1
|
Gonzales AK, Donaher SE, Wattier BD, Martinez NE. Exposure of Lemna minor (Common Duckweed) to Mixtures of Uranium and Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA). Environ Toxicol Chem 2023; 42:2412-2421. [PMID: 37477461 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
A variety of processes, both natural and anthropogenic, can have a negative impact on surface waters, which in turn can be detrimental to human and environmental health. Few studies have considered the ecotoxicological impacts of concurrently occurring contaminants, and that is particularly true for mixtures that include contaminants of emerging concern (CEC). Motivated by this knowledge gap, the present study considers the potential ecotoxicity of environmentally relevant contaminants in the representative aquatic plant Lemna minor (common duckweed), a model organism. More specifically, biological effects associated with exposure of L. minor to a ubiquitous radionuclide (uranium [U]) and a fluorinated organic compound (perfluorooctanoic acid [PFOA], considered a CEC), alone and in combination, were monitored under controlled laboratory conditions. Lemna minor was grown for 5 days in small, aerated containers. Each treatment consisted of four replicates with seven plants each. Treatments were 0, 0.3, and 3 ppb PFOA; 0, 0.5, and 5 ppb U; and combinations of these. Plants were observed daily for frond number and signs of chlorosis and necrosis. Other biological endpoints examined at the conclusion of the experiment were chlorophyll content and antioxidant capacity. In single-exposure experiments, a slight stimulatory effect was observed on frond number at 0.3 ppb PFOA, whereas both concentrations of U had a detrimental effect on frond number. In the dual-exposure experiment, the combinations with 5 ppb U also had a detrimental effect on frond number. Results for chlorophyll content and antioxidant capacity were less meaningful, suggesting that environmentally relevant concentrations of PFOA and U have only subtle effects on L. minor growth and health status. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:2412-2421. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annelise K Gonzales
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Sarah E Donaher
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Bryanna D Wattier
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Nicole E Martinez
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
- Center for Nuclear Environmental Engineering Sciences and Radioactive Waste Management, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Xu Z, Du B, Wang H, Li Z, Wu Y, Wang Q, Niu Y, Zhang Q, Sun K, Wang J, Chen S. Perfluoroalkyl substances in umbilical cord blood and blood pressure in offspring: a prospective cohort study. Environ Health 2023; 22:72. [PMID: 37858165 PMCID: PMC10585876 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-023-01023-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Humans are widely exposed to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which have been found to be associated with various adverse birth outcomes. As blood pressure (BP) is an important parameter reflecting cardiovascular health in early life, it is necessary to investigate the association of PFAS exposure during early lifetime and BP in childhood. Therefore, we investigated the potential association between PFAS levels in umbilical cord blood and BP of the offspring at 4 years of age in a prospective cohort study. METHODS PFAS in umbilical cord blood samples after birth were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry in the Shanghai Birth Cohort. BP was measured at 4 years of age in the offspring. Multiple linear regression model was used to investigate the association between individual PFAS level and BP of the offspring. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) was used to analyze the relationship between the PFAS mixture and BP of the offspring, while weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression was utilized for sensitivity analysis. RESULTS A total of 129 mother-child pairs were included in our analysis. In multiple linear regressions, we observed that long-chain PFAS, mainly including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUA), was negatively associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP). BKMR showed that an increase in umbilical cord blood PFAS mixture levels was significantly associated with a decrease in SBP, DBP and MAP [Estimated differences (SD): -0.433 (0.161); -0.437 (0.176); -0.382 (0.179), respectively]. The most important component in the association with SBP, DBP, and MAP was PFUA. PFDoA was found to be positively associated with SBP, DBP and MAP in both models. Sensitivity analysis with WQS regression showed consistent results. CONCLUSION Our findings suggested that umbilical blood PFAS exposure was negatively associated with BP in offspring at 4 years of age, including SBP, DBP, and MAP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhikang Xu
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.1665, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Bowen Du
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.1665, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Hualin Wang
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.1665, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Zhuoyan Li
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.1665, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yujian Wu
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.1665, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Qianchuo Wang
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.1665, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yiwei Niu
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.1665, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Qianlong Zhang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Kun Sun
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.1665, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.1665, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| | - Sun Chen
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.1665, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Suski JG, Chanov MK, Heron CG, Field JA, Salice CJ. Ecotoxicity and Accumulation of Perfluorononanoic Acid in the Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas) and an Approach to Developing Protective Thresholds in the Aquatic Environment Through Species Sensitivity Distribution. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023; 42:2229-2236. [PMID: 37294059 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in the environment. Locations where PFAS-containing aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) has been used or accidentally released have resulted in persistently high concentrations of PFAS, including in surface water that may be adjacent to release sites. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) is most frequently measured near AFFF release sites; however, other PFAS are being quantified more frequently and, of those, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) is common. The goal of our study was to fill data gaps on PFNA toxicity to freshwater fish using the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). We aimed to understand how PFNA may impact apical endpoints following a 42-day exposure to mature fish and a 21-day exposure to second-generation larval fish. Exposure concentrations were 0, 124, 250, 500, and 1000 µg/L for both adult (F0) and larval (F1) generations. The most sensitive endpoint measured was development in the F1 generation at concentrations of ≥250 µg/L. The 10% and 20% effective concentration of the tested population for the F1 biomass endpoint was 100.3 and 129.5 µg/L, respectively. These data were collated with toxicity values from the primary literature on aquatic organisms exposed to PFNA for subchronic or chronic durations. A species sensitivity distribution was developed to estimate a screening-level threshold for PFNA. The resulting hazard concentration protective of 95% of the freshwater aquatic species was 55 µg PFNA/L. Although this value is likely protective of aquatic organisms exposed to PFNA, it is prudent to consider that organisms experience multiple stressors (including many PFAS) simultaneously; an approach to understand screening-level thresholds for PFAS mixtures remains an uncertainty within the field of ecological risk assessment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:2229-2236. © 2023 SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jamie G Suski
- Water and Natural Resources, EA Engineering, Science and Technology, PBC, Hunt Valley, Maryland, USA
| | - Michael K Chanov
- Water and Natural Resources, EA Engineering, Science and Technology, PBC, Hunt Valley, Maryland, USA
| | - Christopher G Heron
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Jennifer A Field
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dunder L, Salihovic S, Elmståhl S, Lind PM, Lind L. Associations between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and diabetes in two population-based cohort studies from Sweden. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2023; 33:748-756. [PMID: 36964247 PMCID: PMC10541316 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-023-00529-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been suggested to contribute to the development of metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, evidence from epidemiological studies remain divergent. The aim of the present study was to evaluate associations between PFAS exposure and prevalent diabetes in a cross-sectional analysis and fasting glucose in a longitudinal analysis. METHODS In 2373 subjects aged 45-75 years from the EpiHealth study, three PFAS; perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) were analyzed in plasma together with information on prevalent diabetes. Participants in the PIVUS study (n = 1016 at baseline, all aged 70 years) were followed over 10 years regarding changes in plasma levels of six PFAS; PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), and changes in plasma levels of fasting glucose. RESULTS In the EpiHealth study, no overall associations could be observed between the levels of PFOA, PFOS or PFHxS and prevalent diabetes. However, there was a significant sex-interaction for PFOA (p = 0.02), and an inverse association could be seen between PFOA (on a SD-scale) and prevalent diabetes in women only (OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.52, 0.96, p-value: 0.02). This association showed a non-monotonic dose-response curve. In the PIVUS study, inverse relationships could be observed between the changes in levels (ln-transformed) of PFOA and PFUnDA vs the change in fasting glucose levels (ln-transformed) over 10 years (p = 0.04 and p = 0.02, respectively). As in EpiHealth, these inverse associations were significant only in women (PFOA: β: -0.03, p = 0.02, PFUnDA: β: -0.03, p = 0.03). IMPACT Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been linked to unfavorable human health, including metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, results from in vivo, in vitro and epidemiological studies are incoherent. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate associations between PFAS and diabetes in a cross-sectional study and glucose levels in a longitudinal study. Results show inverse associations in women only. Results also display non-monotonic dose response curves (i.e., that only low levels of PFOA are related to higher probability of prevalent diabetes). This suggests that sex differences and complex molecular mechanisms may underlie the observed findings. A better understanding of the factors and molecular mechanisms contributing to such differences is recognized as an important direction for future research. CONCLUSIONS PFOA was found to be inversely related to both prevalent diabetes and changes in plasma glucose levels among women only. Thus, our findings suggest there are sex differences in the inverse relationship of PFOA and type 2 diabetes and glucose levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linda Dunder
- Department of Medical Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | | | - Sölve Elmståhl
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - P 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
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kim OJ, Kim S, Park EY, Oh JK, Jung SK, Park S, Hong S, Jeon HL, Kim HJ, Park B, Park B, Kim S, Kim B. Exposure to serum perfluoroalkyl substances and biomarkers of liver function: The Korean national environmental health survey 2015-2017. Chemosphere 2023; 322:138208. [PMID: 36822523 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may increase the risk of liver disease by disrupting cholesterol and lipid synthesis/metabolism, leading to higher liver-enzyme concentrations. However, most studies assessing association between PFAS and liver enzymes focused on individual PFAS. Moreover, PFAS concentrations differ based on sex and obesity status, and it remains unclear whether these factors affect associations with liver function. Therefore, we examined the association between exposure to both individual and combined PFAS and liver-function biomarkers and assessed sex and obesity as effect modifiers in Korean adults. METHODS We measured serum concentrations of the five most abundant PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFDA, PFNA) and three liver enzymes (alanine transaminase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], γ-glutamyl transferase [GGT]) in 1404 adults from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey Cycle 3, 2015-2017. We used linear regression to evaluate associations between individual PFAS and liver-function biomarkers, assessing sex and obesity as possible effect modifiers, and performed Bayesian kernel machine regression and quantile g-computation to evaluate the overall effect of PFAS mixture on biomarkers of liver function. RESULTS Among 1404 Korean adults, all five PFAS were detected. Geometric mean concentration was highest for PFOS (16.11 μg/L), followed by PFOA (5.83 μg/L), PFHxS (2.21 μg/L), PFNA (2.03 μg/L), and PFDA (1.06 μg/L). In multivariable linear regression, all PFAS were positively associated with ALT, AST, and GGT; 2-fold increase in each PFAS was associated with 3.4-8.6% higher ALT, 2.4-4.6% higher AST, and 4.6-11.1% higher GGT (all p < 0.05). Positive associations for PFOA, PFDA, and PFNA with AST were stronger in men, and positive associations for PFOS with ALT and GGT were stronger in women. Compared to obese participants, nonobese participants had higher average percent changes in each enzyme, particularly GGT, when individual PFAS concentration doubled. Additionally, increased exposure to PFAS mixtures was associated with higher ALT, AST, and GGT. In quantile g-computations, simultaneous quartile increase in all PFAS was significantly associated with 6.9% (95%CI: 3.7, 10.2) higher ALT, 4.5% (95%CI: 2.4, 6.6) higher AST, and 8.3% (95%CI: 3.7, 13.1) higher GGT levels, on average. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to individual and combined PFAS is associated with higher liver enzymes in Korean adults, providing additional evidence for the association between PFAS exposure and risk of liver disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ok-Jin Kim
- Environmental Health Research Department, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Seyoung Kim
- National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, 10408, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Young Park
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Kyoung Oh
- National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, 10408, Republic of Korea; Department of Cancer Control and Population Health, Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang, 10408, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Kyoung Jung
- Environmental Health Research Department, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Soyoung Park
- Environmental Health Research Department, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Sooyeon Hong
- Environmental Health Research Department, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Li Jeon
- Environmental Health Research Department, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Jin Kim
- National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, 10408, Republic of Korea; Department of Cancer Control and Population Health, Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang, 10408, Republic of Korea
| | - Bohyun Park
- National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, 10408, Republic of Korea
| | - Bomi Park
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Suejin Kim
- Environmental Health Research Department, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea.
