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - A Alia
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - John P Berry
- Institute of Environment, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
- Biomolecular Science Institute, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
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28
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Burton K, Ghadami S, Dellinger K, Wang B, Dong M. Screening Peptide-Binding Partners for GenX via Phage Display. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2686. [PMID: 38473932 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), such as GenX, are a class of highly stable synthetic compounds that have recently become the focus of environmental remediation endeavors due to their toxicity. While considerable strides have been made in PFAS remediation, the diversity of these compounds, and the costs associated with approaches such as ion exchange resins and advanced oxidation technologies, remain challenging for widespread application. In addition, little is known about the potential binding and impacts of GenX on human proteins. To address these issues, we applied phage display and screened short peptides that bind specifically to GenX, with the ultimate goal of identifying human proteins that bind with GenX. In this study we identified the amino acids that contribute to the binding and measured the binding affinities of the two discovered peptides with NMR. A human protein, ankyrin-repeat-domain-containing protein 36B, with matching sequences of one of the peptides, was identified, and the binding positions were predicted by docking and molecular dynamics simulation. This study created a platform to screen peptides that bind with toxic chemical compounds, which ultimately helped us identify biologically relevant molecules that could be inhibited by the GenX, and also provided information that will contribute to future bioengineered GenX-binding device design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kameron Burton
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
- Department of Nanoengineering, Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
| | - Samaneh Ghadami
- Department of Nanoengineering, Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
| | - Kristen Dellinger
- Department of Nanoengineering, Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL 32901, USA
| | - Ming Dong
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA
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29
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Geiger MJ, Morrison JM, Carmack DJ, Lockwood-O'Brien SY, Stagliano MC, Karrer TA. A high-throughput small volume matrix based calibration using isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis for 42 per and polyfluoroalkyl substances in groundwater. J Chromatogr A 2024; 1716:464633. [PMID: 38246069 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2024.464633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
A novel method for the determination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater is presented using a subsample, matrix-matched calibrators, 96-well plate solid phase extraction (SPE), and ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Accuracy, precision, measurement of uncertainty (MOU), method detection limit (MDL), method quantitation limit (MQL), analytical measurement range, interferences/ion suppression, and analyte stability were determined as part of the in-house method validation. The method quantitates 42 PFAS compounds from nine different compound classes. Accuracy for the reference material (RM) and matrix spike (MS) ranged from 52.3 to 117.8 %, and precision for the MS and matrix spike duplicate (MSD) had a coefficient of variation (CV) from 2.0 % to 23.3 %. MDLs spanned from 0.07 to 1.97 ng L-1, with MQLs ranging from 0.20 to 5.90 ng L-1. Suppression studies determined that iron and manganese have effects on analytes that do not have paired isotopically labeled standards. The results from the in-house validation indicated that this Michigan Department of Health and Human Services laboratory developed test meets the necessary accuracy, precision, MDL, MQL and reporting limits requirement established by the laboratory's quality system essentials (QSEs) and select criteria from the Department of Defense (DoD) Quality Systems Manual for Environmental Laboratories and American Industrial Hygiene Association Laboratory Accreditation Program, LLC (AIHA LAP, LLC) accrediting International Standard Organization (ISO/IEC 17025:2017) check list.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Geiger
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Laboratories, Lansing, MI 48906, USA; University of South Florida candidate for Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) in Public Health and Clinical Laboratory Science and Practice, 4202 E. Flower Ave, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
| | - Jessica M Morrison
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Laboratories, Lansing, MI 48906, USA
| | - Douglas J Carmack
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Laboratories, Lansing, MI 48906, USA
| | - Sarah Y Lockwood-O'Brien
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Laboratories, Lansing, MI 48906, USA
| | - Michael C Stagliano
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Laboratories, Lansing, MI 48906, USA
| | - Timothy A Karrer
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Laboratories, Lansing, MI 48906, USA
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30
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Li J, Ma D, Qian C, Guo B, Guan R, Liu C, Luo Y, He A, Li Z, Zhao C, Wang Y, Jiang G. Assessment of Fetal Exposure and Elimination of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: New Evidence from Paired Serum, Placenta, and Meconium Samples. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:2260-2270. [PMID: 38252093 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08498] [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: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Multiple pieces of evidence have shown that prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is closely related to adverse birth outcomes for infants. However, difficult access to human samples limits our understanding of PFASs transport and metabolism across the human placental barrier, as well as the accurate assessment of fetal PFASs exposure. Herein, we assess fetal exposure to 28 PFASs based on paired serum, placenta, and meconium samples. Overall, 21 PFASs were identified first to be exposed to the fetus prenatally and to be metabolized and excreted by the fetus. In meconium samples, 25 PFASs were detected, with perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid being the dominant congeners, suggesting the metabolism and excretion of PFASs through meconium. Perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids might be more easily eliminated through the meconium than perfluorinated carboxylic acids. Importantly, based on molecular docking, MRP1, OATP2B1, ASCT1, and P-gp were identified as crucial transporters in the dynamic placental transfer of PFASs between the mother and the fetus. ATSC5p and PubchemFP679 were recognized as critical structural features that affect the metabolism and secretion of PFASs through meconium. With increasing carbon chain length, both the transplacental transfer efficiency and meconium excretion efficiency of PFASs showed a structure-dependent manner. This study reports, for the first time, that meconium, which is a noninvasive and stable biological matrix, can be strong evidence of prenatal PFASs exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Donghui Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Chenge Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Binbin Guo
