• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.127-132
• /
• 2015

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are persistent environmental pollutants, extremely stable, and possibly adversely affect human health. They are widely used in many industries and consumer goods, including sunscreen products. These substances are stable chemicals made of long carbon chains, having both lipid- and water-repellent qualities. The research objectives are (1) to find the most effective method for the preparation of semi-liquid samples by comparing solid phase extraction (SPE) and centrifugation after Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), and (2) to determine the contamination levels of PFOS and PFOA in waterproof sunscreen samples. All sunscreen samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Sunscreen samples were purchased from domestic and international brands sold in Thailand. Special chemical properties were considered for the selection of samples, e.g., those found in waterproof, sweat resistant, water resistant, and non-stick products. Considering the factors of physical properties, e.g., operation time, chemical consumption, and recovery percentage for selecting methods to develop, the centrifugation method using 2 mL of extracted sample with the conditions of 12,000 rpm and $5^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour after PLE was chosen. The highest concentrations of PFOS and PFOA were detected at 0.0671 ng/g and 21.0644 ng/g, respectively. Even though present concentrations are found at ng/g levels, the daily use of sunscreen products is normally several grams. Therefore, a risk assessment of PFOS and PFOA contamination in sunscreen products is an important concern, and more attention needs to be paid to the long-term effects on human health.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.8-17
• /
• 2012

Objectives: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are man-made, persistent global pollutants widely diffused throughout the environment. They have been even found in the cord blood and breast milk of humans. Furthermore evidence of developmental toxicity in animals exists. To assess the distribution of maternal and fetal exposure to PFOS and PFOA, we analyzed paired maternal blood, cord blood and breast milk samples. Methods: Maternal blood, cord blood and breast milk were collected from 150 volunteers from the general population (aged 20-40, mean $30.5{\pm}2.9$) of the city of Busan in 2009-2010. The samples were extracted using the weak anion exchange and solid-phase extraction methods and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC, Agilent 1200 Series) coupled with an Triple Quad LC-MS/MS system (Agilent 6410). Results: Median PFOA and PFOS concentrations in maternal blood were 2.18 and 3.32 ng/ml, in cord blood were 0.83 and 0.58 ng/ml, and in breast milk were 0.13 and 0.11 ng/ml, respectively. PFOS and PFOA concentrations were significantly correlated among matrices (Spearson's ${\rho}=0.226$, p = 0.05 for maternal blood; ${\rho}=0.736$, p < 0.01 for cord blood; ${\rho}=0.493$ p < 0.01 for breast milk). The ratio of cord blood/maternal blood was 0.39 for PFOA and 0.19 for PFOS. The ratio of breast milk/maternal blood was 0.07 for PFOA and 0.06 for PFOS. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that PFOA and PFOS exposure through the placenta was more prominent than through breast milk among Korean neonates born in Busan. The transfer efficiency of maternal blood to breast milk was similar between PFOA and PFOS, but that of maternal blood to cord blood was higher in PFOA than PFOS.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.105-117
• /
• 2012

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the concentration of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) in blood and factors controlling their exposure among Koreans. Methods: Study subjects were selected to include 718 members of the general population residing in five metropolitan cities and the Gangwon Province area from August 2008 to January 2009. A questionnaire was administered to investigate lifestyle, socio-demographic characteristics, and other related factors. Blood samples were collected and extracted using solid-phase extraction and anion-exchange methods, and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC, Agilent 1200 Series) coupled with a Triple Quad LC-MS/MS system (Agilent 6410). Results: Geometric mean concentrations of PFOA and PFOS in the blood were measured as 1.82 and 6.06 ng/ml, respectively. Mean PFOA and PFOS concentrations generally increased with age in both genders. Blood PFOA concentration was significantly different according to such variables as age, family income, residential district, and province. Blood PFOS concentration was significantly different by such variables as gender, age, lifestyle factors such as regular exercise, alcohol consumption, and smoking status. Also, family income, hazardous facilities, job classification, and province contributed significantly to differences in blood PFOS concentration levels. Conclusions: Blood PFOA and PFOS concentrations in Koreans were similar with those found in Japan, the USA, and Germany, but less than those in Australia. PFOA and PFOS exposure seems to be affected by a variety of factors in Korea. Therefore, investigation is required for each factor to assess the relative contribution of different variables.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.286-293
• /
• 2010

