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Falk S, Gassmann M, Stahl T. Influence of age on the concentrations of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) in the tissues of perch (Percafluviatilis). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 359:124512. [PMID: 38996992 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Globally, perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) are ubiquitous due to their almost unlimited applications in industry and households and are detected in a wide variety of matrices.Aquatic ecosystems are of particular importance due to the spread of PFAA via water fluxes. The majority of published studies describe PFAA concentrations in fish or aquatic mammals, but not the dependence of PFAA concentrations in tissues and organs in fish of different ages. Since this is very important for understanding the accumulation behavior of these substances our study systematically investigates the influence of age on the PFAA concentration in the tissues of 74 perches (Perca fluviatilis), a very popular edible fish. Fish are particularly suitable as indicators of PFAA contamination of water because of their uptake via water (gills and skin) and food (predominantly piscivorous diet). The mean total PFAA concentrations (as the sum of the individual concentrations of 11 compounds) were: 114 μg/kg (kidney), 112 μg/kg (heart), 79.9 μg/kg (liver), 78.4 μg/kg (spleen), 64.6 μg/kg (gills) and 21.7 μg/kg (muscle), with longer-chain compounds accounting for 90% of the substances. Perfluorooctanesulfoic acid (PFOS) accounted for the largest percentage of the total PFAA concentration in all tissues at 43-63%. With the exception of the heart and spleen, a significant increase in total concentrations was observed with increasing age of the perch. The strongest correlation was observed for the kidney, followed by the liver and gills. With regard to their consumption as human nutrition the tolerable weekly PFAA intake of 4.4 ng/kg bodyweight and week for the sum of the 4 EFSA PFAA in adults and children was exceeded many times over (860% and 1600% respectively) with an average fish consumption per week. The maximum PFAA levels set in the E.U. since January 2023 were exceeded five times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandy Falk
- Hessian State Laboratory, Glarusstr. 6, 65203 Wiesbaden, Germany.
| | - Matthias Gassmann
- Department of Hydrology and Substance Balance, University of Kassel, Kurt-Wolters-Str. 3, 34125 Kassel, Germany
| | - Thorsten Stahl
- Chemical and Veterinary Analytical Institute Münsterland-Emscher-Lippe, Joseph-König-Str. 40, 48147 Münster, Germany
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2
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Bălan SA, Bruton TA, Harris K, Hayes L, Leonetti CP, Mathrani VC, Noble AE, Phelps DSC. The Total Mass of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in California Cosmetics. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:12101-12112. [PMID: 38935436 PMCID: PMC11238533 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c06539] [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: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Cosmetics make up one of the consumer product categories most widely known to contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), including precursors to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and other perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs). Because of the way cosmetics are used, most of the PFASs present in these products are likely to reach wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), which suggests that cosmetics may contribute significantly to the load of PFOA and other PFASs at WWTPs. However, the majority of PFASs present as intentional ingredients in cosmetics cannot be quantified with the available analytical methods. To address this issue, we developed a methodology to estimate the total PFAS mass in cosmetics as well as the corresponding mass of total organic fluorine and of fluorinated side chains associated with PFAA precursors, using various ingredient databases and ingredient concentrations reported by manufacturers. Our results indicate that the cosmetics sold in California during a one-year period cumulatively contain 650-56 000 kg of total PFASs, 370-37 000 kg of organic fluorine, and 330-20 000 kg of fluorinated side chains associated with PFAA precursors. Among the 16 product subcategories considered, >90% of the PFAS mass came from shaving creams and gels, hair care products, facial cleansers, sun care products, and lotions and moisturizers, while the sum of all nine makeup subcategories accounted for <3%. Comparing our estimates to available WWTP influent data from the San Francisco Bay Area suggests that cosmetics may account for at least 4% of the precursor-derived PFAAs measured in wastewater. As the first study ever to estimate the total mass of PFASs contained in cosmetics sold in California, our results shed light on the significance of certain cosmetics as a source of PFASs to WWTPs and can inform effective source reduction efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona A Bălan
- California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Sacramento, California 95814, United States
- University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Thomas A Bruton
- California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Sacramento, California 95814, United States
| | - Kyle Harris
- California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Sacramento, California 95814, United States
| | - Logan Hayes
- California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Sacramento, California 95814, United States
| | - Christopher P Leonetti
- California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Sacramento, California 95814, United States
| | - Vivek C Mathrani
- California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Berkeley, California 94710, United States
| | - Abigail E Noble
- California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Sacramento, California 95814, United States
| | - Diana S C Phelps
- California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Sacramento, California 95814, United States
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3
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Smith MN, Stump S, van Bergen SK, Davies HG, Fanning E, Eaton R, Manahan CC, Sergent A, Zarker K. A Hazard-Based Framework for Identifying Safer Alternatives to Classes of Chemicals: A Case Study on Phthalates in Consumer Products. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2024; 132:45002. [PMID: 38683745 PMCID: PMC11057665 DOI: 10.1289/ehp13549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Humans are exposed to hazardous chemicals found in consumer products. In 2019, the Pollution Prevention for Healthy People and Puget Sound Act was passed in Washington State. This law is meant to reduce hazardous chemicals in consumer products and protect human health and the environment. The law directs the Washington State Department of Ecology to assess chemicals and chemical classes found in products, determine whether there are safer alternatives, and make regulatory determinations. OBJECTIVES To implement the law, the Department of Ecology developed a hazard-based framework for identifying safer alternatives to classes of chemicals. METHODS We developed a hazard-based framework, termed the "Criteria for Safer," to set a transparent bar for determining whether new chemical alternatives are safer than existing classes of chemicals. Our "Criteria for Safer" is a framework that builds on existing hazard assessment methodologies and published approaches for assessing chemicals and chemical classes. DISCUSSION We describe implementation of our criteria using a case study on the phthalates chemical class in two categories of consumer products: vinyl flooring and fragrances used in personal care and beauty products. Additional context and considerations that guided our decision-making process are also discussed, as well as benefits and limitations of our approach. This paper gives insight into our development and implementation of a hazard-based framework to address classes of chemicals in consumer products and will aid others working to build and employ similar approaches. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13549.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa N. Smith
- Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction, Washington State Department of Ecology, Lacey, Washington, USA
| | - Sascha Stump
- Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction, Washington State Department of Ecology, Lacey, Washington, USA
| | - Saskia K. van Bergen
- Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction, Washington State Department of Ecology, Lacey, Washington, USA
| | - Holly G. Davies
- Environmental Public Health Sciences, Washington State Department of Health, Tumwater, Washington, USA
| | - Elinor Fanning
- Environmental Public Health Sciences, Washington State Department of Health, Tumwater, Washington, USA
| | - Rae Eaton
- Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction, Washington State Department of Ecology, Lacey, Washington, USA
| | - Craig C. Manahan
- Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction, Washington State Department of Ecology, Lacey, Washington, USA
| | - Amber Sergent
- Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction, Washington State Department of Ecology, Lacey, Washington, USA
| | - Ken Zarker
- Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction, Washington State Department of Ecology, Lacey, Washington, USA
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4
