Studies of Potential Migration of Hazardous Chemicals from Sustainable Food Contact Materials

26 Feb 2024 | Foods

Bio-based food packaging materials may still contain harmful contaminants like organophosphate esters and PFAS that may leach into food, especially baking papers purchased in Italy.

Changes in Concentrations of Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Human Milk Over Lactation Time and Effects of Maternal Exposure via Analysis of Matched Samples

23 Feb 2024 | Environ. Sci. Technol.

Breast milk samples from 76 women post-delivery found certain PFAS compounds, particularly PFOA, PFOS, and N-MeFOSAA, with N-MeFOSAA being the highest in human milk at 3 months, suggesting an increase in PFAS concentrations in milk samples over time.

PFAS Promotes Disinfection Byproduct Formation Through Triggering Particle-bound Organic Matter Release in Drinking Water Pipes

21 Feb 2024 | Water Research

Trace PFAS in drinking water can trigger particles to release organic matter, which are precursors for disinfection byproduct formation, suggesting that water utilities should further explore the roles of loose deposit particles in drinking water.

Exposure to and Biomarker Responses From Legacy and Emerging Contaminants Along Three Drainages in the Milwaukee Estuary, Wisconsin, USA

20 Feb 2024 | Environ Toxicol Chem

Researchers analyzed legacy and emerging pollutants in tree swallow tissue and diet samples from the Milwaukee estuary, revealing relatively stable levels of bioaccumulative contaminants like polybrominated diphenyl ethers and PFAS, highlighting the need for heightened attention to PFAS exposure and its potential ecological impacts.

PFAS River Export Analysis Highlights the Urgent Need for Catchment-Scale Mass Loading Data

19 Feb 2024 | ES&T Letters

A study of a European river system found that wastewater treatment works contribute significantly to the total PFAS levels exported from the river, but that additional PFAS sources must also be eliminated in order to meet water quality improvement goals.

On the fluoropolymers and ultra-short PFAS topic: Aqueous Leaching of Ultrashort-Chain PFAS from (Fluoro)polymers: Targeted and Nontargeted Analysis

19 Feb 2024 | ES&T Letters

All tested fluoropolymers, as well as non-fluorinated alternatives like PEEK, were found to leach C2-C4 PFCAs, likely related to their production such as processing aids, residuals, and inhibitors. This indicates that fluoropolymers and other plastics can emit short chain PFAS into the environment.

Reproductive toxicity of PFOA, PFOS and their substitutes: A review based on epidemiological and toxicological evidence

17 Feb 2024 | Environ Res

PFAS are widely recognized for their reproductive toxicity, with substitutes proving equally or more harmful; this review covers potential reproductive toxicity mechanisms for PFAS in both males and females.

Transport and health risk of legacy and emerging per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the water cycle in an urban area, China: Polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters are of concern

16 Feb 2024 | Sci Total Environ

PAPs are a harmful group of PFAS that cannot easily be removed by drinking water treatment, and were found to be transported via precipitation more than municipal wastewater discharge.

Occurrence, bioaccumulation and trophic dynamics of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in two tropical freshwater lakes

14 Feb 2024 | Environ Pollut

PFAS were measured in different fish species in two lakes in Nigeria, identifying the presence of novel PFAS, diSAMPAP and 9CL-PF3ONS, and documenting the role of urbanization on PFAS in the environment for the first time in Africa.

Association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances exposure and thyroid function biomarkers among females attending a fertility clinic

11 Feb 2024 | Environ Pollut

PFAS were linked to changes in thyroid function in pregnant women, with particularly noticeable effects in females seeking fertility treatment, suggesting thyroid disruption by these chemicals among this vulnerable group.

Development of a method using QuEChERS and LC–MS/MS for analysis of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances in rice matrix

10 Feb 2024 | Food Chemistry

To ensure food safety, a method combining QuEChERS extraction and LC-MS/MS was developed to detect 35 PFAS in rice, finding that instant rice microwaved in its packaging had lower PFAS levels compared to instant rice boiled in its packaging.

Associations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances with maternal metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers in early-to-mid-pregnancy

10 Feb 2024 | Environ Res

Exposure to PFAS during early-to-mid pregnancy was associated with decreased insulin levels, increased HDL cholesterol, and alterations in inflammatory markers, suggesting potential metabolic and inflammatory disruptions that may impact maternal and fetal health.

[Report] Guide to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) sampling within Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration

8 Feb 2024 | USGS

This guide aims to provide fundamental concepts and considerations involved with environmental sampling for PFAS during site assessments.

Expanded Systematic Evidence Map for Hundreds of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Comprehensive PFAS Human Health Dashboard.

6 Feb 2024 | Environ Health Perspect

This paper describes the development of a PFAS dashboard that provides researchers and regulators an overview of the current knowledge and data gaps on PFAS effects on human health.

Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) disrupts cadherin-16 in the developing rat thyroid gland

6 Feb 2024 | Curr Res Toxicol

PFOS exposure in rodents may disrupt thyroid hormone system development, potentially affecting growth and neurodevelopment, as evidenced by altered gene expression patterns in hormone levels and follicular integrity.