Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in Chinese commercially available red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii): Implications for human exposure and health risk assessment.

The extensive utilization of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) has led to their pervasive presence in the environment, resulting in contamination of aquatic products. Prolonged exposure to PFASs has been linked to direct hepatic and renal damage, along with the induction of oxidative stress, contributing to a spectrum of chronic ailments. Despite the recent surge in popularity of red swamp crayfish as a culinary delicacy in China, studies addressing PFASs' exposure and associated health risks from their consumption remain scarce. To address this gap, our study investigated the PFASs' content in 85 paired edible tissue samples sourced from the five primary red swamp crayfish breeding provinces in China. The health risks associated with dietary exposure were also assessed. Our findings revealed widespread detection of PFASs in crayfish samples, with short-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) exhibiting the highest concentrations. Notably, the total PFAS concentration in the hepatopancreas (median: 160 ng/g) significantly exceeded that in muscle tissue (5.95 ng/g), as did the concentration of every single substance. The hazard quotient of perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) via consuming crayfish during peak season exceeded 1. In this case, a potential total non-cancer health risk of PFASs, which is mainly from the hepatopancreas and associated with PFHxS, is also observed (hazard index>1). Thus, it is recommended to avoid consuming the hepatopancreas of red swamp crayfish. Greater attention should be paid to governance technology innovation and regulatory measure strengthening for short-chain PFASs.

Assessment of potential environmental and human risks for Bisphenol AF contaminant.

Bisphenol AF (BPAF) is found in high concentrations in aquatic environments due to the increased use of thermal paper and food packaging. However, there have been relatively few toxicological studies and potential risk assessments of BPAF. In this study, the risk quotient (RQ) and hazard quotient (HQ) of BPAF were derived to present the safety standards for environmental risk management and protection in lakes, rivers, bays, and Italian regions. We applied the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) method based on the previous ecotoxicological data and the results of supplementary toxicity tests on BPAF. From the SSD curves, the hazardous concentration for 5 % of the species (HC5) values for the acute and chronic toxicity data were 464.75 µg/L and 3.59 µg/L, respectively, and the acute- and chronic-based predicted no-effect concentration were derived as 154.92 µg/L and 1.20 µg/L, respectively. The acute-based RQ (RQA)values of BPAF in all regions were negligible (RQ < 0.1). The chronic-based RQ (RQC) in the Xitang River (XR) and the Central Italy (CI) showed a considerably high ecological risk (12.77 and 1.29) and the Hangzhou Bay (0.21), the South and North Italy (0.79 and 0.27), and the Tamagawa River (0.13) had a medium ecological risk (0.1 < RQ < 1.0). However, the HQ values based on the tolerable daily intake for BPAF over all age groups in these regions was < 0.1, indicating the low health risk. Nonetheless, the result of this study indicates that BPAF contamination is serious in XR and CI, and their use and emissions require continuous monitoring.

Safe and sustainable fish and seafood system and per- and poly-fluorinated substances occurrence: the role of PFAS toxicity in the assessment.

Fish and seafood are valuable sources of both nutrients and organic contaminants. The expansion of the analytical per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) panel with toxicological characterisation necessitates an update of PFAS intake assessment and management within the context of cumulative exposure. Benthic and demersal seafood, such as clams, squid, and cuttlefish, are more prone to contamination with C9-C14 perfluorocarboxylic acids, exhibiting the highest relative potency factors in terms of immunotoxicity, according to the grid recently proposed by the European Commission Scientific Committee on Health, Environment, and Emerging Risk. Based on the Italian food consumption database referring to demersal and benthic biota such as squid, cuttlefish, crustaceans, and clams, a toxicology-based intake scenario was drafted to highlight the relevant contribution of such wild species to PFAS intake, well above the provisional health-based guidance value of 4.4 ng/kg body weight per week. Ensuring consistency between PFAS reduction and substitution policies, environmental quality standards for water bodies, and the issuance of advisories and regulations regarding safe and sustainable intake of fish and seafood is crucial. This is done to prevent a loss of accountability for institutional bodies, which aim to protect fragile (sensitive and vulnerable) groups from PFAS exposure and simultaneously promote 'blue growth' as a sustainable food production system.

Time Is Ripe for Targeting Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances-Induced Hormesis: Global Aquatic Hotspots and Implications for Ecological Risk Assessment.