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Mueller R, Salvatore D, Brown P, Cordner A. Quantifying Disparities in Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Levels in Drinking Water from Overburdened Communities in New Jersey, 2019-2021. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2024; 132:47011. [PMID: 38656167 PMCID: PMC11041625 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Policymakers have become increasingly concerned regarding the widespread exposure and toxicity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). While concerns exist about unequal distribution of PFAS contamination in drinking water, research is lacking. OBJECTIVES We assess the scope of PFAS contamination in drinking water in New Jersey (NJ), the first US state to develop regulatory levels for PFAS in drinking water. We test for inequities in PFAS concentrations by community sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS We use PFAS testing data for community water systems (CWS) (n = 491 ) from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) from 2019 to 2021 and demographic data at the block group level from the US Census to estimate the demographics of the NJ population served by CWS. We use difference in means tests to determine whether CWSs serving "overburdened communities" (OBCs) have a statistically significant difference in likelihood of PFAS detections. OBCs are defined by the NJDEP to be census block groups in which: a) at least 35% of the households qualify as low-income, b) at least 40% of the residents identify as people of color, or c) at least 40% of the households have limited English proficiency. We calculate statewide summary statistics to approximate the relative proportions of sociodemographic groups that are served by CWSs with PFAS detections. RESULTS We find that 63% of all CWSs tested by NJDEP from 2019 to 2021 had PFAS detections in public drinking water, collectively serving 84% of NJ's population receiving water from CWSs. Additionally, CWSs serving OBCs had a statistically significant higher likelihood of PFAS detection and a higher likelihood of exposure above state MCLs. We also find that a larger proportion of people of color lived in CWS service areas with PFAS detections compared to the non-Hispanic white population. DISCUSSION These findings quantitatively identify disparities in PFAS contamination of drinking water by CWS service area and highlight the extent of PFAS drinking water contamination and the importance of PFAS remediation efforts for protecting environmental health and justice. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12787.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosie Mueller
- Department of Economics, Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington, USA
| | | | - Phil Brown
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alissa Cordner
- Department of Sociology, Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington, USA
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Salihovic S, Dunder L, Lind M, Lind L. Assessing the performance of a targeted absolute quantification isotope dilution liquid chromatograhy tandem mass spectrometry assay versus a commercial nontargeted relative quantification assay for detection of three major perfluoroalkyls in human blood. JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY : JMS 2024; 59:e4999. [PMID: 38263897 DOI: 10.1002/jms.4999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Isotope dilution ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) is commonly used for trace analysis of polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in difficult matrices. Commercial nontargeted analysis of major PFAS where relative concentrations are obtained cost effectively is rapidly emerging and is claimed to provide comparable results to that of absolute quantification using matrix matched calibration and isotope dilution UHPLC-MS/MS. However, this remains to be demonstrated on a large scale. We aimed to assess the performance of a targeted absolute quantification isotope dilution LC-MS/MS assay versus a commercial nontargeted relative quantification assay for detection of three major PFAS in human blood. We evaluated a population-based cohort of 503 individuals. Correlations were assessed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (rho). Precision and bias were assessed using Bland-Altman plots. For perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, the median concentrations were 5.10 ng/mL (interquartile range [IQR] 3.50-7.24 ng/mL), the two assays correlated with rho 0.83. For perfluorooctanoic acid, the median concentrations were 2.14 ng/mL (IQR 1.60-3.0 ng/mL), the two assays correlated with rho 0.92. For perfluorohexanesulfonate, the median concentrations were 5.5 ng/mL (IQR 2.50-11.61 ng/mL), the two assays correlated with rho 0.96. The Bland-Altman statistical test showed agreement of the mean difference for the majority of samples (97-98%) between the two assays. Absolute plasma concentrations of PFAS obtained using matrix matched calibration and isotope dilution UHPLC-MS/MS show agreement with relative plasma concentrations from a nontargeted commercial platform by Metabolon. We observed striking consistency between the two assays when examining the associations of the three PFAS with cholesterol, offering additional confidence in the validity of utilizing the nontargeted approach for correlations with various health phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Salihovic
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Linda Dunder
- Department of Medical Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cardiovascular Epidemiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Monica Lind
- Department of Medical Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lars Lind
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cardiovascular Epidemiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Chen X, Birnbaum LS, Babich MA, de Boer J, White KW, Barone S, Fehrenbacher C, Stapleton HM. Opportunities in Assessing and Regulating Organohalogen Flame Retardants (OFRs) as a Class in Consumer Products. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2024; 132:15001. [PMID: 38175186 PMCID: PMC10766010 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2015, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) received and then, in 2017, granted a petition under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act to declare certain groups of consumer products as banned hazardous substances if they contain nonpolymeric, additive organohalogen flame retardants (OFRs). The petitioners asked the CPSC to regulate OFRs as a single chemical class with similar health effects. The CPSC later sponsored a National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report in 2019, which ultimately identified 161 OFRs and grouped them into 14 subclasses based on chemical structural similarity. In 2021, a follow-up discussion was held among a group of scientists from both inside and outside of the CPSC for current research on OFRs and to promote collaboration that could increase public awareness of CPSC work and support the class-based approach for the CPSC's required risk assessment of OFRs. OBJECTIVES Given the extensive data collected to date, there is a need to synthesize what is known about OFR and how class-based regulations have previously managed this information. This commentary discusses both OFR exposure and OFR toxicity and fills some gaps for OFR exposure that were not within the scope of the NASEM report. The objective of this commentary is therefore to provide an overview of the OFR research presented at SOT 2021, explore opportunities and challenges associated with OFR risk assessment, and inform CPSC's work on an OFR class-based approach. DISCUSSION A class-based approach for regulating OFRs can be successful. Expanding the use of read-across and the use of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in assessing and regulating existing chemicals was considered as a necessary part of the class-based process. Recommendations for OFR class-based risk assessment include the need to balance fire and chemical safety and to protect vulnerable populations, including children and pregnant women. The authors also suggest the CPSC should consider global, federal, and state OFR regulations. The lack of data or lack of concordance in toxicity data could present significant hurdles for some OFR subclasses. The potential for cumulative risks within or between subclasses, OFR mixtures, and metabolites common to more than one OFR all add extra complexity for class-based risk assessment. This commentary discusses scientific and regulatory challenges for a class-based approach suggested by NASEM. This commentary is offered as a resource for anyone performing class-based assessments and to provide potential collaboration opportunities for OFR stakeholders. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12725.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinrong Chen
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Linda S. Birnbaum
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Jacob de Boer
- Department of Environment and Health, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Stanley Barone
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | | | - Heather M. Stapleton
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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7
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Lin X, Xing Y, Chen H, Zhou Y, Zhang X, Liu P, Li J, Lee HK, Huang Z. Characteristic and health risk of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from cosmetics via dermal exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 338:122685. [PMID: 37804905 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122685] [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: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
In this work, 45 cosmetic samples were collected from China, and 27 target per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were analyzed by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. PFAS were found in all samples, including the products marketed for pregnant women, and the total concentrations of PFAS measured in each sample were in the range of 4.05 - 94.9 ng/g. Short-chain perfluorinated carboxylic acids were the dominant compounds contributing to over 60% of the total content. Perfluorobutanoic acid, with high placental transfer efficiency, was the major PFAS in cosmetics for pregnant women. Three emerging PFAS, 2-perfluorohexyl ethanoic acid, 3-perfluoropentyl propanoic acid (5:3) and perfluoro-2-propoxypropanoic acid, were also identified in the cosmetic samples at quantifiable levels. Significantly, positive correlations between individual PFAS were observed, indicating that there may be a common source for PFAS in these samples. Statistical analyses suggested that using plastic containers and precursor substances may be potential sources of PFAS in terminal products, and product aging may increase PFAS levels. From the PFAS analysis of the cosmetics, the margin of safety (MoS) and hazard quotient (HQ) were calculated to assess human health risks through dermal exposure by using these products. Although the MoS and HQ values obtained were deemed acceptable, the cumulative effect caused by composite and long-term exposure to these contaminants needs to be given greater attention by health authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Lin
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
| | - Yudong Xing
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
| | - Huijun Chen
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
| | - Jiaoyang Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
| | - Hian Kee Lee
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Zhenzhen Huang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China.
