Cited by 221Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances researchToxic Organic Pollutants ImpactFluoride Effects and Removal

Assessing the Human Health Risks of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: A Need for Greater Focus on Their Interactions as Mixtures

Ojo, Atinuke F., Peng, Cheng, Ng, Jack C.·2021·Journal of Hazardous Materials

Abstract

Humans are exposed to complex mixtures of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, human health risk assessment of PFAS currently relies on animal toxicity data derived from individual substance exposure, which may not adequately predict the risk from combined exposure due to possible interactions that can influence the overall risk. Long-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), particularly perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are recognised as global emerging contaminants of concern due to their ubiquitous distribution in all environmental media, wildlife, and humans, persistency, bioaccumulative-, toxic-, and human health-risk potentials. This article reviews the current understanding of the human health risks associated with PFAS exposure focusing on more recent toxicological and epidemiological studies from 2010 to 2020. The existing information on PFAA mixtures was also reviewed in an attempt to highlight the need for greater focus on their potential interactions as mixtures within the class of these chemicals. A growing number of toxicological studies have indicated several adverse health outcomes of PFAA exposure, including developmental and reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, genotoxicity, immunotoxicity, thyroid disruption, and carcinogenicity. Epidemiological findings further support some of these adverse human health outcomes. However, the mechanisms underlying these adverse effects are not well defined. A few in vitro studies focusing on PFAA mixtures revealed that these compounds may act additively or interact synergistically/antagonistically depending on the species, dose level, dose ratio, and mixture components. Hence, the combined effects or potential interactions of PFAS mixtures should be considered and integrated into toxicity assessment to obtain a realistic and more refined human health risk assessment.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124863

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  • Given existing differences in toxicokinetics and mechanisms of action, and the lack of comprehensive data, the development of a TEF approach for perfluoroalkyl chemicals remains a distant goal rather than a scientifically established outcome.

    “Overall, given the existing differences in toxicokinetics and mechanisms of action, and the lack of comprehensive data, the development of a TEF approach for perfluoroalkyl chemicals remains a distant goal rather than a scientifically established outcome [53,54,55].”

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Authors
Ojo, A. F., Peng, C., & Ng, J. C.
Affiliations
The University of Queensland (AU)
Corresponding author
Ng, Jack C.
Venue
Journal of Hazardous Materials
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-04
Volume
407
Pages
124863
ISSN
0304-3894 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3112453687
Cited by
221
References
155
Citations by year
2026: 37 · 2025: 54 · 2024: 42 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 13
FWCI
1.59
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Hazardous Materials (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences
  • University of Queensland Research Training Scholarship
  • Queensland Health and the University of Queensland
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Fluoride Effects and Removal
Keywords
per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS mixtures, human health risk assessment, perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOS, chemical interactions, synergistic and antagonistic effects, developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, genotoxicity, immunotoxicity, thyroid hormone disruption, carcinogenicity, emerging contaminants
MeSH terms
Bioaccumulation, Animals, Fluorocarbons, Humans, Reproduction, Thyroid Gland, Alkanesulfonic Acids, Neurotoxicity Syndromes

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