| | - Byungmi Kim
- National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, 10408, Republic of Korea; Department of Cancer Control and Population Health, Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang, 10408, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Steeves KL, Bissram MJ, Kleywegt S, Stevens D, Dorman FL, Simpson AJ, Simpson MJ, Cahill LS, Jobst KJ. Nontargeted screening reveals fluorotelomer ethoxylates in indoor dust and industrial wastewater. Environ Int 2023; 171:107634. [PMID: 36459821 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Concerns regarding the persistence, bioaccumulation behaviour, and toxicity of perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid have resulted in the creation of thousands of replacement perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This study reports on the discovery of fluorotelomer ethoxylates (FTEO) in indoor dust (9/15 samples), and industrial effluents (14/37 samples) using gas chromatographic cyclic ion mobility mass spectrometry (GC-cIMS). By filtering the detected unknowns by mass and collision-cross section, a series of FTEO homologues were revealed with the formula F-(CF2)n(C2H4O)xH, where n = 6,8,10, and x = 4-12. The highest concentrations were observed in samples collected from healthcare facilities, consistent with the potential use of these compounds in anti-fog products, sprays used to prevent condensation on eyeglasses. FTEOs were also detected in c. 40 % of industrial effluent samples, with the highest concentrations in electroplating facilities, manufacturers of cosmetics and personal care products, and linen cleaning services for healthcare and work uniforms. These results suggest that FTEOs may well be widespread pollutants that are more persistent than previously thought, underlining the need for further study of their occurrence and potential impact to human health and the environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine L Steeves
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 45 Arctic Ave., St. John's, NL A1C 5S7, Canada
| | - Meera J Bissram
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 45 Arctic Ave., St. John's, NL A1C 5S7, Canada
| | - Sonya Kleywegt
- Technical Assessment and Standards Development Branch, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, 40 St. Clair Ave. W., Toronto, ON M4V 1P5, Canada
| | | | - Frank L Dorman
- Waters Corporation, 34 Maple St., Milford, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry, Dartmouth College, Hannover, NH, USA
| | - Andre J Simpson
- Departments of Chemistry and Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough, ON M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Myrna J Simpson
- Departments of Chemistry and Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough, ON M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Lindsay S Cahill
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 45 Arctic Ave., St. John's, NL A1C 5S7, Canada
| | - Karl J Jobst
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 45 Arctic Ave., St. John's, NL A1C 5S7, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Liu Y, Shao LX, Yu WJ, Bao J, Li TY, Hu XM, Zhao X. Simultaneous removal of multiple PFAS from contaminated groundwater around a fluorochemical facility by the periodically reversing electrocoagulation technique. Chemosphere 2022; 307:135874. [PMID: 35926750 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Increasing attentions have been paid on widespread contaminations of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Particularly, simultaneous occurrence of multiple PFAS in the aquatic environments globally has been recognized as a crucial emerging issue. The present study aimed to perform simultaneous removal of multiple PFAS contaminations from groundwater around a fluorochemical facility based upon the technique of periodically reversing electrocoagulation (PREC). Accordingly, the experiments were implemented on the best conditions, actual application, and removal mechanism in the process of PREC with Al-Zn electrodes. Consequently, 1 mg/L synthetic solution of ten PFAS could be eliminated ideally during the initial 10 min, under the optimal conditions involving voltage at 12 V, pH at 7.0, and electrolyte with NaCl. The maximum removal rates of perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were 90.9%, 91.0%, 99.7%, and 100%, respectively. The PREC performed a significant improvement for the wide scope of PFAS removal with the levels ranging from 10 μg/L to 100 mg/L. In addition, the optimized PREC technique was further applied to remove various PFAS contaminations from the natural groundwater samples underneath the fluorochemical facility, subsequently generating the removal efficiencies in the range between 31.3% and 99.9%, showing the observable advantages compared with other removal techniques for the actual application. Finally, the mechanism of PFAS removal was mainly related to enmeshment and synergistic bridging adsorption, together with oxidation degradation that determined by potential formation of short-chain PFAS in the PREC process. As a result, the PREC technique would be a promising technique for the efficient removal of multiple PFAS contaminations simultaneously from natural water bodies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shenyang University of Technology, Shenyang, 110870, China.
| | - Li-Xin Shao
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shenyang University of Technology, Shenyang, 110870, China
| | - Wen-Jing Yu
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shenyang University of Technology, Shenyang, 110870, China; School of Water Resources & Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Jia Bao
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shenyang University of Technology, Shenyang, 110870, China.
| | - Ting-Yu Li
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shenyang University of Technology, Shenyang, 110870, China
| | - Xiao-Min Hu
- School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
McDermett KS, Guelfo J, Anderson TA, Reible D, Jackson AW. The development of diffusive equilibrium, high-resolution passive samplers to measure perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater. Chemosphere 2022; 303:134686. [PMID: 35489449 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of anthropogenic, highly recalcitrant organic compounds consisting of thousands of individual species that are of increasing importance as groundwater contaminants. In-situ measurements of PFAS would be useful to better understand vertical profiles and mobility, contamination in partially saturated media, and to reduce sampling artifacts associated with groundwater collection and analysis. Diffusive equilibrium, high-resolution passive samplers (HRPPs) can be directly driven (>10 m) in sediments or groundwater. The samplers equilibrate with porewater through diffusion across the sampler membrane, providing high spatial resolution (sample every 20 cm) porewater concentrations of dissolved species. The objective of this study was to develop an HRPP to measure PFAS in contaminated groundwater and saturated media. To achieve this objective, a screening study was conducted to demonstrate quantitative measurement of selected PFAS as well as the kinetics of uptake into a sampler using both nylon and stainless steel membranes. Utilizing the results of the screening study, a prototype sampler was demonstrated in a laboratory flow box. Over a deployment period of 28 days, concentrations of several perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), a perfluoroalkyl sulfonate (PFSA), and a precursor PFAS reached equilibrium with porewater (sampler concentration >90 percent of porewater concentration). Application of these samplers could provide improved understanding of the behavior of PFAS in saturated or partially saturated groundwater systems and allow better assessment of fate and transport in the subsurface. Reliable subsurface site characterization will yield robust site assessments, conceptual models, and improve remediation designs as well as increase confidence in post remedial assessments at PFAS-impacted locations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaylin S McDermett
- (Primary Author) Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - Jennifer Guelfo
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - Todd A Anderson
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79416, USA
| | - Danny Reible
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - Andrew W Jackson
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering, Texas Tech University, 911 Boston Ave., Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Gebreab KY, Benetti D, Grosell M, Stieglitz JD, Berry JP. Toxicity of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) toward embryonic stages of mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus). Ecotoxicology 2022; 31:1057-1067. [PMID: 35982347 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-022-02576-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly persistent organic pollutants that have been detected in a wide array of environmental matrices and, in turn, diverse biota including humans and wildlife wherein they have been associated with a multitude of toxic, and otherwise adverse effects, including ecosystem impacts. In the present study, we developed a toxicity assay for embryonic stages of mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus), as an environmentally relevant pelagic fish species, and applied this assay to the evaluation of the toxicity of "legacy" and "next-generation" PFAS including, respectively, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and several perfluoroethercarboxylic acids (PFECA). Acute embryotoxicity, in the form of lethality, was measured for all five PFAS toward mahi-mahi embryos with median lethal concentrations (LC50) in the micromolar range. Consistent with studies in other similar model systems, and specifically the zebrafish, embryotoxicity in mahi-mahi generally (1) correlated with fluoroalkyl/fluoroether chain length and hydrophobicity, i.e., log P, of PFAS, and thus, aligned with a role of uptake in the relative toxicity; and (2) increased with continuous exposure, suggesting a possible role of development stage specifically including a contribution of hatching (and loss of protective chorion) and/or differentiation of target systems (e.g., liver). Compared to prior studies in the zebrafish embryo model, mahi-mahi was significantly more sensitive to PFAS which may be related to differences in either exposure conditions (e.g., salinity) and uptake, or possibly differential susceptibility of relevant targets, for the two species. Moreover, when considered in the context of the previously reported concentration of PFAS within upper sea surface layers, and co-localization of buoyant eggs (i.e., embryos) and other early development stages (i.e., larvae, juveniles) of pelagic fish species to the sea surface, the observed toxicity potentially aligns with environmentally relevant concentrations in these marine systems. Thus, impacts on ecosystems including, in particular, population recruitment are a possibility. The present study is the first to demonstrate embryotoxicity of PFAS in a pelagic marine fish species, and suggests that mahi-mahi represents a potentially informative, and moreover, environmentally relevant, ecotoxicological model for PFAS in marine systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kiflom Y Gebreab
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Environment, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | - Daniel Benetti
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Martin Grosell
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - John D Stieglitz
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - J P Berry