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Ruining Guan
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Chao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yadan Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Anen He
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Zhao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Chunyan Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yawei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Guibin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
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31
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Xie Z, Sun S, Ji H, Miao M, He W, Song X, Cao W, Wu Q, Liang H, Yuan W. Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and DNA methylation in the placenta: A prospective cohort study. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 463:132845. [PMID: 37898083 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132845] [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: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies regarding the relationship between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and DNA methylation were limited. We investigated the associations of maternal PFAS concentrations with placental DNA methylation and examined the mediating role of methylation changes between PFAS and infant development. We measured the concentrations of 11 PFAS in maternal plasma during early pregnancy and infant development at six months of age. We analyzed genome-wide DNA methylation in 16 placental samples using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing. Additionally, we measured DNA methylation levels using bisulfite amplicon sequencing in 345 mother-infant pairs for five candidate genes, including carbohydrate sulfotransferase 7 (CHST7), fibroblast growth factor 13 (FGF13), insulin receptor substrate 4 (IRS4), paired like homeobox 2Ap (PHOX2A), and plexin domain containing 1 (PLXDC1). We found that placental DNA methylation profiles related to PFOA mainly enriched in angiogenesis and neuronal signaling pathways. PFOA was associated with hypomethylation of IRS4 and PLXDC1, and PFNA was associated with PLXDC1 hypomethylation. There were positive associations of CHST7 methylation with PFTrDA and IRS4 methylation with PFDoA and PFTrDA. PLXDC1 hypomethylation mediated the association between PFOA and suspected developmental delay in infants. Future studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhen Xie
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, School of public health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Songlin Sun
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, School of public health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Honglei Ji
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Maohua Miao
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Wanhong He
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Xiuxia Song
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Wencheng Cao
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Toxicology, National Reference Laboratory of Dioxin, Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, China
| | - Qihan Wu
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai 200237, China.
| | - Hong Liang
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai 200237, China.
| | - Wei Yuan
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai 200237, China
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32
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Ivantsova E, Lu A, Martyniuk CJ. Occurrence and toxicity mechanisms of perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) in fish. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 349:140815. [PMID: 38040261 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140815] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) are short-chain perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) ubiquitous in the environment. Here we review data on the presence and toxicity mechanisms of PFBA and PFBS in fish. We aimed to (1) synthesize data on physiological systems perturbed by PFBA or PFBS; (2) determine whether toxicity studies use concentrations reported in aquatic ecosystems and fish tissues; (3) conduct a computational toxicity assessment to elucidate putative mechanisms of PFBA and PFBS-induced toxicity. PFBA and PFBS are reported in the low ng/L in aquatic systems, and both substances are present in tissues of several fish including carp, bass, tilapia, and drum species. Evidence supports toxicity effects on several organ systems, including the cardiac, immune, hepatic, and reproductive system. Multigenerational effects in fish have also been documented for these smaller chain PFAS. To further elucidate mechanisms of reproductive impairment, we conducted in silico molecular docking to evaluate chemical interactions with several fish estrogen receptors, specifically zebrafish, fathead minnow, and Atlantic salmon. PFBS showed higher binding affinity for fish estrogen receptors relative to PFBA. Computational analysis also pointed to effects on lipids "Adipocyte Hypertrophy and Hyperplasia", "Lipogenesis Regulation in Adipocyte", and estrogen-related processes. Based on our review, most data for PFBA and PFBS are gathered for concentrations outside environmental relevance, limiting our understanding of their environment impacts. At the time of this review, there is relatively more toxicity data available for PFBS relative to PFBA in fish. This review synthesizes data on environmental levels and toxicology endpoints for PFBA and PFBS in fish to guide future investigations and endpoint assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Ivantsova
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Austin Lu
- Blind Brook High School, Rye Brook, NY, 10573, USA
| | - Christopher J Martyniuk
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA; UF Genetics Institute, Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences Neuroscience, University of Florida, USA.
