Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent and bioaccumulative substances that have many adverse effects on human bodies. This study investigated the PFASs distribution characteristics in urine samples of workers from an acrylic fiber plant and a chemical plant. It was found that perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) was the predominant PFASs both in urine samples from the chemical plant (detection frequency: 86.52%; median value: 39.01 ng/mL) and the acrylic fiber plant (detection frequency: 88.16%; median value: 44.36 ng/mL). Meanwhile, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) were detected with very low frequencies and low concentrations. Furthermore, the results showed that PFASs levels in urine samples of workers from different units of the plants were quite different. PFASs concentrations of urine samples in males were higher than those in females, especially for PFBA, PFHxA, and PFDoA. The age had limited effects on the PFASs distribution in urine samples in this study, as short-chain PFASs were the dominant compounds. The correlations between PFASs concentrations in urine and gender/ages of workers were finally analyzed by Pearson correlation. The overall results may indicate that short-chain PFASs (such as: PFBA and PFBS) were becoming dominant for human exposure, especially occupational workers.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.References
Apelberg BJ, Witter FR, Herbstman JB et al (2007) Cord serum concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) in relation to weight and size at birth. Environ Health Perspect 115:1670–1676. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.10334
Barton CA, Butler LE, Zarzecki CJ, Flaherty J, Kaiser M (2006) Characterizing perfluorooctanoate in ambient air near the fence line of a manufacturing facility: comparing modeled and monitored values. J Air Waste Manage Assoc 56:48–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10473289.2006.10464429
Beesoon S, Genuis SJ, Benskin JP, Martin JW (2012) Exceptionally high serum concentrations of perfluorohexanesulfonate in a canadian family are linked to home carpet treatment applications. Environ Sci Technol 46:12960–12967. https://doi.org/10.1021/es3034654
Bhhatarai B, Gramatica P (2011) Prediction of Aqueous Solubility, Vapor Pressure and Critical Micelle Concentration for Aquatic Partitioning of Perfluorinated Chemicals. Environ Sci Technol 45:8120–8128. https://doi.org/10.1021/es101181g
Boronow KE, Brody JG, Schaider LA, Peaslee GF, Havas L, Cohn BA (2019) Serum concentrations of PFASs and exposure-related behaviors in African American and non-Hispanic white women. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 29:206–217. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-018-0109-y
Fu J, Gao Y, Cui L, Wang T, Liang Y, Qu G, Yuan B, Wang Y, Zhang A, Jiang G (2016) Occurrence, temporal trends, and half-lives of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in occupational workers in China. Sci Rep 6:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep38039
Gao Y, Fu J, Cao H, Wang Y, Zhang A, Liang Y, Wang T, Zhao C, Jiang G (2015) Differential accumulation and elimination behavior of perfluoroalkyl acid isomers in occupational workers in a manufactory in China. Environ Sci Technol 49:6953–6962. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b00778
Guo F, Zhong Y, Wang Y, Li J, Zhang J, Liu J, Zhao Y, Wu Y (2011) Perfluorinated compounds in human blood around Bohai Sea, China. Chemosphere 85:156–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.06.038
Harrad S, de Wit CA, Abdallah MA-E, Bergh C, Björklund JA, Covaci A, Darnerud PO, de Boer J, Diamond M, Huber S, Leonards P, Mandalakis M, Östman C, Haug LS, Thomsen C, Webster TF (2010) Indoor contamination with hexabromocyclododecanes, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and perfluoroalkyl compounds: an important exposure pathway for people? Environ Sci Technol 44:3221–3231. https://doi.org/10.1021/es903476t
Haug LS, Thomsen C, Becher G (2009) Time trends and the influence of age and gender on serum concentrations of perfluorinated compounds in archived human samples. Environ Sci Technol 43:2131–2136. https://doi.org/10.1021/es802827u
Heydebreck F, Tang J, Xie Z, Ebinghaus R (2016) Emissions of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in a Textile Manufacturing Plant in China and Their Relevance for Workers’ Exposure. Environ Sci Technol 50:10386–10396. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b03213
Inoue Y, Hashizume N, Yakata N, Murakami H, Suzuki Y, Kikushima E, Otsuka M (2012) Unique physicochemical properties of perfluorinated compounds and their bioconcentration in common carp cyprinus carpio L. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 62:672–680. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-011-9730-7
Jian JM, Chen D, Han FJ, Guo Y, Zeng L, Lu X, Wang F (2018) A short review on human exposure to and tissue distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Sci Total Environ 636:1058–1069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.380