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Environment, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Solan ME, Senthilkumar S, Aquino GV, Bruce ED, Lavado R. Comparative cytotoxicity of seven per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in six human cell lines. Toxicology 2022; 477:153281. [PMID: 35933025 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2022.153281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Human exposures to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been linked to several diseases associated with adverse health outcomes. Animal studies have been conducted, though these may not be sufficient due to the inherent differences in metabolic processes between humans and rodents. Acquiring relevant data on the health effects of short-chain PFAS can be achieved through methods supported by in vitro human cell-based models. Specifically, cytotoxicity assays are the crucial first step to providing meaningful information used for determining safety and providing baseline information for further testing. To this end, we exposed human cell lines representative of six different tissue types, including colon (CaCo-2), liver (HepaRG), kidney (HEK293), brain (HMC-3), lung (MRC-5), and muscle (RMS-13) to five short-chain PFAS and two legacy PFAS. The exposure of the individual PFAS was assessed using a range of concentrations starting from a low concentration (10-11 M) to a high concentration of (10-4 M). Our results indicated that CaCo-2 and HEK293 cells were the least sensitive to PFAS exposure, while HMC-3, HepaRG, MRC-5, and RMS-13 demonstrated significant decreases in viability in a relatively narrow range (EC50 ranging from 1 to 70 µM). The most sensitive cell line was the neural HMC-3 for all short- and long-chain PFAS (with EC50 ranging from 1.34 to 2.73 µM). Our data suggest that PFAS do not exert toxicity on all cell types equally, and the cytotoxicity estimates we obtained varied from previously reported values. Overall, this study is novel because it uses human cell lines that have not been widely used to understand human health outcomes associated with PFAS exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megan E Solan
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
| | | | - Grace V Aquino
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
| | - Erica D Bruce
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
| | - Ramon Lavado
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Surma M, Hliwa P, Sznajder-Katarzyńska K, Wiczkowski W, Topolska J, Zieliński H. Perfluoroalkyl Substance Contamination Levels of Pike (Esox lucius L.) and Roach (Rutilus rutilus L.) from Selected Masurian Lakes in Eastern Europe. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021; 40:3317-3327. [PMID: 34582580 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are of increased concern because of their bioaccumulation in humans and the biota, the health risk they pose to humans and other animals, and their persistence in the environment. In the present study, the occurrence of PFAS in selected tissues from pike (Esox lucius L.) and roach (Rutilus rutilus L.) collected from two lakes in the Masurian Lake District (Poland) in eastern Europe was addressed. Ten PFAS were analyzed in the tissue of the brain, liver, kidneys, gonads, and muscles by micro-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Only perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid, and perfluorodecanoic acid were detected above the limit of quantification. Concentrations in pike and roach from Ełckie Lake and Hańcza Lake were estimated to be 14/27 and 4.4/3.2 ng/g wet weight, respectively. The contributions of PFOS and PFOA to the sum of PFAS calculated for particular tissues for each fish species were higher than those of the other analyzed compounds: PFOS was found to be predominant in fish from Ełckie Lake, whereas PFOA predominated in fish from Hańcza Lake. It was noted that PFAS concentrations in tissues declined in the following order: kidney > gonads ≈ brain > liver > muscle. The sum of the greatest estimated PFAS concentration was 9.7 ng/g wet weight in kidneys of pike collected from Hańcza Lake. No correlation was noted between PFAS concentration and fish size. The information provided in our study gives a better understanding of the potential dependencies in PFAS distribution and accumulation in biota. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:3317-3327. © 2021 SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Surma
- Department of Plant Products Technology and Nutrition Hygiene, Malopolska Centre of Food Monitoring, Faculty of Food Technology, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Piotr Hliwa
- Department of Ichthyology and Aquaculture, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Sznajder-Katarzyńska
- Department of Plant Products Technology and Nutrition Hygiene, Malopolska Centre of Food Monitoring, Faculty of Food Technology, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Wiesław Wiczkowski
- Department of Chemistry and Biodynamics of Food, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Joanna Topolska
- Department of Chemistry and Biodynamics of Food, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Henryk Zieliński
- Department of Chemistry and Biodynamics of Food, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Marques ES, Agudelo J, Kaye EM, Modaresi SMS, Pfohl M, Bečanová J, Wei W, Polunas M, Goedken M, Slitt AL. The role of maternal high fat diet on mouse pup metabolic endpoints following perinatal PFAS and PFAS mixture exposure. Toxicology 2021; 462:152921. [PMID: 34464680 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.152921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of chemicals that are ubiquitous in the environment. Some of these chemicals, such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are found in human sera and have been shown to cause liver steatosis and reduce postnatal survival and growth in rodents. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the impact of diet and PFAS exposure to mouse dam (mus musculus) on the risk to pup liver and metabolism endpoints later in life, as well as evaluate PFAS partitioning to pups. Timed-pregnant dams were fed a standard chow diet or 60 % kcal high fat diet (HFD). Dams were administered either vehicle, 1 mg/kg PFOA, 1 mg/kg PFOS, 1 mg/kg PFHxS, or a PFAS mixture (1 mg/kg of each PFOA, PFOS, and PFHxS) daily via oral gavage from gestation day 1 until postnatal day (PND) 20. At PND 21, livers of dams and 2 pups of each sex were evaluated for lipid changes while remaining pups were weaned to the same diet as the dam for an additional 10 weeks. Dam and pup serum at PND 21 and PND 90 were also evaluated for PFAS concentration, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), leptin and adiponectin, and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c. Perinatal exposure to a HFD, as expected, increased pup body weight, maternal liver weight, pup liver triglycerides, pup serum ALT, and pup serum leptin. PFOA and the PFAS mixture increased liver weights, and. treatment with all three compounds increased liver triglycerides. The maternal HFD increased dam and pup serum PFAS levels, however, was protective against PFOA-induced increase in serum ALT and observed increases in liver triglycerides. The PFAS mixture had very distinct effects when compared to single compound treatment, suggesting some cumulative effects, particularly when evaluating PFAS transfer from dam to pup. This data highlights the importance of diet and mixtures when evaluating liver effect of PFAS and PFAS partitioning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily S Marques
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, 7 Greenhouse Rd, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Juliana Agudelo
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, 7 Greenhouse Rd, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Emily M Kaye
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, 7 Greenhouse Rd, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Seyed Mohamad Sadegh Modaresi
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, 7 Greenhouse Rd, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Marisa Pfohl
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, 7 Greenhouse Rd, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Jitka Bečanová
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, 215 S Ferry Rd, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, 7 Greenhouse Rd, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Marianne Polunas
- Rutgers Translational Sciences, Rutgers University, 33 Knightsbridge Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Michael Goedken
- Rutgers Translational Sciences, Rutgers University, 33 Knightsbridge Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Angela L Slitt
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, 7 Greenhouse Rd, Kingston, RI 02881, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Abraham K, El-Khatib AH, Schwerdtle T, Monien BH. Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA): No high-level accumulation in human lung and kidney tissue. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2021; 237:113830. [PMID: 34450542 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) belongs to the complex group of synthetic perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) which have led to ubiquitous environmental contamination. While some of the long-chain compounds accumulate in the human body, the short-chain compound PFBA was found to have a relatively short half-life in blood of a few days, in agreement with relatively low PFBA serum/plasma levels of roughly 0.01 ng/ml in European studies. Surprisingly, very high median levels of PFBA of 807 and 263 ng/g tissue for human lung and kidney autopsy samples, respectively, were reported in a paper of Pérez et al. (2013). This would question the concept of PFAS blood analysis reflecting the body burden of these compounds. To verify the results of high PFBA tissue accumulation in humans, we have analyzed PFBA in a set of 7 lung and 9 kidney samples from tumor patients with a different method of quantification, using high-resolution mass spectrometry with the accurate mass as analytical parameter. The only human sample with a quantifiable amount of PFBA (peak area more than twice above the analytical background signals) contained approximately 0.17 ng/g lung tissue. In the light of our results and considering the analytical problems with the short-chain compound PFBA exhibiting only one mass fragmentation, it appears to be likely that PFBA is not accumulating on a high level in human lung and kidney tissue. In general, the analysis of short-chain PFAS in complex matrices like food or tissue is very challenging with respect to instrumental quantification and possible sample contamination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Klaus Abraham
- Department Food Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Ahmed H El-Khatib
- Department Safety in the Food Chain, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tanja Schwerdtle
- Department Food Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernhard H Monien
- Department Food Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
McCarthy CJ, Roark SA, Wright D, O'Neal K, Muckey B, Stanaway M, Rewerts JN, Field JA, Anderson TA, Salice CJ. Toxicological Response of Chironomus dilutus in Single-Chemical and Binary Mixture Exposure Experiments with 6 Perfluoralkyl Substances. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021; 40:2319-2333. [PMID: 33835531 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Few studies have determined the toxicity of perfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) to aquatic invertebrates. We exposed Chironomus dilutus to 6 different PFAS to assess single-chemical toxicity and relative or proportional toxicity among substances. A 10-d range-finding test was conducted to inform 20-d assays for the following PFAS: perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA). A 20-d binary mixture study of PFOS+PFHxS followed the single-chemical tests. Measurement endpoints for 20-d tests included larval survival and biomass. Log-logistic concentration response models were used to estimate 10, 20, and 50% effect concentrations (EC20, EC50) for PFOS, PFHxS, and PFOA. Survival EC50s for PFOS, PFHxS, and PFOA were 2.49, 3860, and 192 000 µg/L, respectively, whereas survival EC20s were 1.70, 913, and 119 000 µg/L for PFOS, PFHxS, and PFOA, respectively. Biomass as a combined survival and growth endpoint resulted in EC20s of 1.89, 896, and 137 000 µg/L for PFOS, PFHxS, and PFOA, respectively. Maximum concentrations tested (no-observed-effect concentrations) for PFNA, PFBS, and PFHpA were 2 to 3 orders of magnitude greater than the PFOS EC50s and showed no toxicity to C. dilutus, even at exposure concentrations well above what would be considered environmentally relevant. The binary mixture of 2.5 µg/L PFOS+1000 µg/L PFHxS showed reduced survival compared to controls and some indication of potential additive or synergistic interaction between PFOS and PFHxS. Overall, the present study supports previous studies showing PFOS to be the most toxic PFAS to aquatic life and suggests that PFOS could be more toxic to the freshwater midge than previously reported. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:2319-2333. © 2021 SETAC.