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33
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Qiu Y, Gao M, Cao T, Wang J, Luo M, Liu S, Zeng X, Huang J. PFOS and F-53B disrupted inner cell mass development in mouse preimplantation embryo. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 349:140948. [PMID: 38103655 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140948] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) is a perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) widely used in daily life. As its toxicity was confirmed, it has been gradually substituted by F-53B (chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl sulfonates, Cl-PFESAs) in China. PFOS exposure during prenatal development may hinder the development of preimplantation embryos, as indicated by recent epidemiological research and in vivo assays. However, the embryotoxicity data for F-53B are scarce. Furthermore, knowledge about the toxicity of F-53B and PFOS exposure to internal follicular fluid concentrations on early preimplantation embryo development remains limited. In this study, internal exposure concentrations of PFOS (10 nM) and F-53B (2 nM) in human follicular fluid were chosen to study the effects of PFAS on early mouse preimplantation embryo development. We found that both PFOS and F-53B treated zygotes exhibited higher ROS activity in 8-cell embryos but not in 2-cell stage embryos. PFOS and F-53B significantly affected the proportion and aggregation of the inner cell mass (ICM) in the blastocyst, but not the total cell number. Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs, isolated from the ICM) and embryoid body (EB) assays were employed to assess the toxicity of PFOS and F-53B on the development and differentiation of embryonic pluripotent cells. These results suggested that mESCs exhibited more DNA damage and abnormal germ layer differentiation after brief exposure to PFOS or F-53B. Finally, RNA-sequencing revealed that PFOS and F-53B exposure affected mESCs biosynthetic processes and chromatin-nucleosome assembly. Our results indicate that F-53B has potential risks as an alternative to PFOS, which disrupts ICM development and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanling Qiu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China; Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, School of Life Sciences and the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Min Gao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China; Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, School of Life Sciences and the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Tianqi Cao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China; Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, School of Life Sciences and the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Jingwen Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China; Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, School of Life Sciences and the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Mingxun Luo
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China; Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, School of Life Sciences and the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Simiao Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China; Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, School of Life Sciences and the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Xiaowen Zeng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Junjiu Huang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China; Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, School of Life Sciences and the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
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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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Du D, Lu Y, Yang S, Wang R, Wang C, Yu M, Chen C, Zhang M. Biomagnification and health risks of perflfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in seafood from the Yangtze river estuary of China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 341:122930. [PMID: 37972680 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Bioaccumulation and human health risk assessment of Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) is important for pollutant hazard assessment. In this study, 26 aquatic organisms were collected from the Yangtze River estuary, the PFAAs concentrations in organisms were detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the trophic levels of organisms were constructed using nitrogen isotope analysis. The results showed that Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) was predominant in organisms with the mean concentration of 6.43 ± 8.21 ng/g ww. The biomagnification of organisms along the food chain was widespread, and the biomagnification factor (BMF) of perfluorooctane sulfonic (PFOS) was the most prominent. Trophic magnifcation factors (TMFs) of PFAAs were estimated in the marine food web, and TMFs >1 were observed in Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoDA), and PFOS, indicating the biomagnifcation effects of these 4 individual PFAAs in organisms at Yangtze River estuary. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of PFBS was highest in adolescents aged 6-18 years, with EDIs of 18.9 ng/kg·bw/day for males and 14.0 ng/kg·bw/day for females. The hazard ratio (HR) of PFAAs reported in different age and gender groups were lower than 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Du
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China; State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yonglong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal Wetland Ecosystems, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Fujian, 361102, China; State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Shengjie Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; Department of Ecology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Rui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Chenchen Wang
- College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
| | - Mingzhao Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Chunci Chen
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Ulhaq ZS, Tse WKF. PFHxS Exposure and the Risk of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:93. [PMID: 38254982 PMCID: PMC10815161 DOI: 10.3390/genes15010093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) is a highly prevalent environmental pollutant, often considered to be less toxic than other poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Despite its relatively lower environmental impact compared to other PFASs, several studies have suggested that exposure to PFHxS may be associated with disruptions of liver function in humans. Nevertheless, the precise pathomechanisms underlying PFHxS-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remain relatively unclear. Therefore, this study applied our previously published transcriptome dataset to explore the effects of PFHxS exposure on the susceptibility to NAFLD and to identify potential mechanisms responsible for PFHxS-induced NAFLD through transcriptomic analysis conducted on zebrafish embryos. Results showed that exposure to PFHxS markedly aggravated hepatic symptoms resembling NAFLD and other metabolic syndromes (MetS) in fish. Transcriptomic analysis unveiled 17 genes consistently observed in both NAFLD and insulin resistance (IR), along with an additional 28 genes identified in both the adipocytokine signaling pathway and IR. These shared genes were also found within the NAFLD dataset, suggesting that hepatic IR may play a prominent role in the development of PFHxS-induced NAFLD. In conclusion, our study suggests that environmental exposure to PFHxS could be a potential risk factor for the development of NAFLD, challenging the earlier notion of PFHxS being safer as previously claimed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zulvikar Syambani Ulhaq
