Perfluorinated Compounds Exposure Research Articles

Differential regulations of neural activity and survival in primary cortical neurons by PFOA or PFHpA

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), organofluoride compounds comprising carbon–fluorine and carbon–carbon bonds, are used as water and oil repellents in textiles and pharmaceutical tablets; however, they are associated with potential neurotoxic effects. Moreover, the impact of PFCs on neuronal survival, activity, and regulation within the brain remains unclear. Additionally, the mechanisms through which PFCs induce neuronal toxicity are not well-understood because of the paucity of data. This study elucidates that perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) exert differential effects on the survival and activity of primary cortical neurons. Although PFOA triggers apoptosis in cortical neurons, PFHpA does not exhibit this effect. Instead, PFHpA modifies dendritic spine morphogenesis and synapse formation in primary cortical neuronal cultures, additionally enhancing neural activity and synaptic transmission. This research uncovers a novel mechanism through which PFCs (PFHpA and PFOA) cause distinct alterations in dendritic spine morphogenesis and synaptic activity, shedding light on the molecular basis for the atypical behaviors noted following PFC exposure. Understanding the distinct effects of PFHpA and PFOA could guide regulatory policies on PFC usage and inform clinical approaches to mitigate their neurotoxic effects, especially in vulnerable population.

Metabolic characteristics and pathogenesis of precocious puberty in girls: the role of perfluorinated compounds

BackgroundPrecocious puberty (PP) in girls is traditionally defined as the onset of breast development before the age of 8 years. The specific biomarkers of premature thelarche (PT) and central precocious puberty (CPP) girls are uncertain, and little is known about their metabolic characteristics driven by perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) and clinical phenotype. This study aimed to screen specific biomarkers of PT and CPP and elucidate their underlying pathogenesis. The relationships of clinical phenotype-serum PFCs-metabolic characteristics were also explored to reveal the relationship between PFCs and the occurrence and development of PT and CPP.MethodsNuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based cross-metabolomics strategy was performed on serum from 146 PP (including 30 CPP, 40 PT, and 76 unspecified PP) girls and 64 healthy girls (including 36 prepubertal and 28 adolescent). Specific biomarkers were screened by the uni- and multivariate statistical analyses. The relationships between serum PFCs and clinical phenotype were performed by correlation analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis to explore the link of clinical phenotype-PFCs-metabolic characteristics in PT and CPP.ResultsThe disordered trend of pyruvate and butyrate metabolisms (metabolites mapped as formate, ethanol, and 3-hydroxybutyrate) were shared and kept almost consistent in PT and CPP. Eight and eleven specific biomarkers were screened for PT and CPP, respectively. The area under curve of specific biomarker combination was 0.721 in CPP vs. prepubertal, 0.972 in PT vs. prepubertal, 0.646 in CPP vs. prepubertal integrated adolescent, and 0.822 in PT vs. prepubertal integrated adolescent, respectively. Perfluoro-n-heptanoic acid and perfluoro-n-hexanoic acid were statistically different between PT and CPP. Estradiol and prolactin were significantly correlated with PFCs in CPP and PT. Clinical phenotypes and PFCs drive the metabolic characteristics and cause metabolic disturbances in CPP and PT.ConclusionsThe elevation of formate, ethanol, and 3-hydroxybutyrate may serve as the early diagnostic indicator for PP in girls. But the stratification of PP still needs to be further determined based on the specific biomarkers. Specific biomarkers of CPP and PT exhibited good sensitivity and can facilitate the classification diagnosis of CPP and PT. PFC exposure is associated with endocrine homeostasis imbalance. PFC exposure and/or endocrine disturbance directly or indirectly drive metabolic changes and form overall metabolic network perturbations in CPP and PT.

