An analytical and epigenetic investigation of the environmental and human health impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl 'forever chemicals'.

全氟和多氟烷基物质(PFAS)是日益受到关注的污染物，在电子产品、纺织品、清洁剂和烹饪用具中用作保护性、不粘和防火涂料后，由于其环境持久性而臭名昭著，被称为“永久化学品”。由于英国国内缺乏环境测试(包括饮用水水源)，以及初步的人类表观遗传学研究显示，通过皮肤、受污染的食物或水接触会对生殖、发育、免疫、肾脏和致癌产生影响，因此越来越有必要监测这些污染物。此外，鉴于对特定全氟辛烷磺酸的表观遗传机制(例如，全氟辛烷磺酸和全氟辛烷磺酸的DNA甲基化)存在相互矛盾的说法，关于这些表型变化如何在全氟辛烷磺酸污染物及其混合物中发生的问题仍然存在。通过将内部环境样品制备和表观遗传学方法与Microsaic的微型质谱仪相结合，该项目将开发一个能够在源头和实验室环境中测量全氟辛烷磺酸的监测平台，并帮助确定全氟辛烷磺酸污染对健康的影响。因此，通过与环境部门的利益攸关方建立伙伴关系，这项工作将更好地为污染补救和捕获过程提供信息，以便更安全地管理全氟辛烷磺酸。

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are pollutants of increasing concern, notorious as 'forever chemicals' given their environmental persistence following use as protective, non-stick and fire-retardant coatings within electronics, textiles, cleaning agents and cookware. With a shortage of environmental testing (including drinking water sources) within the UK, and initial human epigenetic studies showing reproductive, developmental, immunological, kidney and carcinogenic effects from exposure via skin, contaminated food or water, there is an increasing need to monitor these pollutants. Furthermore, given there are conflicting accounts of the epigenetic mechanisms of specific PFAS (e.g. DNA methylation from PFOS and PFOA), questions remain as to how these phenotypic changes occur across the breadth of PFAS pollutants and their mixtures. By combining in-house environmental sample preparation and epigenetic approaches, with Microsaic's miniature mass spectrometer, this project will develop a monitoring platform capable of measuring PFAS at source and within a laboratory setting, and help establish the health impacts of PFAS pollution. Therefore, through partnership with stakeholders of the environmental sector, this work will better inform pollution remediation and capture processes for the safer management of PFAS.