Kato K, Kalathil AA, Patel AM, Ye X, Calafat AM (2018) Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and fluorinated alternatives in urine and serum by on-line solid phase extraction–liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Chemosphere 209:338–345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.06.085
Kim D-H, Lee M-Y, Oh J-E (2014) Perfluorinated compounds in serum and urine samples from children aged 5-13 years in South Korea. Environ Pollut 192:171–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2014.05.024
Lau C, Thibodeaux JR, Hanson RG, Rogers JM, Grey BE, Stanton ME, Butenhoff JL, Stevenson LA (2003) Exposure to Perfluorooctane Sulfonate during Pregnancy in Rat and Mouse. II: Postnatal Evaluation. Toxicol Sci 74:382–392. https://doi.org/10.1093/toxsci/kfg122
Li J, Guo F, Wang Y, Zhang J, Zhong Y, Zhao Y, Wu Y (2013) Can nail, hair and urine be used for biomonitoring of human exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid? Environ Int 53:47–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2012.12.002
Li N, Ying GG, Hong H, Deng WJ (2021) Perfluoroalkyl substances in the urine and hair of preschool children, airborne particles in kindergartens, and drinking water in Hong Kong. Environ Pollut 270:116219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116219
Lindstrom AB, Strynar MJ, Libelo EL (2011) Polyfluorinated compounds: past, present, and future. Environ Sci Technol 45:7954–7961. https://doi.org/10.1021/es2011622
Liu S, Yang R, Yin N, Faiola F (2020) The short-chain perfluorinated compounds PFBS, PFHxS, PFBA and PFHxA, disrupt human mesenchymal stem cell self-renewal and adipogenic differentiation. J Environ Sci (China) 88:187–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2019.08.016
Mariussen E (2012) Neurotoxic effects of perfluoroalkylated compounds: mechanisms of action and environmental relevance. Arch Toxicol 86:1349–1367. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-012-0822-6
Morello-Frosch R, Cushing LJ, Jesdale BM, Schwartz JM, Guo W, Guo T, Wang M, Harwani S, Petropoulou SSE, Duong W, Park JS, Petreas M, Gajek R, Alvaran J, She J, Dobraca D, Das R, Woodruff TJ (2016) Environmental Chemicals in an Urban Population of Pregnant Women and Their Newborns from San Francisco. Environ Sci Technol 50:12464–12472. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b03492
Nair AS, Zhen-qiang M, Watkins SM, Wood SS (2021) Demographic and exposure characteristics as predictors of serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) levels—a community-level biomonitoring project in Pennsylvania. Int J Hyg Environ Health 231:113631. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113631
Olsen GW, Zobel LR (2007) Assessment of lipid, hepatic, and thyroid parameters with serum perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) concentrations in fluorochemical production workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 81:231–246. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-007-0213-0
Olsen GW, Logan PW, Hansen KJ, Simpson CA, Burris JM, Burlew MM, Vorarath PP, Venkateswarlu P, Schumpert JC, Mandel JH (2003) An occupational exposure assessment of a perfluorooctanesulfonyl fluoride production site: biomonitoring. AIHA J a J Sci Occup Environ Heal Saf 64:651–659. https://doi.org/10.1202/375.1
Olsen GW, Lange CC, Ellefson ME, Mair DC, Church TR, Goldberg CL, Herron RM, Medhdizadehkashi Z, Nobiletti JB, Rios JA, Reagen WK, Zobel LR (2012) Temporal trends of perfluoroalkyl concentrations in American Red Cross adult blood donors, 2000-2010. Environ Sci Technol 46:6330–6338. https://doi.org/10.1021/es300604p
Perez F, Llorca M, Farré M, Barceló D (2012) Automated analysis of perfluorinated compounds in human hair and urine samples by turbulent flow chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem 402:2369–2378. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-011-5660-5
Seo S-H, Son M-H, Choi S-D, Lee DH, Chang YS (2018) Influence of exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) on the Korean general population: 10-year trend and health effects. Environ Int 113:149–161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2018.01.025
Shoeib M, Harner T, Wilford BH, Jones KC, Zhu J (2005) Perfluorinated sulfonamides in indoor and outdoor air and indoor dust: occurrence, partitioning, and human exposure. Environ Sci Technol 39:6599–6606. https://doi.org/10.1021/es048340y
Trowbridge J, Gerona RR, Lin T, Rudel RA, Bessonneau V, Buren H, Morello-Frosch R (2020) Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances in a Cohort of Women Firefighters and Office Workers in San Francisco. Environ Sci Technol 54:3363–3374. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b05490
Wang Z, DeWitt JC, Higgins CP, Cousins IT (2017) A Never-Ending Story of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs)? Environ Sci Technol 51:2508–2518. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b04806
Wang Y, Shi Y, Vestergren R, Zhou Z, Liang Y, Cai Y (2018a) Using hair, nail and urine samples for human exposure assessment of legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Sci Total Environ 636:383–391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.279
