Superfund Research Program
June 2024
Exposure to newer PFAS compounds, often assumed to be less toxic than their older counterparts because they accumulate less in the body, may still harm the liver, according to a study in mice from the NC State SRP Center. Newer PFAS compounds, like GenX and Nafion byproduct 2 (NBP2), are not well studied but are increasingly detected in the environment and in drinking water.
The researchers exposed male and female mice to GenX or NBP2 and evaluated changes in liver size. Then, they used an advanced laboratory technique to simultaneously evaluate PFAS accumulation in the liver and metabolic changes related to liver lipids — fats and fat-like substances that play crucial roles in various bodily functions.
Mice exposed to either PFAS chemical had enlarged livers compared to unexposed mice, with more pronounced changes in males. NBP2 accumulated more in the liver than GenX. While GenX did not significantly accumulate in the liver, exposure to either PFAS compound was linked with drastic changes to lipids — particularly those linked to inflammation, oxidative stress, and disrupted cell signaling — in both sexes. Interestingly, female mice exposed to GenX had more unique lipid changes than males, while mice of both sexes had similar lipid changes following exposure to NBP2.
According to the authors, these findings suggest that lower PFAS accumulation in the liver does not necessarily protect against harm. They emphasized the importance of combining different types of data to comprehensively evaluate the potential health effects of PFAS exposure.
To learn more, please refer to the following sources:- Kirkwood-Donelson KI, Chappel JR, Dodds J, Reif DM, DeWitt JC, Baker ES, Tobin E. 2024. Investigating mouse hepatic lipidome dysregulation following exposure to emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Chemosphere (354):doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141654 PMID:38462188 PMCID:PMC10995748