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8
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Eichler CMA, Chang NY, Cohen Hubal EA, Amparo DE, Zhou J, Surratt JD, Morrison GC, Turpin BJ. Cloth-Air Partitioning of Neutral Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in North Carolina Homes during the Indoor PFAS Assessment (IPA) Campaign. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:15173-15183. [PMID: 37757488 PMCID: PMC11182342 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04770] [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: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Partitioning of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to indoor materials, including clothing, may prolong the residence time of PFAS indoors and contribute to exposure. During the Indoor PFAS Assessment (IPA) Campaign, we measured concentrations of nine neutral PFAS in air and cotton cloth in 11 homes in North Carolina, for up to 9 months. Fluorotelomer alcohols (i.e., 6:2 FTOH, 8:2 FTOH, and 10:2 FTOH) are the dominant target species in indoor air, with concentrations ranging from 1.8 to 49 ng m-3, 1.2 to 53 ng m-3, and 0.21 to 5.7 ng m-3, respectively. In cloth, perfluorooctane sulfonamidoethanols (i.e., MeFOSE and EtFOSE) accumulated most significantly over time, reaching concentrations of up to 0.26 ng cm-2 and 0.24 ng cm-2, respectively. From paired measurements of neutral PFAS in air and suspended cloth, we derived cloth-air partition coefficients (Kca) for 6:2, 8:2, and 10:2 FTOH; ethylperfluorooctane sulfonamide (EtFOSA); MeFOSE; and EtFOSE. Mean log(Kca) values range from 4.7 to 6.6 and are positively correlated with the octanol-air partition coefficient. We investigated the effect of the cloth storage method on PFAS accumulation and the influence of home characteristics on air concentrations. Temperature had the overall greatest effect. This study provides valuable insights into PFAS distribution, fate, and exposure indoors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara M A Eichler
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7400, United States
| | - Naomi Y Chang
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7400, United States
| | - Elaine A Cohen Hubal
- U.S. EPA, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States
| | - Daniel E Amparo
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7400, United States
| | - Jiaqi Zhou
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7400, United States
| | - Jason D Surratt
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7400, United States
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
| | - Glenn C Morrison
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7400, United States
| | - Barbara J Turpin
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7400, United States
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9
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Zhang F, Liu L, Hu J, Fu H, Li H, Chen J, Yang C, Guo Q, Liang X, Wang L, Guo Y, Dai J, Sheng N, Wang J. Accumulation and glucocorticoid signaling suppression by four emerging perfluoroethercarboxylic acids based on animal exposure and cell testing. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 178:108092. [PMID: 37463541 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Various perfluoroethercarboxylic acids (PFECA) have emerged as next-generation replacements of legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, there is a paucity of information regarding their bioaccumulation ability and hazard characterization. Here, we explored the accumulation and hepatotoxicity of four PFECA compounds (HFPO-DA, HFPO-TA, PFO4DA, and PFO5DoDA) in comparison to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) after chronic low-dose exposure in mice. Except for HFPO-DA, the levels of all tested PFAS in the liver exceeded that in serum. High molecular weight PFECA compounds (PFO5DoDA and HFPO-TA) showed stronger accumulation capacity and longer half-lives (t1/2) than low molecular weight PFECA compounds (HFPO-DA and PFO4DA) and even legacy PFOA. Although hepatomegaly is a common apical end point of PFAS exposure, the differentially expressed gene (DEG) profiles in the liver suggested significant differences between PFOA and the four PFECA compounds. Gene enrichment analysis supported a considerable inhibitory effect of PFECA, but not PFOA, on the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling pathway. Both HFPO-TA and PFO5DoDA demonstrated a more pronounced ability to perturb RNA expression profiles in vivo and to suppress GR signaling in vitro compared to HFPO-DA and PFO4DA. Calculated reference doses (RfDs) emphasized the potential hazard of PFECA to human health. Overall, our findings indicate that PFECA alternatives do not ease the concerns raised from legacy PFAS pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenghong Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Lei Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Jianglin Hu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Huayu Fu
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Hongyuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jiamiao Chen
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Chunyu Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Qingrong Guo
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Xiaotian Liang
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Lin Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Yong Guo
- Key Laboratory of Organofluorine Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jiayin Dai
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Nan Sheng
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
| | - Jianshe Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China.
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10
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Zang L, Liu X, Xie X, Zhou X, Pan Y, Dai J. Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in early pregnancy, risk of gestational diabetes mellitus, potential pathways, and influencing factors in pregnant women: A nested case-control study. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 326:121504. [PMID: 36965679 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Although previous studies have reported an association between maternal serum perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk, results have been inconsistent. Few studies have focused on the combined effects of emerging and legacy PFASs on glucose homeostasis while humans are always exposed to multiple PFASs simultaneously. Moreover, the potential pathways by which PFAS exposure induces GDM are unclear. A total of 295 GDM cases and 295 controls were enrolled from a prospective cohort of 2700 pregnant women in Shanghai, China. In total, 16 PFASs were determined in maternal spot serum samples in early pregnancy. We used conditional logistic regression, multiple linear regression, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to examine individual and joint effects of PFAS exposure on GDM risk and oral glucose tolerance test outcomes. The mediating effects of maternal serum biochemical parameters, including thyroid and liver function were further assessed. Maternal perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) exposure was associated with an increased risk of GDM (odds ratio (OR) = 1.68; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.10, 2.57), consistent with higher concentrations in GDM cases than controls. Based on mediation analysis, an increase in the free triiodothyronine to free thyroxine ratio partially explained the effect of this association. For continuous glycemic outcomes, positive associations were observed between several PFASs and 1-h and 2-h glucose levels. In BKMR, PFAS mixture exposure showed a positive trend with GDM incidence, although the CIs were wide. These associations were more pronounced among women with normal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI). Mixed PFAS congeners may affect glucose homeostasis by increasing 1-h glucose levels, with perfluorononanoic acid found to be a main contributor. Exposure to PFASs was associated with increased risk of GDM and disturbance in glucose homeostasis, especially in normal weight women. The PFAS-associated disruption of maternal thyroid function may alter glucose homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Zang
- 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; 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
| | - Xiaorui Liu
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Xianjing Xie
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Xuming Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yitao Pan
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 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.
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11
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Ma H, Kang Y, Li M, Dong J, Wang Y, Xiao J, Guo Z. Enhancement of perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulphonic acid removal in constructed wetland using iron mineral: Performance and mechanisms. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 447:130819. [PMID: 36680904 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130819] [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] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) pose a threat to the aquatic environment due to their environmental persistence. The removal of PFAS using constructed wetlands (CWs) has received interest, but the adsorption saturation and limited removal capacity of the substrate is frequently challenging. To enhance the microbial degradation and performance of the substrate, different configurations of iron minerals were used as substrate to remove perfluorooctane sulphonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) from CWs. The addition of iron minerals resulted in elimination of 57.2% and 63.9% of PFOS and PFOA in the effluent, respectively, which were 35.0% and 36.8% higher than that of control. Moreover, up to 85.4%, 86%, and 85.1% of NH4+, NO3-, and phosphorus, respectively, was removed using iron minerals. The enhanced electron transfer in iron mineral-based CWs was confirmed by a 61.2% increase in cytochrome C reductase content and an increased Fe(III)/Fe(II) ratio. Microbial analysis showed that the proportions of microbes with PFAS removal capacity (e.g. Burkholderiae and Pseudomonas), and the key pathways of the TCA cycle and glycolysis were increased in iron mineral-based CW. Based on these findings, we conclude that supplementation with iron mineral could enhance PFOA and PFOS removal in CWs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoqin Ma
- College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Yan Kang
- College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China.