Collapse
|
15
|
Menzel J, Abraham K, Dietrich S, Fromme H, Völkel W, Schwerdtle T, Weikert C. Internal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in vegans and omnivores. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2021; 237:113808. [PMID: 34298317 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a complex group of anthropogenic compounds with exceptional properties. Due to their high persistence and mobility, they have caused ubiquitous environmental contamination and in part accumulate in the food chain. In the general population, diet is the main source of PFAS exposure, with the important sources fish and meat. As a vegan diet implies the complete exclusion of any animal products, it might be expected that vegans have lower blood levels of PFAS compared to omnivores. Furthermore, lower levels of cholesterol is one of the well-documented nutritional effects in vegans, but cholesterol levels were also found to be associated with higher PFAS levels in epidemiological studies. To examine the relations of internal PFAS levels and the levels of cholesterol in vegans and omnivores, the cross-sectional "Risks and Benefits of a Vegan Diet" (RBVD) study was used involving 36 vegans and 36 omnivores from Berlin/Germany. Nine perfluoroalkyl substances were quantified in plasma using a triple-stage quadrupole mass spectrometer. Lower median plasma concentrations were found in vegans compared to omnivores for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) (2.31 vs. 3.57 ng/ml, respectively; p = 0.02) and for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) (<0.25 vs. 0.41 ng/ml, respectively; p < 0.0001). No significant differences of the median concentrations were observed for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (1.69 vs. 1.44 ng/ml, respectively, p = 0.26) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) (1.96 vs. 1.79 ng/ml, respectively; p = 0.70). The strongest correlations with food groups, derived from a food frequency questionnaire, were observed between levels of PFOA and water consumption (in case of the total study population, n = 72), and between levels of PFOS as well as PFNA and the consumption of 'meat and meat products' (in case of the omnivores, n = 36). Levels of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were confirmed to be considerably lower in vegans compared to omnivores (86.5 vs. 115.5 mg/dl, respectively; p = 0.001), but no associations between the four main PFAS and LDL cholesterol were observed (all p > 0.05) at the low exposure level of this study. According to the results of our study, a vegan diet may be related to lower PFAS levels in plasma. We highlight the importance of the adjustment of dietary factors like a vegan diet in case of epidemiological studies dealing with the impact of PFAS on the levels of blood lipids.
Collapse
|
16
|
Olomukoro AA, Emmons RV, Godage NH, Cudjoe E, Gionfriddo E. Ion exchange solid phase microextraction coupled to liquid chromatography/laminar flow tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of perfluoroalkyl substances in water samples. J Chromatogr A 2021; 1651:462335. [PMID: 34174636 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2021.462335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are toxic and bioaccumulative compounds that are persistent in the environment due to their water and heat resistant properties. These compounds have been demonstrated to be ubiquitous in the environment, being found in water, soil, air and various biological matrices. The determination of PFAS at ultra-trace levels is thus critical to assess the extent of contamination in a particular matrix. In this work, solid phase microextraction (SPME) was evaluated as a pre-concentration technique to aid the quantitation of this class of pollutants below the EPA established advisory limits in drinking water at parts-per-trillion levels. Four model PFAS with varying physicochemical properties, namely hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX), perfluoro-1- butanesulfonate (PFBS), perfluoro-n-octanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoro-1-octanesulfonate (PFOS) were studied as a proof of concept. Analysis was performed with the use of ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography-laminar flow tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). This study proposes the use of hydrophilic-lipophilic balance-weak anion-exchange/polyacrylonitrile (HLB-WAX/PAN) as a SPME coating, ideal for all model analytes. A sample volume of 1.5 mL was used for analysis, the optimized protocol including 20 min extraction, 20 min desorption and 6 min LC/MS analysis. This method achieved LOQs of 2.5 ng L- 1 (PFOS) and 1 ng L - 1 (GenX, PFBS and PFOA) with satisfactory precision and accuracy values evaluated over a period of 5 days.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aghogho A Olomukoro
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 436062, United States; Dr. Nina McClelland Laboratories for Water Chemistry and Environmental Analysis, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606, United States
| | - Ronald V Emmons
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 436062, United States; Dr. Nina McClelland Laboratories for Water Chemistry and Environmental Analysis, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606, United States
| | - Nipunika H Godage
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 436062, United States; Dr. Nina McClelland Laboratories for Water Chemistry and Environmental Analysis, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606, United States
| | | | - Emanuela Gionfriddo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 436062, United States; Dr. Nina McClelland Laboratories for Water Chemistry and Environmental Analysis, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606, United States; School of Green Chemistry and Engineering, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Birukov A, Andersen LB, Andersen MS, Nielsen JH, Nielsen F, Kyhl HB, Jørgensen JS, Grandjean P, Dechend R, Jensen TK. Exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and blood pressure in pregnancy among 1436 women from the Odense Child Cohort. Environ Int 2021; 151:106442. [PMID: 33610053 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies of association between exposure to poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and gestational hypertension (GH) and preeclampsia (PE) have shown conflicting results, but most dichotomized outcome and did not study continuous blood pressure (BP) changes. OBJECTIVES To study the association between PFAS exposure in early pregnancy and maternal BP trajectories in pregnancy, gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. METHODS 1436 women were enrolled in the Odense Child Cohort in early pregnancy and had a serum sample drawn, from which perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) were measured using LC-MS/MS. Repeated BP measurements through pregnancy and information on PE were obtained from hospital files. Adjusted linear mixed models were used to investigate association between PFAS exposure and BP trajectory. Associations between PFAS and PE and GH were assessed by Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS All women had measurable concentrations of PFAS. In all of many comparisons higher PFAS exposure (apart from PFHxS) was associated with higher systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures, although not all were significant, which is unlikely to be due to chance. After adjustment, each doubling in PFOS or PFOA exposure was associated with 0.47 mmHg (95% CI: -0.13; 1.08) and 0.36 mmHg (-0.19; 0.92) higher SBP; and 0.58 mmHg (0.13; 1.04) and 0.37 mmHg (-0.05; 0.79) higher DBP. No clear associations between PFAS exposure and PE or GH were found. DISCUSSION The magnitude of the association between PFAS exposure and BP might appear small, statistically non-significant and the possible clinical importance low. However, at a population level this may slightly shift the distribution of BP towards an increased incidence of GH. If BP increases in pregnancy, it may have long-term impact on health not only of the pregnant woman but also of her offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Birukov
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Nuthetal, Germany; German Center for Diabetes Research München-Neuherberg, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Louise Bjørkholt Andersen
- Institute of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Marianne Skovsager Andersen
- Institute of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Julie H Nielsen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Flemming Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Henriette Boye Kyhl
- Odense Child Cohort, Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; OPEN Patient Data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jan Stener Jørgensen
- Institute of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Philippe Grandjean
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Harvard T.H.Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Ralf Dechend
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; HELIOS-Klinikum, Berlin, Department of Cardiology and Nephrology, Germany; Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Joint Cooperation Between Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Tina Kold Jensen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Odense Child Cohort, Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; OPEN Patient Data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Luo J, Xiao J, Gao Y, Ramlau-Hansen CH, Toft G, Li J, Obel C, Andersen SL, Deziel NC, Tseng WL, Inoue K, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC, Olsen J, Liew Z. Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and behavioral difficulties in childhood at 7 and 11 years. Environ Res 2020; 191:110111. [PMID: 32846178 PMCID: PMC7657987 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are suggested to interfere with thyroid hormone during pregnancy and influence fetal neurodevelopment. Epidemiological evidence regarding behavioral difficulties in childhood associated with prenatal PFAS exposure has been inconclusive. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the association between prenatal PFAS exposure and behavioral difficulties at 7 and 11 years, and investigated the potential mediating role of maternal thyroid hormones. METHODS Using pooled samples in the Danish National Birth Cohort established between 1996 and 2002, we estimated the associations between concentrations of six types of PFAS in maternal plasma (median, 8 gestational weeks) and child behavioral assessments from the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), reported by parents at 7 years (n = 2421), and by parents (n = 2070) and children at 11 years (n = 2071). Behavioral difficulties were defined as having a composite SDQ score above the 90th percentile for total difficulties and externalizing or internalizing behaviors. We used logistic regression to estimate the adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) by doubling increase of prenatal PFAS (ng/ml). The possible mediating effect of maternal thyroid function classified based on thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4) levels were evaluated. RESULTS Prenatal perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) was consistently associated with total and externalizing behavioral difficulties in all three SDQ measures reported by parents (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.14-1.73 for age 7; OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.05-1.53 for age 11) or children (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.11-1.58) while no consistent associations were observed for other types of PFAS. A small magnitude of natural indirect effects via maternal thyroid dysfunction (ORs ranged from 1.01 to 1.03) of several PFAS were observed for parent-reported total and externalizing behaviors at 7 years only. DISCUSSION Prenatal PFNA exposure was associated with externalizing behavioral difficulties in childhood in repeated SDQ measures at 7 and 11 years. The slight mediating effects of maternal thyroid hormones in early gestation warrant further evaluation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiajun Luo
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA.
