Evidence of promoting effects of 6:2 Cl-PFESA on hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation in humans: An ideal alternative for PFOS in terms of environmental health?

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are synthetic chemicals, encompassing compounds like perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), which have widespread applications across various industries, including food packaging and firefighting. In recent years, China has increasingly employed 6:2 Cl-PFESA as an alternative to PFOS. Although the association between PFAS exposure and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been demonstrated, the underlying mechanisms that promote HCC proliferation are uncleared. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects and differences of PFOS and 6:2 Cl-PFESA on HCC proliferation through in vivo and in vitro tumor models. Our results reveal that both PFOS and 6:2 Cl-PFESA significantly contribute to HCC proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Exposure led to reduced population doubling times, enlarged cell colony sizes, enhanced DNA synthesis efficiency, and a higher proportion of cells undergoing mitosis. Furthermore, both PFOS and 6:2 Cl-PFES) have been shown to activate the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and inhibit necroptosis. This action consequently enhances the proliferation of HCC cells. Our phenotypic assay findings suggest that the tumorigenic potential of 6:2 Cl-PFESA surpasses that of PFOS; in a subcutaneous tumor model using nude mice, the mean tumor weight for the 6:2 Cl-PFESA-treated cohort was 2.33 times that observed in the PFOS cohort (p < 0.01). Despite 6:2 Cl-PFESA being considered a safer substitute for PFOS, the pronounced effects of this chemical on HCC cell growth warrant a thorough assessment of hepatotoxicity risks linked to its usage.

Environment relevant exposure of perfluorooctanoic acid accelerates the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signal pathway.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a synthetic alkyl chain fluorinated compound, has emerged as a persistent organic pollutant of grave concern, casting a shadow over both ecological integrity and humans. Its insidious presence raises alarms due to its capacity to bioaccumulate within the human liver, potentially paving the treacherous path toward liver cancer. Yet, the intricate mechanisms underpinning PFOA's role in promoting the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain shrouded in ambiguity. Here, we determined the proliferation and transcription changes of HCC after PFOA exposure through integrated experiments including cell culture, nude mice tests, and colony-forming assays. Based on our findings, PFOA effectively promotes the proliferation of HCC cells within the experimental range of concentrations, both in vivo and in vitro. The proliferation efficiency of HCC cells was observed to increase by approximately 10% due to overexposure to PFOA. Additionally, the cancer weight of tumor-bearing nude mice increased by 87.0% (p < 0.05). We systematically evaluated the effects of PFOA on HCC cells and found that PFOA's exposure can selectively activate the PI3K/AKT/mTOR/4E-BP1 signaling pathway, thereby playing a pro-cancer effect on HCC cells Confirmation echoed through western blot assays and inhibitor combination analyses. These insights summon a response to PFOA's dual nature as both an environmental threat and a promoter of liver cancer. Our work illuminates the obscured domain of PFOA-induced hepatoxicity, shedding light on its ties to hepatocellular carcinoma progression.

Occurrence of microplastics in Antarctic fishes: Abundance, size, shape, and polymer composition.

Presence of microplastics (MPs) in Antarctic ecosystems has attracted global attention, due to the potential threat to the Antarctic marine organisms. However, data on the occurrence of MPs in Antarctic fishes remains very limited. This study investigated the abundance and characteristics of MPs in four species of Antarctic fish (n = 114). The highest mean abundance of MPs was detected in Trematomus eulepidotus (1.7 ± 0.61 items/individual), followed by that in Chionodraco rastrospinosus (1.4 ± 0.26 items/individual), Notolepis coatsi (1.1 ± 0.57 items/individual), and Electrona carlsbergi (0.72 ± 0.19 items/individual). MPs in Notolepis coatsi (mean 747 µm) had the highest mean size, followed by that in Trematomus eulepidotus (653 µm), Chionodraco rastrospinosus (629 µm), and Electrona carlsbergi (473 µm). This is possibly attributed to the feeding habits and egestion behaviors of different Antarctic fishes. Fiber was consistently the predominant shape of MPs in Trematomus eulepidotus, Chionodraco rastrospinosus, and Electrona carlsbergi, accounting for 82 %, 76 %, and 60 % of total items of MPs, respectively. Polypropylene, polyamide, and polyethylene were the predominant polymer composition of MPs in Antarctic fishes, collectively contributed 63-86 % of total items of MPs. This may be because these types of MPs have been widely used in global household materials. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive study examining the occurrence of MPs in Antarctic fishes. This study provides fundamental data for evaluating the risks of MP exposure for Antarctic fishes.

