{"id":7386,"date":"2024-10-11T18:51:58","date_gmt":"2024-10-11T18:51:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=7386"},"modified":"2025-03-24T13:43:41","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T13:43:41","slug":"study-finds-forever-chemicals-more-toxic-as-mixtures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/study-finds-forever-chemicals-more-toxic-as-mixtures\/","title":{"rendered":"Study Finds \u2018Forever Chemicals\u2019 More Toxic as Mixtures"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">A new study highlights the increased toxicity of certain PFAS, commonly known as &#8220;forever chemicals,&#8221; when mixed together. The findings could impact environmental regulations and treatment methods for these persistent contaminants.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A landmark study by researchers at the University at Buffalo, in collaboration with Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig, Germany, has revealed a crucial finding about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as \u201cforever chemicals.\u201d The study meticulously measured the toxicity levels of various PFAS when combined, disclosing that their collective toxicity significantly intensifies, even though individually, their toxicity appeared minimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The research team, led by University at Buffalo doctoral student Karla R\u00edos-Bonilla and Diana Aga, the director of the UB RENEW Institute and SUNY Distinguished Professor and Henry M. Woodburn Chair in the UB Department of Chemistry, performed high-throughput screening to assess the compounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study was <a href=\"https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/doi\/10.1021\/acs.est.4c06017\" title=\"\">published<\/a> in Environmental Science &amp; Technology, a journal of the American Chemical Society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why It Matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PFAS are synthetic compounds that have been integrated into numerous consumer products, such as nonstick cookware and cosmetics, for decades. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These chemicals are notoriously long-lasting in the environment, often remaining for hundreds or thousands of years, and have been detected in 45% of the nation\u2019s drinking water and the blood of almost every American.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This study stands out as it evaluates the mixture toxicity of these ever-present chemicals. Such mixtures are often found in both human blood and the environment. With these chemicals being linked to serious health problems, including cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders, understanding their behavior in mixtures is critical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">R\u00edos-Bonilla emphasized the nuanced toxicity of PFAS mixtures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThough they are structurally similar, not all forever chemicals are made equal \u2014 some are more potent, others less. When mixed, all components contributed to the mixture\u2019s cytotoxicity and neurotoxicity,&#8221; she said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.buffalo.edu\/news\/releases\/2024\/10\/study-finds-forever-chemicals-are-more-toxic-as-mixtures.html\">news release<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aga added to this perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn the laboratory assays we used in this study, most of the types of PFAS that we tested did not appear to be very toxic when measured individually. However, when you measure an entire sample with multiple PFAS, you see the toxicity,\u201d she said in the news release<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Significance of the Findings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The implications of these findings are substantial, especially considering that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) only recently issued drinking water standards for six types of PFAS, despite over 15,000 varieties being present in the environment. Only a few of these chemicals are currently regulated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Aga highlights, understanding the relative potencies of these chemicals in mixtures is essential for setting effective contamination standards and protecting public health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On conducting the research, R\u00edos-Bonilla and her team crafted PFAS mixtures representative of the average American\u2019s blood serum and U.S. surface water samples, testing their effects on cell lines for mitochondrial toxicity, oxidative stress and neurotoxicity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They found that perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was the predominant contributor to the mixtures&#8217; cytotoxicity, while both PFOA and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) significantly contributed to neurotoxicity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An intriguing finding from an analysis of real biosolid samples from a municipal wastewater treatment plant showed high toxicity levels despite low concentrations of known PFAS like PFOA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis means that there are many more PFAS and other chemicals in the biosolids, which have not been identified, that contribute to the toxicity of the extracts observed,&#8221; Aga added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Looking Forward<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The results underline the pressing need for more comprehensive regulation and research on PFAS mixtures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMixtures pose more of a risk than individual PFAS. As they act and occur in mixtures, they ought to be regulated as mixtures,\u201d added Beate Escher from the Helmholtz Centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This study also holds promise for better remediation efforts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cToxicity assays can be a complementary tool when analytical chemistry doesn&#8217;t give you all the answers, especially when the identities of contaminants in the mixture are unknown, which is the case in many polluted sites,\u201d said Aga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As PFAS continue to be a pervasive environmental and health challenge, this study provides valuable insights that could shape future policies and treatment strategies, making a significant impact on public health and safety.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A landmark study by researchers at the University at Buffalo, in collaboration with Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig, Germany, has revealed a crucial finding about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as \u201cforever chemicals.\u201d The study meticulously measured the toxicity levels of various PFAS when combined, disclosing that their collective toxicity [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-climate-and-environment","category-sustainability"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"A landmark study by researchers at the University at Buffalo, in collaboration with Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig, Germany, has revealed a crucial finding about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as \u201cforever chemicals.\u201d The study meticulously measured the toxicity levels of various PFAS when combined, disclosing that their collective toxicity&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7386"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7386\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7404,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7386\/revisions\/7404"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}