- Laboratory of Developmental Disorders and Toxicology, Center for Promotion of International Education and Research, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
- Research Center for Pre-Clinical and Clinical Medicine, National Research and Innovation Agency Republic of Indonesia, Cibinong 16911, Indonesia
| | - William Ka Fai Tse
- Laboratory of Developmental Disorders and Toxicology, Center for Promotion of International Education and Research, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
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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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Gust KA, Erik Mylroie J, Kimble AN, Wilbanks MS, Steward CSC, Chapman KA, Jensen KM, Kennedy AJ, Krupa PM, Waisner SA, Pandelides Z, Garcia-Reyero N, Erickson RJ, Ankley GT, Conder J, Moore DW. Survival, Growth, and Reproduction Responses in a Three-Generation Exposure of the Zebrafish (Danio rerio) to Perfluorooctane Sulfonate. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:115-131. [PMID: 38018867 PMCID: PMC11131580 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
A prior multigenerational perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) exposure investigation in zebrafish reported adverse effects at 0.734 µg/L, among the lowest aquatic effect levels for PFOS reported to date. The present three-generation PFOS exposure quantified survival, growth, reproduction, and vitellogenin (VTG; egg yolk protein) responses in zebrafish, incorporating experimental design and procedural improvements relative to the earlier study. Exposures targeting 0.1, 0.6, 3.2, 20, and 100 µg/L in parental (P) and first filial (F1) generations lasted for 180 days post fertilization (dpf) and the second filial generation (F2) through 16 dpf. Survival decreased significantly in P and F2 generation exposures, but not in F1, at the highest PFOS treatment (100 µg/L nominal, 94-205 µg/L, measured). Significant adverse effects on body weight and length were infrequent, of low magnitude, and occurred predominantly at the highest exposure treatment. Finally, PFOS had no significant effects on P or F1 egg production and survival or whole-body VTG levels in P or F1 male fish. Overall, the predominance and magnitude of adverse PFOS effects at <1 µg/L reported in prior research were largely nonrepeatable in the present study. In contrast, the present study indicated a threshold for ecologically relevant adverse effects in zebrafish at 117 µg/L (SE 8 µg/L, n = 10) for survival and 47 µg/L (SE 11 µg/L, n = 19) for all statistically significant negative effects observed. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:115-131. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt A. Gust
- Environmental Laboratory, Engineer Research and Development Center, US Army, Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
| | - J. Erik Mylroie
- Environmental Laboratory, Engineer Research and Development Center, US Army, Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
| | - Ashley N. Kimble
- Environmental Laboratory, Engineer Research and Development Center, US Army, Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
| | - Mitchell S. Wilbanks
- Environmental Laboratory, Engineer Research and Development Center, US Army, Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
| | | | - Kacy A. Chapman
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
| | - Kathleen M. Jensen
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Alan J. Kennedy
- Environmental Laboratory, Engineer Research and Development Center, US Army, Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
| | - Paige M. Krupa
- Environmental Laboratory, Engineer Research and Development Center, US Army, Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
| | - Scott A. Waisner
- Environmental Laboratory, Engineer Research and Development Center, US Army, Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
| | | | - Natalia Garcia-Reyero
- Environmental Laboratory, Engineer Research and Development Center, US Army, Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
| | - Russell J. Erickson
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Gerald T. Ankley
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jason Conder
- Geosyntec Consultants, Costa Mesa, California, USA
| | - David W. Moore
- Environmental Laboratory, Engineer Research and Development Center, US Army, Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
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Zoodsma JD, Boonkanon C, Running L, Basharat R, Atilla-Gokcumen GE, Aga DS, Sirotkin HI. Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) Negatively Impacts Prey Capture Capabilities in Larval Zebrafish. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023. [PMID: 38153236 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5819] [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: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in many industrial and domestic applications, which has resulted in unintentional human exposures and bioaccumulation in blood and other organs. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is among the most prevalent PFAS in the environment and has been postulated to affect brain functions in exposed organisms. However, the impacts of PFOS in early neural development have not been well described. We used zebrafish larvae to assess the effects of PFOS on two fundamental complex behaviors, prey capture and learning. Zebrafish exposed to PFOS concentrations ranging from 2 to 20 µM for differing 48-h periods were viable through early larval stages. In addition, PFOS uptake was unaffected by the presence of a chorion. We employed two different experimental paradigms; first we assessed the impacts of increasing organismal PFOS bioaccumulation on prey capture and learning, and second, we probed stage-specific sensitivity to PFOS by exposing zebrafish at different developmental stages (0-2 vs. 3-5 days post fertilization). Following both assays we measured the amount of PFOS present in each larva and found that PFOS levels varied in larvae from different groups within each experimental paradigm. Significant negative correlations were observed between larval PFOS accumulation and percentage of captured prey, whereas nonsignificant negative correlations were observed between PFOS accumulation and experienced-induced prey capture learning. These findings suggest that PFOS accumulation negatively affects larval zebrafish's ability to perform complicated multisensory behaviors and highlights the potential risks of PFOS exposure to animals in the wild, with implications for human health. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-9. © 2023 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josiah D Zoodsma
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Chanita Boonkanon
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
- Integrated Science and Technology Research Center, Faculty of Technology and Environment, Prince of Songkla University, Phuket Campus, Phuket, Thailand
| | - Logan Running
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Rehman Basharat
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - G Ekin Atilla-Gokcumen
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Diana S Aga
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Howard I Sirotkin
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