| | - Mei Li
- College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Jiahao Dong
- College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Yuqi Wang
- College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Jingqian Xiao
- College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Zizhang Guo
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
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12
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Yao J, Dong Z, Jiang L, Pan Y, Zhao M, Bai X, Dai J. Emerging and Legacy Perfluoroalkyl Substances in Breastfed Chinese Infants: Renal Clearance, Body Burden, and Implications. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:37003. [PMID: 36862174 PMCID: PMC9980344 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human breast milk is a primary route of exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in infants. To understand the associated risks, the occurrence of PFAS in human milk and the toxicokinetics of PFAS in infants need to be addressed. OBJECTIVES We determined levels of emerging and legacy PFAS in human milk and urine samples from Chinese breastfed infants, estimated renal clearance, and predicted infant serum PFAS levels. METHODS In total, human milk samples were collected from 1,151 lactating mothers in 21 cities in China. In addition, 80 paired infant cord blood and urine samples were obtained from two cities. Nine emerging PFAS and 13 legacy PFAS were analyzed in the samples using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Renal clearance rates (CLrenals) of PFAS were estimated in the paired samples. PFAS serum concentrations in infants (<1 year of age) were predicted using a first-order pharmacokinetic model. RESULTS All nine emerging PFAS were detected in human milk, with the detection rates of 6:2 Cl-PFESA, PFMOAA, and PFO5DoDA all exceeding 70%. The level of 6:2 Cl-PFESA in human milk (median concentration=13.6 ng/L) ranked third after PFOA (336 ng/L) and PFOS (49.7 ng/L). The estimated daily intake (EDI) values of PFOA and PFOS exceeded the reference dose (RfD) of 20 ng/kg BW per day recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 78% and 17% of breastfed infant samples, respectively. 6:2 Cl-PFESA had the lowest infant CLrenal (0.009mL/kg BW per day), corresponding to the longest estimated half-life of 49 y. The average half-lives of PFMOAA, PFO2HxA, and PFO3OA were 0.221, 0.075, and 0.304 y, respectively. The CLrenals of PFOA, PFNA, and PFDA were slower in infants than in adults. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate the widespread occurrence of emerging PFAS in human milk in China. The relatively high EDIs and half-lives of emerging PFAS suggest potential health risks of postnatal exposure in newborns. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11403.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingzhi Yao
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaomin Dong
- School of Space and Environment and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Lulin Jiang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yitao Pan
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Meirong Zhao
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaoxia Bai
- Department of Obstetrics, Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiayin Dai
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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13
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Sadia M, Nollen I, Helmus R, ter Laak TL, Béen F, Praetorius A, van Wezel AP. Occurrence, Fate, and Related Health Risks of PFAS in Raw and Produced Drinking Water. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:3062-3074. [PMID: 36779784 PMCID: PMC9979608 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c06015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates human exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) via drinking water and evaluates human health risks. An analytical method for 56 target PFAS, including ultrashort-chain (C2-C3) and branched isomers, was developed. The limit of detection (LOD) ranged from 0.009 to 0.1 ng/L, except for trifluoroacetic-acid and perfluoropropanoic-acid with higher LODs of 35 and 0.24 ng/L, respectively. The method was applied to raw and produced drinking water from 18 Dutch locations, including groundwater or surface water as source, and applied various treatment processes. Ultrashort-chain (300 to 1100 ng/L) followed by the group of perfluoroalkyl-carboxylic-acids (PFCA, ≥C4) (0.4 to 95.1 ng/L) were dominant. PFCA and perfluoroalkyl-sulfonic-acid (≥C4), including precursors, showed significantly higher levels in drinking water produced from surface water. However, no significant difference was found for ultrashort PFAS, indicating the need for groundwater protection. Negative removal of PFAS occasionally observed for advanced treatment indicates desorption and/or degradation of precursors. The proportion of branched isomers was higher in raw and produced drinking water as compared to industrial production. Drinking water produced from surface water, except for a few locations, exceed non-binding provisional guideline values proposed; however, all produced drinking waters met the recent soon-to-be binding drinking-water-directive requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Sadia
- Institute
for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94240, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ingeborg Nollen
- Institute
for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94240, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rick Helmus
- Institute
for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94240, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas L. ter Laak
- Institute
for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94240, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- KWR
Water Research Institute, P.O. Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
| | - Frederic Béen
- KWR
Water Research Institute, P.O. Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
| | - Antonia Praetorius
- Institute
for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94240, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annemarie P. van Wezel
- Institute
for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94240, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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14
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Bǎlan S, Andrews DQ, Blum A, Diamond ML, Fernández SR, Harriman E, Lindstrom AB, Reade A, Richter L, Sutton R, Wang Z, Kwiatkowski CF. Optimizing Chemicals Management in the United States and Canada through the Essential-Use Approach. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:1568-1575. [PMID: 36656107 PMCID: PMC9893722 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c05932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Chemicals have improved the functionality and convenience of industrial and consumer products, but sometimes at the expense of human or ecological health. Existing regulatory systems have proven to be inadequate for assessing and managing the tens of thousands of chemicals in commerce. A different approach is urgently needed to minimize ongoing production, use, and exposures to hazardous chemicals. The premise of the essential-use approach is that chemicals of concern should be used only in cases in which their function in specific products is necessary for health, safety, or the functioning of society and when feasible alternatives are unavailable. To optimize the essential-use approach for broader implementation in the United States and Canada, we recommend that governments and businesses (1) identify chemicals of concern for essentiality assessments based on a broad range of hazard traits, going beyond toxicity; (2) expedite decision-making by avoiding unnecessary assessments and strategically asking up to three questions to determine whether the use of the chemical in the product is essential; (3) apply the essential-use approach as early as possible in the process of developing and assessing chemicals; and (4) engage diverse experts in identifying chemical uses and functions, assessing alternatives, and making essentiality determinations and share such information broadly. If optimized and expanded into regulatory systems in the United States and Canada, other policymaking bodies, and businesses, the essential-use approach can improve chemicals management and shift the market toward safer chemistries that benefit human and ecological health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona
A. Bǎlan
- California
Department of Toxic Substances Control, Sacramento, California 95814, United States
- University
of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - David Q. Andrews
- Environmental
Working Group, Washington, D.C. 20005, United States
| | - Arlene Blum
- University
of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Green
Science Policy Institute, Berkeley, California 94709, United States
| | | | | | - Elizabeth Harriman
- University
of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts 01852, United States
| | | | - Anna Reade
- Natural
Resources Defense Council, San Francisco, California 94104, United States
| | | | - Rebecca Sutton
- San
Francisco Estuary Institute, Richmond, California 94804, United States
| | - Zhanyun Wang
- Empa-Swiss
Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology,
Technology and Society Laboratory, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
- Institute of Environmental Engineering,
ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Carol F. Kwiatkowski
- Green
Science Policy Institute, Berkeley, California 94709, United States
- North
Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
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15
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Scheringer M, Johansson JH, Salter ME, Sha B, Cousins IT. Stories of Global Chemical Pollution: Will We Ever Understand Environmental Persistence? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:17498-17501. [PMID: 36458501 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c06611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Scheringer
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
- RECETOX, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jana H Johansson
- Department of Thematic Studies - Environmental Change, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Matthew E Salter
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bo Sha
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ian T Cousins
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
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16
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Cheng X, Wei Y, Zhang Z, Wang F, He J, Wang R, Xu Y, Keerman M, Zhang S, Zhang Y, Bi J, Yao J, He M. Plasma PFOA and PFOS Levels, DNA Methylation, and Blood Lipid Levels: A Pilot Study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:17039-17051. [PMID: 36374530 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c04107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is associated with blood lipids in adults, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This pilot study aimed to investigate the associations between PFOA or PFOS and epigenome-wide DNA methylation and assess the mediating effect of DNA methylation on the PFOA/PFOS-blood lipid association. We measured plasma PFOA/PFOS and leukocyte DNA methylation in 98 patients enrolled from the hospital between October 2018 and August 2019. The median plasma PFOA/PFOS levels were 0.85 and 2.29 ng/mL. Plasma PFOA and PFOS levels were significantly associated with elevated total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) levels. There were 63/87 CpG positions and 8/11 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) associated with plasma PFOA/PFOS levels, respectively. In addition, 5 CpG positions (annotated to AFF3, CREB5, NRG2, USF2, and intergenic region) and one DMR annotated to IRF6 may mediate the association between plasma PFOA/PFOS and LDL levels (mediated proportion from 7.29 to 46.77%); two CpG positions may mediate the association between plasma PFOA/PFOS and TC levels (annotated to CREB5 and USF2, mediated proportion is around 30%). The data suggest that PFOA/PFOS exposure alters DNA methylation. More importantly, the association of PFOA/PFOS with lipid indicators was partly mediated by DNA methylation changes in lipid metabolism-related genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Cheng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yue Wei
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, China
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Zefang Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, China
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Jia He
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Ruixin Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yali Xu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Mulatibieke Keerman