Environmental explanation of prostate cancer progression based on the comprehensive analysis of perfluorinated compounds

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are man-made chemicals used in the manufacture of many products with water and dirt repellent properties. Many diseases have been proved to be related to the exposure of PFCs, including breast fibroadenoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer and leydig cell adenoma. However, whether the PFCs promote the progression of prostate cancer remains unclear. In this work, through comprehensive bioinformatics analysis, we discovered the correlation between the prostate cancer and five PFCs using Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases. In addition, further analysis showed that several PFCs-related genes demonstrated strong prognostic value for prostate cancer patients. The survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves revealed that PFCs-related genes based prognostic model held great predictive value for the prognosis of prostate cancer, which could potentially serve as an independent risk factor in the future. In vitro experiments verified the promotive role of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) in the growth of prostate cancer cells. This study provided novel insights into understanding the role of PFCs in prostate cancer and brought attention to the environmental association with cancer risks and progression.

A multi-plug filtration (m-PFC) cleanup method based on carboxylic multi-walled carbon nanotubes for the detection of 14 perfluorinated compounds and dietary risk assessment of chicken, beef, and mutton collected from Shanghai markets

Dietary intake is a major pathway of human exposure to perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). Livestock and poultry meats (chicken, beef, mutton) account for a significant proportion of dietary consumption in China, and thus it is crucial to investigate the levels and composition profiles of PFCs in consumer meats to assess and mitigate potential health risks. However, rapid and simple analytical methods for such investigations are lacking. This study addresses this shortcoming by developing a rapid filtration clean-up method using carboxylic multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CMWCNTs) for the detection of 14 PFCs. Good linearities (R2 > 0.99) were obtained for all 14 PFCs in chicken, beef, and mutton. Recoveries ranged from 65 to 145% (except perfluorotetradecanoic acid, PFTeDA) with relative standard deviations (RSDs) lower than 16%. Method limits of detection (LODs) were between 0.12 and 0.83 ng g−1d.w. Subsequently, this method was applied for the analysis of 46 livestock and poultry meat samples collected from markets in Shanghai. PFCs were detected in all samples with total concentrations of 1.61–4.27 ng g−1 wet weight (w.w) in chicken, 1.51–5.56 ng g−1 w.w in beef and 1.61–8.15 ng g−1 w.w in mutton. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) were the predominant compounds in these samples and accounted for over 92% of ΣPFCs. For regulated compounds such as PFOA, risk quotients (RQs) were determined to be much lower than 1. This suggests that chicken, beef, and mutton from Shanghai market pose very low PFC exposure risk to residents. However, high detection frequency of the unregulated PFBA demands further investigation of short-chain PFCs in consumer meats.

Understanding the Impact of Perfluorinated Compounds on Cardiovascular Diseases and Their Risk Factors: A Meta-Analysis Study

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are non-biodegradable synthetic chemical compounds that are widely used in manufacturing many household products. Many studies have reported the association between PFCs exposure with the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, those reports are still debatable, due to their findings. Thus, this review paper aimed to analyse the association of PFCs compound with CVDs and their risk factors in humans by systematic review and meta-analysis. Google Scholar, PubMed and ScienceDirect were searched for PFCs studies on CVDs and their risk from 2009 until present. The association of PFCs exposure with the prevalence of CVDs and their risk factors were assessed by calculating the quality criteria, odds ratios (ORs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). CVDs risk factors were divided into serum lipid profile (main risk factor) and other known risk factors. The meta-analysis was then used to derive a combined OR test for heterogeneity in findings between studies. Twenty-nine articles were included. Our meta-analysis indicated that PFCs exposure could be associated with CVDs (Test for overall effect: = 2.2, p = 0.02; Test for heterogeneity: I2 = 91.6%, CI = 0.92–1.58, p < 0.0001) and their risk factors (Test for overall effect: = 4.03, p < 0.0001; Test for heterogeneity: I2 = 85.8%, CI = 1.00–1.14, p < 0.0001). In serum lipids, total cholesterol levels are frequently reported associated with the exposure of PFCs. Among PFCs, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) exposure increased the risk of CVDs than other types of PFCs. Although the risk of PFOA and PFOS were positively associated with CVDs and their risk factors, more observational studies shall be carried out to identify the long-term effects of these contaminants in premature CVDs development in patients.

Persistent pollutants: focus on perfluorinated compounds and kidney.