Cytokine production is a sensitive indicator for monitoring perturbations of the immune system by xenobiotics in animals and humans. In the present study, we evaluated the changes in $IFN{\gamma}$, IL-5 and $TNF{\alpha}$ mRNA expression after atrazine (ATZ), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or zearalenone (ZEA) exposure in Jurkat cells. The IC50 (concentration for a 50% inhibition of cell proliferation) of PFOA and ZEA after 3 days culture were $226.6\;{\mu}M$ and $52.6\;{\mu}M$, respectively. The effects of ATZ on cytokine expression followed in increasing order of $IFN{\gamma}$>IL-5>$TNF{\alpha}$ at $3\;{\mu}M$ and at the lower concentrations the degree of effects on three cytokines were less clear between the cytokines when compared to control level. PFOA had marked increasing effect in order of $IFN{\gamma}$>$TNF{\alpha}$>IL-5 mRNA expression at IC50, and these patterns were continued at the lower concentrations, IC50/2 and IC50/4. ZEA caused the overexpression of cytokine mRNAs in order of IL-5>$IFN{\gamma}$>$TNF{\alpha}$ at both IC50 and IC50/2, and at IC50/4 the overexpression order was IL-5>$TNF{\alpha}$. On other hand, $IFN{\gamma}$ was less distinct compared to the control. These data indicate that ATZ, PFOA and ZEA caused the overtranscription of $IFN{\gamma}$, IL-5 and $TNF{\alpha}$ mRNA, and the overproduction of these cytokines may eventually lead to immune disorders.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.30 no.8
• /
• pp.673-684
• /
• 2021

Raw leachates from three landfills and treated leachates from two landfills on Jeju Isalnd were analyzed for ten perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) detected in aquaruc environments. The leachates were collected six times in 2014 and 2015. Among the ten PFCs, three were not detected, namely perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoDA), and perfluorodecane sulfonate (PFDS). The total concentrations of PFCs ranged as 724-3313 ng/L (mean 1999 ng/L) in raw leachates and from less than the limit of quantification (LOQ) to 394 ng/L (mean 133.2 ng/L) in treated leachates. The domonant compounds measured were perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (mean contribution 37.7%) and perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) (mean contribution 38.2%) in raw leachates, and PFOA (mean contribution 40.7%), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) (mean contribution 27.3%) and PFBS (mean contribution 26.5%) in treated leachates. No significant correlations were observed between total/several individual PFCs and leachate pH and COD_Cr, which may be due to complex chemical nature of landfill leachates and characteristics of waste and landfills.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.48 no.6
• /
• pp.555-559
• /
• 2016

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are linked to adverse effect on human healths, therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the levels of PFCs in prepared food. One hundred and fifty-one samples of six prepared food groups were purchased from retail food establishments in Korea. Twelve PFCs were detected in the sample, the accuracy ranged between 80.8-119.4% and precision ranged between 2.2-2.89% high and low concentrations in PFCs spiked samples. The detection frequency of perfluoro-pentanoic acid (PFPeA) was and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) above the limit of detection, which was 84.1 and 82.8%, respectively, but positive detection frequency of perfluorooctanesulphonic acid (PFOS) was as shown as low as 29.1%. Residual PFOA levels in most of the samples were higher than the PFOS levels. The average concentration of total PFCs in the samples was $1.68{\pm}1.79ng/g$, and PFPeA and PFOA were the predominant PFCs.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.334-342
• /
• 2009