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Shiyang Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Jiao Bi
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Jinqiu Yao
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Meian He
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, China
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17
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Chartres N, Sass JB, Gee D, Bălan SA, Birnbaum L, Cogliano VJ, Cooper C, Fedinick KP, Harrison RM, Kolossa-Gehring M, Mandrioli D, Mitchell MA, Norris SL, Portier CJ, Straif K, Vermeire T. Conducting evaluations of evidence that are transparent, timely and can lead to health-protective actions. Environ Health 2022; 21:123. [PMID: 36471342 PMCID: PMC9720912 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-022-00926-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In February 2021, over one hundred scientists and policy experts participated in a web-based Workshop to discuss the ways that divergent evaluations of evidence and scientific uncertainties are used to delay timely protection of human health and the environment from exposures to hazardous agents. The Workshop arose from a previous workshop organized by the European Environment Agency (EEA) in 2008 and which also drew on case studies from the EEA reports on 'Late Lessons from Early Warnings' (2001, 2013). These reports documented dozens of hazardous agents including many chemicals, for which risk reduction measures were delayed for decades after scientists and others had issued early and later warnings about the harm likely to be caused by those agents. RESULTS Workshop participants used recent case studies including Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Extremely Low Frequency - Electrical Magnetic Fields (ELF-EMF fields), glyphosate, and Bisphenol A (BPA) to explore myriad reasons for divergent outcomes of evaluations, which has led to delayed and inadequate protection of the public's health. Strategies to overcome these barriers must, therefore, at a minimum include approaches that 1) Make better use of existing data and information, 2) Ensure timeliness, 3) Increase transparency, consistency and minimize bias in evidence evaluations, and 4) Minimize the influence of financial conflicts of interest. CONCLUSION The recommendations should enhance the production of "actionable evidence," that is, reliable evaluations of the scientific evidence to support timely actions to protect health and environments from exposures to hazardous agents. The recommendations are applicable to policy and regulatory settings at the local, state, federal and international levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Chartres
- Program On Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California at San Francisco, 490 Illinois Street, Floor 10, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
| | - Jennifer B Sass
- Natural Resources Defense Council, Washington, DC, USA
- George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Simona A Bălan
- California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Berkeley, CA, USA
- University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Linda Birnbaum
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Courtney Cooper
- Program On Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California at San Francisco, 490 Illinois Street, Floor 10, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | | | - Roy M Harrison
- School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Department of Environmental Sciences/Centre of Excellence in Environmental Studies, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Marike Kolossa-Gehring
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, Section Toxicology, Health Related Environmental Monitoring, German Federal Environmental Agency, Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
| | - Daniele Mandrioli
- Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center, Ramazzini Institute, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mark A Mitchell
- George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
- Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice, Hartford, CT, USA
| | - Susan L Norris
- Department of Family Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Christopher J Portier
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Toxicogenomics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
- CJP Consulting, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kurt Straif
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Boston College, Newton, MA, USA
| | - Theo Vermeire
- Retired, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Utrecht, The Netherlands
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18
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Salvatore D, Mok K, Garrett KK, Poudrier G, Brown P, Birnbaum LS, Goldenman G, Miller MF, Patton S, Poehlein M, Varshavsky J, Cordner A. Presumptive Contamination: A New Approach to PFAS Contamination Based on Likely Sources. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS 2022; 9:983-990. [PMID: 36398312 PMCID: PMC9648201 DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.2c00502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
While research and regulatory attention to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has increased exponentially in recent years, data are uneven and incomplete about the scale, scope, and severity of PFAS releases and resulting contamination in the United States. This paper argues that in the absence of high-quality testing data, PFAS contamination can be presumed around three types of facilities: (1) fluorinated aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) discharge sites, (2) certain industrial facilities, and (3) sites related to PFAS-containing waste. While data are incomplete on all three types of presumptive PFAS contamination sites, we integrate available geocoded, nationwide data sets into a single map of presumptive contamination sites in the United States, identifying 57,412 sites of presumptive PFAS contamination: 49,145 industrial facilities, 4,255 wastewater treatment plants, 3,493 current or former military sites, and 519 major airports. This conceptual approach allows governments, industries, and communities to rapidly and systematically identify potential exposure sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derrick Salvatore
- Department
of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern
University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Kira Mok
- Department
of Sociology and Anthropology and Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Kimberly K. Garrett
- Department
of Sociology and Anthropology and Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Grace Poudrier
- Department
of Sociology and Anthropology and Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Phil Brown
- Department
of Sociology and Anthropology and Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department
of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Linda S. Birnbaum
- National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
- Duke
University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | | | - Mark F. Miller
- National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and U.S. Public Health
Service, Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Sharyle Patton
- Health
and Environment Program, Commonweal, Bolinas, California 94924, United States
| | - Maddy Poehlein
- PFAS
Project Lab, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Julia Varshavsky
- Department
of Health Sciences and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Alissa Cordner
- Department of Sociology, Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington 99362, United States
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19
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Feng Y, Bai Y, Lu Y, Chen M, Fu M, Guan X, Cao Q, Yuan F, Jie J, Li M, Meng H, Wang C, Hong S, Zhou Y, Zhang X, He M, Guo H. Plasma perfluoroalkyl substance exposure and incidence risk of breast cancer: A case-cohort study in the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 306:119345. [PMID: 35472559 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Experimental studies have suggested perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) as mammary toxicants, but few studies evaluated the prospective associations of PFASs with breast cancer risk. We performed a case-cohort study within the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort, including incident breast cancer cases (n = 226) and a random sub-cohort (n = 990). Baseline plasma concentrations of four perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) [perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)] and two perfluorinated sulfonic acids (PFSAs) [perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS)] were measured. Barlow-weighted Cox regression models revealed that each 1-unit increase in ln-transformed PFOA and PFHpA was associated with a separate 35% and 20% elevated incident risk of breast cancer [HR(95%CI) = 1.35(1.03, 1.78) and 1.20(1.02, 1.40), respectively], which were also significant among postmenopausal females [HR(95%CI) = 1.34(1.01, 1.77) and 1.23 (1.02, 1.48), respectively]. Quantile g-computation analysis observed a 19% increased incident risk of breast cancer along with each simultaneous quartile increase in all ln-transformed PFCA concentrations [HR(95%CI) = 1.19(1.01, 1.41)], with PFOA accounting for 56% of the positive effect. Our findings firstly revealed the impact of short-chain PFHpA on increased incident risk of breast cancer, suggested exposure to PFASs as a risk factor for breast cancer, and shed light on breast cancer prevention by regulating PFASs as a chemical class.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Feng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yansen Bai
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanjun Lu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengshi Chen
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ming Fu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xin Guan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiang Cao
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fangfang Yuan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiali Jie
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengying Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hua Meng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chenming Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shiru Hong
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuhan Zhou
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaomin Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Meian He
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Huan Guo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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20
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Shrader-Frechette K. Does Hazardous-Waste Testing Follow Technical Guidance, Thus Help Protect Environmental Justice and Health? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:7679. [PMID: 35805338 PMCID: PMC9265884 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Does representative hazardous-waste-site testing tend to follow or to violate government technical guidance? This is an important question, because following such guidance promotes reliable risk analysis, adequate remediation, and environmental-justice and -health protection. Yet only government documents typically address this question, usually only when it is too late, when citizens have already exhibited health harm, allegedly from living or working near current/former hazardous-waste sites. Because no systematic, representative, scientific analyses have answered the preceding question, this article begins to investigate it by posing a narrower part of the question: Does representative US testing of volatile-organic-compound (VOC) waste sites tend to follow or to violate government technical requirements? The article (i) outlines US/state-government technical guidance for VOC testing; (ii) develops criteria for discovering representative US cases of VOC testing; (iii) uses the dominant US Environmental Protection Agency method to assess whether these representative cases follow such guidance; (iv) employs the results of (iii) to begin to answer the preceding question; then (v) discusses the degree to which, if any, these results suggest threats to environmental health or justice. Our initial, but representative, results show that almost all US VOC-waste-site testing (that we investigated) violates government technical requirements and systematically underestimates risks, and this may help justify less expensive, potentially health-threatening cleanups, mostly in environmental justice communities. We outline needed future research and suggest two strategies to promote following government technical guidance for hazardous-waste testing.