Wang Y, Zhong Y, Li J, Zhang J, Lyu B, Zhao Y, Wu Y (2018b) Occurrence of perfluoroalkyl substances in matched human serum, urine, hair and nail. J Environ Sci (China) 67:191–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2017.08.017
Wilhelm M, Bergmann S, Dieter HH (2010) Occurrence of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in drinking water of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and new approach to assess drinking water contamination by shorter-chained C4-C7 PFCs. Int J Hyg Environ Health 213:224–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2010.05.004
Wu N, Cai D, Guo M, Li M, Li X (2019) Per- and polyfluorinated compounds in saleswomen’s urine linked to indoor dust in clothing shops. Sci Total Environ 667:594–600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.287
Xu Y, Fletcher T, Pineda D, Lindh CH, Nilsson C, Glynn A, Vogs C, Norström K, Lilja K, Jakobsson K, Li Y (2020) Serum half-lives for short-and long-chain perfluoroalkyl acids after ceasing exposure from drinking water contaminated by firefighting foam. Environ Health Perspect 128:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP6785
Yao Y, Zhao Y, Sun H, Chang S, Zhu L, Alder AC, Kannan K (2018) Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Indoor Air and Dust from Homes and Various Microenvironments in China: Implications for Human Exposure. Environ Sci Technol 52:3156–3166. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b04971
Zhang T, Sun HW, Wu Q, Zhang XZ, Yun SH, Kannan K (2010a) Perfluorochemicals in meat, eggs and indoor dust in China: assessment of sources and pathways of human exposure to perfluorochemicals. Environ Sci Technol 44:3572–3579. https://doi.org/10.1021/es1000159
Zhang T, Wu Q, Sun HW, Zhang XZ, Yun SH, Kannan K (2010b) Perfluorinated compounds in whole blood samples from infants, children, and adults in China. Environ Sci Technol 44:4341–4347. https://doi.org/10.1021/es1002132
Zhang Y, Beesoon S, Zhu L, Martin JW (2013) Biomonitoring of perfluoroalkyl acids in human urine and estimates of biological half-life. Environ Sci Technol 47:10619–10627. https://doi.org/10.1021/es401905e
Zhang T, Sun H, Qin X, Gan Z, Kannan K (2015) PFOS and PFOA in paired urine and blood from general adults and pregnant women: assessment of urinary elimination. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 22:5572–5579. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3725-7
Zhang B, He Y, Huang Y, Hong D, Yao Y, Wang L, Sun W, Yang B, Huang X, Song S, Bai X, Guo Y, Zhang T, Sun H (2020) Novel and legacy poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in indoor dust from urban, industrial, and e-waste dismantling areas: the emergence of PFAS alternatives in China. Environ Pollut 263:114461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114461
Zhou Z, Shi Y, Vestergren R, Wang T, Liang Y, Cai Y (2014) Highly elevated serum concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances in fishery employees from Tangxun Lake, China. Environ Sci Technol 48:3864–3874. https://doi.org/10.1021/es4057467
Zhou Y, Hu L-W, Qian ZM et al (2016) Association of perfluoroalkyl substances exposure with reproductive hormone levels in adolescents: by sex status. Environ Int 94:189–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2016.05.018
Acknowledgements
This project was approved by the institutional review board of Syracuse University and Upstate Medical University. The authors are grateful to all peer reviewers for their reviews and comments.
Availability of data and materials
All data of this study can be obtained from the corresponding authors according to reasonable requirements.
Funding
This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project No. 21637001), and Guangdong (China) Innovative and Entrepreneurial Research Team Program (No. 2016ZT06N258). It was also partially supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 21617454).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Wang Xu, Qinghuai Zeng, Yao Cheng, and Yingjie Zhang performed sampling of human urine and analysis. Lin Peng was a major contributor in writing the manuscript. Ying Guo, Da Chen, Chao Jiang, and Fei Wang was responsible for revision of the manuscript. These authors contributed equally to this work. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics approval and consent to participate
The approvals for human urine analysis were obtained from the Jinan University Review Board, Jinan University, China (2018-LSPK).
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Lotfi Aleya
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary Information
ESM 1
(DOCX 26 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Peng, ., Xu, W., Zeng, Q. et al. Distribution characteristics of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in human urines of acrylic fiber plant and chemical plant. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 69181–69189 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15355-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15355-7