| | - Jingyuan Xiao
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA.
| | - Yu Gao
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | | | - Gunnar Toft
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Jiong Li
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Carsten Obel
- Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Stine Linding Andersen
- Department of Endocrinology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
| | - Nicole C Deziel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA.
| | - Wan-Ling Tseng
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Kosuke Inoue
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | | | - Jørn Olsen
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Zeyan Liew
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Ruffle B, Vedagiri U, Bogdan D, Maier M, Schwach C, Murphy-Hagan C. Perfluoroalkyl Substances in U.S. market basket fish and shellfish. Environ Res 2020; 190:109932. [PMID: 32798898 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Over the past two decades the class of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has emerged as a widespread contaminant in environmental media globally. As awareness and understanding of its prevalence, persistence, and potential health risks grows, so have concerns about human exposure. While drinking water has received substantial attention, dietary intakes have also been reported to contribute significantly to total exposure, with fish consumption in particular. Most studies of U.S. fish have targeted sport fish from areas of known or suspected contamination. This study was undertaken to improve data on PFAS levels in the U.S. commercial seafood supply. A total of 70 samples of finfish and shellfish were purchased at U.S. grocery stores and fish markets and analyzed for 26 PFAS compounds. The samples included a range of marine and freshwater species from four regions of the U.S. and seven countries with significant imports to the U.S. Up to ten PFAS were detected in 21 samples, with PFOS the predominant compound. There were no detections in the remaining 49 samples (detection limits of approximately 0.4-0.5 ppb). Total PFAS concentrations in most samples were single digit or sub-ppb levels. The exception was commercial finfish from the Great Lakes area, for which higher levels (up to 22 ppb) were observed in whitefish, walleye, and yellow perch fillet. Study findings suggest PFAS is present at low or non-detect levels in the U.S. commercial seafood supply and exposure is low for consumers of market basket fish and shellfish.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Betsy Ruffle
- AECOM. 250 Apollo Drive, Chelmsford, MA, 01824, USA.
| | - Usha Vedagiri
- Wood. 10940 White Rock Road, Suite 190, Rancho Cordova, CA, 95670, USA
| | - Dorin Bogdan
- AECOM. 3950 Sparks Drive, SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, USA
| | - Martha Maier
- Vista Analytical Laboratory, 1104 Windfield Way, El Dorado, CA, 95762, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Ait Bamai Y, Goudarzi H, Araki A, Okada E, Kashino I, Miyashita C, Kishi R. Effect of prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on childhood allergies and common infectious diseases in children up to age 7 years: The Hokkaido study on environment and children's health. Environ Int 2020; 143:105979. [PMID: 32717646 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used bio-accumulative chemicals in many industrial and household products. Experimental studies reported that exposure to PFAS results in immunotoxicity. We have previously reported that prenatal exposure to PFAS decreased the risk of allergies, while it increased the risk of infectious diseases at ages 2 and 4 years. However, it remains unclear whether the adverse effects of PFAS on allergies and infectious diseases continue until a reliable age of diagnosing allergies. This study aimed at investigating the effects of prenatal exposure to PFAS on the prevalence of allergies and infectious diseases in children up to age 7, from the Hokkaido Study. Among mother-child pairs enrolled in the Hokkaido study and followed up until the age of 7 years, 2689 participants with maternal PFAS, 1st trimester of pregnancy and 7-year-old questionnaire survey data were included in this study. Eleven PFAS in the 3rd-trimester plasma were measured using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry. Wheeze, rhino-conjunctivitis, and eczema were defined using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies on Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. History childhood infectious diseases diagnosed by a doctor was assessed by a mother-reported questionnaire at child's age 7. The relative risk of childhood allergies was calculated by generalized estimating equation models. The odds ratio of an episode of infectious diseases was calculated by logistic regression analysis, adjusted for potential confounders. The prevalence of various allergies and infectious diseases was: wheeze, 11.9%; rhino-conjunctivitis, 11.3%; eczema, 21.0%; chickenpox, 61.5%; otitis media, 55.7%; pneumonia, 30.6%; and respiratory syncytial virus infection, 16.8%. Prenatal exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) was inversely associated with rhino-conjunctivitis, while that for perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate, PFUnDA, perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoDA), and perfluorotridecanoic acid was inversely associated with eczema. For infectious diseases, PFDA and PFDoDA were associated with increased risk of pneumonia and PFOA was associated with increased risk of RSV infection among children not having any siblings (only-one-child). Our results corroborate the hypothesis on immunosuppressive and immunomodulating effects of PFAS on allergies and infectious diseases in children. These effects observed previously at 2 and 4 years continued until the age of 7 years. However, additional studies assessing inflammatory biomarkers along with ISAAC questionnaires, doctor-diagnosed allergies, and longer follow-ups are necessary to better assess the effects of exposure to chemicals on human immune outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Ait Bamai
- Hokkaido University, Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Sapporo, Japan.
| | - Houman Goudarzi
- Hokkaido University, Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Sapporo, Japan; Hokkaido University Center for Medical Education and International Relations, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Atsuko Araki
- Hokkaido University, Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Emiko Okada
- Hokkaido University, Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Sapporo, Japan; National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ikuko Kashino
- Hokkaido University, Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Chihiro Miyashita
- Hokkaido University, Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Reiko Kishi
- Hokkaido University, Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Sapporo, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Lebeaux RM, Doherty BT, Gallagher LG, Zoeller RT, Hoofnagle AN, Calafat AM, Karagas MR, Yolton K, Chen A, Lanphear BP, Braun JM, Romano ME. Maternal serum perfluoroalkyl substance mixtures and thyroid hormone concentrations in maternal and cord sera: The HOME Study. Environ Res 2020; 185:109395. [PMID: 32222633 PMCID: PMC7657649 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous. Previous studies have found associations between PFAS and thyroid hormones in maternal and cord sera, but the results are inconsistent. To further address this research question, we used mixture modeling to assess the associations with individual PFAS, interactions among PFAS chemicals, and the overall mixture. METHODS We collected data through the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study, a prospective cohort study that between 2003 and 2006 enrolled 468 pregnant women and their children in the greater Cincinnati, Ohio region. We assessed the associations of maternal serum PFAS concentrations measured during pregnancy with maternal (n = 185) and cord (n = 256) sera thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), total thyroxine (TT4), total triiodothyronine (TT3), free thyroxine (FT4), and free triiodothyronine (FT3) using two mixture modeling approaches (Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and quantile g-computation) and multivariable linear regression. Additional models considered thyroid autoantibodies, other non-PFAS chemicals, and iodine deficiency as potential confounders or effect measure modifiers. RESULTS PFAS, considered individually or as mixtures, were generally not associated with any thyroid hormones. A doubling of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) had a positive association with cord serum TSH in BKMR models but the 95% Credible Interval included the null (β = 0.09; 95% CrI: -0.08, 0.27). Using BKMR and multivariable models, we found that among children born to mothers with higher thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), PFOS, and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) were associated with decreased cord FT4 suggesting modification by maternal TPOAb status. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that maternal serum PFAS concentrations measured in the second trimester of pregnancy are not strongly associated with thyroid hormones in maternal and cord sera. Further analyses using robust mixture models in other cohorts are required to corroborate these findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M Lebeaux
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Brett T Doherty
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | | | - R Thomas Zoeller
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Andrew N Hoofnagle
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Margaret R Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Aimin Chen
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Bruce P Lanphear
- Child and Family Research Institute, BC Children's and Women's Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Joseph M Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Megan E Romano
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Chou WC, Lin Z. Probabilistic human health risk assessment of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) by integrating in vitro, in vivo toxicity, and human epidemiological studies using a Bayesian-based dose-response assessment coupled with physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling approach. Environ Int 2020; 137:105581. [PMID: 32087483 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is associated with various adverse outcomes in humans. However, risk assessment for PFOS with the traditional risk estimation method is faced with multiple challenges because there are high variabilities and uncertainties in its toxicokinetics and toxicity between species and among different types of studies. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to develop a robust probabilistic risk assessment framework accounting for interspecies and inter-experiment variabilities and uncertainties to derive the human equivalent dose (HED) and reference dose for PFOS. METHODS A Bayesian dose-response model was developed to analyze selected 34 critical studies, including human epidemiological, animal in vivo, and ToxCast in vitro toxicity datasets. The dose-response results were incorporated into a multi-species physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model to reduce the toxicokinetic/toxicodynamic variabilities. In addition, a population-based probabilistic risk assessment of PFOS was performed for Asian, Australian, European, and North American populations, respectively, based on reported environmental exposure levels. RESULTS The 5th percentile of HEDs derived from selected studies was estimated to be 21.5 (95% CI: 10.6-36.3) ng/kg/day. After exposure to environmental levels of PFOS, around 50% of the population in all studied populations would likely have >20% of increase in serum cholesterol, but the effects on other endpoints were estimated to be minimal (<10% changes). There was a small population (~10% of the population) that was highly sensitive to endocrine disruption and cellular response by environmental PFOS exposure. CONCLUSION Our results provide insights into a complete risk characterization of PFOS and may help regulatory agencies in the reevaluation of PFOS risk. Our new probabilistic approach can conduct dose-response analysis of different types of toxicity studies simultaneously and this method could be used to improve risk assessment for other perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Chun Chou
- Institute of Computational Comparative Medicine (ICCM), Department of Anatomy and Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, United States.
