Xiaoli Zou

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have attracted increasing concern due to their environmental persistence and potential adverse health effects. In this study, a high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for the simultaneous determination of 56 PFASs in human plasma. After the plasma sample was extracted with methanol, 5 mg primary secondary amine (PSA), 20 mg graphitized carbon black (GCB), and 30 mg C18 were added for QuEChERS purification, followed by nitrogen drying and reconstitution. The chromatographic separation was performed on a C18 column with a gradient elution and was quantified on mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization in negative mode. The method was validated and good linearity was obtained in the range of 0.050–50.0 ng/mL. The limits of detection were 0.0024 to 2.05 ng/mL, and except for a few perfluoroalkyl phosphinic acids and fluorinated polymer-based substances with low signal intensities, most PFASs showed satisfactory recoveries of 70–120%, with relative standard deviations below 12%. The validated method was applied to analyze plasma samples from pregnant women and males over 50 years old. The results revealed widespread PFAS contamination in the population, with perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids as the dominant contributors, followed by perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids and accompanied by a limited number of emerging PFAS alternatives. There are population-specific differences in PFAS exposure, with median concentrations typically higher in males aged over 50 years than in pregnant women, but 6:2 FTS is much higher in pregnant women. The established method is sensitive and efficient, and the results highlight the importance of population-stratified biomonitoring of PFASs. Graphical abstract

Background: Environmental metal pollution poses a potential threat to public health, and reference intervals (RIs) are crucial tools for assessing exposure levels.Aims: Our study was the first to systematically establish RIs for lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium in a population in southwest China, examining differences across genders and ages. The study also compared the differences between RIs obtained by two sampling techniques, including direct and indirect sampling, to assess the substitutability and limitations between the two techniques.Materials and Methods: Direct sampling employed atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) on human biomonitoring (HBM) data, while indirect sampling utilized a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) applied to a local Laboratory Information System (LIS) database. RIs were determined using the nonparametric method for both approaches.Results: RIs were established for each metal, with variations observed across age groups for cadmium and lead, and across genders for lead in certain age groups. Most of the RIs established by the direct sampling technique had a narrower range compared to that established by GMM, and the RIs established by the two techniques were partially biased.Discussion and Conclusion: These RIs offer a vital baseline for assessing environmental metal exposure and identifying metal poisoning in Southwest China. Additionally, this study highlights the potential of the GMM‐based indirect sampling technique as a viable alternative to the traditional direct sampling technique, with the dual‐technique comparison enhancing our understanding of their substitutability and limitations, thus opening new avenues for environmental health research.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most prevalent urological malignancy, exhibiting the highest incidence and the second-highest mortality among all male cancers. The incidence of PCa in men in China is consistently rising. Studies have shown that elemental exposure levels are associated with the occurrence of PCa. However, epidemiological data are limited, and more researches on different regions and races are needed. To clarify the relationship between the occurrence of PCa and serum levels of 19 trace elements. Serum samples from 79 PCa patients and 74 male healthy controls were obtained, and the levels of 19 trace elements were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Baseline matching of key demographic characteristics was performed between the two groups. The relationship between serum trace elements levels and PCa, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and PCa staging were evaluated using the Mann–Whitney U test, logistic regression, and Spearman’s correlation analysis. Statistical analysis of the test results revealed that the low levels of Cu, Zn, and Se in serum may be associated with the development of PCa. Moreover, the changes in the interrelationship of trace elements may play a role in the development of PCa.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental pollutants known for their bioaccumulative nature. Reduced bone mineral density (BMD) is associated with an increased risk of developing osteoporosis. This pioneering study aims to assess the effects of different PFAS compounds on bone mineral. We conducted searches on online databases. Inclusion criteria included the presence of associations between perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and BMD, BMD z-score, and bone mineral content (BMC). Meta-analyses were performed. Best evidence synthesis (BES) was performed to summarize the results. The results of BES showed that the evidence of PFOS, PFOA and PFNA with reduced bone mineral were moderate. The variability in methods for assessing bone mineral and sex differences are potential sources of heterogeneity in the results. Meta analysis showed that PFOA was associated with BMD (β -0.01, 95% CI -0.01 to -0.00; I ² = 0%). Subgroup analysis by sex showed that PFOS (β -0.01, 95% CI -0.01 to -0.00; I ² = 50%), PFOA (β -0.01, 95% CI -0.01 to +0.00; I ² = 29%) were negatively correlated with BMD. This systematic review and BES revealed negative correlations between exposure to PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and bone mineral. Sex emerged as a potential factor affecting the negative effects of PFAS on bone mineral. The damage of PFAS to bone mineral still requires further exploration.

The complexity of the drug market and the constant updating of drugs have been challenging issues for drug regulatory authorities. With the emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPS) and the nonmedical use of prescription drugs, forensic and toxicology laboratories have had to adopt new drug screening methods and advanced instrumentation. Using high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with Orbitrap mass spectrometry, we developed a screening method for common NPS and other drugs. Two milliliters of mixed solvent of n‐hexane and ethyl acetate (1:1, v:v) were added to 500 μL of blood or urine sample for liquid–liquid extraction, and methanol extraction was used for hair samples. The developed method was applied to 3897 samples (including 332 blood samples, 885 urine samples, and 2680 hair samples) taken from drug addicts in a province of China during 2019–2021. For urine and blood samples, the limits of detection (LODs) ranged from 1.68 pg/mL to 10.7 ng/mL. For hair samples, the LODs ranged from 3.30 × 10⁻⁵ to 4.21 × 10⁻³ ng/mg. The matrix effects of urine, blood, and hair samples were in the range of 47.6%–121%, 39.8%–139%, and 6.35%–118%, respectively. And the intra‐day precision was 3.5%–6.0% and the inter‐day precision was 4.18%–9.90%. Analysis of the actual samples showed an overall positive detection rate of 58.9%, with 5.32% of the samples indicating the use of multiple drugs.