There is increasing interest in the environmental and human damage caused by pollutants. Big efforts are continuously made to monitor their levels and identify safe thresholds. For this purpose, an essential step is to prioritize harmful substances and understand their effect on human body. Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) deserve particular attention because of their wide diffusion and potential correlation with different diseases including glucose intolerance, hyperlipidaemia, thyroid diseases, gestational diabetes mellitus and hypertension, testicular and genitourinary cancer as well as impaired kidney function. This review focuses on the renal effects of PFCs, with the attempt to clarify their occurrence and pathogenetic mechanisms. We reviewed MEDLINE and EMBASE citations between 31 October 2017 and 31 May 2019 and selected human studies measuring PFCs exposure, kidney function markers and the ability of haemodialysis to remove PFCs from the circulating blood. It has been currently clarified that exposure to PFCs is linked with an impaired kidney function and that they can be removed by blood purification. Further studies are required on the potential synergic negative effect of PFCs co-exposure with other pollutants as well as animal studies about the removal capacity of different haemodialysis membranes.

Seminal plasma metabolites mediate the associations of multiple environmental pollutants with semen quality in Chinese men

Environmental exposure to arsenic, phthalate esters (PAEs) and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) has been associated with human semen quality. However, the epidemiological “black-box” of these associations remains poorly uncovered. In this study, based on the association analysis between arsenic, PAE and PFC exposure and semen quality parameters (i.e., semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm count, progressive motility, total motility and normal morphology) in a Chinese male population, we explored the seminal plasma metabolic signatures that may mediate the exposure-outcome relations by using the meet-in-metabolite-analysis (MIMA) approach. As a result, a negative association was found between DMA and sperm concentration, whereas MEHP and PFHxS were positively associated with sperm count and concentration, respectively. Metabolomics analysis revealed that sixteen and twenty-two seminal plasma metabolites were related to sperm concentration and count, respectively, and they are mainly involved in fatty acid, lipid and amino acid metabolism. Moreover, it was further indicated that eicosatetraenoate, carnitines and DHA may impact the inverse association between DMA and sperm concentration, while eicosatetraenoate, carnitines, DHA, PGB2 and tocotrienol are possible mediators of the positive association between PFHxS and sperm concentration. As these metabolic biomarkers are relevant to antioxidation and fatty acid β-oxidation, we suggest that redox balance and energy generation shifts in seminal plasma are involved in the association of human semen quality with environmental DMA and PFHxS exposure.

Litigation Combats Hazards of Aqueous Film‐Forming Foam Products

Aqueous film‐forming foam (AFFF) has been used on hundreds of military bases around the country to put out emergency fires and, more often, for training purposes to prepare for those emergencies. Although AFFF manufacturers voluntarily agreed to phase out the manufacture of firefighting foam with perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) several years ago, legacy contamination continues to be found in drinking water systems, a major source of PFC exposure.

Occurrence of perfluorinated compounds in agricultural environment, vegetables, and fruits in regions influenced by a fluorine-chemical industrial park in China

The occurrence of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in vegetables and fruits, as well as agricultural environment, was investigated in the downstream regions of Changshu fluorine-chemical industrial park (CFCIP) in China. Twenty-one PFCs were analyzed in irrigation water, agricultural soil, typical vegetables, and fruits, with the maximum total PFC concentrations of 369.9 ng/L, 64.7 ng/g dw, 11.5 ng/g ww, and 10.5 ng/g ww, respectively. Short-chained perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), and perfluorohexanoic acid were the dominant PFCs in terms of their concentrations and detection frequency. PFCs in irrigation water and agricultural soils showed a decreasing trend with increasing distance from CFCIP, while this pattern was not observed in agricultural products. The predominant compounds varied in different vegetables and fruits. Simultaneous bioaccumulation of PFBA and PFOA was found in melons and solanaceous species and pears. Leafy vegetables and grapes exhibited high bioaccumulation of PFOA and PFBA, respectively. Health risk assessment by calculating estimated daily intake showed that no direct risk was caused by the consumption of vegetables and fruits for the residents in the investigated regions. However, the tolerable weekly intake of PFOA exceeded the established thresholds for the adult residents. A comprehensive health assessment of the dietary exposure of PFCs, including all exposure pathways, in fluorine-chemical industrial park-impacted regions is needed.