Globally implemented ecological risk assessment (ERA) guidelines marginalize hormesis, a biphasic dose-response relationship characterized by low-dose stimulation and high-dose inhibition. The present study illuminated the promise of hormesis as a scientific dose-response model for ERA of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represented by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). A total of 266 hormetic dose-response relationships were recompiled from 1237 observations, covering 30 species from nine representative taxonomic groups. The standardized hormetic amplitudes followed the log-normal probability distribution, being subject to the limits of biological plasticity but independent of stress inducers. The SHapley Additive exPlanations algorithm revealed that the target endpoint was the most important variable explaining the hormetic amplitudes. Subsequently, quantitative frameworks were established to incorporate hormesis into the predicted no-effect concentration levels, with a lower induction dose and a zero-equivalent point but a broader hormetic zone for PFOS. Realistically, 10,117 observed concentrations of PFOA and PFOS were gathered worldwide, 4% of which fell within hormetic zones, highlighting the environmental relevance of hormesis. Additionally, the hormesis induction potential was identified in other legacy and emerging PFAS as well as their alternatives and mixtures. Collectively, it is time to incorporate the hormesis concept into PFAS studies to facilitate more realistic risk characterizations.

Population exposure to emerging perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) via drinking water resources: Application of multivariate statistics and risk assessment models.

This study assessed the occurrence, origins, and potential risks of emerging perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) for the first time in drinking water resources of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. In total, 13 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) with carbon (C) chains C4-C18 and 4 perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs) with C chains C4-C10 were tested in both surface and ground drinking water samples using a high-performance liquid chromatography system (HPLC) equipped with an Agilent 6460 Triple Quadrupole liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) system. The concentrations of ∑PFCAs, ∑PFSAs, and ∑PFAAs in drinking water ranged from 1.46 to 72.85, 0.30-8.03, and 1.76-80.88 ng/L, respectively. Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), and perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) were the dominant analytes in surface water followed by ground water, while the concentration of perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), and perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoDA) were greater than long-chain PFOA and PFOS. The correlation statistics, which showed a strong correlation (p < 0.05) between the PFAA analytes, potentially indicated the fate of PFAAs in the area's drinking water sources, whereas the hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) statistics identified industrial, domestic, agricultural, and commercial applications as potential point and non-point sources of PFAA contamination in the area. From risk perspectives, the overall PFAA toxicity in water resources was within the ecological health risk thresholds, where for the human population the hazard quotient (HQ) values of individual PFAAs were < 1, indicating no risk from the drinking water sources; however, the hazard index (HI) from the ∑PFAAs should not be underestimated, as it may significantly result in potential chronic toxicity to exposed adults, followed by children.

Residue and dietary intake risk assessment of lufenuron and chlorfenapyr and its corresponding metabolite in cabbage under field conditions.

A simple, low-cost, and highly sensitive method using a modified QuECHERS procedure based on a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) was established to simultaneously quantify lufenuron and chlorfenapyr and the corresponding metabolite tralopyril in cabbage for the first time. On the basis of this method, terminal residue and dietary risk of lufenuron and chlorfenapyr in cabbage were investigated. The recoveries of lufenuron, chlorfenapyr, and tralopyril ranged from 88 to 110%, with relative standard deviation of less than 12.4%. The field trial results showed that at the pre-harvest interval (PHI) of 21 days, the terminal residues of lufenuron, chlorfenapyr, and tralopyril in the supervised trials were not higher than 0.02 mg/kg, and the highest detected residue levels of lufenuron, chlorfenapyr, and tralopyril were 0.047, 0.055, and <0.02 mg·kg-1 at 14-day pre-harvest respectively, which were lower than the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for cabbage established in China. For the dietary risk assessment, the national estimated daily intakes (NEDIs) as proportion of acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) were 80.4% and 29.9% for chlorfenapyr and lufenuron respectively indicating an acceptable dietary risk to Chinese population.

Global quantification of emerging and legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in indoor dust: Levels, profiles and human exposure.