Microplastics in terrestrial insects, long-horned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), from China.

Despite studies have proposed that microplastics (MPs) could exert adverse effects on terrestrial ecosystems and biota, the occurrence of MPs in wild terrestrial insects has been rarely investigated. This study examined MPs in 261 long-horned beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) samples collected from four different Chinese cities. Detection frequency of MPs in long-horned beetles from different cities was 68-88 %. Long-horned beetles from Hangzhou (4.0 items/individual) had the highest mean abundance of MPs, followed by that from Wuhan (2.9 items/individual), Kunming (2.5 items/individual), and Chengdu (2.3 items/individual). The mean size of MPs in long-horned beetles from four Chinese cities was 381-690 µm. Fiber consistently represented the major shape of MPs in long-horned beetles from different Chinese cities, contributing 60, 54, 50, and 49 % of total items of MPs in Kunming, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Wuhan, respectively. Polypropylene was the major polymer composition of MPs in long-horned beetles from Chengdu (68 % of total items of MPs) and Kunming (40 %). However, polyethylene and polyester were the major types of polymer compositions of MPs in long-horned beetles from Wuhan (39 % of total MP items) and Hangzhou (56 %), respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the occurrence of MPs in wild terrestrial insects. These data are important for evaluating the risks of exposure to MPs for long-horned beetles.

Development of QuEChERS coupled with UHPLC-MS/MS for simultaneous determination of eight neonicotinoid pesticides in breast milk.

A speedy and hypersensitive method was built to detect eight neonicotinoid insecticides (neonics) in breast milk by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The breast milk was extracted with a mixture of acetonitrile and water and purified with primary secondary amine (PSA) and C18. The recovery of the method ranged from 74.3 to 105.9% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of less than 10%, and the limit of detection ranged from 0.05 to 0.18 ng/mL. Among 32 samples obtained from women 1 month postpartum, thiamethoxam and imidacloprid were the most frequently detected neonics. Moreover, thiacloprid and imidaclothiz were not detected in any samples. The concentrations of neonics in breast milk ranged from 1.90 to 149.95 ng/mL. Considering the toxic effects on mammals and even humans, infants who are exposed to neonics through ingestion of breast milk should receive extensive attention in future studies.

Associations between urinary parabens and lung cancer.

Parabens are a family of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Environmental estrogens may play a vital role in the development of lung cancer. To date, the association between parabens and lung cancer is unknown. Based on the 189 cases and 198 controls recruited between 2018 and 2021 in Quzhou, China, we measured 5 urinary parabens concentrations and examined the association between urinary concentrations of parabens and lung cancer risk. Cases showed significantly higher median concentrations of methyl-paraben (MeP) (2.1 versus 1.8 ng/mL), ethyl-paraben (0.98 versus 0.66 ng/mL), propyl-paraben (PrP) (2.2 versus 1.4 ng/mL), and butyl-paraben (0.33 versus 0.16 ng/mL) than controls. The detection rates of benzyl-paraben were only 8 and 6% in the control and case groups, respectively. Therefore, the compound was not considered in the further analysis. The significant correlation between urinary concentrations of PrP and the risk of lung cancer (odds ratio (OR)adjusted = 2.22, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.76, 2.75; Ptrend < 0.001) was identified in the adjusted model. In the stratification analysis, we found that urinary concentrations of MeP were significantly associated with lung cancer risk (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.27 for the highest quartile group). Besides, comparing the second, third, and fourth quartile groups with the lowest group of PrP, we also observed urinary PrP concentrations associated with lung cancer risk, with the adjusted OR of 1.52 (95% CI: 1.29, 1.65, Ptrend = 0.007), 1.39 (95% CI: 1.15, 1.60, Ptrend = 0.010), and 1.85 (95% CI: 1.53, 2.30, Ptrend = 0.001), respectively. MeP and PrP exposure, reflected in urinary concentrations of parabens, may be positively associated with the risk of lung cancer in adults.