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21
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Li XQ, Hua ZL, Zhang JY, Gu L. Ecotoxicological responses and removal of submerged macrophyte Hydrilla verticillate to multiple perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) pollutants in aquatic environments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 825:153919. [PMID: 35189236 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitous existence of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in aquatic environments might pose toxic potential to ecosystems. To assess the ecotoxicological responses and removal of submerged macrophyte to multiple PFAA pollutants in aquatic environments, a typical submerged macrophyte, Hydrilla verticillate, was exposed to solutions with 12 typical PFAAs in the present study. The results showed that PFAAs at concentrations higher than 10 μg/L had significantly passive effects on biomass, relative growth rates, chlorophyll contents, and chlorophyll autofluorescence. PFAAs could induce the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation in H. verticillate. Significant upregulation of CAT was observed in treatments with more than 10 μg/L PFAAs (p < 0.05). The results also showed that 13.53-20.01% and 19.73-37.72% of PFAAs could be removed in treatments without plants and with H. verticillate, respectively. The removal rates of PFAAs were significantly correlated with perfluoroalkyl chain length in treatments with H. verticillate. The removal of PFAAs was suggested to be related to the uptake of plant tissues and biosorption of microbiota. Furthermore, the dominant microbiota and biomarkers were identified in water and biofilm. Betaproteobacteriales was the most dominant microbiota at the order level. The presence of PFAAs could significantly increase the relative abundance of Micrococcales, Verrucomicrobiales, Rhizobiales, Sphingomonadales, Roseomonas, Cyanobium_PCC_6307, and Synechococcales. Our results provide scientific basis for evaluating the ecotoxicological responses and removal of submerged macrophytes in response to multiple PFAA pollutants at environmentally relevant levels, thereby providing insights into PFAA management and removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Qing Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China; Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development, Jiangsu 210098, PR China.
| | - Zu-Lin Hua
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China; Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development, Jiangsu 210098, PR China.
| | - Jian-Yun Zhang
- Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development, Jiangsu 210098, PR China.
| | - Li Gu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China; Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development, Jiangsu 210098, PR China.
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22
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Buckley J, Kuiper JR, Bennett DH, Barrett ES, Bastain T, Breton CV, Chinthakindi S, Dunlop AL, Farzan SF, Herbstman JB, Karagas MR, Marsit CJ, Meeker JD, Morello-Frosch R, O’Connor TG, Romano ME, Schantz S, Schmidt RJ, Watkins DJ, Zhu H, Pellizzari ED, Kannan K, Woodruff TJ. Exposure to Contemporary and Emerging Chemicals in Commerce among Pregnant Women in the United States: The Environmental influences on Child Health Outcome (ECHO) Program. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:6560-6573. [PMID: 35536918 PMCID: PMC9118548 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c08942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal chemical exposures can influence maternal and child health; however, few industrial chemicals are routinely biomonitored. We assessed an extensive panel of contemporary and emerging chemicals in 171 pregnant women across the United States (U.S.) and Puerto Rico in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program. We simultaneously measured urinary concentrations of 89 analytes (103 total chemicals representing 73 parent compounds) in nine chemical groups: bactericides, benzophenones, bisphenols, fungicides and herbicides, insecticides, organophosphate esters (OPEs), parabens, phthalates/alternative plasticizers, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). We estimated associations of creatinine-adjusted concentrations with sociodemographic and specimen characteristics. Among our diverse prenatal population (60% non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic), we detected 73 of 89 analytes in ≥1 participant and 36 in >50% of participants. Five analytes not currently included in the U.S. biomonitoring were detected in ≥90% of samples: benzophenone-1, thiamethoxam, mono-2-(propyl-6-carboxy-hexyl) phthalate, monocarboxy isooctyl phthalate, and monohydroxy-iso-decyl phthalate. Many analyte concentrations were higher among women of Hispanic ethnicity compared to those of non-Hispanic White women. Concentrations of certain chemicals decreased with the calendar year, whereas concentrations of their replacements increased. Our largest study to date identified widespread exposures to prevalent and understudied chemicals in a diverse sample of pregnant women in the U.S.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie
P. Buckley
- Department
of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Jordan R. Kuiper
- Department
of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Deborah H. Bennett
- Department
of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Emily S. Barrett
- Department
of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers
School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Tracy Bastain
- Department
of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90032, United States
| | - Carrie V. Breton
- Department
of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90032, United States
| | - Sridhar Chinthakindi
- Department
of Pediatrics and Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | - Anne L. Dunlop
- Department
of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University
School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Shohreh F. Farzan
- Department
of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90032, United States
| | - Julie B. Herbstman
- Department
of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia, New York, NY 10032, United States
| | - Margaret R. Karagas
- Department
of Epidemiology, Dartmouth Geisel School
of Medicine, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756, United States
| | - Carmen J. Marsit
- Department
of Environmental Health, Rollins School
of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - John D. Meeker
- Department
of Environmental Health Sciences, University
of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Rachel Morello-Frosch
- Department
of Environmental Science, Policy and Management and School of Public
Health, University of California, Berkeley California 94720, United States
| | - Thomas G. O’Connor
- Department
of Psychiatry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, United States
| | - Megan E. Romano
- Department
of Epidemiology, Dartmouth Geisel School
of Medicine, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756, United States
| | - Susan Schantz
- Beckman
Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Rebecca J. Schmidt
- Department
of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Deborah J. Watkins
- Department
of Environmental Health Sciences, University
of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Hongkai Zhu
- Department
of Pediatrics and Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | - Edo D. Pellizzari
- RTI International, Research Triangle
Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Kurunthachalam Kannan
- Department
of Pediatrics and Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | - Tracey J. Woodruff
- Department
of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences and the Philip
R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
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23
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Eichler CMA, Bi C, Wang C, Little JC. A modular mechanistic framework for estimating exposure to SVOCs: Next steps for modeling emission and partitioning of plasticizers and PFAS. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2022; 32:356-365. [PMID: 35318457 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-022-00419-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Estimates of human exposure to semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) such as phthalates, phthalate alternatives, and some per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are required for the risk-based evaluation of chemicals. Recently, a modular mechanistic modeling framework to rapidly predict SVOC emission and partitioning in indoor environments has been presented, in which several mechanistically consistent source emission categories (SECs) were identified. However, not all SECs have well-developed emission models. In addition, data on model parameters are missing even for frequently studied SVOCs. These knowledge gaps impede the comprehensive prediction of the fate of SVOCs indoors. In this paper, sets of high-priority phthalates, phthalate alternatives, and PFAS were identified based on chemical occurrence indoors and additional selection criteria. These high-priority chemicals served as the basis for exploring model parameter availability for existing indoor SVOC emission and partitioning models. The results reveal that additional experimental and modeling work is needed to fully understand the behavior of SVOCs indoors and to predict exposures with greater confidence and lower uncertainty. Modeling approaches to fill some of the identified gaps are proposed. The prioritized sets of chemicals and proposed new modeling approaches will help guide future research. The inclusion of polar phases in the framework will further expand its applicability and scope. IMPACT STATEMENT: This paper compiles data on high-priority chemicals commonly found indoors and information on the availability of applicable models and model parameters to predict emission, partitioning, and subsequent exposure to these chemicals. Modeling approaches for a selection of the missing SECs (source emission categories) are proposed, to illustrate the path forward. The comprehensive data set helps inform researchers, exposure assessors, and policy makers to better understand the state of the science regarding modeling of indoor exposure to semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara M A Eichler