| | - Zhoumeng Lin
- Institute of Computational Comparative Medicine (ICCM), Department of Anatomy and Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Li Y, Barregard L, Xu Y, Scott K, Pineda D, Lindh CH, Jakobsson K, Fletcher T. Associations between perfluoroalkyl substances and serum lipids in a Swedish adult population with contaminated drinking water. Environ Health 2020; 19:33. [PMID: 32169067 PMCID: PMC7071576 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-020-00588-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposures to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have shown positive associations with serum lipids in previous studies. While many studies on lipids investigated associations with perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), there are only a few studies regarding other PFAS, such as perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS). The purpose of the current study is to investigate if associations with serum lipids were present, not only for serum PFOS and PFOA, but also for PFHxS, and if the associations with PFAS remained also in a comparison based only on residency in areas with contrasting exposure to PFAS. METHODS 1945 adults aged 20-60 were included from Ronneby, Sweden, a municipality where one out of two waterworks had been heavily contaminated from aqueous fire-fighting foams, and from a nearby control area. The exposure was categorized based on either been living in areas with contrasting PFAS exposure or based on the actual serum PFAS measurements. Regression analyses of serum lipids were fitted against serum PFAS levels, percentile groups, smooth splines and between exposed and reference areas, adjusting for age, sex and BMI. RESULTS Drinking water contamination caused high serum levels of PFOS (median 157 ng/ml) and PFHxS (median 136 ng/ml) and PFOA (median 8.6 ng/ml). These serum PFAS levels in the exposed groups were 5 to 100-fold higher than in the controls. In this population with mixed PFAS exposure, predominantly PFOS and PFHxS, PFAS exposure were positively associated with serum lipids. This was observed both when quantifying exposure as contrast between exposed and controls, and in terms of serum PFAS. Due to high correlations between each PFAS, we cannot separate them. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, the present study provides further evidence of a causal association between PFAS and serum lipids, especially for PFHxS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 414, SE, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Lars Barregard
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 414, SE, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Yiyi Xu
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 414, SE, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Kristin Scott
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Daniela Pineda
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christian H Lindh
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kristina Jakobsson
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 414, SE, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tony Fletcher
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Kashino I, Sasaki S, Okada E, Matsuura H, Goudarzi H, Miyashita C, Okada E, Ito YM, Araki A, Kishi R. Prenatal exposure to 11 perfluoroalkyl substances and fetal growth: A large-scale, prospective birth cohort study. Environ Int 2020; 136:105355. [PMID: 32029284 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal maternal exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has been reportedly associated with decreased birth weight. Although a majority of epidemiological studies concerning perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have focused on PFOS and PFOA, epidemiological studies of PFAS with longer carbon chains are scarce. In this study, we investigated whether prenatal maternal exposure to 11 PFAS, in particular those with longer carbon chains, is associated with fetal growth. METHODS The study included 1985 mother-infant pairs (inclusive of preterm and post-term infants), who enrolled in a large-scale, prospective birth cohort study in any of the 37 hospitals in Hokkaido, Japan between 2003 and 2009. The concentration of 11 PFAS was measured in maternal plasma collected during the third trimester of pregnancy, using ultra-performance liquid chromatography in combination with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Associations between the measured PFAS values and weight, length, and head circumference of all newborns at birth were examined using multiple regression analyses with adjustment for potential confounders based on data collected from medical records, questionnaires, and those for maternal plasma samples. RESULTS Of the 11 PFAS analyzed, prenatal perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) [per log10-unit: regression coefficient (β) = -96.2 g, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), -165.3 to -27.1] and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) (β = -72.2 g, 95% CI, -138.1 to -6.3) concentrations were inversely associated with birth weight. Furthermore, PFNA concentrations were inversely associated with birth length (per Log10 unit: β = -0.48 cm, 95% CI; - 0.86 to -0.11). Maternal perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) exposure showed a significant inverse association with birth weight only for female infants (per Log10 unit: β = -99.8 g, 95% CI, - 193.7 to -6.0) (P for interaction = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that prenatal, maternal exposure to PFAS with longer carbon chains tends to be inversely associated with birth size of newborn infants, which may indicate that these commercially used compounds have an adverse effect on fetal growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ikuko Kashino
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Japan; Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Japan.
| | - Seiko Sasaki
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
| | - Emiko Okada
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Matsuura
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, Division of Applied Bioscience, Hokkaido University, Japan.
| | - Houman Goudarzi
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Japan.
| | - Chihiro Miyashita
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Japan.
| | - Eisaku Okada
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yoichi M Ito
- Department of Statistical Data Science, The Institute of Statistical Mathematics, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Atsuko Araki
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Japan.
| | - Reiko Kishi
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Pietrini F, Passatore L, Fischetti E, Carloni S, Ferrario C, Polesello S, Zacchini M. Evaluation of morpho-physiological traits and contaminant accumulation ability in Lemna minor L. treated with increasing perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) concentrations under laboratory conditions. Sci Total Environ 2019; 695:133828. [PMID: 31419689 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
There is increasing concern about the effects of releasing emerging contaminants (i.e. endocrine-disrupting chemicals, pharmaceuticals, personal-care products and flame retardants) into the environment. Particular attention is being paid to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) because of their persistence and bioaccumulation, especially in the aquatic environment. In this paper, we present results of a study aimed at evaluating the effects of different perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) concentrations (2, 20 and 200 μg/L) on morpho-physiological traits in Lemna minor L. plants. The accumulation of PFOA in the plant's tissues was also monitored. L. minor was selected as a model plant for ecotoxicological studies, and we performed a seven-day assay for this investigation. The results highlight the lack of inhibitory effects on biometric parameters such as mean frond area, total frond number, multiplication rate, doubling time of frond number and average specific growth rate, for each of tested PFOA concentrations. Also, at photosynthetic level, physiological measurements showed that chlorophyll content and electron transport rate (ETR) were not affected by the exposure to PFOA. Remarkably, the chlorophyll fluorescence images, used for the first time in a study on PFOA, evidenced no impairment to the photosynthetic efficiency, measured by the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry (Fv/Fm), the quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry (ΦPSII) and the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) over the leaf surface of PFOA-treated plants, in comparison to control. Quantification of PFOA in the growth medium at the end of the seven-day test revealed no statistically different concentrations in plates with or without L. minor plants. We detected increasing PFOA accumulation in plant tissues, in accordance with the PFOA concentrations in the medium. Therefore, the L. minor plants were capable of taking up and accumulating PFOA. The ecological impact of the environmentally relevant PFOA concentrations tested in this work on biological organisms of the aquatic environment is discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Pietrini
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Montelibretti, Via Salaria km 29.300, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Passatore
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Montelibretti, Via Salaria km 29.300, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisa Fischetti
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Montelibretti, Via Salaria km 29.300, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Carloni
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Montelibretti, Via Salaria km 29.300, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Ferrario
- Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Brugherio, via del Mulino 19, 20861 Brugherio, Italy
| | - Stefano Polesello
- Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Brugherio, via del Mulino 19, 20861 Brugherio, Italy
| | - Massimo Zacchini
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council of Italy, Section of Montelibretti, Via Salaria km 29.300, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Soriano Á, Gorri D, Biegler LT, Urtiaga A. An optimization model for the treatment of perfluorocarboxylic acids considering membrane preconcentration and BDD electrooxidation. Water Res 2019; 164:114954. [PMID: 31404904 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.114954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Treatment of persistent perfluorocarboxylic acids in water matrixes requires of strong oxidation conditions, as those achieved by boron doped diamond (BDD) electrooxidation (ELOX). However, large scale implementation of ELOX is still hindered by its high energy consumption and economical investment. In this work, we used process systems engineering tools to define the optimal integration of a membrane pre-concentration stage followed by the BDD electrolysis of the concentrate, to drastically reduce the costs of treatment of perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA, 100 mg L-1) in industrial waste streams. A multistage membrane cascade system using nanofiltration (NF90 and NF270 membranes) was considered to achieve more sophisticated PFHxA separations. The aim was to minimize the total costs by determining the optimal sizing of the two integrated processes (membrane area per stage and anode area) and the optimal process variables (pre-concentration operating time, electrolysis time, input and output concentrations). The non-linear programming model (NLP) was implemented in the General Algebraic Modelling System (GAMS). The results showed that for a 2-log PFHxA abatement (99% removal), the optimal two membrane stages using the NF90 membrane obtains a 75.8% (6.4 $ m-3) reduction of the total costs, compared to the ELOX alone scenario (26.5 $ m-3). The optimized anode area and the energy savings, that were 85.3% and 88.2% lower than in ELOX alone, were the major contributions to the costs reduction. Similar results were achieved for a 3-log and 4-log PFHxA abatement, pointing out the promising benefits of integrating electrochemical oxidation with membrane pre-concentration through proper optimization for its large-scale application to waters impacted by perfluorocarboxylic acids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Soriano
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Av. de Los Castros s/n, 39005, Santander, Spain
| | - Daniel Gorri
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Av. de Los Castros s/n, 39005, Santander, Spain
| | - Lorenz T Biegler
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-3890, USA
| | - Ane Urtiaga
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Av. de Los Castros s/n, 39005, Santander, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Chou WC, Lin Z. Bayesian evaluation of a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) to characterize the interspecies uncertainty between mice, rats, monkeys, and humans: Development and performance verification. Environ Int 2019; 129:408-422. [PMID: 31152982 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.03.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2019] [Revised: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
A challenge in the risk assessment of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is the large interspecies differences in its toxicokinetics that results in substantial uncertainty in the dosimetry and toxicity extrapolation from animals to humans. To address this challenge, the objective of this study was to develop an open-source physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model accounting for species-specific toxicokinetic parameters of PFOS. Considering available knowledge about the toxicokinetic properties of PFOS, a PBPK model for PFOS in mice, rats, monkeys, and humans after intravenous and oral administrations was created. Available species-specific toxicokinetic data were used for model calibration and optimization, and independent datasets were used for model evaluation. Bayesian statistical analysis using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation was performed to optimize the model and to characterize the uncertainty and interspecies variability of chemical-specific parameters. The model predictions well correlated with the majority of datasets for all four species, and the model was validated with independent data in rats, monkeys, and humans. The model was applied to predict human equivalent doses (HEDs) based on reported points of departure in selected critical toxicity studies in rats and monkeys following U.S. EPA's guidelines. The lower bounds of the model-derived HEDs were overall lower than the HEDs estimated by U.S. EPA (e.g., 0.2 vs. 1.3 μg/kg/day based on the rat plasma data). This integrated and comparative analysis provides an important step towards improving interspecies extrapolation and quantitative risk assessment of PFOS, and this open-source model provides a foundation for developing models for other perfluoroalkyl substances.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Chun Chou
- Institute of Computational Comparative Medicine (ICCM), Department of Anatomy and Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, United States.