Microplastics in Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) from Antarctic region.

Pollution of microplastics (MPs) has become a potential threat to Antarctic marine ecosystems. However, the occurrence of MPs in Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), a keystone species in Antarctic ecosystems, remains unclear. In this study, the abundance and characteristics of MPs were examined in Antarctic krill samples (n = 437) collected from two Antarctic regions. MPs were extracted using an alkali digestion method and analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The mean abundance of MPs in Antarctic krill samples from the South Shetland Islands (n = 355) and the South Orkney Islands (n = 82) were 0.29 ± 0.14 and 0.20 ± 0.083 items/individual, respectively. >90 % of MPs found in Antarctic krill were < 150 µm in size. Fibers represented 77 % and 87 % of the MPs in Antarctic krill samples from the South Shetland Islands and the South Orkney Islands, respectively. Black, blue, and red were the predominant colors of MPs in Antarctic krill, accounting for 32 %, 22 %, and 21 % of the total MPs, respectively. Seven polymer compositions were identified for the MPs in Antarctic krill, with the predominance of polyethylene (37 % of total MPs), followed by polypropylene (22 %) and polyester (21 %). To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the occurrence of MPs in Antarctic krill samples. The results of this study are important for evaluating the risks of MP exposure in Antarctic krill.

First evidence of neonicotinoid insecticides in human bile and associated hepatotoxicity risk.

Neonicotinoids (NEOs) are widely applied in agricultural lands and are widespread in different environments, accelerating threats to ecosystems and human health. A number of in vitro/in vivo studies have reported adverse effects of NEOs on mammalian health, but the link between NEO exposure and toxic effects on human liver remains unclear. We randomly recruited 201 participants and quantified eight commercialized NEOs in bile. High frequency and concentration of detection indicate low degradation of human liver on NEOs. The main NEOs are nitenpyram and dinotefuran, which contribute to about 86% of the total residual levels of eight NEOs, due to the highest solubility in bile and are not degraded easily in liver. In contrast, imidacloprid and thiacloprid are major compounds in human blood, according to previous studies, suggesting that individual NEOs behave differently in blood and bile distribution. There was no statistical difference in NEO residues between cancer and non-cancer participants and among the different participant demographics (e.g., age, gender, and body mass index). The serum hematological parameters -bile acid, total bilirubin, cholesterol and alkaline phosphatase -were positively correlated with individual NEO concentrations, suggesting that NEO exposure affects liver metabolism and even enterohepatic circulation. The study first examined the NEO residues in human bile and provided new insights into their bioavailability and hepatoxicity risk.

Microplastics in Widely Used Polypropylene-Made Food Containers.

As a potential threat to human health, ingestion of microplastics (MPs) has become of concern. Limited studies have carefully characterized the occurrence of MPs in polypropylene-made takeout food containers (TOFCs), which have been widely used in China. In this study, TOFC samples (n = 210) were collected from seven Chinese cities (Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xining, Chengdu, Qingdao, and Dalian) and analyzed for MPs. All the TOFC samples contained MPs, with an abundance of 3−43 items/TOFC. The TOFCs from Chengdu (25 items/TOFC) contained the highest mean abundance of MPs, which is significantly (p < 0.01) higher than that from Shanghai (8.7 items/TOFC). Fiber accounted for 66−87% of the total for the shape of the MPs in the TOFCs from the different Chinese cities. Most of the MPs in the TOFCs from the different cities had a size of 201−500 µm and accounted for a mean 34−42% of the total MPs in the TOFCs. The major color type of the MPs in the TOFCs was transparent, accounting for a mean 39 (Qingdao)−73% (Hangzhou) of the total MPs. Polymer compositions of the MPs in the TOFCs were consistently dominated by polypropylene, which represented a mean 56−73% of the total MPs. The estimated daily intake of MPs for the general Chinese population through using TOFCs was in the range of 0.042−0.14 items/kg bw/day. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive study investigating the occurrence of MPs in TOFCs from China, which contributes to a better understanding of the sources of human oral exposure to MPs.