- Virginia Tech, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Chenyang Bi
- Virginia Tech, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Chunyi Wang
- Virginia Tech, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - John C Little
- Virginia Tech, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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24
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Schildroth S, Rodgers KM, Strynar M, McCord J, Poma G, Covaci A, Dodson RE. Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and persistent chemical mixtures in dust from U.S. colleges. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 206:112530. [PMID: 34902383 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Indoor spaces contain several classes of persistent organic chemicals, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). However, concentrations of PFAS and persistent chemical mixtures and their associations with building characteristics on college campuses are understudied. We collected dust from 43 nonresidential spaces on four U.S. college campuses in 2016 and evaluated associations of room characteristics (carpeting, upholstered furniture, and years since last furnished) with dust concentrations of PFAS, PBDEs, PCBs, and OCPs. Nine PFAS, twelve PBDEs, two PCBs, and four OCPs were each detected in at least 75% of the spaces, including several chemicals (e.g., DDT) that have been banned for decades. Concentrations were correlated within and, in some cases, between chemical classes. Wall-to-wall carpeting (compared to rooms without wall-to-wall carpeting) was associated with higher concentrations of six individual PFAS and a mixture of PFAS, and the number of pieces of upholstered furniture was associated with increased concentrations of a mixture of PBDEs. These findings indicate that carpeting and furniture are current sources of PFAS and PBDEs, respectively. Building and finish materials should be carefully selected to avoid exposure to persistent chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Schildroth
- Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Kathryn M Rodgers
- Silent Spring Institute, 320 Nevada Street, Suite 302, Newton, MA, 02460, USA
| | - Mark Strynar
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling Durham, NC, 27711, USA
| | - James McCord
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling Durham, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Giulia Poma
- Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Robin E Dodson
- Silent Spring Institute, 320 Nevada Street, Suite 302, Newton, MA, 02460, USA.
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25
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Petrick LM, Wolff MS, Barupal D, Teitelbaum SL. Comparison of untargeted and targeted perfluoroalkyl acids measured in adolescent girls. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 290:133303. [PMID: 34921852 PMCID: PMC8770605 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Quantitative biomonitoring (e.g., targeted analysis) has served as the gold standard for environmental exposure biomonitoring for several decades. Recent advancements to broaden exposomic research brought new semi-quantitative untargeted assays that capture a wide range of endogenous metabolites and exogenous exposures in a single assay for discovery, though usually at the expense of absolute quantitation. The high-resolution mass spectrometers (HRMS) typically used in untargeted workflows are sensitive and robust, but there do not yet exist comprehensive comparisons between environmental chemicals at population exposure levels measured using targeted and untargeted assays. Using liquid chromatography (LC)-HRMS, we measured per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) including perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), n-perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), n-perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) in plasma of 180 girls from New York City, and compared them to previously obtained targeted measures using correlation and rank order methods. We showed high agreement between the methods with Spearman Rhos ranging from 0.69 to 0.92 and weighted Kappa's from 0.62 to 0.82 for tertiles among the PFAS. This finding demonstrates that semi-quantitative data from untargeted assays designed for exposomics can be reliably used to estimate environmental exposures occurring in the general population, providing an economic alternative to targeted assays. We also describe an approach that can be used to compare relative quantitation measurements from an untargeted assay to traditional targeted measures to establish fit-for-purpose usability and validation. These results suggest that environmental exposure measures from untargeted assays can serve as reliable inputs into statistical analysis for discovery and for determining their resultant biological impacts. Future efforts to develop new statistical approaches for standardization and merging with targeted measures-toward harmonization-will further enhance the utility of untargeted assays in environmental epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M Petrick
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
| | - Mary S Wolff
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Dinesh Barupal
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Susan L Teitelbaum
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
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26
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Implications of PFAS Definitions Using Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals. iScience 2022; 25:104020. [PMID: 35313699 PMCID: PMC8933701 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
There are 9,000+ per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in existence, which makes studying and regulating PFAS individually, or even as small mixtures, infeasible. Multiple PFAS definitions based on structure have been proposed, yet these definitions do not consider the implications for the full suite of organofluorine chemicals. For example, organofluorine pharmaceuticals, whose use may be essential and are found in human serum and wastewater, are not uniformly identified across all definitions. Using nine definitions prepared by various stakeholders, we screened the 360 organofluorine pharmaceuticals approved and used globally between 1954 and 2021. Definitions ranged in their inclusion of organofluorine pharmaceuticals (1%–100%). The most inclusive definitions include several top prescribed pharmaceuticals, e.g., Prozac and Lipitor. This analysis provides a framework against which organizations can make decisions about how best to proceed when defining PFAS. Nine PFAS definitions were evaluated and used to screen 360 organofluorine drugs Broad definitions include many top prescribed pharmaceuticals, e.g., Prozac and Lipitor Implications for fluorinated pharmaceuticals depend on intended use of the definition Findings necessitate discussion of possible exemptions for pharmaceuticals
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27
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Mirzaei S, Espinoza Castro VM, Hernández Sánchez R. Nonspherical anion sequestration by C-H hydrogen bonding. Chem Sci 2022; 13:2026-2032. [PMID: 35308854 PMCID: PMC8849022 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc07041j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrocyclic arenes laid the foundations of supramolecular chemistry and their study established the fundamentals of noncovalent interactions. Advancing their frontier, here we designed rigidified resorcin[4]arenes that serve as hosts for large nonspherical anions. In one synthetic step, we vary the host's anion affinity properties by more than seven orders of magnitude. This is possible by engineering electropositive aromatic C–H bond donors in an idealized square planar geometry embedded within the host's inner cavity. The hydrogen atom's electropositivity is tuned by introducing fluorine atoms as electron withdrawing groups. These novel macrocycles, termed fluorocages, are engineered to sequester large anions. Indeed, experimental data shows an increase in the anion association constant (Ka) as the number of F atoms increase. The observed trend is rationalized by DFT calculations of Hirshfeld Charges (HCs). Most importantly, fluorocages in solution showed weak-to-medium binding affinity for large anions like [PF6]− (102< Ka <104 M−1), and high affinity for [MeSO3]− (Ka >106). Fluorocages: new class of rigidified host utilizing nontraditional C–H hydrogen bonds to capture the nonspherical anions.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Saber Mirzaei
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh 219 Parkman Ave. Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15260 USA
| | - Victor M Espinoza Castro
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh 219 Parkman Ave. Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15260 USA
| | - Raúl Hernández Sánchez
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh 219 Parkman Ave. Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15260 USA
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Wallington TJ, Andersen MPS, Nielsen OJ. The case for a more precise definition of regulated PFAS. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2021; 23:1834-1838. [PMID: 34817495 DOI: 10.1039/d1em00296a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We argue that there is a need for a more precise of PFAS in a way that avoids including compounds with single CF3-, -CF2-, or CF- groups and excludes TFA and compounds that degrade to just give TFA. An example that meets this need is the definition by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of PFAS as "per- and polyfluorinated substances that structurally contain the unit R-(CF2)-C(F)(R1)R2. Both the CF2 and CF moieties are saturated carbons and none of the R groups (R, R1, or R2) can be hydrogen". Adoption of this definition, or one like it, would place future technical and regulatory discussions of the environmental impacts of organo-fluorine compounds on a sounder technical footing by focusing PFAS discussions and regulation on long-chain perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids and perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- T J Wallington
- Research & Advanced Engineering, Ford Motor Company, Mail Drop RIC-2122, Dearborn, Michigan 48121-2053, USA.