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Folkerson AP, Mabury SA. A Comparative Biodegradation Study to Assess the Ultimate Fate of Novel Highly Functionalized Hydrofluoroether Alcohols in Wastewater Treatment Plant Microcosms and Surface Waters. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023. [PMID: 38131503 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of chemicals present in a wide range of commercial and consumer products due to their water-repellency, nonstick, or surfactant properties, resulting from their chemical and thermal stability. This stability, however, often leads to persistence in the environment when they are inevitability released. We utilized microbial microcosms from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) sludge to determine how employing different functional groups such as heteroatom linkages, varying chain lengths, and hydrofluoroethers (HFEs) will impact the ultimate fate of these novel PFAS structures. A suite of five novel fluorosurfactant building blocks (F7 C3 OCHFCF2 SCH2 CH2 OH (FESOH), F3 COCHFCF2 SCH2 CH2 OH (MeFESOH), F7 C3 OCHFCF2 OCH2 CH2 OH (ProFdiEOH), F7 C3 OCHFCF2 CH2 OH (ProFEOH), and F3 COCHFCF2 OCH2 CH2 OH (MeFdiEOH)) and their select transformation products, were incubated in WWTP aerobic microcosms to determine structure-activity relationships. The HFE alcohol congeners with a thioether (FESOH and MeFESOH) were observed to transform faster than the ether congeners, while also producing second-generation HFE acid products (F7 C3 OCHFC(O)OH (2H-3:2 polyfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acid [PFECA]) and F3 COCHFC(O)OH (2H-1:2 PFECA). Subsequent biodegradation experiments with 2H-1:2 PFESA and 2H-1:2 PFECA displayed no further transformation over 74 days. Surface water Photofate experiments compared 2H-1:2 PFECA, and 2H-1:2 polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (PFESA) with their fully fluorinated ether acid counterparts, and demonstrated the potential for both HFE acid species to completely mineralize over extended periods of time, a fate that highlights the value of studying novel PFAS functionalization. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-9. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Folkerson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Scott A Mabury
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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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 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] [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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Yang Q, Liu J, Ding J, Liu J. Neurodevelopmental toxicity of bisphenol AF in zebrafish larvae and the protective effects of curcumin. J Appl Toxicol 2023; 43:1806-1818. [PMID: 37423901 DOI: 10.1002/jat.4514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Bisphenol AF (BPAF) is one of the most commonly used alternatives of bisphenol A in the plastics industry. The effects of BPAF on nervous development are unclear. Curcumin (CUR) has been determined to be an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent. In this study, the effects of BPAF on neurotoxicity of zebrafish embryos/larvae and whether CUR could reverse effects induced by BPAF were investigated. The results showed that BPAF treatment induced deficits in locomotor behavior, altered the larval brain development, caused aberrant expression of neurogenesis related genes (elavl3, zn5, α-tubulin, syn2a, and gap43), decreased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and induced oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, and neuroinflammation in zebrafish larvae. CUR addition could block the adverse effects of BPAF on nervous development by attenuated oxidative stress and cell apoptosis induced by BPAF in zebrafish, enhanced the activity of AChE, and increased the expression of genes involved in the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-8). The results of this study indicate that BPAF could induce aberrant development on nervous system. However, CUR exerts neuroprotective effects on BPAF-induced neurotoxicity in zebrafish larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Yang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Grain Circulation and Safety, Key Laboratory of Grains and Oils Quality Control and Processing, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing, China
| | - Jianmei Liu
- Research and Development Center for Watershed Environmental Eco-Engineering, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Jie Ding
- Research and Development Center for Watershed Environmental Eco-Engineering, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Jining Liu
- Research and Development Center for Watershed Environmental Eco-Engineering, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, China
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Gui W, Guo H, Wang C, Li M, Jin Y, Zhang K, Dai J, Zhao Y. Comparative developmental toxicities of zebrafish towards structurally diverse per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 902:166569. [PMID: 37633367 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166569] [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: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
Structurally diverse per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are increasingly detected in ecosystems and humans. Therefore, the clarification of their ecological and health risks is urgently required. In the present study, the toxicity of a series of PFASs, including PFOS, PFBS, Nafion BP1, Nafion BP2, F53B, OBS, PFOA, PFUnDA, PFO5DoDA, HFPO-TA was investigated. Similarities and differences in the developmental toxicity potentials were revealed. Our results demonstrated that PFUnDA exhibited the highest toxicity with the lowest EC50 value of 4.36 mg/L (for morphological abnormality); this was followed by F53B (5.58 mg/L), PFOS (6.15 mg/L), and OBS (10.65 mg/L). Positive correlations with volatility/solubility and chemotypes related to specific biological activity, including the bioconcentration factor (LogBCF), and negative correlations with lipid solubility and carbon chain component-related chemotypes, including the number of carbon and fluorine atoms, provided a reasonable explanation in the view of molecular structures. Furthermore, comparative transcriptome analysis provided molecular evidence for the relationship between PFASs exposure and malformations. Common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in spine curve development, pericardial edema, and cell/organism growth-related pathways presented common targets, leading to toxic effects. Therefore, the present results provide novel insights into the potential environmental risks of structurally diverse PFASs and contribute to the selection of safer PFAS replacements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanying Gui
- 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, Shanghai 200240, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - 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, Shanghai 200240, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Congcong Wang
- 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, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Minjia Li
- 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, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yuanxiang Jin
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- 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, Shanghai 200240, 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, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yanbin Zhao
- 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, Shanghai 200240, China.
