Unveiling novel and legacy PFAS in human hair
A recent approach for human biomonitoring of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is non-invasive human hair sampling. In this study, solid-phase extraction (SPE), liquid-chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) were used to measure an extended set of PFAS in human hair. 45 hai...
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Environment International |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025004659 |
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| author | Miriam Haußecker Jonathan Zweigle Boris Bugsel Christian Zwiener |
| author_facet | Miriam Haußecker Jonathan Zweigle Boris Bugsel Christian Zwiener |
| author_sort | Miriam Haußecker |
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| description | A recent approach for human biomonitoring of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is non-invasive human hair sampling. In this study, solid-phase extraction (SPE), liquid-chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) were used to measure an extended set of PFAS in human hair. 45 hair samples from German voluntary subjects (19 female, 26 male) were screened for 26 target compounds, including perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs), fluorotelomer sulfonic acids (FTSAs), fluorotelomer carboxylic acids (FTCAs), fluorotelomer unsaturated carboxylic acids (FTUCAs), polyfluoroalkyl phosphate diesters (diPAPs), perfluorooctanesulfonamide (FOSA), N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamidoacetic acid (N-EtFOSAA) and bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (NTf2). 22 out of 26 target analytes were detected with two to 16 PFAS per sample. The most frequently detected substances were 6:2 FTSA, PFOS, PFOA and 6:2 diPAP with detection frequencies (Df) of 93, 87, 84, and 78 %, respectively. The emerging ionic liquid ingredient NTf2 was found in 44 % of all samples, which points to its widespread occurrence. To the best of our knowledge, NTf2 has been detected for the first time in human hair. The PFAS sum concentrations per subject ranged from 121 pg/g to 10332 pg/g. Maximum concentrations were found for PFOS (3763 pg/g), 6:2 FTSA (3600 pg/g) and PFPeS (3154 pg/g). Young subjects <30 years showed significantly higher levels for the ∑PFAS (median 2231 pg/g) and the ∑PFSAs (median 735 pg/g) compared to subjects >30 years (median ∑PFAS 1196 pg/g, and for ∑PFSAs 453 pg/g). This study demonstrates that in addition to the generally monitored PFCAs and PFSAs further precursors like diPAPs, FTSAs, and their transformation products considerably contribute to the total PFAS pattern in hair. This reflects the PFAS exposure of humans, even if blood-hair transfer factors are not yet established for PFAS and subject selection was not representative for the whole German population. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d35ad82c549a477fac175a27c27cfb8e |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
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| series | Environment International |
| spelling | doaj-art-d35ad82c549a477fac175a27c27cfb8e2025-08-20T03:41:14ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202025-08-0120210971410.1016/j.envint.2025.109714Unveiling novel and legacy PFAS in human hairMiriam Haußecker0Jonathan Zweigle1Boris Bugsel2Christian Zwiener3Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstr. 94-96, 72076 Tübingen, GermanyEnvironmental Analytical Chemistry, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstr. 94-96, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Analytical Chemistry Group, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, DenmarkEnvironmental Analytical Chemistry, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstr. 94-96, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; TZW: DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser (German Water Centre), Karlsruher Str. 84, Karlsruhe D-76139, GermanyEnvironmental Analytical Chemistry, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstr. 94-96, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Corresponding author.A recent approach for human biomonitoring of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is non-invasive human hair sampling. In this study, solid-phase extraction (SPE), liquid-chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) were used to measure an extended set of PFAS in human hair. 45 hair samples from German voluntary subjects (19 female, 26 male) were screened for 26 target compounds, including perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs), fluorotelomer sulfonic acids (FTSAs), fluorotelomer carboxylic acids (FTCAs), fluorotelomer unsaturated carboxylic acids (FTUCAs), polyfluoroalkyl phosphate diesters (diPAPs), perfluorooctanesulfonamide (FOSA), N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamidoacetic acid (N-EtFOSAA) and bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (NTf2). 22 out of 26 target analytes were detected with two to 16 PFAS per sample. The most frequently detected substances were 6:2 FTSA, PFOS, PFOA and 6:2 diPAP with detection frequencies (Df) of 93, 87, 84, and 78 %, respectively. The emerging ionic liquid ingredient NTf2 was found in 44 % of all samples, which points to its widespread occurrence. To the best of our knowledge, NTf2 has been detected for the first time in human hair. The PFAS sum concentrations per subject ranged from 121 pg/g to 10332 pg/g. Maximum concentrations were found for PFOS (3763 pg/g), 6:2 FTSA (3600 pg/g) and PFPeS (3154 pg/g). Young subjects <30 years showed significantly higher levels for the ∑PFAS (median 2231 pg/g) and the ∑PFSAs (median 735 pg/g) compared to subjects >30 years (median ∑PFAS 1196 pg/g, and for ∑PFSAs 453 pg/g). This study demonstrates that in addition to the generally monitored PFCAs and PFSAs further precursors like diPAPs, FTSAs, and their transformation products considerably contribute to the total PFAS pattern in hair. This reflects the PFAS exposure of humans, even if blood-hair transfer factors are not yet established for PFAS and subject selection was not representative for the whole German population.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025004659Hair analysisLC-MS/MSBis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (NTf2)PFAS exposureNon-invasive biomonitoring |
| spellingShingle | Miriam Haußecker Jonathan Zweigle Boris Bugsel Christian Zwiener Unveiling novel and legacy PFAS in human hair Environment International Hair analysis LC-MS/MS Bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (NTf2) PFAS exposure Non-invasive biomonitoring |
| title | Unveiling novel and legacy PFAS in human hair |
| title_full | Unveiling novel and legacy PFAS in human hair |
| title_fullStr | Unveiling novel and legacy PFAS in human hair |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unveiling novel and legacy PFAS in human hair |
| title_short | Unveiling novel and legacy PFAS in human hair |
| title_sort | unveiling novel and legacy pfas in human hair |
| topic | Hair analysis LC-MS/MS Bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (NTf2) PFAS exposure Non-invasive biomonitoring |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025004659 |
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