Quantifying PFAS-Omics Burden Scores for Nontargeted Analysis Using Multidimensional Item Response Theory: An Exploratory Analysis of Novel and Legacy PFAS in Cord Blood

Environmental Science & Technology · 2026-02-18

Fetal development is a vulnerable period for exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, certified analytical standards do not exist for many PFAS, limiting our ability to quantify overall exposure burden to PFAS as a chemical class. PFAS-focused nontargeted analysis (NTA) enables detection of PFAS for which chemical standards may not exist. The overall objectives of this study were to provide a more comprehensive picture of PFAS exposure in cord blood, develop cumulative exposure burden scores for the PFAS detected, and evaluate differences in the infant's PFAS burden score with respect to mother's parity. We measured PFAS using targeted and NTA methods in cord blood samples collected between 2003 and 2006 in the HOME Study (Cincinnati, Ohio). Using NTA, we putatively identified 42 PFAS in cord blood, 4 of which were also detected in targeted analysis. We summarized an infant's overall prenatal exposure burden to PFAS using item response theory methods. We constructed two scores, one based on PFAS concentrations from targeted analysis ("PFAS exposure burden scores"), and one based on relative abundance from NTA ("PFAS-omics scores"). As expected, infants with multiparous mothers had significantly lower PFAS exposure burden scores than those with nulliparous mothers, but these disparities were not present when comparing their PFAS-omics scores. Our results show that infants are exposed to a wide range of PFAS, including perfluorinated chemicals, polyfluorinated chemicals, and fluorotelomers, before birth. Further, PFAS-focused NTA can help estimate total exposure to PFAS. Lastly, reported disparities in PFAS exposure burden across parity may depend on the panel of assessed PFAS and their half-lives.

Hair care product use among pregnant women of color: protocol for a feasibility educational intervention

Frontiers in Reproductive Health · 2026-01-22

Background: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) disrupt hormonal regulation and pose health risks. Phthalates, common in personal care products, contribute to disparate chemical exposures among different demographic groups, notably impacting critical life stages like pregnancy and postpartum. Objective: Using an environmental health literacy framework, we designed an educational intervention for pregnant Women of Color to highlight the health risks of phthalates in hair care products. The intervention aimed to measure behavioral changes toward phthalate-free products through self-reporting and urinary phthalate metabolite levels and explore factors influencing hair care practices during pregnancy. Methods: In collaboration with multidisciplinary academicians, environmental health, and breast cancer advocates, we developed a virtual educational intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Components included a facilitated presentation, an educational video, and a semi-structured interview guide that was refined through feedback. Data collection involved baseline and follow-up sessions, sociodemographic data, hair product usage, behavior related to phthalate-containing products, and urine sample collection. To provide proof of methodological principle, we examined individual change over time from questionnaire data and targeted exposomics analysis of urinary phthalate compounds among women with baseline and follow-up data. Results: Educational materials were developed in English and Spanish. Enrollment occurred from March 2021 to June 2022, involving participants in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Women enrolled before 31 weeks gestation, completed a baseline assessment and at least one follow-up assessment, while those at ≥31 weeks gestation completed a baseline assessment and one postpartum follow-up assessment. Forty-six participants enrolled, with 31 completing the intervention, and 42 urine samples collected. Women who completed the educational intervention were slightly older than those women who did not attend an intervention session [mean age (SD) 31.0 (5.8) vs. 27.5 (5.4)], respectively. Product and brand use decreased over time, and portions of participants exhibited reductions in six different low molecular weight phthalate metabolites (27%-73% reductions). Significance: This intervention was shaped by a collaborative effort that ensured its cultural relevance, linguistic inclusivity, and alignment with community needs, amplifying its potential impact on reducing the unequal burden of environmental exposures in marginalized communities. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT04493892.

Candesartan cilexetil disrupts methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus membrane and potentiates gentamicin and polymyxin B activity

Nature Communications · 2026-03-15

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a leading cause of bacterial infections, but treatment options are limited due to MRSA multi-drug resistance. The anti-hypertensive drug Candesartan cilexetil (CC) exhibits potent anti-MRSA activity. It permeabilizes the membrane of MRSA cells and potentiates the activity of aminoglycoside antibiotics. Here, we used a variety of methods to elucidate the mechanism by which CC disrupts membrane homeostasis. We show that CC binds to bilayer lipid molecules, decreases membrane fluidity, down-regulates cell membrane and cell wall related genes and related metabolites, and decreases C20 fatty acids (C20:0). Decreasing C20:0 fatty acids confers CC- resistance, which can be reversed by C20:0 supplementation. Structural activity relationship analysis shows that the tetrazole ring and ester carbonic acid of CC are critical for antibacterial activity. Finally, CC reduces MRSA-MW2 replication in a murine MRSA abscess model, supporting a potential role of CC as a lead antimicrobial compound/potentiator against MRSA. In this work, authors show that candesartan cilexetil acts as a potent antibiotic potentiator, disrupting Staphylococcus aureus membranes and markedly enhancing the activity of clinically used antibiotics against drug-resistant infections.

