Biosolids, an important route for transporting poly-and perfluoroalkyl substances from wastewater treatment plants into the environment: A systematic review

6 Mar 2024 | Sci. Total Environ.

This review examined the presence and behavior of PFAS in wastewater treatment plants, revealing variations in PFAS concentrations across plants, the role of biological mechanisms in PFAS transformation, and the influence of factors like carbon chain length and wastewater composition on PFAS adsorption in sludge, emphasizing the need for improved management strategies to address PFAS contamination in environmental systems.

Effect modification by maternal vitamin D status in the association between prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and neurodevelopment in 2-year-old children

5 Mar 2024 | Environ Int

In a Chinese birth cohort, researchers investigated how prenatal exposure to PFAS affects childhood neurodevelopment, finding that while PFAS exposure was linked to lower language scores and increased risk of delay overall, the impact varied based on maternal vitamin D levels.

Prenatal exposure to mixtures of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and organochlorines affects cognition in adolescence independent of postnatal exposure

5 Mar 2024 | Int J Hyg Environ Health

This study investigated the cognitive effects of prenatal exposure to PFAS and organochlorines, finding that higher prenatal exposure to these chemicals, particularly PFHxS and PFNA, is associated with improved sustained and selective attention during adolescence, regardless of exposure levels at adolescence. However, the authors suggest the results should be interpreted with caution due to limited understanding of biological pathways and prior studies showing neurotoxic effects from PFAS.

Association between prenatal exposure to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances and infant anthropometry: A prospective cohort study

4 Mar 2024 | Int. J. Hyg. Environ. Health

Prenatal exposure to PFAS was linked to altered infant growth patterns, with PFNA and PFDoA associated with increased size in females, and PFOA correlated with decreased weight, head, and arm circumference in males, suggesting potential impacts on offspring growth trajectories.

Prediction of the Interactions of a Large Number of Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances with Ten Nuclear Receptors

29 Feb 2024 | Environ Sci Technol

Modeling and machine-learning was used to study interactions between thousands of PFAS and nuclear receptors – these interactions can be indicative of endocrine and metabolic disruption – and the authors urge biological validation of their computational findings on a diverse set of PFAS.

Unveiling per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance contamination in Chinese paper products and assessing their exposure risk

28 Feb 2024 | Environ Int

Chinese paper food contact materials were found to be contaminated with PFAS, with estimated intake from one-third of tested paper bowls/plates exceeding recommended health levels; moreover, the study suggests that microwave heating can release PFAS from popcorn bags and convert long-chain PFAS into short-chain forms.

Dynamic spatiotemporal changes of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soil and eggs from private gardens at different distances from a fluorochemical plant

27 Feb 2024 | Environ Pollut

The study conducted near a fluorochemical plant in Antwerp, Belgium, revealed higher concentrations of short-chain PFAS and their precursors in vegetable garden soil, elevated levels of long-chain PFAS in chicken enclosure soil and homegrown eggs, and temporal variations such as a 9x decrease in PFOS concentrations in soil and a 13x drop in concentrations in eggs, emphasizing the presence of localized high-concentration plumes near the plant and the necessity for ongoing monitoring and regulatory intervention.

Integrated Analysis of Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Exposure and Metabolic Profiling of Elderly Residents Living near Industrial Plants

26 Feb 2024 | Environ. Sci. Technol.

Significant associations between PFAS exposure levels and metabolic profiles were identified among those residing near industrial plants, particularly within lipid metabolism pathways, shedding light on potential adverse health effects and emphasizing the importance of understanding and mitigating these risks.

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.