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Phelps DW, Palekar AI, Conley HE, Ferrero G, Driggers JH, Linder KE, Kullman SW, Reif DM, Sheats MK, DeWitt JC, Yoder JA. Legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances suppress the neutrophil respiratory burst. J Immunotoxicol 2023; 20:2176953. [PMID: 36788734 PMCID: PMC10361455 DOI: 10.1080/1547691x.2023.2176953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are used in a multitude of processes and products, including nonstick coatings, food wrappers, and fire-fighting foams. These chemicals are environmentally-persistent, ubiquitous, and can be detected in the serum of 98% of Americans. Despite evidence that PFASs alter adaptive immunity, few studies have investigated their effects on innate immunity. The report here presents results of studies that investigated the impact of nine environmentally-relevant PFASs [e.g. perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid potassium salt (PFOS-K), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), ammonium perfluoro(2-methyl-3-oxahexanoate) (GenX), 7H-perfluoro-4-methyl-3,6-dioxa-octane sulfonic acid (Nafion byproduct 2), and perfluoromethoxyacetic acid sodium salt (PFMOAA-Na)] on one component of the innate immune response, the neutrophil respiratory burst. The respiratory burst is a key innate immune process by which microbicidal reactive oxygen species (ROS) are rapidly induced by neutrophils in response to pathogens; defects in the respiratory burst can increase susceptibility to infection. The study here utilized larval zebrafish, a human neutrophil-like cell line, and primary human neutrophils to ascertain whether PFAS exposure inhibits ROS production in the respiratory burst. It was observed that exposure to PFHxA and GenX suppresses the respiratory burst in zebrafish larvae and a human neutrophil-like cell line. GenX also suppressed the respiratory burst in primary human neutrophils. This report is the first to demonstrate that these PFASs suppress neutrophil function and support the utility of employing zebrafish larvae and a human cell line as screening tools to identify chemicals that may suppress human immune function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drake W. Phelps
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - Anika I. Palekar
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - Haleigh E. Conley
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - Giuliano Ferrero
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - Jacob H. Driggers
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - Keith E. Linder
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - Seth W. Kullman
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Toxicology Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - David M. Reif
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Toxicology Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - M. Katie Sheats
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - Jamie C. DeWitt
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - Jeffrey A. Yoder
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Toxicology Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
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45
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Vilhelmsson A, Rylander L, Jöud A, Lindh CH, Mattsson K, Liew Z, Guo P, Ritz B, Källén K, Thacher JD. Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in early pregnancy and risk of cerebral palsy in children. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 899:165622. [PMID: 37474063 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165622] [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: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most cerebral palsy (CP) cases have an unexplained etiology, but a role for environmental exposures has been suggested. One purported environmental risk factor is exposure to endocrine-disrupting pollutants specifically per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). OBJECTIVES We investigated the association between prenatal PFAS exposures and CP in Swedish children. METHODS In this case-control study, 322 CP cases, 343 population controls, and 258 preterm controls were identified from a birth registry in combination with a CP follow-up program from 1995 to 2014 and linked to a biobank which contains serum samples from week 10-14 of pregnancy. Maternal serum concentrations of four PFAS compounds: perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem-mass-spectrometry. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for CP and each PFAS in quartiles and as continuous variables controlling for various sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. RESULTS In crude and adjusted analyses, we did not find consistent evidence of associations between serum PFHxS, PFOA, PFNA, PFOS and concentrations in early pregnancy and CP, except in preterm infants. The ORs comparing the highest PFAS quartiles to the lowest were 1.05 (95 % CI: 0.63-1.76), 0.96 (95 % CI: 0.55-1.68), 0.71 (95 % CI: 0.41-1.25), and 1.17 (95 % CI: 0.61-2.26), for PFHxS, PFOA, PFNA, and PFOS, respectively. Some positive associations were observed for preterm infants, but the results were imprecise. Similar patterns were observed in analyses treating PFAS as continuous variables. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we found little evidence that early pregnancy prenatal exposure to PFHxS, PFOA, PFNA, or PFOS increases the risk of CP. However, some positive associations were observed for preterm cases and warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Vilhelmsson
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Lars Rylander
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Anna Jöud
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Sweden; Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Orthopaedics, Lund University, Faculty of Medicine, Sweden; Health Technology Assessment Skåne, Skåne University Hospital, Sweden
| | - Christian H Lindh
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Kristina Mattsson
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Zeyan Liew
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA; Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA
| | - Pengfei Guo
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA; Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA
| | - Beate Ritz
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA; Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Karin Källén
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Sweden; Tornblad Institute, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Jesse D Thacher
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Sweden.