Association between urinary bisphenol analogue concentrations and lung cancer in adults: A case-control study.

Elevated urinary bisphenol A (BPA) concentrations have been associated with lung cancer in humans. However, toxicological studies demonstrated that the proliferation of lung cancer cells was inhibited by BPA exposure. Therefore, it is still necessary to determine whether exposure to BPA and other bisphenol analogues (BPs) is associated with lung cancer in humans. In this study, 226 lung cancer patients and 243 controls were randomly recruited. Concentrations of three BPs in human urine were quantified and their relationships with the risk of human lung cancer were evaluated. BPA (mean 1.03 ng/mL, 0.87 µg/g Cre) was the predominant BP in human urine, followed by bisphenol S (BPS) (0.72 ng/mL, 0.53 µg/g Cre) and bisphenol F (0.32 ng/mL, 0.37 µg/g Cre). Significant correlations between creatinine-corrected urinary BPA concentrations and the lung cancer risk (odds ratio (OR) adjusted = 1.28, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.17, 1.40; Ptrend = 0.04) were found using logistical regression analysis. Creatinine-corrected urinary concentrations of BPS in participants showed significant correlations with lung cancer (ORadjusted = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.59; Ptrend = 0.01) in the adjusted model. In the stratification analysis, the significant correlation between urinary creatinine-corrected concentrations of BPA and the risk of lung cancer still observed in male participants (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.62, p = 0.040). This study demonstrates that elevated human exposure to BPA and BPS may be associated with the increased lung cancer risk.

Determination of quinolone antibiotics in environmental water using automatic solid-phase extraction and isotope dilution ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

The widespread use of quinolones in humans and animals has become a major threat to public health. In this study, a simple, rapid, sensitive, and high throughput method based on automatic solid-phase extraction and isotope dilution ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was described for the determination of trace quinolones in environmental water. The proposed automated solid-phase extraction method was initially optimized, and the optimum experimental conditions found were 1 L water sample with 0.5 g/L Na2EDTA (pH 3) extracted and enriched by CNW Poly-Sery HLB cartridge at a flow rate of 50 mL/min and eluted by 8 mL of methanol. The linearity of the method ranged from 0.05 to 100 µg/L for 15 quinolones, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9993 to 0.9999. The limits of detection were in the low ng/L level, ranging from 0.005 to 0.051 ng/L. Finally, the optimized method was applied for determining trace levels of 15 quinolones in Wahaha pure water, tap water, river water, and seawater samples with good recoveries of 93 %-119 % and satisfactory relative standard deviations of 0.1 %-13.9 %. Fourteen quinolones were detected, and ofloxacin was the predominant congener in river water and seawater.

Microplastics in Seawater, Sediment, and Organisms from Hangzhou Bay.

Microplastics (MPs) are widely present in global oceans, and can pose a threat to marine organisms. This study examined the abundance and characteristics of MPs in seawater, sediment, and organism samples collected from Hangzhou Bay. Abundance of MPs in seawater (n = 26) and sediment (n = 26) were 0.77-9.6 items/m3 and 44-208 items/kg dw, respectively. Size of MPs in sediment (mean 2.5 mm, range 0.21-5.3 mm) was significantly (p < 0.05) larger than that in seawater (1.1 mm, 0.13-4.9 mm). Fiber was consistently the predominant shape of MPs in seawater and sediment. The major polymer composition of MPs was polyethylene (PE; mean 47 %) in seawater, but textile cellulose (60 %) was the main polymer type of MPs in sediment. Average abundance of MPs in marine organisms (n = 388) ranged from 0.064 (zooplankton) to 2.9 (Harpodon nehereus) items/ind, with the mean size of 0.19-1.4 mm. MP abundance in marine organisms was not significantly correlated with their trophic level. Fiber was always the predominant shape of MPs in different marine organisms, contributing mean 67 (fish)-93 % (zooplankton) of total MPs. MPs in crustacean (mean 58 %), shellfish (64 %), and cephalopod (29 %) were dominated by textile cellulose. Whereas, PE (mean 44 %) and polypropylene (43 %) were the major polymer compositions of MPs in fish and zooplankton, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive study investigating the occurrence of MPs in environmental matrixes from Hangzhou Bay, which contributes to the better understanding of environmental behaviors of MPs in estuarine sea environment.