Challenges and Opportunities in PFAS Waste Management for Semiconductor Manufacturing

Environmental Science & Technology · 2026-01-14 · 2 citations

Semiconductor manufacturing is rapidly expanding alongside tightening environmental regulations and increasing public concern around per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Because of their unique chemical properties, PFAS are used across numerous processes in semiconductor manufacturing. Given process complexity and lengthy development timelines for alternatives, eliminating PFAS use in this industry is not currently feasible. Developing practical technologies for PFAS waste management is therefore critical but uniquely challenging in semiconductor manufacturing due to the nature of waste streams (parts-per-billion PFAS concentrations, complex backgrounds including hundreds of chemicals, prevalence of ultrashort PFAS, total stream volumes up to 35,000 m3 per day per facility, and distribution across gas, liquid, and solid phases) and significant constraints on space and systems redesign. This review describes recent developments and key questions that must be addressed to develop impactful and commercially viable detection and abatement methods for PFAS waste management in semiconductor manufacturing. Integrating these technologies into compact, high-performance systems and testing them under realistic conditions (complex PFAS mixtures, high fluoride/ionic strength, pH 6–11, low contact time, process variability) through industrial collaborations is essential for scalable, cost-effective solutions. Research addressing semiconductor industry-specific PFAS waste is essential to enable environmental compliance while supporting the continued growth of semiconductor manufacturing.

MassIVE MSV000100359 - Characterizing PFAS Exposures from Residential Floor Dust Using Complementary LC-HRMS and GC-HRMS Nontargeted Analysis Approaches (GC Data)

2025-01-01

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Human Milk: A Systematic Review of Concentrations and Potential Health Implications

Current Environmental Health Reports · 2025-11-25 · 1 citations

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) disrupt the synthesis, transport, action, or metabolism of endogenous hormones in the human body. EDCs often enter the body through inhalation, ingestion, or dermal contact and can accumulate in the body. Remobilization or transfer of EDCs can occur during lactation, causing human milk to become contaminated with a variety of EDCs, which could expose nursing infants and children to these chemicals. Several studies have examined the concentration ranges for one or multiple EDC(s) in human milk. Additional studies document associations between EDC exposure and adverse health outcomes, many of which are in adult populations. It is therefore essential to understand the extent to which EDCs in human milk contribute to cumulative early-life exposures. We performed a literature review of peer-reviewed studies reporting concentrations of one or more of the following EDCs in human milk during or after 2004: bisphenols, organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), parabens, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and phthalates. We identified concentration ranges for each chemical detected in human milk and health impacts associated with early-life exposures to EDCs noted across studies from this review. Determining the presence of EDCs in human milk and the associated effects of exposure through nursing is essential to develop feeding recommendations that safeguard infant and child health.

Gestational and Lactational Exposure to Perfluorohexanoic Acid Affects Behavior in Adult Male Mice: A Preliminary Study

European Journal of Neuroscience · 2025-07-01 · 2 citations

Legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been associated with increased risk for male-biased neurobehavioral disorders. Industries have effectively replaced them with next-generation PFAS, including perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA). Zebrafish studies indicate developmental effects of PFHxA exposure on activity levels; however, the developmental neurotoxicology (DNT) of PFHxA has not been characterized in mammals. Human data reflect the need for mammalian DNT evaluations because PFHxA is found in the serum of pregnant women and in breast milk. Furthermore, postmortem studies show that PFHxA enters the brain, with the cerebellum having particularly elevated concentrations. Given this targeted brain region, we predicted that behavioral effects of PFHxA may target motor domains. To evaluate the effects of developmental PFHxA exposure, we exposed pregnant C57BL/6J mice daily from gestational day 0 through postnatal day (P)21 to vehicle (ddH2O), a lower (0.32 mg/kg of body weight [bw]) or a higher (50 mg/kg of bw) dose of PFHxA. Although this resulted in increases in the brain at P1 in the higher exposure group and in P21 in both exposure groups, by P90, PFHxA levels returned to those in control mice. We observed male-specific effects in the open-field test, the elevated plus maze, and the novel object recognition test in adulthood, with no overt effects in the hang test, inverted screen test, and gait scan. These preliminary findings indicate that PFHxA exposure may cause long-lasting changes in many behavioral domains in a mammalian model, and more research is needed to expand these evaluations to other cognitive domains.

Prenatal PFAS exposures and cardiometabolic health in middle childhood in the MIREC cohort

Environmental Research · 2025-03-06 · 1 citations

Molecular profiling of neuronal extracellular vesicles reveals brain tissue specific signals

medRxiv · 2025-01-25 · 1 citations

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by neurons (nEVs) provide an opportunity to measure biomarkers from the brain circulating in the periphery. No study yet has directly compared molecular cargo in brain tissue to nEVs found in circulation in humans. We compared the levels microRNAs and environmental chemicals because microRNAs are one of the most studied nEV cargoes and offer great potential as biomarkers and environmental chemical load in nEVs is understudied and could reveal levels of chemicals in the brain. To do so, we leveraged matched sets of brain tissue and serum, and isolated serum total EVs and serum nEVs. We also generated and compared metabolomic profiles in a different set of matched serum, serum total EVs, and serum nEVs since metabolite cargo in nEVs is also understudied but could offer potential biomarkers. Highly expressed brain tissue miRNAs showed stronger correlations with nEVs than serum or total EVs. We detected several environmental chemical pollutant classes in nEVs. The chemical pollutant concentrations in nEVs were more strongly correlated with brain tissue levels than those observed between brain tissue and serum or total EVs. We also detected several endogenous metabolite classes in nEVs. Compared to serum and total EVs, there was enrichment of metabolites with known signaling roles, such as bile acids, oleic acid, phosphatidylserine, and isoprenoids. We provide evidence that nEV cargo is closely correlated to brain tissue content, further supporting their utility as a brain liquid biopsy.

Author response for "Gestational and Lactational Exposure to Perfluorohexanoic Acid Affects Behavior in Adult Male Mice: A Preliminary Study"

2025-05-20