| | - Zhoumeng Lin
- Institute of Computational Comparative Medicine (ICCM), Department of Anatomy and Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Vuong AM, Braun JM, Yolton K, Wang Z, Xie C, Webster GM, Ye X, Calafat AM, Dietrich KN, Lanphear BP, Chen A. Prenatal and childhood exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and measures of attention, impulse control, and visual spatial abilities. Environ Int 2018; 119:413-420. [PMID: 30015313 PMCID: PMC7442289 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite evidence from toxicological studies describing the potential neurotoxicity of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), their role in neurodevelopment remains uncertain amid inconsistent findings from epidemiological studies. METHODS Using data from 218 mother-child dyads from the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment Study, we examined prenatal and childhood (3 and 8 years) serum concentrations of four PFAS and inattention, impulsivity, and visual spatial abilities. At 8 years, we used the Conners' Continuous Performance Test-II to assess attention and impulse control and the Virtual Morris Water Maze (VMWM) to measure visual spatial abilities. RESULTS In multiple informant models, there was no evidence to indicate that prenatal or childhood PFAS are associated with attention. However, there was an inverse association between prenatal ln-perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and errors of commission (β = -2.0, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] -3.8, -0.3). Ln-perfluorononanoate (PFNA) at 3 years was associated with longer (poorer) VMWM completion times of 3.6 seconds (CI 1.6, 5.6). However, higher concurrent concentrations of ln-perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) (β = -2.4 s, 95% CI -4.4, -0.3) were associated with shorter (better) times. Higher prenatal PFHxS was positively associated with percentage of traveling distance in the correct quadrant (β = 4.2%, 95% CI 0.8, 7.7), indicating better performance. CONCLUSION Findings were mixed for prenatal and childhood PFAS concentrations and visual spatial abilities. There is not enough evidence to support that PFAS are associated with visual spatial abilities as assessed by the VMWM or CPT-II measures of inattention or impulsivity in children at age 8 years.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ann M Vuong
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, P.O. Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Joseph M Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main St, Box G-S121-2, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 7035, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Zhiyang Wang
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, P.O. Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Changchun Xie
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 160 Panzeca Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Glenys M Webster
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute and Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Xiaoyun Ye
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
| | - Kim N Dietrich
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, P.O. Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Bruce P Lanphear
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute and Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Aimin Chen
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, P.O. Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Pan CG, Yu KF, Wang YH, Zhang RJ, Huang XY, Wei CS, Wang WQ, Zeng WB, Qin ZJ. Species-specific profiles and risk assessment of perfluoroalkyl substances in coral reef fishes from the South China Sea. Chemosphere 2018; 191:450-457. [PMID: 29054085 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.10.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2017] [Revised: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The contamination profiles of sixteen perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were examined in coral reef fish samples collected from the South China Sea (SCS) where no information about this topic was available in the literature. The results revealed that six PFAS were found in coral reef fish samples from the SCS. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was the most predominant PFAS contaminant detected in most of the samples, with the highest concentration value of 27.05 ng/g wet weight (ww) observed in Cephalopholis urodelus. Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) and Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) were the second and third dominant PFAS, respectively. Mean PFOS concentrations in muscle of seven coral reef fish varied from 0.29 ng/g ww in Lethrinus olivaceus to 10.78 ng/g ww in Cephalopholis urodelus. No significant linear relationship was observed between PFOS levels and coral reef fish traits (length, weight) collected in this region. Average daily intake of PFOS for the seven coral reef fishes ranged from 0.79 ng/kg/d for Lethrinus olivaceus to 29.53 ng/kg/d for Cephalopholis urodelus. The hazard ratio (HR) values for human consumption of PFOS-contaminated coral reef fishes ranged from 0.04 to 1.48, with Cephalopholis urodelus having the highest HR value of 1.18 (higher than 1) among the species, indicating frequent consumption of Cephalopholis urodelus might pose potential health risk to local population. The present work have provided the first hand data of PFAS in coral reef fishes in the SCS and indirectly demonstrated the existence of low level PFAS pollution in the SCS in China.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Gui Pan
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Ke-Fu Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
| | - Ying-Hui Wang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
| | - Rui-Jie Zhang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Xue-Yong Huang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Chao-Shuai Wei
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Wei-Quan Wang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Wei-Bin Zeng
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Zhen-Jun Qin
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Ngueta G, Longnecker MP, Yoon M, Ruark CD, Clewell HJ, Andersen ME, Verner MA. Quantitative bias analysis of a reported association between perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and endometriosis: The influence of oral contraceptive use. Environ Int 2017; 104:118-121. [PMID: 28392065 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2017.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Revised: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
An association between serum levels of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and endometriosis has recently been reported in an epidemiologic study. Oral contraceptive use to treat dysmenorrhea (pelvic pain associated with endometriosis) could potentially influence this association by reducing menstrual fluid loss, a route of excretion for PFAS. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the influence of differential oral contraceptive use on the association between PFAS and endometriosis. We used a published life-stage physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model to simulate plasma levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) from birth to age at study participation (range 18-44years). In the simulated population, PFAS level distributions matched those for controls in the epidemiologic study. Prevalence and geometric mean duration (standard deviation [SD]) of oral contraceptive use in the simulated women were based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; among the women with endometriosis the values were, respectively, 29% and 6.8 (3.1) years; among those without endometriosis these values were 18% and 5.3 (2.8) years. In simulations, menstrual fluid loss (ml/cycle) in women taking oral contraceptives was assumed to be 56% of loss in non-users. We evaluated the association between simulated plasma PFAS concentration and endometriosis in the simulated population using logistic regression. Based on the simulations, the association between PFAS levels and endometriosis attributable to differential contraceptive use had an odds ratio (95% CI) of 1.05 (1.02, 1.07) for a loge unit increase in PFOA and 1.03 (1.02, 1.05) for PFOS. In comparison, the epidemiologic study reported odds ratios of 1.62 (0.99, 2.66) for PFOA and 1.25 (0.87, 1.80) for PFOS. Our results suggest that the influence of oral contraceptive use on the association between PFAS levels and endometriosis is relatively small.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gerard Ngueta
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Université de Montréal, 2375 chemin de la Cote-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC H3T 1A8, Canada; Universite de Montreal Public Health Research Institute (IRSPUM), Université de Montréal, 7101, Parc Ave., Montreal, QC H3N 1X7, Canada.
