Background: Exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) have been associated with higher circulating concentrations of total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). ApoB is the primary apolipoprotein component of LDL-C, and acts as a ligand for LDL-C receptors in various cells throughout the body. Circulating concentrations of ApoB are considered to be a better indicator of heart disease risk than TC or LDL-C. Objectives: Explore associations of concentrations of PFOA and PFOS with serum ApoB in adults. Methods: We analyzed data from 2744, 20-80 years old participants in the 2005–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Linear regression models were used to estimate adjusted predicted means of serum ApoB (in g/L) for quartiles of PFOA and PFOS (in ng/mL) to describe patterns of associations. Results: Adjusted predicted mean concentrations of serum ApoB did not appear to vary meaningfully with increasing concentrations of PFOA (Q1 1.11, Q2 1.02, Q3 1.01, Q4 1.02) or increasing concentrations of PFOS (Q1 1.06, Q2 1.05, Q3 1.07, Q4 0.99) in study participants. Conclusions: Exposure to PFOA or PFOS does not appear to alter Apo B concentrations in adults.

A new class of treatment processes called Advanced Reduction Processes (ARP) has been proposed. The ARPs combine activation methods and reducing agents to form highly reactive reducing radicals that degrade oxidized contaminants. Batch screening experiments were conducted to identify effective ARP by applying several combinations of activation methods (ultraviolet light, ultrasound, electron beam, microwaves) and reducing agents (dithionite, sulfite, ferrous iron, sulfide) to degradation of five target contaminants (perchlorate, nitrate, perfluorooctanoic acid, 2,4 dichlorophenol, 1,2 dichloroethane) at 3 pH levels (2.4, 7.0, 11.2). These experiments identified the combination of sulfite activated by ultraviolet light produced by a low pressure mercury vapor lamp as an effective ARP. More detailed kinetic experiments were conducted with nitrate and perchlorate as target compounds and nitrate was found to degrade more rapidly than perchlorate. The effects of pH, sulfite concentration, and light intensity on perchlorate and nitrate degradation were investigated. The effectiveness of the sulfite/UV-L treatment process improved with increasing pH for both perchlorate and nitrate.

The most important substances of the group of perfluorinated compounds are perfluorooctyl sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulphonamide (FOSA). Perfluorinated compounds have special physical and chemical properties, which make them valuable for usage in different industrial branches. These properties, which make them so useful are also the reason, why they are so harmful for the environment. The target of theoretical part of the diploma thesis was processing of literature searche on the topic: Evaluation of environmental load by perfluorinated compounds. In the experimental part was developed and optimized a method that was used for the identification and quantification of selected pollutants contained in real soil samples.

Les valeurs toxicologiques de référence pour les contaminants de l’environnement sont généralement basées sur les résultats d’études animales dont la pertinence pour l’humain est remise en question. L’objectif de mon projet était d’évaluer une approche combinant les études in vitro sur des cellules humaines et la modélisation pharmacocinétique pour établir des valeurs toxicologiques de référence. Nous avons mené une étude de cas sur l’hépatotoxicité de l’acide perfluorooctanoïque (APFO). Un point de départ (POD) a été déterminé sur la base des concentrations sans effet néfaste observable (NOAEL) d’études in vitro. Ce POD a été traduit en équivalents de surveillance biologique, qui ont été comparés aux concentrations mesurées dans les études épidémiologiques sur l’exposition à l’APFO et l’hépatotoxicité. Des apports quotidiens tolérables (AQT) ont été estimés par dosimétrie inverse à l’aide d’un modèle pharmacocinétique. Nous avons utilisé un POD de 1 μM des études in vitro, qui a été traduit en une concentration plasmatique de 414 ng/mL. Pour atteindre cette concentration chez l’enfant exposé prénatalement et par l’allaitement, nous avons estimé que la concentration plasmatique chez la mère au début de la grossesse doit être de 155 ng/mL. Ces concentrations ont été traduites en équivalents de biosurveillance de 4,14 ng/mL (adulte) et 1,55 ng/mL (femme enceinte) (facteurs d’incertitude combinés : 100 à partir du POD), des valeurs se situant dans l’intervalle des concentrations médianes dans les études épidémiologiques (0,49 à 16 ng/mL). Des AQT de 0,121 (hépatoxicité chez l’adulte) et 0,047 ng/kg/jour (hépatotoxicité développementale) ont également été obtenus (facteurs d’incertitude combinés : 300) à partir du même POD. En conclusion, les résultats laissent croire que l’approche évaluée offre une alternative adéquate et prudente pour l’établissement de valeurs toxicologiques de référence. / Acceptable exposure levels for environmental contaminants are generally calculated based on animal studies, but the scientific community is currently questioning their relevance to humans. The objective of this project was to evaluate a new approach combining in vitro studies on human cells and pharmacokinetic modeling to derive acceptable exposure levels. We conducted a case study on the hepatotoxicity of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). We determined a point of departure (POD) based on no observable adverse effect levels (NOAELs) from in vitro studies using human cells. We then translated this POD into a biomonitoring equivalent and compared it to concentrations measured in epidemiological studies on PFOA exposure and hepatotoxicity. A Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) was estimated using a pharmacokinetic model. We used a POD of 1 μM from in vitro studies and translated it into a 414 ng/mL plasma concentration. To reach this concentration in children exposed prenatally and by breastfeeding, we estimated that the plasma concentration in the mother during pregnancy must be 155 ng/mL. We translated these concentrations into biomonitoring equivalents of 4.14 ng/mL (adult) and 1.55 ng/mL (pregnant women) when using a composite uncertainty factor of 100. These biomonitoring equivalents are within the range of median concentrations in epidemiologic studies (0.49 to 16 ng/mL). TDIs of 0.121 and 0.047 ng/kg/day for adult hepatoxicity and developmental hepatotoxicity, respectively, were estimated using a composite uncertainty factor of 300. In conclusion, the results suggest that the evaluated approach offers an adequate and conservative alternative to derive acceptable exposure levels.

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