This study investigated the occurrence and distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in house dust samples from six regions across four continents. PFASs were detected in all indoor dust samples, with total median concentrations ranging from 17.3 to 197 ng/g. Among the thirty-one PFAS analytes, eight compounds, including emerging PFASs, exhibited high detection frequencies in house dust from all six locations. The levels of PFASs varied by region, with higher concentrations found in Adelaide (Australia), Tianjin (China), and Carbondale (United States, U.S.). Moreover, PFAS composition profiles also differed among regions. Dust from Australia and the U.S. contained high levels of 6:2 fluorotelomer phosphate ester (6:2 diPAP), while perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) were predominant in other regions. Furthermore, our results indicate that socioeconomic factors impact PFAS levels. The assessment of human exposure through dust ingestion and dermal contact indicates that toddlers may experience higher exposure levels than adults. However, the hazard quotients of PFASs for both toddlers and adults were below one, indicating significant health risks are unlikely. Our study highlights the widespread occurrence of PFASs in global indoor dust and the need for continued monitoring and regulation of these chemicals.

Changes in plasma concentrations of per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances after bariatric surgery in adolescents from the Teen-Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (Teen-LABS) study.

Exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is ubiquitous due to their persistence in the environment and in humans. Extreme weight loss has been shown to influence concentrations of circulating persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Using data from the multi-center perspective Teen-Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (Teen-LABS) cohort, we investigated changes in plasma-PFAS in adolescents after bariatric surgery. Adolescents (Mean age = 17.1 years, SD = 1.5 years) undergoing bariatric surgery were enrolled in the Teen-LABS study. Plasma-PFAS were measured at the time of surgery and then 6-, 12-, and 36 months post-surgery. Linear mixed effect models were used to evaluate longitudinal changes in plasma-PFAS after the time of bariatric surgery. This study included 214 adolescents with severe obesity who had available longitudinal measures of plasma-PFAS and underwent bariatric surgery between 2007 and 2012. Underlying effects related to undergoing bariatric surgery were found to be associated with an initial increase or plateau in concentrations of circulating PFAS up to 6 months after surgery followed by a persistent decline in concentrations of 36 months (p < 0.001 for all plasma-PFAS). Bariatric surgery in adolescents was associated with a decline in circulating PFAS concentrations. Initially following bariatric surgery (0-6 months) concentrations were static followed by decline from 6 to 36 months following surgery. This may have large public health implications as PFAS are known to be associated with numerous metabolic related diseases and the significant reduction in circulating PFAS in individuals who have undergone bariatric surgery may be related to the improvement of such metabolic related diseases following bariatric surgery.

Assessment and Comparison of Early Developmental Toxicity of Six Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances with Human Embryonic Stem Cell Models.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are extensively utilized in varieties of products and tend to accumulate in the human body including umbilical cord blood and embryos/fetuses. In this study, we conducted an assessment and comparison of the potential early developmental toxicity of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), heptafluorobutyric acid, perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexanesulfonate, and perfluorobutyric acid at noncytotoxic concentrations relevant to human exposure using models based on human embryonic stem cells in both three-dimensional embryoid body (EB) and monolayer differentiation configurations. All six compounds influenced the determination of cell fate by disrupting the expression of associated markers in both models and, in some instances, even led to alterations in the formation of cystic EBs. The expression of cilia-related gene IFT122 was significantly inhibited. Additionally, PFOS and PFOA inhibited ciliogenesis, while PFOA specifically reduced the cilia length. Transcriptome analysis revealed that PFOS altered 1054 genes and disrupted crucial signaling pathways such as WNT and TGF-ß, which play integral roles in cilia transduction and are critical for early embryonic development. These results provide precise and comprehensive insights into the potential adverse health effects of these six PFAS compounds directly concerning early human embryonic development.

Inconsistencies in the EU regulatory risk assessment of PFAS call for readjustment.

Recognition of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as widespread environmental pollutants and a consequent risk to human health, has recently made the European Union (EU) adopt several regulatory measures for their management. The coherence of these measures is challenged by the diversity and the ubiquitous occurrence of PFAS, which also complicates the EU's endeavor to advance justified, harmonized, and transparent approaches in the regulatory assessment of chemical risks. Our study critically reviews the European approach for the risk assessment of PFAS, by applying a comparative analysis of the current and pending regulatory thresholds issued for these chemicals in water bodies, drinking water, and certain foodstuffs. Our study shows that the level of health protection embedded in the studied thresholds may differ by three orders of magnitude, even in similar exposure settings. This is likely to confuse the common understanding of the toxicity and health risks of PFAS and undermine reasonable decision-making and the equal treatment of different stakeholders. We also indicate that currently, no consensus exists on the appropriate level of required health protection regarding PFAS and that the recently adopted tolerable intake value in the EU is too cautious. Based on our analysis, we propose some simple solutions on how the studied regulations and their implicit PFAS thresholds or their application could be improved. We further conclude that instead of setting EU-wide PFAS thresholds for all the environmental compartments, providing the member states with the flexibility to consider case-specific factors, such as regional background concentrations or food consumption rates, in their national regulatory procedures would likely result in more sustainable management of environmental PFAS without compromising the scientific foundation of risk assessment, the legitimacy of the EU policy framework and public health.