| | | | - Miyoung Yoon
- ScitoVation, 6 Davis Dr, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | | | - Harvey J Clewell
- Ramboll Environ, 6 Davis Dr, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA; ScitoVation, 6 Davis Dr, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Melvin E Andersen
- Ramboll Environ, 6 Davis Dr, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA; ScitoVation, 6 Davis Dr, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Marc-André Verner
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Université de Montréal, 2375 chemin de la Cote-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC H3T 1A8, Canada; Universite de Montreal Public Health Research Institute (IRSPUM), Université de Montréal, 7101, Parc Ave., Montreal, QC H3N 1X7, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Fuertes I, Gómez-Lavín S, Elizalde MP, Urtiaga A. Perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) in northern Spain municipal solid waste landfill leachates. Chemosphere 2017; 168:399-407. [PMID: 27810540 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.10.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2016] [Revised: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Landfill leachates have been recognized as significant secondary sources of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). This study presents data on the occurrence and concentration of 11 perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) and 5 perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs) in leachates from 4 municipal solid waste landfill sites located across northern Spain. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of PFASs in Spanish landfill leachates. Two of the landfill sites applied on-site treatment using membrane bioreactors (MBR), and its effect on PFASs occurrence is also reported. Total PFASs (∑PFASs) in raw leachates reached 1378.9 ng/L, while in treated samples ∑PFASs was approximately two-fold (3162.3 ng/L). PFCAs accounted for the majority of the detected PFASs and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was the dominant compound in raw leachates (42.6%), followed by shorter chain PFHxA (30.1%), PFPeA and PFBA. The age of the sites might explain the PFASs pattern found in raw leachates as all of them were stabilized leachates. However, PFASs profile was different in treated samples where the most abundant compound was PFHxA (26.5%), followed by linear perfluorobutane sulfonate (L-PFBS) (18.7%) and PFOA (17.7%). The overall increase of the PFASs content as well as the change in the PFASs profile after the MBR treatment, could be explained by the possible degradation of PFASs precursors such as fluorotelomer alcohols or fluorotelomer sulfonates. Using the volume of leachates generated in the landfill sites, that served 1.8 million people, the discharge of 16 ∑PFASs contained in the landfill leachates was estimated as 1209 g/year.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I Fuertes
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, Apdo 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain
| | - S Gómez-Lavín
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Av. De Los Castros s/n., 39005, Santander, Spain
| | - M P Elizalde
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, Apdo 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain
| | - A Urtiaga
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Av. De Los Castros s/n., 39005, Santander, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Bost PC, Strynar MJ, Reiner JL, Zweigenbaum JA, Secoura PL, Lindstrom AB, Dye JA. U.S. domestic cats as sentinels for perfluoroalkyl substances: Possible linkages with housing, obesity, and disease. Environ Res 2016; 151:145-153. [PMID: 27479711 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Revised: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are persistent, globally distributed, anthropogenic compounds. The primary source(s) for human exposure are not well understood although within home exposure is likely important since many consumer products have been treated with different PFAS, and people spend much of their lives indoors. Herein, domestic cats were used as sentinels to investigate potential exposure and health linkages. PFAS in serum samples of 72 pet and feral cats, including 11 healthy and 61 with one or more primary disease diagnoses, were quantitated using high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. All but one sample had detectable PFAS, with PFOS and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) ranging from <LOQ to 121 and <LOQ to 235ng/mL, respectively. PFAS prevalence and geometric means in cats were very similar to contemporary NHANES reports of human sera in the U. S. POPULATION The highest PFAS serum concentrations detected were in indoor cats due to disproportionately elevated PFHxS levels. Ranked by quartile, contingency testing indicated that total PFAS levels were positively associated with living indoors and with higher body weight and body condition scores. Individual PFAS quartile rankings suggested positive associations with respiratory effusion, thyroid, liver, and possibly chronic kidney disease. Domestic cats appear to be useful sentinels for assessing primary PFAS exposure routes, especially indoor sources of relevance to children. Additional case-control studies in pet cats are warranted to better define the potential health associations observed herein. A "One Health" approach assessing humans, pets, and their common environment may improve our understanding of chronic low-level, largely indoor, PFAS exposure and effects in humans and animals alike.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Phillip C Bost
- Student Contractor to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, United States
| | - Mark J Strynar
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Exposure Methods and Measurement Division, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, United States
| | - Jessica L Reiner
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, SC 29412, United States
| | | | - Patricia L Secoura
- North Carolina State University, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Raleigh, NC 27606, United States
| | - Andrew B Lindstrom
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Exposure Methods and Measurement Division, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, United States
| | - Janice A Dye
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Environmental Public Health Division, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Manzano-Salgado CB, Casas M, Lopez-Espinosa MJ, Ballester F, Martinez D, Ibarluzea J, Santa-Marina L, Schettgen T, Vioque J, Sunyer J, Vrijheid M. Variability of perfluoroalkyl substance concentrations in pregnant women by socio-demographic and dietary factors in a Spanish birth cohort. Environ Int 2016; 92-93:357-65. [PMID: 27132161 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Revised: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) might affect child health; but maternal determinants of PFAS exposure are unclear. We evaluated the socio-demographic and dietary factors of prenatal PFAS concentrations in a Spanish birth cohort. METHODS We analyzed perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) in 1216 plasma samples collected during the 1(ST) trimester of pregnancy (2003-2008). We used multivariable linear regressions to assess the geometric mean (GM) ratios of PFAS concentrations by socio-demographic and dietary factors. We used analysis of variance (ANOVA) to assess the variability of PFAS concentrations by maternal factors. RESULTS GM PFAS concentrations ranged from 0.55ng/mL for PFHxS to 5.77ng/mL for PFOS. Women born outside of Spain had lower PFAS concentrations (e.g. GM ratio for PFHxS 0.53[95%CI: 0.46, 0.60] than Spanish women. PFHxS and PFOA concentrations were higher in mothers from the regions of Sabadell (2.13[1.93, 2.35] and 1.73[1.60, 1.88], respectively) and Valencia (1.40[1.28, 1.54] and 1.42[1.31, 1.53], respectively) than Gipuzkoa. PFOA and PFNA concentrations decreased with parity (≥2 children: 0.79[0.67, 0.94] and 0.82[0.68, 0.99], respectively). Younger women (i.e. <25years) had lower PFHxS (0.73[0.62, 0.86]) and PFOS (0.85[0.75, 0.96]) concentrations than older women. PFHxS and PFOA concentrations were lower in women who previously breastfed for >6months compared to those who never breastfed (0.79[0.67, 0.94] and 0.82[0.71, 0.95], respectively). High intake of fish and shellfish during pregnancy (i.e. ≥5.6 servings/week) was associated with 11% (1.11[1.04, 1.18]) higher PFOS concentrations than the lowest intake group. Our ANOVA models explained 26% to 40% of PFAS concentrations variability. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal PFAS concentrations were mainly determined by maternal country of birth, region of residence, previous breastfeeding and age. Fish and shellfish intake also contributed to PFOS and PFOA concentrations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cyntia B Manzano-Salgado
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Maribel Casas
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria-Jose Lopez-Espinosa
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; FISABIO Universitat de València-Universitat Jaume I Joint Research Unit, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ferran Ballester
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; FISABIO Universitat de València-Universitat Jaume I Joint Research Unit, Valencia, Spain
| | - David Martinez
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesus Ibarluzea
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Subdirección de Salud Pública y Adicciones de Gipuzkoa, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria BIODONOSTIA, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Loreto Santa-Marina
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Subdirección de Salud Pública y Adicciones de Gipuzkoa, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria BIODONOSTIA, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Thomas Schettgen
- Institute for Occupational Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jesus Vioque
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Universidad Miguel Hernandez, San Juan de Alicante, Spain
| | - Jordi Sunyer
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Martine Vrijheid
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Manzano-Salgado CB, Casas M, Lopez-Espinosa MJ, Ballester F, Basterrechea M, Grimalt JO, Jiménez AM, Kraus T, Schettgen T, Sunyer J, Vrijheid M. Transfer of perfluoroalkyl substances from mother to fetus in a Spanish birth cohort. Environ Res 2015; 142:471-8. [PMID: 26257032 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2015.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2015] [Revised: 07/28/2015] [Accepted: 07/29/2015] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) might affect child health; thus estimating PFAS fetal burden is relevant. PFAS fetal burden is best estimated in cord samples; previous studies have used either maternal plasma or serum during pregnancy as proxy, but their validity is not clear. We aimed to evaluate PFAS transfer between mother and fetus and determine its predictors in a Spanish birth cohort. METHODS We measured perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and perfluorononanoate (PFNA) in maternal blood and cord serum from 66 mother-child pairs. We used Spearman's rank coefficients to correlate PFAS concentrations in first trimester maternal plasma and serum, with cord serum samples. We assessed PFAS placental transfer by calculating maternal to cord ratios and examined their association with maternal socio-demographic characteristics and child sex using linear regression models. RESULTS Median concentrations of PFAS (ng/mL) of PFHxS, PFOS, PFOA, and PFNA in maternal plasma (0.79, 6.18, 2.85 and 0.84, respectively) and serum (0.84, 6.99, 2.97 and 0.85) were higher than in cord serum (0.40, 1.86, 1.90 and 0.32). PFBS was not detected. Positive Spearman's correlations (p-values<0.001) were found between maternal plasma and serum (⍴≥0.80), maternal plasma and cord (⍴≥0.66), and maternal serum and cord samples (⍴≥0.67). Maternal plasma to cord ratios were above 1 (PFHxS: 2.35 [95%CI: 2.05, 2.70], PFOS: 3.33 [3.05, 3.62], PFOA: 1.37 [1.27, 1.48], PFNA: 2.39 [2.18, 2.63]); maternal serum to cord ratios were similar. Maternal to cord ratios decreased with maternal age, but not with other socio-demographic factors. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that PFAS fetal body burden can be assessed using as proxy maternal plasma or serum collected early in pregnancy. Maternal age might influence PFAS placental transfer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cyntia B Manzano-Salgado
- Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain.
| | - Maribel Casas
- Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Maria-Jose Lopez-Espinosa
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; FISABIO- Universitat Jaume - Universitat de València Joint Research Unit of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ferran Ballester
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; FISABIO- Universitat Jaume - Universitat de València Joint Research Unit of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mikel Basterrechea
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; Public Health Department of Gipuzkoa, San Sebastian, Spain; Health Research Institute Biodonostia, San Sebastian, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - Joan O Grimalt
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana-María Jiménez
- Public Health Department of Gipuzkoa, San Sebastian, Spain; Health Research Institute Biodonostia, San Sebastian, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - Thomas Kraus
- Institute for Occupational Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas Schettgen
- Institute for Occupational Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jordi Sunyer
- Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Martine Vrijheid
- Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
| |
Collapse
|