Microplastics in dust from different indoor environments.

Microplastics (MPs) are present in global indoor dust, which is an important source of MPs for humans. However, few researchers have investigated differences in the abundance and characteristics of MPs in dust in different indoor environments. In this study, we found that residential apartments (mean: 1174 MPs/g; n = 47) had the highest abundance of MPs in indoor dust samples, followed by offices (896 MPs/g; n = 50), business hotels (843 MPs/g; n = 53), university dormitories (775 MPs/g; n = 48), and university classrooms (209 MPs/g; n = 44). The predominant shape of MPs was fiber in most indoor dust samples. The main size fraction of the MPs in the indoor dust samples from university classrooms and business hotels was 201-500 µm, and it was 501-1000 µm in those from offices, university dormitories, and residential apartments. The main MP polymer in indoor dust samples from business hotels, university dormitories, and residential apartments was polyester, whereas those from offices and university classrooms were mainly polyethylene and polypropylene. We calculated the estimated daily intake (EDI) of MPs through the inhalation of indoor dust, and found that infants (7.4 MPs/kg bw/day) had a higher mean EDI of MPs than toddlers (1.4 MPs/kg bw/day), children (0.49 MPs/kg bw/day), adults (0.23 MPs/kg bw/day), and university students (0.22 MPs/kg bw/day). To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to report differences in MP occurrence in dust samples from different indoor environments, and our findings provide a more accurate understanding of exposure risks of MPs to humans.

Environmental occurrence and ecological risks of psychoactive substances.

Psychoactive substances are ubiquitous in the environment at low concentrations, and tobacco, cannabis, etc. are all widely-existing examples. Given their potent biological activity, psychoactive substances are suspected to be harmful to the environment, and reports of their ecological risks are gradually increasing. Since the 1990s, the investigations into psychoactive substances have made remarkable progress, yet some research fields still need to be modernised. For example, the unification of standardised analytical methods as well as the supplementation of occurrence literature. In addition, a relatively lagging risk evaluation system caused by a lack of toxicity data is particularly in need of improvement. The purpose of this article is to develop a review of current research on psychoactive substances, including analytical methods, distribution in environmental compartments, and ecological risk assessment, as well as to point out deficiencies and development prospects and to offer motivation for enhancing the research level in this field.

Determination of polyhalogenated carbazoles in waters at low nanogram-per-liter concentrations with solid-phase disk extraction.

Polyhalogenated carbazoles, a class of emerging contaminants with persistence and dioxin-like toxicity, have received increasing attention in recent years. In this study, a simple, rapid, sensitive, and high throughput method based on solid-phase disk extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was described for the determination of polyhalogenated carbazoles in low nanogram-per-liter range in water samples. The proposed solid-phase disk extraction method was initially optimized, and the optimum experimental conditions found were 1 L water sample (pH 6-9) extracted and enriched by Empore 3-stn octadecyl disk at flow rate of 5 to 50 mL/min and eluted by 5 mL of acetone and 3 × 10 mL methylene dichloride. The linearity of the method ranged from 0.2 to 50 ng/L for carbazole and 11 polyhalogenated carbazoles, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9951 to 0.9996. The limits of detection were in the low nanogram per liter level, ranging from 0.018 to 0.12 ng/L. Finally, the optimized method was applied for determining trace levels of carbazole and 11 polyhalogenated carbazoles in tap water and seawater samples with good recovery of 86.6-112.8%. Carbazole and 3-7 polyhalogenated carbazoles were detected, and 3,6-dichlorocarbazole was the predominant congener both in tap water and seawater.