PFAS assessment in fish - Samples from Illinois waters.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been widely used in various industries, including pesticide production, electroplating, packaging, paper making, and the manufacturing of water-resistant clothes. This study investigates the levels of PFAS in fish tissues collected from four target waterways (15 sampling points) in the northwestern part of Illinois during 2021-2022. To assess accumulation, concentrations of 17 PFAS compounds were evaluated in nine fish species to potentially inform on exposure risks to local sport fishing population via fish consumption. At least four PFAS (PFHxA, PFHxS, PFOS, and PFBS) were detected at each sampling site. The highest concentrations of PFAS were consistently found in samples from the Rock River, particularly in areas near urban and industrial activities. PFHxA emerged as the most accumulated PFAS in the year 2022, while PFBS and PFOS dominated in 2021. Channel Catfish exhibited the highest PFAS content across different fish species, indicating its bioaccumulation potential across the food chain. Elevated levels of PFOS were observed in nearly all fish, indicating the need for careful consideration of fish consumption. Additional bioaccumulation data in the future years is needed to shed light on the sources and PFAS accumulation potential in aquatic wildlife in relation to exposures for potential health risk assessment.

Assessment of TGx-DDI genes for genotoxicity in a comprehensive panel of chemicals.

BACKGROUND: The TGx-DDI biomarker identifies transcripts specifically induced by primary DNA damage. Profiling similarity of TGx-DDI signatures can allow clustering compounds by genotoxic mechanism. This transcriptomics-based approach complements conventional toxicology testing by enhancing mechanistic resolution. METHODS: Unsupervised hierarchical clustering and t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (tSNE) were utilized to assess similarity of publicly-available per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and ToxCast chemicals based on TGx-DDI modulation. TempO-seq transcriptomic data after highest chemical concentrations were analyzed. RESULTS: Clustering discriminated between genotoxic and non-genotoxic compounds while drawing similarity among chemicals with shared mechanisms. PFAS largely clustered distinctly from classical mutagens. However, dynamic range across PFAS types and durations indicated variable potential for DNA damage. tSNE visualization reinforced phenotypic groupings, with genotoxins clustering separately from non-DNA damaging agents. DISCUSSION: Unsupervised learning approaches applied to TGx-DDI profiles effectively categorizes chemical genotoxicity potential, aiding elucidation of biological response pathways. This transcriptomics-based strategy gives further insight into the role and effect of individual TGx-DDI biomarker genes and complements existing assays by enhancing mechanistic resolution. Overall, TGx-DDI biomarker profiling holds promise for predictive safety screening.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Patient and Family Advisory Councils: Advancing Best Practice in Children's Hospitals.

INTRODUCTION: This qualitative research study explored practices that support and advance diverse membership in Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs) in children's hospitals and the involvement of PFACs in organization-level diversity, equity, and inclusion work. METHOD: This study consisted of a focused literature review and 17 key informant interviews. The study sought to identify important learnings about (1) recruiting and supporting patient and family advisors (PFAs) from historically marginalized populations and (2) ways to develop and sustain meaningful partnerships with PFAs and PFACs in diversity, equity, and inclusion work. RESULTS: The study findings highlighted a number of best practices for hospitals to adopt, including more actively reaching out to communities served, addressing barriers to participation through approaches and structures such as specialty PFACs and "tiered" options for participation by PFAs, and co-creation of inclusive environments. DISCUSSION: To move forward with this work, additional research, true commitment from health care organizations, and shared guidance and tools for the field are needed.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Exposure Risks in US Carceral Facilities, 2022.

