Dioxins vs. PFAS: Science and Policy Challenges
12 Aug 2024 | Environ Health Perspect
Dioxin-like chemicals, once a major environmental concern, have been largely controlled through regulations, but attention has now shifted to PFAS, a group of "forever chemicals" that pose a serious and urgent health threat, with ongoing debates about their regulation.
It’s too soon to stop studying the potential effects of PFAS on human health
9 Aug 2024 | Nature
Despite positive signs regarding the decreasing presence of specific PFAS in the blood of sampled humans, we do not know enough about this broad class of substances to justify stopping research on their toxicity.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances exposure is associated with polycystic ovary syndrome risk among women attending a fertility clinic
6 Aug 2024 | Sci Total Environ
Exposure to certain PFAS, particularly PFOS and PFHxS, has been linked to an increased risk of polycystic ovary syndrome among women seeking fertility treatment, even at lower exposure levels, highlighting the reproductive health risks associated with PFAS.
Assessment of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances and physiological biomarkers in aquarium-based bottlenose dolphins and killer whales
6 Aug 2024 | Chemosphere
PFAS, especially PFOS and PFNA, were found in the serum of zoo-based bottlenose dolphins and killer whales, and the study revealed significant correlations between PFAS exposure and physiological effects, such as increased reactive oxygen species, suggesting potential health risks that could inform future conservation and regulatory decisions.
The long-chain polyfluorinated alkyl substance perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) promotes bone marrow adipogenesis
5 Aug 2024 | Toxicol Appl Pharmacol
PFAS, particularly PFHxS, can accumulate in bones and promote the formation of bone marrow fat, potentially increasing the risk of conditions like osteoporosis and tumor progression. This study highlights the need for further research on the health impacts of PFHxS exposure, especially in combination with a high-fat diet.
Gestational PFAS Exposure and Newborn Size: The Modifying Effect of Cord Blood Fatty Acids
3 Aug 2024 | ESE
Emerging evidence shows that PFAS exposure during pregnancy, particularly from short-chain PFAS, is linked to decreased newborn size, but higher levels of fatty acids in cord blood may mitigate these adverse effects.
Mapping Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Footprint from Cosmetics and Carpets across the Continental United States
2 Aug 2024 | ACS EST Water
Consumer products like cosmetics and carpets are significant contributors to PFAS contamination in the environment, especially in densely populated and coastal areas, highlighting the urgent need to stop the production and use of PFAS in these items.
Association between mixed exposure to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances and metabolic syndrome in Korean adults: Data from the Korean National environmental health survey cycle 4
1 Aug 2024 | Int. J. Hyg. Environ. Health
Exposure to multiple PFAS increases the risk of metabolic syndrome—a cluster of conditions including obesity, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and high blood sugar—particularly in females, with significant contributions from PFNA.
A data-driven approach to identifying PFAS water sampling priorities in Colorado, United States
1 Aug 2024 | J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol
A predictive model identified high-risk areas for PFAS groundwater contamination in Colorado, pinpointing private wells, schools, mobile home parks, and certain public water systems as priority sampling locations, helping decision-makers use limited resources to protect the most people.
Combined screening and retroactive data mining for emerging perfluoroethers in wildlife and pets in the Cape Fear Region of North Carolina
29 Jul 2024 | Chemosphere
Non-targeted analysis techniques uncovered novel fluorinated compounds, such as PFO6TeDA, PFO7HxDA, PFO8OcDA, and Nafion byproduct 6, in wildlife but not domestic animals in the Cape Fear River region, with PFO6TeDA being the most frequently detected, necessitating further studies to assess the impact of regrettable substitutes on wildlife and humans.
Examining the Impact of Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Exposure on Erythrocyte Profiles and Its Related Nutrients: Insights from a Prospective Study on Young Taiwanese
29 Jul 2024 | Environ. Pollut.
A decade-long study of 502 young Taiwanese individuals found that PFAS exposure is associated with changes in erythrograms, linking specific PFAS compounds to increased transferrin saturation and decreased vitamin B12 levels, with significant interactions involving iron status, vitamin B12, and folate.
Associations between prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and plasma immune molecules in three-year-old children in China
27 Jul 2024 | Toxicol Appl Pharmacol
Prenatal exposure to PFAS significantly affects immune molecule levels in three-year-old children, with specific PFAS linked to increases in interleukins and Eotaxin-3, which help regulate the immune system, highlighting the need to understand environmental impacts on early immune development.
Determination of legacy and emerging per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in indoor and outdoor air
25 Jul 2024 | ACS ES&T Air
High levels of fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) and other legacy & emerging PFAS were found in indoor and outdoor air, with significant temporal variations and distinct gas/particle partitioning, highlighting the need for better understanding and regulation of airborne PFAS.
Prenatal Exposure of PFAS in Cohorts of Pregnant Women: Identifying the Critical Windows of Vulnerability and Health Implications
25 Jul 2024 | Environ. Sci. Technol.
From 2018 to 2020, a prenatal PFAS exposure study in pregnant women and their newborns showed a decline in older PFAS but an increase in emerging PFAS and highlighted the third trimester as a critical window affecting birth weight and length.
Interaction and coexistence characteristics of dissolved organic matter and toxic metals with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in landfill leachate
24 Jul 2024 | Environ Res
Landfill leachate containing PFAS poses significant environmental risks, with high concentrations of short-chain PFAS like PFBA and PFBS strongly interacting with dissolved organic matter and toxic metals, particularly manganese, highlighting the need for better management strategies.