CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
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2024
·
IF 13.3
Zhixiang Xu,Jinrui Xiong,Caiqing Li,Siyuan Hu,Zihui Li,Yitao Ma,Siyuan Li,Bin Huang,Xiaomin Ren,Xuejun Pan
Per/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread in aquatic environments and pose significant risks to human health. Their roles in the spread of antibiotic resistance genes through conjugation were investigated in the laboratory. Results showed that PFAS including Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), 6:2Cl-PFAES and 8:2Cl-PFAES at concentrations up to 100 µg/L can significantly enhance the RP4 plasmid-mediated conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) within and across genera as much as 3.38-fold. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a representative PFAS, was then selected to investigate the related mechanisms within genera by which PFAS promoted the conjugative transfer of ARGs. The phenotypic experiments demonstrated that PFOA could induce oxidative stress, enhance cell membrane permeability and promote the excretion of extracellular polymeric substances in Escherichia coli , resulting in the elevation of intercellular contact and conjugative transfer of ARGs. Moreover, quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that PFOA exposure regulated the expression of conjugation-related genes. In addition, PFOA has also been shown to alter microbial metabolic pathways, including amino acid metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, and membrane translocation, thus altering cellular energy allocation to influence the conjugative transfer of ARGs. This study deepened the understanding of PFAS in promoting the propagation of ARGs, hence improving awareness of the ecological and health risks of PFAS.
研究领域:
环境科学
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微生物学
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毒理学
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高影响因子
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
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2021
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IF 9.229
Wenhui Ding,Xianjun Tan,Guanhan Chen,Jingyi Xu,Kuang Yu,Yuxiong Huang
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has raised significant health concerns due to its high ecotoxicological risks and difficulties in removal by conventional water treatment process. Previous studies have demonstrated that photocatalytic techniques exhibit great potential in PFOA removal. However, the underlying mechanism of the degradation process has not been fully understood, particularly the contribution of the facet effects of catalysts. In this study, a combination of experiments and first-principles calculations were conducted to shed light on the facet-dependence of the interfacial interactions and oxidation during the PFOA degradation process. We proved that the interfacial interaction was essential in initiating the hole-dominated degradation process, and the {110}R3̅c facet of hexagonal In2O3 features the strongest interaction with PFOA. The overall defluorination rate was mainly controlled by the hole-dominated oxidation processes under UV irradiation, which were further attributed to the electronic structures and reaction site distributions of different In2O3 surfaces. This study provides molecular-level insights on the facet-dependent PFOA catalytic degradation process, which can guide the rational design of photocatalysts to achieve superior decontamination efficiency.
研究领域:
环境科学
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材料科学
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化学工程
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纳米技术
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PubMed
高影响因子
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
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2019
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IF 5.714
Da Lv,Yi Gu,Ming Guo,Ping Hou,Yan Li,Ronghui Wu
To better understand the toxicological activities of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), we examined the effects of PFOA on apoptosis and its molecular mechanism in SMMC-7721 hepatoma cells. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay and apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR were used to examine the protein and gene expressions of Bax and Bcl-2. Our results showed that PFOA inhibited SMMC-7721 cell growth and induced apoptosis. PFOA treatment increased Bax expression and increased Bcl-2 expression at both gene and protein levels. Our study demonstrated that PFOA had toxic effects on SMMC-7721 cells, such as inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. Furthermore, we showed that PFOA-mediated induction of apoptosis involved inducing Bax and decreasing Bcl-2 expression as a molecular mechanism of its toxicological effects.
研究领域:
毒理学
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细胞生物学
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癌症研究
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PubMed
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SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
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2026
·
IF 9.1
Angzhan Li,Dayong Tian,Yao Guo,Xingling Zhang,Shaopeng Zhang,Liu Cheng,Li Wang,Yifeng Zhang,Ning Fu
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is currently regarded as a refractory pollutant. The development efficient degradation technologies remains a critical challenge owing to the strong stability of C-F bond. However, current photocatalytic approaches for PFOA degradation suffer from slow reaction kinetics. Herein, a series of ultrathin BiOCl@g-C 3 N 4 (BiCN) was prepared using a hydrothermal method, and their PFOA degradation performance was evaluated. The most effective photocatalyst (BiCN-2) achieved a 92.3% PFOA removal rate within 30 min (rate constant k = 0.1059 min −1 ), with a corresponding defluorination efficiency of 24.8%. Specifically, the exposed (101) facets of BiOCl accelerate electron movement, whereas the BiOCl@g-C 3 N 4 heterojunction interface enhances the separation of photogenerated charges. Additionally, the metallic Bi nanoparticles acted as both electron bridges and sources of hot electrons via the surface plasmon resonance effect, further boosting the reaction. Superoxide radicals, photogenerated electrons, and photogenerated holes were identified as the main reactive species in the degradation reaction. Density functional theory was employed to determine the interaction mechanism between PFOA and the photocatalyst. This study provides insights into an efficient alternative for the photocatalytic degradation of PFOA.