Objectives. To assess the US incarcerated population's risk of exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Methods. We assessed how many of the 6118 US carceral facilities were located in the same hydrologic unit code watershed boundaries as known or likely locations of PFAS contamination. We conducted geospatial analyses on data aggregated from Environmental Protection Agency databases and a PFAS site tracker in 2022 to model the hydrologically feasible known and presumptive PFAS contamination sites for nearly 2 million incarcerated people. Results. Findings indicate that 5% (∼310) of US carceral facilities have at least 1 known source of PFAS contamination in the same watershed boundary and that it is at a higher elevation than the facility; also 47% (∼2285) have at least 1 presumptive source. A minimum of 990 000 people are incarcerated in these facilities, including at least 12 800 juveniles. Exposure risks faced by incarcerated youths are disproportionately underassessed. Conclusions. The long-term impacts from potential exposures to PFAS are preventable and exacerbate health inequities among incarcerated populations. Widespread public attention to PFASs can be parlayed into broader environmental monitoring for imprisoned people. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(5):501-510. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307571).

Assessment of legacy and emerging PFAS in the Oder River: Occurrence, distribution, and sources.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the occurrence and distribution of emerging contaminants, poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in the Polish Oder River, aiming to uncover new insights into their environmental impact. The research aimed to identify potential sources of PFAS, assess water quality levels, and verify compliance with European Union environmental quality standards. The concentrations of 25 PFAS (20 legacy and 5 emerging) in 20 samples from intakes upstream and downstream of urban areas were analyzed using novel, developed in these studies, environmental analytical procedures involving solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The presence of 14 PFAS was confirmed, and the concentration of Σ14PFAS ranged from 7.6 to 68.0 ng/L. The main components were short-chain analogs. PFBA was the most abundant, accounting for about one-third of all PFAS detected. An exception was observed in the waters of the Gliwice Canal, where ADONA represented half of the detected Σ14PFAS. Alternative PFOS replacements were found in all samples. In 11 of 20 water samples, environmental quality standards for PFOS exceeded the limit of 0.65 ng/L. In 5 of 9 cases, the ability of urban areas to increase PFAS levels in the river was determined. 9.5%-54.4% share of alternative PFAS in relation to the sum of the targeted PFAS showing their increasing use as substitutes for phased-out PFOS. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to identify potential sources of PFAS. Analysis revealed that PFAS in the Oder River most likely originated from domestic and agricultural wastewater, as well as chemical industry discharges. However, the occurrence of PFAS in the Oder River is low and comparable to other recent European studies. These findings provide valuable insights for environmental management to mitigate the risks associated with PFAS pollution in Polish rivers. Moreover, the developed analytical procedure provides a valuable tool that can be successfully applied by other researchers to monitor PFAS in rivers around the world.

Occurrence, bioaccumulation, fate, and risk assessment of emerging pollutants in aquatic environments: A review.

Significant concerns on a global scale have been raised in response to the potential adverse impacts of emerging pollutants (EPs) on aquatic creatures. We have carefully reviewed relevant research over the past 10 years. The study focuses on five typical EPs: pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), drinking water disinfection byproducts (DBPs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), and microplastics (MPs). The presence of EPs in the global aquatic environment is source-dependent, with wastewater treatment plants being the main source of EPs. Multiple studies have consistently shown that the final destination of most EPs in the water environment is sludge and sediment. Simultaneously, a number of EPs, such as PFASs, MPs, and BFRs, have long-term environmental transport potential. Some EPs exhibit notable tendencies towards bioaccumulation and biomagnification, while others pose challenges in terms of their degradation within both biological and abiotic treatment processes. The results showed that, in most cases, the ecological risk of EPs in aquatic environments was low, possibly due to potential dilution and degradation. Future research topics should include adding EPs detection items for the aquatic environment, combining pollution, and updating prediction models.

Exposure and risk assessment for agricultural workers during chlorothalonil and flubendiamide treatments in pepper fields.

Pesticides are indispensable tools in modern agriculture for enhancing crop productivity. However, the inherent toxicity of pesticides raises significant concerns regarding human exposure, particularly among agricultural workers. This study investigated the exposure and associated risks of two commonly used pesticides in open-field pepper cultivation, namely, chlorothalonil and flubendiamide, in the Republic of Korea. We used a comprehensive approach, encompassing dermal and inhalation exposure measurements in agricultural workers during two critical scenarios: mixing/loading and application. Results revealed that during mixing/loading, dermal exposure to chlorothalonil was 3.33 mg (0.0002% of the total active ingredient [a.i.]), while flubendiamide exposure amounted to 0.173 mg (0.0001% of the a.i.). Conversely, dermal exposure increased significantly during application to 648 mg (chlorothalonil) and 93.1 mg (flubendiamide), representing 0.037% and 0.065% of the total a.i., respectively. Inhalation exposure was also evident, with chlorothalonil and flubendiamide exposure levels varying across scenarios. Notably, the risk assessment using the Risk Index (RI) indicated acceptable risk of exposure during mixing/loading but raised concerns during application, where all RIs exceeded 1, signifying potential risk. We suggest implementing additional personal protective equipment (PPE) during pesticide application, such as gowns and lower-body PPE, to mitigate these risks.

