Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in North Carolina homes: results from the indoor PFAS assessment (IPA) campaign

11 Nov 2024 | Environ Sci Process Impacts

Inhalation was the primary non-dietary indoor PFAS exposure for adults, while children are more exposed via ingestion of dust and hand-to-mouth behavior, with neutral PFAS being the dominant contributor.

A combinational threat of micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) as potential emerging vectors for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to human health

8 Nov 2024 | Environ Monit Assess

Micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) can carry harmful chemicals like PFAS. This review summarizes information regarding the environmental transport and interaction of MNPs and PFAS and the potential combined impacts on serious health problems such as liver damage, reproductive issues, and immune system disruptions in both humans and animals.

Exposure to and Transplacental Transfer of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in a Twin Pregnancy Cohort in Korea

6 Nov 2024 | Environ Sci Technol

In twin pregnancies, higher levels of certain PFAS chemicals, like L-PFOS and PFOA, were found in the mothers' blood compared to their babies' cord blood. Differences in blood flow through the placenta were linked to varying PFAS levels between the twins, suggesting that the way these chemicals transfer from mother to baby can be affected by placental structure, potentially impacting health.

A Prospective Analysis of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Early Pregnancy to Delivery in the Atlanta African American Maternal-Child Cohort.

6 Nov 2024 | Environ Health Perspect

Some PFAS concentrations, such as PFHxS and PFOS, increased throughout pregnancy and varied significantly based on maternal and socioeconomic factors, with shorter-chain PFAS transferring more efficiently to newborns, demonstrating a need for tailored public health interventions to protect newborns.

Relationship between per-fluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance exposure and insulin resistance in nondiabetic adults: Evidence from NHANES 2003-2018

5 Nov 2024 | Ecotoxicol Environ Saf

Higher exposure to PFAS chemicals, such as PFOS, PFOA, and MeFOSAA, is strongly associated with increased insulin resistance in adults, especially when measured by the TyG index, with the association stronger in younger individuals and those with higher BMI, emphasizing the health risks of PFAS exposure.

Leachability of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances from contaminated concrete

5 Nov 2024 | Environ Sci Process Impacts

PFAS chemicals, like PFOS and PFHxA, can leach significantly from concrete contaminated from use of aqueous film-forming foams at airports, defense, and port facilities, with leaching behavior influenced by factors like particle size, pH, and individual PFAS properties.

Neurotoxic Effects of Mixtures of Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) at Environmental and Human Blood Concentrations

4 Nov 2024 | Environ. Sci. Technol.

PFAS exposure has been linked to harmful health effects, including neurodevelopmental issues, with this research showing that mixtures of these substances can impair neuron growth at concentrations typically observed in the environment, highlighting the importance of assessing their combined risk.

City-scale Impacts of PFAS from Normal and Elevated Temperature Landfill Leachates on Wastewater Treatment Plant Influent

4 Nov 2024 | J. Hazard. Mater.

Elevated temperatures in landfills can significantly increase PFAS concentrations and precursors in leachate compared to normal conditions, indicating diverse and complex PFAS sources impacting wastewater treatment plants and underscoring the need for further research on their environmental impact.

The Global Threat from the Irreversible Accumulation of Trifluoroacetic Acid (TFA)

30 Oct 2024 | Environ Sci Technol

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is a highly persistent and widespread pollutant found in various environmental media; its increasing concentrations—driven by both direct emissions and transformation from other PFAS—pose potential irreversible risks to ecosystems and human health, highlighting the need for urgent global action to reduce emissions.

Non-target screening reveals 124 PFAS at an AFFF-impacted field site in Germany specified by novel systematic terminology

28 Oct 2024 | Anal Bioanal Chem

A 2008 fire incident in Reilingen, Germany led to significant contamination from aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), prompting a study that used advanced analysis techniques to identify 124 PFAS in the soil, highlighting the complex environmental impact of AFFFs and the need for consistent terminology and thorough contaminant characterization for effective mitigation.

E-waste in the environment: Unveiling the sources, carcinogenic links, and sustainable management strategies

25 Oct 2024 | Toxicology

PFAS, present in e-waste, can leach into the environment when improperly disposed of, posing serious health risks by accumulating in human tissues, disrupting cellular functions, and contributing to cancer development, which underscores the importance of proper e-waste recycling and disposal practices.

Predictions of groundwater PFAS occurrence atdrinking water supply depths in the United States

24 Oct 2024 | Science

Researchers developed a predictive model using machine learning to estimate the likelihood of PFAS contamination in groundwater across the United States, revealing that 71 to 95 million people could be using drinking water with detectable levels of these harmful "forever chemicals" prior to any water treatment.

Statistical Mapping of PFOA and PFOS in Groundwater throughout the Contiguous United States

23 Oct 2024 | Environ Sci Technol

Mapping PFAS contamination in U.S. groundwater is challenging due to inconsistent testing, but a new statistical approach using ecological modeling helps create continuous maps of PFAS distribution, guiding future sampling and addressing health risks from these chemicals.

Personal care product use and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in pregnant and lactating people in the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals study

22 Oct 2024 | Environ Int

Personal care product (PCP) use during pregnancy and postpartum is linked to higher PFAS concentrations in prenatal plasma and human milk, indicating that PCPs may be a modifiable source of PFAS exposure and underscoring the importance of informed choices and potential regulations to reduce exposure in pregnant and lactating individuals.

Regulation of terrestrial input and ocean processes on the occurrence and transport of traditional and emerging per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the inner shelf of the East China Sea

21 Oct 2024 | Water Research

Coastal oceans show significant accumulation of PFAS in nearshore waters due to terrestrial inputs, industrial sources, and hydrological conditions, with certain PFAS compounds posing elevated ecological risks in regions like the East China Sea.