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46
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Tang C, Zheng R, Zhu Y, Liang Y, Liang Y, Liang S, Xu J, Zeng YH, Luo XJ, Lin H, Huang Q, Mai BX. Nontarget Analysis and Comprehensive Characterization of Iodinated Polyfluoroalkyl Acids in Wastewater and River Water by LC-HRMS with Cascade Precursor-Ion Exclusions and Algorithmic Approach. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:17099-17109. [PMID: 37878998 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are a large family of widespread contaminants of worldwide concern and well-known as "forever chemicals". Direct emission of PFAAs from the fluorochemical industry is a crucial source of PFAA pollutants in the environment. This study implemented nontarget analysis and comprehensive characterization for a category of new PFAA contaminants, i.e., iodinated PFAAs (IPFAAs), in fluorochemical industry wastewater and relevant contaminated river water by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry with a cascade precursor ion exclusion (PIE) strategy and in-house developed data extraction and processing algorithms. A total of 26 IPFAAs (including 2 isomers of an IPFAA) were found and identified with tentative molecular structures. Semiquantification of the IPFAAs was implemented, and the total concentrations of IPFAAs were 0.16-285.52 and 0.15-0.17 μg/L in wastewater and river water, respectively. The high concentrations in association with the predicted ecotoxicities and environmental behaviors demonstrate that these IPFAAs are worthy of more concern and further in-depth research. The cascade PIE strategy along with the data extraction and processing algorithms can be extended to nontarget analysis for other pollutants beyond IPFAAs. The nontarget identification and characterization outcomes provide new understanding on the environmental occurrence and pollution status of IPFAAs from a comprehensive perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caiming Tang
- Laboratory of Advanced Analytical Chemistry and Detection Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Ruifen Zheng
- Laboratory of Advanced Analytical Chemistry and Detection Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Yizhe Zhu
- Laboratory of Advanced Analytical Chemistry and Detection Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Yutao Liang
- Laboratory of Advanced Analytical Chemistry and Detection Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Yiyang Liang
- Laboratory of Advanced Analytical Chemistry and Detection Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Shangtao Liang
- College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Griffin, Georgia 30223, United States
| | - Jiale Xu
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58102, United States
| | - Yan-Hong Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Hui Lin
- Laboratory of Advanced Analytical Chemistry and Detection Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Qingguo Huang
- College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Griffin, Georgia 30223, United States
| | - Bi-Xian Mai
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
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Jiang T, Pervez MN, Quianes MM, Zhang W, Naddeo V, Liang Y. Effective stabilization of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) precursors in wastewater treatment sludge by surfactant-modified clay. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 341:140081. [PMID: 37678594 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140081] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
The application of biosolids or treated sewage sludge containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in agricultural lands and the disposal of sludge in landfills pose high risks to humans and the environment. Although PFAS precursors have not been regulated yet, their potential transformation to highly regulated perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) may enable them to serve as a long-term source and make remediation of PFAAs a continuing task. Therefore, treating precursors in sewage sludge is even more, certainly not less, critical than treating or removing PFAAs. In this study, a green surfactant-modified clay sorbent was evaluated for its efficacy in stabilizing two representative PFAA precursors in sludge, e.g., N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid (N-EtFOSAA) and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTSA), in comparison with unmodified clay and powdered activated carbon (PAC). Results showed N-EtFOSAA and 6:2 FTSA exhibited distinct adsorption behaviors in the sludge without sorbents due to their different physicochemical properties, such as hydrophobicity and functional groups. Among the three sorbents, the modified clay reduced the water leachability of N-EtFOSAA and 6:2 FTSA by 91.5% and 95.4%, respectively, compared to controls without amendments at the end of the experiment (47 days). Within the same duration, PAC decreased the water leachability of N-EtFOSAA and 6:2 FTSA by 60.6% and 37.3%, respectively. At the same time, the unmodified clay demonstrated a poor stabilization effect and even promoted the leaching of precursors. These findings suggested that the modified clay had the potential for stabilization of precursors, while negatively charged and/or hydrophilic sorbents, such as the unmodified clay, should be avoided in the stabilization process. These results could provide valuable information for developing effective amendments for stabilizing PFAS in sludge or biosolids. Future research should evaluate the long-term effect of the stabilization approach using actual sludge from wastewater treatment facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Jiang
- Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA.