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) have a wide range of domestic and industrial applications, but they are persistent in the environment. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) are among the metabolites of PFCs and occur at high concentration in the environment. Korea is the largest importer of PFC compounds in the world, therefore, the accumulation of these compounds is possible. In this study, the concentrations of PFOS and PFOA were determined in water samples taken from sewage treatment plants (STPs) and the Han River in Seoul, Korea. After extraction with a HLB cartridge, PFCs in the samples were analyzed by HPLC with an ion trap mass spectrometry in electrospray negative mode. Limits of detection was between 1 and 1.6 ng/l. The result showed that the concentrations of PFOS and PFOA in effluent and influent of the four STPs in Seoul were 60~570 ng/l, and not detected (nd)~254 ng/l, respectively. The levels of PFOS and PFOA were higher in the effluents which passed through the treatment process than in influent water samples which was against expectation. The concentration of PFOA and PFOS in the Han River was 60~570 ng/l and nd~254 ng/l, respectively. PFOA was detected in every sample, but PFOS was only detected in the downstreams of the Han River. This result indicates that there is comprehensive contamination of PFCs in the aquatic environment in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.1-4
• /
• 2015

The current official perfluorochemicals (PFCs) analysis method is established with hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) solid phase extraction (SPE) clean-up method with LC-tandem mass spectrometry ($MS^n$). Herein the HLB clean-up method from the official method by Korean government was modified with Envi-Carb$^{TM}$ to improve the clean-up efficiency for agricultural water and the unexpected UV disturbance in the water was effectively removed by the adsorbent treatment without a significant disturbance of quantitation. And quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (qTOFMS) was suggested to the available $MS^n$ instruments for the residue analysis of PFCs based on the ng/L of quantitation limits in water as well.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.22 no.8
• /
• pp.1009-1017
• /
• 2013

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctyl sulfonate (PFOS) is a new persistent organic pollutants of substantial environmental concern. This study investigated the potential of magnetic ion exchange resin (MIEX$^{(R)}$) as the adsorbent for the removal of PFOA and PFOS from Nakdong River water. In our batch experiments, we studied the effect of some parameters (pH, temperature, sulfate concentration) on the removal of PFOA and PFOS. The results of sorption kinetics on MIEX$^{(R)}$ show that it takes 90 min to reach equilibrium but the economical contact time and dosage were 30 min and 10 mL/L. An increase in pH (pH 6~10) leads to a decrease in PFOA (2.0%) and PFOS (3.6%) sorption on MIEX$^{(R)}$. The sorption of both PFOA and PFOS decreases with an increase in ionic strength for sulfate ion (${SO_4}^{2-}$), due to the competition phenomenon. An increase in water temperature ($8^{\circ}C{\sim}28^{\circ}C$) in water leads to a increase in PFOA (2.8%) and PFOS (4.3%) sorption on MIEX$^{(R)}$. Based on the sorption behaviors and characteristics of the adsorbents and adsorbates, ion exchange and hydrophobic interaction were deduced to be involved in the sorption, and hemi-micelles possibly formed in the intraparticle pores.

• Journal of Fashion Business
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.159-170
• /
• 2014

Recent concerns about the PFOA(perfluorooctanoic acid), have been increasing, which is generally applied in the water-repellent finishing process of textile products. It has been proven through animal testing to be harmful to humans, as possible carcinogens and neuro-toxic material. Thus U. S. Environmental Agency has gone as far as requiring the material to be eliminated in its entirety by 2015. As a viable alternative to this water-repellent finishing agent, the development of C6 product is gaining its popularity. The effects of PFOA finishing on the silk fabrics were examined, and we reviewed parameters of the needed process for optimizing appearance and functionality of silk fabrics treated with eco-friendly water-repellent finishing agent. Cross-linking agent affected the most on black color of reactive ink, among the physical properties. The contact angle reading was the highest in $8g/{\ell}$ of concentration for all fabrics. All the fabric specimens, subjected to the DTP and water repellent finishing, exhibited higher stiffness, where rayon specimen showed the highest, compared to the untreated specimens. The results may provide basic information leading to the development of value-added silk fabrics with water-repellency without excessive deterioration of the delicate appearance and inherent soft touch.