| | - M P Sulbaek Andersen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, CA 91330-8262, USA
| | - O J Nielsen
- Copenhagen Center for Atmospheric Research, Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Kirk AB, Michelsen-Correa S, Rosen C, Martin CF, Blumberg B. PFAS and Potential Adverse Effects on Bone and Adipose Tissue Through Interactions With PPARγ. Endocrinology 2021; 162:6364127. [PMID: 34480479 PMCID: PMC9034324 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a widely dispersed, broad class of synthetic chemicals with diverse biological effects, including effects on adipose and bone differentiation. PFAS most commonly occur as mixtures and only rarely, if ever, as single environmental contaminants. This poses significant regulatory questions and a pronounced need for chemical risk assessments, analytical methods, and technological solutions to reduce the risk to public and environmental health. The effects of PFAS on biological systems may be complex. Each may have several molecular targets initiating multiple biochemical events leading to a number of different adverse outcomes. An exposure to mixtures or coexposures of PFAS complicates the picture further. This review illustrates how PFAS target peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors. Additionally, we describe how such activation leads to changes in cell differentiation and bone development that contributes to metabolic disorder and bone weakness. This discussion sheds light on the importance of seemingly modest outcomes observed in test animals and highlights why the most sensitive end points identified in some chemical risk assessments are significant from a public health perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea B Kirk
- Correspondence: Andrea Kirk, PhD, US EPA Headquarters, William Jefferson Clinton Bldg, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Mail Code 5201P, Washington, DC 20460, USA.
| | - Stephani Michelsen-Correa
- EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division, Washington, District of Columbia 20460, USA
| | - Cliff Rosen
- Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA
| | | | - Bruce Blumberg
- University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, USA
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30
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Brennan NM, Evans AT, Fritz MK, Peak SA, von Holst HE. Trends in the Regulation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): A Scoping Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:10900. [PMID: 34682663 PMCID: PMC8536021 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Products containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used for decades in industrial and consumer products. These compounds are persistent in the environment, bioaccumulative, and some are toxic to humans and other animals. Since the early 2000s, laws, policies, and regulations have been implemented to reduce the prevalence of PFAS in the environment and exposures to PFAS. We conducted a scoping literature review to identify how PFAS are regulated internationally, at the U.S. national level, and at the U.S. state level, as well as drivers of and challenges to implementing PFAS regulations in the U.S. This review captured peer-reviewed scientific literature (e.g., PubMed), grey literature databases (e.g., SciTech Premium Collection), Google searches, and targeted websites (e.g., state health department websites). We identified 454 relevant documents, of which 61 discussed the non-U.S. PFAS policy, 214 discussed the U.S. national-level PFAS policy, and 181 discussed the U.S. state-level PFAS policy. The drivers of and challenges to PFAS regulation were identified through qualitative analysis. The drivers of PFAS policy identified were political support for regulation, social awareness of PFAS, economic resource availability, and compelling scientific evidence. The challenges to implementing PFAS regulations were political limitations, economic challenges, unclear scientific evidence, and practical challenges. The implications for PFAS policy makers and other stakeholders are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abigail Teresa Evans
- Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH 43201, USA; (N.M.B.); (M.K.F.); (S.A.P.); (H.E.v.H.)
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Ng C, Cousins IT, DeWitt JC, Glüge J, Goldenman G, Herzke D, Lohmann R, Miller M, Patton S, Scheringer M, Trier X, Wang Z. Addressing Urgent Questions for PFAS in the 21st Century. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:12755-12765. [PMID: 34519210 PMCID: PMC8590733 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite decades of research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), fundamental obstacles remain to addressing worldwide contamination by these chemicals and their associated impacts on environmental quality and health. Here, we propose six urgent questions relevant to science, technology, and policy that must be tackled to address the "PFAS problem": (1) What are the global production volumes of PFAS, and where are PFAS used? (2) Where are the unknown PFAS hotspots in the environment? (3) How can we make measuring PFAS globally accessible? (4) How can we safely manage PFAS-containing waste? (5) How do we understand and describe the health effects of PFAS exposure? (6) Who pays the costs of PFAS contamination? The importance of each question and barriers to progress are briefly described, and several potential paths forward are proposed. Given the diversity of PFAS and their uses, the extreme persistence of most PFAS, the striking ongoing lack of fundamental information, and the inequity of the health and environmental impacts from PFAS contamination, there is a need for scientific and regulatory communities to work together, with cooperation from PFAS-related industries, to fill in critical data gaps and protect human health and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Ng
- Departments of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Environmental & Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA
| | - Ian T. Cousins
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jamie C. DeWitt
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834 USA
| | - Juliane Glüge
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Dorte Herzke
- Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), Fram Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway, and Institute for Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, N-9037 TromsH, Norway
| | - Rainer Lohmann
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA
| | - Mark Miller
- National Institute of Environmental Health Science and U.S. Public Health Service, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Sharyle Patton
- Health and Environment Program, Commonweal, Bolinas, California 94924, United States
| | - Martin Scheringer
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
- RECETOX, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Xenia Trier
- European Environment Agency, Kgs Nytorv 6, DK - 1050 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Zhanyun Wang
- Chair of Ecological Systems Design, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
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Cordner A, Goldenman G, Birnbaum LS, Brown P, Miller MF, Mueller R, Patton S, Salvatore DH, Trasande L. The True Cost of PFAS and the Benefits of Acting Now. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:9630-9633. [PMID: 34231362 PMCID: PMC8296683 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alissa Cordner
- Department
of Sociology, Whitman College; Walla Walla, Washington 99362, United States
| | | | - Linda S. Birnbaum
- Scientist
Emeritus, National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences; Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709-2233United States
- Scholar
in Residence, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 97708, United States
| | - Phil Brown
- Department
of Sociology and Anthropology and Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University; Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5005, United States
| | - Mark F. Miller
- National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and U.S. Public Health
Service; Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709-2233United States
| | - Rosie Mueller
- Department
of Economics, Whitman College; Walla Walla, Washington 99362, United States
| | - Sharyle Patton
- Health
and
Environment Program, Commonweal; Bolinas, California 94924, United States
| | - Derrick H. Salvatore
- Department
of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern
University; Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5005, United States
| | - Leonardo Trasande
- Center for
the Investigation of Environmental Hazards, New York University Grossman School of Medicine; New York City, New York 10016-6402, United States
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Konkel L. The P-Sufficient Approach: A Strategy for Regulating PFAS as a Class. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:54002. [PMID: 33989041 PMCID: PMC8121380 DOI: 10.1289/ehp9302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
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