Jeunes, Environnement Et Sant&amp;#233; / Youth, Environment and Health (JES!-YEH!) Pilot Project in Four First Nation Communities in Quebec: Exposure to Perfluorononanoic Acid (PFNA) and Associations with Thyroid Hormones

Background/Aim. Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and other perfluorinated compounds have various industrial uses, and possible sources of exposure include food packaging, consumer products, house dust and/or drinking water. Exposure to PFNA in children has been associated with alteration in thyroid hormones, which have critical roles in metabolism regulation and during brain development. In 2015, the pilot project Jeunes, Environnement et Sant&amp;#233; / Youth, Environment and Health (JES!-YEH!) was conducted among children and youth (3-19y) in collaboration with four First Nation communities in Quebec (n&amp;#61;198). The present study aims at evaluating the associations between various perfluorinated compounds exposure and thyroid hormones levels, while adjusting for relevant co-variables. Methods and results. During this study, perfluorinated compounds, thyroid hormones (e.g TSH and free T4) iodine and creatinine were measured in blood and urine samples. Main findings showed low exposure to major perfluorinated compounds, excepted for PFNA (GM: 2.09 &amp;#956;g/L). Compared to the Canadian Health Measure Survey (GM: 0.71 &amp;#956;g/L), PNFA levels were significantly higher among Anishinabe participants (GM: 5.12 &amp;#956;g/L), and particularly among those aged 6 to 11 years old (GM: 9.44 &amp;#956;g/L). Despite multiples efforts with community partners, no local source was identified. Few participants had abnormal TSH and free T4 levels. Conversely, preliminary analyses show positive associations between PFNA and free T4 levels (Spearman&amp;#8217;s r&amp;#61;0.23; p&amp;#61;0.0016). When adjusted for age, age-squared, BMI-z-score, urinary creatinine and nation, free T4 levels remain positively associated with PFNA levels (Adjusted &amp;#946;&amp;#61;0.39; p&amp;#61;0.0014; R2 &amp;#61; 0.24). Conclusion. Overall, this pilot project suggest potential effects of PFNA as an endocrine disruptor, and highlight the importance of better investigating the sources and effects of disproportionate exposure to emerging environmental contaminants in indigenous communities.

Analysis of perfluorinated compounds in human serum from the general population in Shanghai by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) have potential health risk to human. In this paper, human serum samples collected from Jiading District, Shanghai aged from 23 to 87 years old (12 male and 33 female) were analyzed for 17 perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). A novel method for the elimination of background contamination of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) generated from instrument by the modification of high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) has also been developed and validated. The limit of detection (LOD) for all monitored PFCs range from 0.02 to 0.18 ng mL−1. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) for PFOS and PFOA was 2.23 and 1.60 ng mL−1, respectively, and for other PFCs it ranged from 0.04 to 0.88 ng mL−1. Of the 17 PFCs analyzed in Shanghai serum, eleven were found. The dominating PFCs in all samples were perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and PFOA with a fraction of 49.5%, 34.2%, respectively. The median total concentration of each serum samples was 53.43 ng mL−1 with a range from <LOD to 99.37 ng mL−1. The results indicate a high human exposure to PFCs in Shanghai region. Compared with other cities in China and some other countries, PFOA and PFDA concentrations in the serum of general population of Shanghai are highest. For all donors, no significant association between age and PFCs was found (p = 0.125–0.951) and no workplace significant correlation was found (p = 0.247–0.861). Since no signification is founded and PFCs exposure is prevalent, further investigation is needed to explore its source and potential health impact. These results will also provide significant background data of PFCs in Shanghai.