Effect of Temperature and Humidity on Oil Quality of Harvested Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii Nuts During the After-Ripening Stage.

Temperature and relative humidity (RH) influence post-harvest ripening, a crucial stage for quality promotion in some oil plants or fruits. Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii nuts, which are rich in unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), are easily affected by temperature and humidity, and they oxidize quickly during the post-harvest ripening stage, leading to the deterioration of nut quality. In this study, the main nutraceutical components, fatty acid composition, and related metabolic parameters of lipid rancidity under four treatments (20°C and 70% RH, T20-LH; 30°C and 70% RH, T30-LH; 20°C and 90% RH, T20-HH; 30°C and 90% RH, T30-HH) were measured. The post-harvest ripening process was advanced under HH treatments (T20-HH and T30-HH) compared to LH treatments (T20-LH and T30-LH) and was associated with a shorter time for the seed coat to turn dark black and a faster reduction in starch content. The amount of unsaturated fatty acids significantly increased under the T20-HH treatment, but significantly decreased under the T30-HH treatment from 12 to 16 d of ripening time. The acid value (AV) and lipase activity under the T30-HH treatment remained virtually constant from 12 to 16 d of ripening time, and this was accompanied by a dramatic increase in peroxide value (POV), lipoxygenase (LOX) activity, and relative expression of the LOX2 gene. Meanwhile, a significant positive correlation between LOX activity and POV, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and O2⋅- content was observed. The results imply that the lower amount of oxidative rancidity induced by the T20-HH treatment is related to the LOX activity induced by down-regulation of the LOX2 gene during the late after-ripening stage. Therefore, the T20-HH treatment not only promoted the post-harvest process of T. grandis 'Merrillii' nuts but also delayed lipid oxidation, which was ultimately associated with better oil quality at the late after-ripening stage.

Occurrence of phthalic acid esters in marine organisms from Hangzhou Bay, China: Implications for human exposure.

Owing to the wide application of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in the manufacturing of plastic products, they are ubiquitous in the marine environment. However, the occurrence of various PAEs in marine organisms from China has not been well characterized. In this study, 341 marine organism samples (including fish, shrimp, crab, and shellfish) were collected from Hangzhou Bay, China and analyzed for 16 PAEs. Further, the human PAE exposure risks raised from the consumption of marine organisms were evaluated for adults and children. In total, eight PAEs were detected in collected organism samples, with the concentration of total PAEs (∑PAEs) ranging from 64 to 2840 ng/g (mean 238 ng/g). Crab (mean 811 ng/g) samples had the highest mean concentration of ∑PAEs, followed by fish (465 ng/g), shrimp (293 ng/g), and shellfish (261 ng/g) samples. Among detected PAEs, di-isobutyl phthalate (DiBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), and di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) were the predominant PAEs, and they collectively accounted for 84-97% of the ∑PAEs concentrations in all samples. The estimated daily intakes of DiBP, DBP, and DEHP were more than one order of magnitude higher than remaining PAEs. Calculated hazard quotient values of PAEs were all <0.1, suggesting non-cancer risks for the general population through the consumption of marine organisms. Overall, for the first time, this study systematically examined the occurrence of multiple PAEs in four types of marine organisms from Hangzhou Bay, China.

Exposure sources of perfluoroalkyl acids and influence of age and gender on concentrations of chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonates in human serum from China.

