Role of Perfluoroalkyl Substances as EDCs in Metabolic Disorders
By Samia Gul Niazi, Chanda Javed, Adeel Shah, Qurat UL Ain, and Imtiaz Mahmood Tahir
Endo. Dis. Chem. & Strat.
August 13, 2020
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-45923-9_18
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) belong to a class of compound that hold at least one fluorine atom, are being used in several consumer and industrial goods because of their special chemical properties, such as the capability to repel oil as well as water. It is of great concern that these dangerous chemical compounds are now present in the whole global environment. Humans are exposed to the PFASs by drinking polluted water, ingestion of contaminated seafood, inhalation of infected indoor air, and making contact with contaminated media of any kind. A complex state is characterized by raised level of blood glucose, abdominal obesity, abnormal lipid amount, hypertension, and insulin resistance. It is one of the major causes for stroke, cardiovascular disease, chronic disease of kidney, T2D, and cancers. With increasing obesity, the incidence of metabolic syndrome is rising. Rising evidences suggested that raised body mass index (BMI) is not only associated with calories rich diet and sedentary lifestyle, but also coupled with extensive environmental exposure to obesogens like perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). A variety of animals studies have suggested that exposure to PFASs can impair lipids and carbohydrates homeostasis, change composition of fatty acid, and alter adipocyte differentiation, although results have been conflicting. A number of epidemiological investigations reported links between high level of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid or perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in maternal serum and enhanced BMI of offspring, possibility of being obese, and low level of serum leptin levels in kids or adults. Particularly, females are more pronounced to these effects. PFASs possess properties helping in long-range transport by allowing enough residence time in the atmosphere and simultaneously they are so reactive that they are easily convertible into carboxylic acids and other compounds such as fluorotelomer species by undergoing oxidative reactions.
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