Prenatal exposure to perfluorinated compounds affects thyroid hormone levels in newborn girls

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are ubiquitous in the environment and have been detected in humans and wildlife. Exposure to PFCs has decreased in the United States recently, while exposure to PFCs continues in Asian countries, which represents a public health concern. Various mechanisms by which PFCs affect fetal growth have been proposed, such as activation of peroxisome proliferators, disruption of thyroid hormones and changes in lipid metabolism. However, the overall evidence for an association with thyroid hormones is not strong. Therefore, we examined the effect of various prenatal PFCs on cord blood thyroid hormones: triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, and explored the endocrine disrupting effect of these PFCs on thyroid hormone levels in children according to gender. Two hundred and seventy-nine study participants were selected from among the enrolled participants in the Ewha Birth & Growth Retrospective Cohort, a retrospective birth cohort study conducted at Ewha Womans University Hospital, Seoul, Korea between 2006 and 2010. A generalized linear model was constructed to explore the association of PFCs and thyroid hormones. Further, an analysis stratified by gender was conducted. Our study shows that cord blood perfluoro n-pentanoic acid (PFPeA) was positively associated with cord blood T4 (p=0.01) level. Gender-specific analysis showed that prenatal PFCs: PFPeA and Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) exposure significantly increased T4 (p<0.01) and T3 (p=0.03), respectively, while perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) decreased TSH (p=0.04) concentration in newborn girls. Thus, prenatal PFC exposure may disrupt thyroid hormone homeostasis. Thyroid hormones play a crucial role in fetal development and may have gender specific action. Hence, these results are of utmost importance in high-risk groups, such as pregnant women and children.

Prenatal Exposure to Perfluorinated Compounds Affects Birth Weight Through GSTM1 Polymorphism.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of genetic polymorphisms on the association of prenatal exposure to perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) with birth weight. We analyzed the level of eight PFCs in cord blood and two genetic polymorphisms in maternal blood of 268 subjects. Concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorooctane sulfonate, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) showed significant association with a decrease in birth weight (P < 0.05). In mothers with glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) null genotype, concentrations of PFNA, PFDA, and PFUnDA showed significantly negative association with birth weight (P < 0.05). Our findings indicated that GSTM1 polymorphism might affect the association between exposure to PFCs and birth weight, suggesting the effect of genetic susceptibility on the relationship between prenatal PFCs exposure and birth outcomes.

Serum concentrations of perfluorinated compounds (PFC) among selected populations of children and Adults in California

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) have been widely used in industrial applications and consumer products. Their persistent nature and potential health impacts are of concern. Given the high cost of collecting serum samples, this study is to understand whether we can quantify PFC serum concentrations using factors extracted from questionnaire responses and indirect measurements, and whether a single serum measurement can be used to classify an individual′s exposure over a one-year period. The study population included three demographic groups: young children (2–8 years old) (N=67), parents of young children (<55 years old) (N=90), and older adults (>55 years old) (N=59). PFC serum concentrations, house dust concentrations, and questionnaires were collected. The geometric mean of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) was highest for the older adults. In contrast, the geometric mean of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was highest for children. Serum concentrations of the parent and the child from the same family were moderately correlated (Spearman correlation (r)=0.26–0.79, p<0.05), indicating common sources within a family. For adults, age, having occupational exposure or having used fire extinguisher, frequencies of consuming butter/margarine, pork, canned meat entrées, tuna and white fish, freshwater fish, and whether they ate microwave popcorn were significantly positively associated with serum concentrations of individual PFCs. For children, residential dust concentrations, frequency of wearing waterproof clothes, frequency of having canned fish, hotdogs, chicken nuggets, French fries, and chips, and whether they ate microwave popcorn were significant positive predictors of individual PFC serum concentrations. In addition, the serum concentrations collected in a subset of young children (N=20) and the parents (N=42) one year later were strongly correlated (r=0.68–0.98, p<0.001) with the levels measured at the first visits, but showed a decreasing trend. Children had moderate correlation (r=0.43) between serum and dust concentrations of PFOS, indicating indoor sources contribute to exposure. In conclusion, besides food intake, occupational exposure, consumer product use, and exposure to residential dust contribute to PFC exposure. The downward temporal trend of serum concentrations reflects the reduction of PFCs use in recent years while the year-to-year correlation indicates that a single serum measurement could be an estimate of exposure relative to the population for a one-year period in epidemiology studies.

Chronic exposure to perfluorinated compounds: Impact on airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation.