The presence of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonates (Cl-PFAESs) in humans has attracted great attention in recent decades. However, information on their exposure sources and the influence of age and gender on Cl-PFAES concentrations in human serum is still limited. In this study, eighty-five serum samples were collected from the general population in Anji, China, and analyzed for perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs), perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs), and Cl-PFAESs. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS; mean, 5.9 ng/mL) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA; 3.3 ng/mL) were the predominant PFAAs in human serum. The serum concentrations of C8-C12 PFCAs, perfluorohexane sulfonate, and PFOS were significantly (rs = 0.40-0.98, p < 0.01) correlated with one another. In human serum, the mean percentages of branched isomers for PFOA, perfluorohexane sulfonate, and PFOS were 97.3%, 92.6%, and 66%, respectively. These results suggest that the major source of PFCAs and PFSAs in human serum was direct exposure. The mean 6:2Cl-PFAES (6.0 ng/mL) serum concentration was higher than PFOA (p < 0.01). The mean 6:2Cl-PFAES concentrations in male and female serum were 6.5 ng/mL and 5.6 ng/mL, respectively. A significant increase in 6:2Cl-PFAES concentrations with age was found in males (rs = 0.50, p = 0.001). The 6:2Cl-PFAES concentration was positively correlated with C8-C12 PFCAs and PFOS in human serum (rs = 0.44-0.91, p < 0.01), indicating that they may have common exposure sources. Overall, this study first investigated the roles of age and gender on human serum concentrations of Cl-PFAESs and provided baseline information on the occurrence of Cl-PFAESs in the general Chinese population.

Metabolic and lipidomic characterization of malignant pleural effusion in human lung cancer.

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is an important hallmark for late-stage lung cancer with metastasis. Current clinical diagnosis methods require tedious work to distinguish MPE from benign pleural effusion (BPE). The objective of this study was to characterize the metabolic signatures in MPE of lung cancer, and identify potential metabolite biomarkers for diagnosis of MPE. MPE from lung cancer (n = 46) and BPE from tuberculosis patients (n = 32) were investigated by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based global metabolomic and lipidomic profiling. Multivariate partial least-square discriminative analysis models exhibited distinct metabolic profiles between MPE and BPE. A total of 25 ether lipids, including phosphatidylcholines (PC), lysophosphatidylcholines (LPC) and phosphatidylethanolamines (PE), were observed to be significantly downregulated in MPE with excellent diagnostic potential. Plasmalogen PC(40:3p) showed highest AUC value of 0.953 in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) model. Oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were upregulated in MPE. The obtained results implied a high oxidative stress and peroxisome disorder in lung cancer patients. Combined metabolomic and lipidomic profiling have discovered potential biomarkers in MPE with excellent clinical diagnostic capability. Dysregulated ether lipids and oxidized PUFAs have implied an aberrant redox metabolism, which provides novel insights into the pathology of MPE in lung cancer.

Spatial-temporal distribution of microplastics in surface water and sediments of Maozhou River within Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Concerns over the negative impacts of microplastics on human health have led to growing attention on the occurrence of microplastics in aquatic environment. Recent studies have extended their focus from marine to inland waters, especially on the spatial-temporal distribution of the microplastics in urban rivers. In this study, Maozhou River, the largest river in Shenzhen, a tributary of the Pearl River, was selected as a representative inland waterway of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The spatial-temporal investigation was performed on microplastics in the surface water and sediments of 17 sites along the mainstream of the Maozhou River. Results show that microplastics were widely and unevenly distributed along the river and reached the high abundances on the site most intensively surrounded by industries as well as the sites downstream. The abundances in dry season ranged from 4.0 ± 1.0 to 25.5 ± 3.5 items·L-1 in water and 35 ± 15 to 560 ± 70 item·kg-1 in sediments, which were relatively higher than those observed in the wet season (water: 3.5 ± 1.0 to 10.5 ± 2.5 items·L-1; sediments: 25 ± 5 to 360 ± 90 item·kg-1; p value < 0.05). The dominant types of the microplastics were identified as: PE Polyethylene (PE, water: 45.0%, sediments: 42.0%), polypropylene (PP, water and sediments: 12.5%), polystyrene (PS, water: 34.5%; sediments 14.5%) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC, water: 2.0%; sediments: 15%). Moreover, metals like Al, Si, Ca were discovered on the rough surface of the microplastics, indicating the interactions between the microplastics and the aquatic environment. Through a comprehensive comparison with other major inland waters in China, this work provides valuable data on the microplastics pollution of a representative inland water in the Greater Bay Area, and will further contribute to a better understanding on the land-based input of microplastics from the intensively affected inland waters.