| | - Md Nahid Pervez
- Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Monica M Quianes
- Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Weilan Zhang
- Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Vincenzo Naddeo
- Sanitary Environmental Engineering Division (SEED), Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, Fisciano, 84084, Italy
| | - Yanna Liang
- Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
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48
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Paquette SE, Martin NR, Rodd A, Manz KE, Allen E, Camarillo M, Weller HI, Pennell K, Plavicki JS. Evaluation of Neural Regulation and Microglial Responses to Brain Injury in Larval Zebrafish Exposed to Perfluorooctane Sulfonate. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:117008. [PMID: 37966802 PMCID: PMC10650473 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are biopersistent, global pollutants. Although some in vitro and epidemiological studies have explored the neurotoxic potential of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a prevalent PFAS congener, it is unknown how developmental PFOS exposure affects neuronal signaling, microglia development, and microglial-neuron communication. OBJECTIVES We sought to determine the extent to which PFOS exposure disrupts brain health, neuronal activity, and microglia-neuron communication during development. In addition, although PFOS impairs humoral immunity, its impact on innate immune cells, including resident microglia, is unclear. As such, we investigated whether microglia are cellular targets of PFOS, and, if so, whether disrupted microglial development or function could contribute to or is influenced by PFOS-induced neural dysfunction. METHODS Zebrafish were chronically exposed to either a control solution [0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)], 7 μ M PFOS, 14 μ M PFOS, 28 μ M PFOS, or 64 μ M perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). We used in vivo imaging and gene expression analysis to assess microglial populations in the developing brain and to determine shifts in the microglia state. We functionally challenged microglia state using a brain injury model and, to assess the neuronal signaling environment, performed functional neuroimaging experiments using the photoconvertible calcium indicator calcium-modulated photoactivatable ratiometric integrator (CaMPARI). These studies were paired with optogenetic manipulations of neurons and microglia, an untargeted metabolome-wide association study (MWAS), and behavioral assays. RESULTS Developmental PFOS exposure resulted in a shift away from the homeostatic microglia state, as determined by functional and morphological differences in exposed larvae, as well as up-regulation of the microglia activation gene p2ry12. PFOS-induced effects on microglia state exacerbated microglia responses to brain injury in the absence of increased cell death or inflammation. PFOS exposure also heightened neural activity, and optogenetic silencing of neurons or microglia independently was sufficient to normalize microglial responses to injury. An untargeted MWAS of larval brains revealed PFOS-exposed larvae had neurochemical signatures of excitatory-inhibitory imbalance. Behaviorally, PFOS-exposed larvae also exhibited anxiety-like thigmotaxis. To test whether the neuronal and microglial phenotypes were specific to PFOS, we exposed embryos to PFOA, a known immunotoxic PFAS. PFOA did not alter thigmotaxis, neuronal activity, or microglial responses, further supporting a role for neuronal activity as a critical modifier of microglial function following PFOS exposure. DISCUSSION Together, this study provides, to our knowledge, the first detailed account of the effects of PFOS exposure on neural cell types in the developing brain in vivo and adds neuronal hyperactivity as an important end point to assess when studying the impact of toxicant exposures on microglia function. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12861.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon E. Paquette
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Nathan R. Martin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - April Rodd
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Katherine E. Manz
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Eden Allen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Manuel Camarillo
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Hannah I. Weller
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Kurt Pennell
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Jessica S. Plavicki
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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Ivantsova E, Lopez-Scarim V, Sultan A, English C, Biju A, Souders CL, Padillo-Anthemides NE, Konig I, Martyniuk CJ. Evidence for neurotoxicity and oxidative stress in zebrafish embryos/larvae treated with HFPO-DA ammonium salt (GenX). ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 104:104315. [PMID: 37984673 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104315] [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: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
"GenX" [ammonium perfluoro (2-methyl-3-oxahexanoate] was developed as a replacement chemical for toxic perfluorinated compounds to be used in product manufacturing. Here, we assessed developmental, mitochondrial, and behavioral toxicity endpoints in zebrafish embryos/larvae exposed to GenX. GenX exerted low toxicity to zebrafish embryos/larvae up to 20 mg/L. GenX did not affect mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation nor ATP levels. ROS levels were reduced in larvae fish exposed to 10 and 100 µg/L, indicative of an antioxidant defense; however, ROS levels were elevated in fish exposed to 1000 µg/L. Increased expression of cox1 and sod2 in GenX exposed 7-day larvae was noted. GenX (0.1 or 1 µg/L) altered transcripts associated with neurotoxicity (elavl3, gfap, gap43, manf, and tubb). Locomotor activity of larvae was reduced by 100 µg/L GenX, but only in light periods. Perturbations of anxiety-related behaviors in larvae were not observed with GenX exposure. These data inform risk assessments for long-lived perfluorinated chemicals of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Ivantsova
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Victoria Lopez-Scarim
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Amany Sultan
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; Animal Health Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Egypt
| | - Cole English
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Angel Biju
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Christopher L Souders
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Natalia E Padillo-Anthemides
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL 32080, USA; UF Genetics Institute, Genetics and Genomics Graduate Program, USA; Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Isaac Konig
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Christopher J Martyniuk
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; UF Genetics Institute and the Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences Neuroscience, University of Florida, USA.
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50
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Kirkwood-Donelson KI, Dodds JN, Schnetzer A, Hall N, Baker ES. Uncovering per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) with nontargeted ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry analyses. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadj7048. [PMID: 37878714 PMCID: PMC10599621 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj7048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Because of environmental and health concerns, legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been voluntarily phased out, and thousands of emerging PFAS introduced as replacements. Traditional analytical methods target a limited number of mainly legacy PFAS; therefore, many species are not routinely assessed in the environment. Nontargeted approaches using high-resolution mass spectrometry methods have therefore been used to detect and characterize unknown PFAS. However, their ability to elucidate chemical structures relies on generation of informative fragments, and many low concentration species are not fragmented in typical data-dependent acquisition approaches. Here, a data-independent method leveraging ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) and size-dependent fragmentation was developed and applied to characterize aquatic passive samplers deployed near a North Carolina fluorochemical manufacturer. From the study, 11 PFAS structures for various per- and polyfluorinated ether sulfonic acids and multiheaded perfluorinated ether acids were elucidated in addition to 36 known PFAS. Eight of these species were previously unreported in environmental media, and three suspected species were validated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - James N. Dodds
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Astrid Schnetzer
- Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC,, USA
| | - Nathan Hall
- Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Morehead City, NC, USA
| | - Erin S. Baker
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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