Emerging epidemiological evidence reveals a link between lung disease and exposure to indoor pollutants such as perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). PFC exposure during critical developmental stages may increase asthma susceptibility. Thus, in a murine model, we tested the hypothesis that early life and continued exposure to two ubiquitous household PFCs, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perflurooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), can induce lung dysfunction that exacerbates allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and inflammation. Balb/c mice were exposed to PFOA or PFOS (4 mg/kg chow) from gestation day 2 to 12 wk of age by feeding pregnant and nursing dams, and weaned pups. Some pups were also sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA). We assessed lung function and inflammatory cell and cytokine expression in the lung and examined bronchial goblet cell number. PFOA, but not PFOS, without the OVA sensitization/challenge induced AHR concomitant with a 25-fold increase of lung macrophages. PFOA exposure did not affect OVA-induced lung inflammatory cell number. In contrast, PFOS exposure inhibited OVA-induced lung inflammation, decreasing total cell number in lung lavage by 68.7%. Interferon-γ mRNA in the lung was elevated in all PFC-exposed groups. Despite these effects, neither PFOA nor PFOS affected OVA-induced AHR. Our data do not reveal PFOA or PFOS exposure as a risk factor for more severe allergic asthma-like symptoms, but PFOA alone can induce airway inflammation and alter airway function.

Polymorphisms in Phase I and Phase II genes and breast cancer risk and relations to persistent organic pollutant exposure: a case–control study in Inuit women

BackgroundWe have previously reported that chemicals belonging to the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as perfluorinated compounds (PFAS) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are risk factors in Breast Cancer (BC) development in Greenlandic Inuit women. The present case–control study aimed to investigate the main effect of polymorphisms in genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism and estrogen biosynthesis, CYP1A1, CYP1B1, COMT and CYP17, CYP19 and the BRCA1 founder mutation in relation to BC risk and to explore possible interactions between the gene polymorphisms and serum POP levels on BC risk in Greenlandic Inuit women.MethodsThe study population consisted of 31 BC cases and 115 matched controls, with information on serum levels of POPs. Genotyping was conducted for CYP1A1 (Ile462Val; rs1048943), CYP1B1 (Leu432Val; rs1056836), COMT (Val158Met; rs4680), CYP17A1 (A1> A2; rs743572); CYP19A1 (C> T; rs10046) and CYP19A1 ((TTTA)n repeats) polymorphisms and BRCA1 founder mutation using TaqMan allelic discrimination method and polymerase chain reaction based restriction fragment length polymorphism. The χ2 –test was used to compare categorical variables between cases and controls and the odds ratios were estimated by unconditional logistic regression models.ResultsWe found an independent association of CYP1A1 (Val) and CYP17 (A1) with BC risk.Furthermore, an increased BC risk was observed for women with high serum levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and carriers of at least: one CYP1A1 variant Val allele; one variant COMT Met allele; or the common CYP17 A1 allele. No combined effects were seen between PFAS exposure and CYP1B1 and CYP19 polymorphisms. The risk of BC was not found significantly associated with exposure to PCBs and OCPs, regardless of genotype for all investigated SNPs. The frequency of the Greenlandic founder mutation in BRCA1 was as expected higher in cases than in controls.ConclusionsThe BRCA1 founder mutation and polymorphisms in CYP1A1 (Val) and CYP17 (A1) can increase the BC risk among Inuit women and the risk increases with higher serum levels of PFOS and PFOA. Serum PFAS levels were a consistent risk factor of BC, but inter-individual polymorphic differences might cause variations in sensitivity to the PFAS/POP exposure.

Perfluorinated compounds in blood of textile workers and barbers

12 perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in human blood from workers in a textile mill in Shandong province and several barbershops in Tianjin were analyzed in this study. It was found that perfluorooctane-sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) were the most prominent PFCs, with average concentrations of 5.73 mu g/I. and 5.46 mu g/L for textile workers, and 2.55 mu g/L and 2.84 p.g/L for barbers. PFOS and perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) concentrations revealed a positive correlation in blood samples (p < 0.01), and concentrations among PFOS, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) also revealed positive correlations (p < 0.01). The influence of gender and age on PFC concentration in blood was also investigated, and the results showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the male and female samples, as well as in samples from people with different ages. Generally speaking, the textile workers may face a higher exposure of PFCs than barbers. (C) 2014 Zhao-Fu Meng. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.