Assessment of the impact of direct in vitro PFAS treatment on mouse spermatozoa.

Abstract: Poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic environmentally persistent chemicals. Despite the phaseout of specific PFAS, their inherent stability has resulted in ubiquitous and enduring environmental contamination. PFAS bioaccumulation has been reported globally with omnipresence in most populations wherein they have been associated with a range of negative health effects, including strong associations with increased instances of testicular cancer and reductions in overall semen quality. To elucidate the biological basis of such effects, we employed an acute in vitro exposure model in which the spermatozoa of adult male mice were exposed to a cocktail of PFAS chemicals at environmentally relevant concentrations. We hypothesized that direct PFAS treatment of spermatozoa would induce reactive oxygen species generation and compromise the functional profile and DNA integrity of exposed cells. Despite this, post-exposure functional testing revealed that short-term PFAS exposure (3 h) did not elicit a cytotoxic effect, nor did it overtly influence the functional profile, capacitation rate, or the in vitro fertilization ability of spermatozoa. PFAS treatment of spermatozoa did, however, result in a significant delay in the developmental progression of the day 4 pre-implantation embryos produced in vitro. This developmental delay could not be attributed to a loss of sperm DNA integrity, DNA damage, or elevated levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species. When considered together, the results presented here raise the intriguing prospect that spermatozoa exposed to a short-term PFAS exposure period potentially harbor an alternate stress signal that is delivered to the embryo upon fertilization. Lay summary: PFAS are synthetic chemicals widely used in non-stick cookware, food packaging, and firefighting foam. Such extensive use has led to concerning levels of environmental contamination and reports of associations with a spectrum of negative health outcomes, including testicular cancer and reduced semen quality. To investigate the effects of PFAS on male reproduction, we incubated mouse sperm in a cocktail of nine PFAS at environmentally relevant concentrations before checking for a range of functional outcomes. This treatment strategy was not toxic to the sperm; it did not kill them or reduce their motility, nor did it affect their fertilization capacity. However, we did observe developmental delays among pre-implantation embryos created using PFAS-treated sperm. Such findings raise the intriguing prospect that PFAS-exposed sperm harbor a form of stress signal that they deliver to the embryo upon fertilization.

[Contamination levels of perfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl compounds in breast milk and assessment of their exposure risk to infants].

The purposes of this study are to explore the contamination levels of perfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in breast milk and assess their exposure risk to infants. Based on data from a birth cohort study conducted in Yingcheng, Hubei Province, from 2018 to 2021, the contents of 23 types of PFASs in the breast milk of 324 pregnant women were determined using isotope dilution-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Multiple linear regression was then performed to analyze the effects of various demographic characteristics and eating habits on the concentration of PFASs in breast milk. The daily PFASs intake of infants through breast milk was estimated, and the exposure risk of infants was also assessed. The results revealed that 23 types of PFASs in breast milk had good linear relationships in the range of 0.2-100 ng/mL, with correlation coefficients greater than 0.992. The limits of detection were 5-42 pg/mL, the limits of quantification were 15-126 pg/mL, the recoveries were 65.6%-108.1%, and the relative standard deviations were 1.6%-12.8%. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate acid (PFOA), and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), with median concentrations of 200.7, 63.5, and 25.2 pg/mL, respectively, were the main PFASs found in breast milk. The detection rates of these three contaminants were higher than 80%, whereas the detection rates of other compounds were lower than 45%. The results of multiple linear regression showed that older pregnant women and a higher frequency of pickled food intake may be related to increased PFAS levels in breast milk whereas a higher frequency of legume intake may be related to decreased PFAS levels in breast milk. The median estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS for infants were 25.1, 7.9, and 3.2 ng/(kg·d), respectively. In summary, this study found notable PFAS levels in breast milk in Yingcheng, Hubei Province. Among these PFASs, PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS were the main contaminants. Maternal age as well as pickled food and legume intake may affect the PFAS level in breast milk. The health risk of PFAS intake through breast milk to some infants is worthy of attention and further study.