Effects of age, gender and region on serum concentrations of perfluorinated compounds in general population of Henan, China

133 Serum samples collected from Henan donors aged from 0 to 88years were analyzed for 12 perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) accounted for 69.19% of the total PFCs in serum samples, with a median concentration of 1.43 and 1.47ngmL−1, respectively. Other PFCs were detected at much lower concentrations, with median concentrations ranging from 0.03 to 0.37ngmL−1. PFOA and PFOS were positively correlated (r=0.219) in serum samples, indicating that they may have common exposure pathways. For all donors (0–88years), significant increases in PFOA (r=0.239, p<0.01), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) (r=0.185, p<0.05) and PFOS (r=0.175, p<0.05) concentrations over age were found. Median concentrations of PFOA, PFNA, perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and PFOS were higher in males than in females. Higher PFOA concentrations were found in urban populations than in rural populations. Since PFCs exposure in general population is prevalent, further studies are needed to explore its possible impacts on epidemiological factors.

Preliminary investigation by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry of perfluorinated compounds presence in bass reared and fished in Italy

The term perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) defines synthetic fully-fluorinated compounds; since the 50s they have been largely employed in a wide range of industrial and consumer applications, due to their chemical and physical properties. Only recently, research on their potential adverse effects on both the environment and human health has been conducted, highlighting carcinogenic activity, toxic effects on reproduction, liver and kidney. Human exposure to PFCs is mainly through diet, and in particular fishery products are one of the most contaminated food. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are the two most important and investigated compounds of this group. The aim of this work was to carry out a preliminary monitoring on the presence of these two molecules in 50 bass muscle samples, of which 30 reared and 20 fished, collected from different Italian areas of the Mediterranean Sea. The method used was based on extraction with organic solvent followed by two purification steps: one with salts and one with dispersive solid phase. The extract was finally analysed by means of an ultra performance liquid chromatographytandem mass spectrometric system. Data showed a relevant contamination of this species and evidenced a significant difference of concentrations between fished (PFOS 112.4- >2000 ng/L and PFOA 3.3-487.0 ng/L) and reared basses (PFOS 11.1-104.5 ng/L and PFOA <3-51.4 ng/L). Even if these levels of contamination are sensibly lower than those observed in several studies, fished basses could represent a more relevant source of PFCs exposure in human diet.

Relationship between prenatal exposure to perfluorinated compounds and allergic diseases in infants

[Background]Recent studies have shown that prenatal exposure to perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) at general environmental levels has an adverse effect on infants. Immunotoxic effects of PFCs exposure in animal studies include immunosuppression, suppression of IgM antibody production, and increased IgE response in ovalbumin-sensitized mice. However, epidemiological studies investigating the role of PFCs, in particular longer-chain PFCs, are scarce. [Aims]The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between prenatal exposure to 11 PFCs and infant allergic diseases during the first 12 months of life in a large study population. [Methods]The study population was comprised of mothers and their infants enrolled in a prospective birth cohort study (Hokkaido Study on Environment and Children's Health). Between February 2003 and December 2009, 300 women were randomly selected every year. Eleven PFC compounds were measured in maternal plasma using simultaneous analysis with UPLC-MS/MS. Characteristics of participants and information on infant allergic diseases was obtained from self-administered questionnaires and medical records. Finally, 2,062 mothers and their infants were included in the statistical analysis. [Results]Risk of eczema, wheezing and food allergy during the first 12 months of life was not associated with maternal levels of 11 PFCs, including longer-chain compounds. Odds ratios for eczema and wheezing ranged from 0.66 to 0.73 and from 0.60 to 0.81 for the three higher quartiles of maternal perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) levels, compared with the lowest in the adjusted models, but no dose-response pattern was found. [Conclusions]These findings suggest that prenatal exposure to 11 PFCs, including longer-chain compounds, is not associated with risk of infant allergic diseases. Further studies are ongoing to investigate the effects of prenatal exposure to 11 PFCs on cord blood IgE levels, and allergies and infectious diseases at the age of 2 and 4 years.