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Journal of Environmental Sciences
·
2025
·
IF 6.3
Xiaotian Huang,Zuhong Lin,Denglong Lu,Haipu Li
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a persistent toxic chemical that enters the human body through the food chain and causes harm. In this study, human thyroid follicular epithelial cells (Nthy-ori3-1 cells) were used as a model. PFOA was shown to reduce cell viability through a cell activity assay. Notably, at a concentration of 100 μmol/L, PFOA enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes ((Total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), total Antioxidant Capacity (T-AOC)), while the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) remained elevated. PFOA triggered oxidative stress by inducing abnormal ROS levels, which subsequently exacerbated the inflammatory response and affected cellular activity. Therefore, pretreatment with 10μmol/L EVP4593 (QNZ, an NF-κB inhibitor) increased the percentage of normal cells from 74.06 % to 83.74 % at 1 μmol/L PFOA. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics indicated that QNZ competitively inhibited the interaction between PFOA and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) proteins. Correspondingly, Western blotting and qPCR analyses confirmed that QNZ suppressed the expression of apoptosis-related proteins ((Tumor protein p53 (P53), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), Bcl2-associated X (BAX), B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2), cysteine aspartate protease-3 (Caspase-3), NF-κB) and their related genes. Additionally, PFOA prompted cells to release T4 and T3. This study not only elucidates the toxic effects of PFOA on cells, but also reveals the defense mechanism by which QNZ effectively alleviates cell toxicity.
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ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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2024
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IF 10.8
Yanei Xue,Wenjun Sun,Wenxin Shi,Ching-Hua Huang,Domenico Santoro
Research on the use of peracetic acid (PAA) activated by nonmetal solid catalysts for the removal of dissolved refractory organic compounds has gained attention recently due to its improved efficiency and suitability for advanced water treatment (AWT). Among these catalysts, nanocarbon (NC) stands out as an exceptional example. In the NC-based peroxide AWT studies, the focus on the mechanism involving multimedia coordination on the NC surface (reactive species (RS) path, electron reduction non-RS pathway, and singlet oxygen non-RS path) has been confined to the one-step electron reaction, leaving the mechanisms of multichannel or continuous electron transfer paths unexplored. Moreover, there are very few studies that have identified the nonfree radical pathway initiated by electron transfer within PAA AWT. In this study, the complete decomposition (kobs = 0.1995) and significant defluorination of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, deF% = 72%) through PAA/NC has been confirmed. Through the use of multiple electrochemical monitors and the exploration of current diffusion effects, the process of electron reception and conduction stimulated by PAA activation was examined, leading to the discovery of the dynamic process from the PAA molecule → NC solid surface → target object. The vital role of prehydrated electrons (epre–) before the entry of resolvable electrons into the aqueous phase was also detailed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first instance of identifying the nonradical mechanism of continuous electron transfer in PAA-based AWT, which deviates from the previously identified mechanisms of singlet oxygen, single-electron, or double-electron single-path transfer. The pathway, along with the strong reducibility of epre– initiated by this pathway, has been proven to be essential in reducing the need for catalysts and chemicals in AWT.
研究领域:
环境科学
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化学工程
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PubMed
高影响因子
Environments
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2026
·Vol. 13
·期 2
·91
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IF 4.3
Zheng Tang,Naixing Kang,Dajun Ren,Yongyuan Yang
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been identified as forever chemicals and pose a serious threat to the environment due to their stable C–F bond. The current methods are ineffective or costly for PFAS remediation. In response, this study develops a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) air plasma system capable of simultaneously treating perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)-contaminated wastewater and enhancing waste-activated sludge (WAS) solubilization through the subsequent use of plasma-activated water (PAW). Air plasma achieved 94% PFOA degradation and 32% defluorination within 40 min—substantially outperforming Ar and N2plasma—due to the co-generation of hydrated electrons (eaq−),•OH, and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). Scavenging experiments confirmed that eaq−is the primary initiator of C–F bond cleavage, while H2O2and NO2−synergistically form peroxynitrous acid (ONOOH), further promoting chain-shortening reactions. UPLC-MS identified PFHpA, PFHxA, PFPeA, and PFBA as key intermediates. The air plasma effluent contained high concentrations of NO2−-N and H2O2under acidic conditions, enabling PAW to induce strong oxidative stress on WAS, resulting in significant extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) release (DOC up to 134 mg/L), improved sludge filterability (capillary suction time (CST) reduced by ~85%), and shifts in microbial community. This study presents a dual-functional air plasma approach that enables both PFAS degradation and sludge treatment, improving the overall competitiveness and applicability of plasma technology for advanced wastewater treatment.
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JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
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2026
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IF 11.3
Wantong Tang,Xin Xiao,Enhui Wu,Kun Wang,Xinfei Ge,Xiaoying Zhu,Chiheng Chu,Baoliang Chen
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants with exceptional stability and significant ecological risk. However, their distribution and accumulation in soil–crop systems, especially for the replacement compound GenX, remain poorly characterized. Here, rice ( Oryza sativa , Nipponbare) was cultivated for five months in paddy soils amended with PFOA, PFOS, and GenX to map fate, bioaccumulation, and toxic responses across the soil–crop system and to derive soil safety thresholds protective of human health. PFAS exposure (10–100 μg/g) altered plant morphology and development and induced dose-linear oxidative stress (SOD, POD, CAT, MDA, H 2 O 2 , protein). Compound-specific translocation emerged: short-chain GenX showed greater upward transport and endosperm accumulation, whereas long-chain PFOA/PFOS were more root-retained (endosperm accumulation in total plant: PFOA 8.973–10.440%, PFOS 9.951–12.800%, GenX 10.286–20.773%). Overall toxic potency ranked PFOA ≥ PFOS > GenX. Based on measured plant uptake, we propose provisional exposure safety thresholds for rice cultivation of 3.157 ng/g (PFOA), 2.327 ng/g (PFOS), and 21.220 ng/g (GenX). This growth-cycle assessment provides an integrated evidence base for PFAS ecological risk evaluation and delivers actionable guidance to safeguard food security.
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SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
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2023
·
IF 9.8
Fan Dong,Fan Ge,Xinting Zhao,Daming Sun,Suyu Ren,Yan Wang,Feng Tan
Extensive use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) has resulted in their widespread presence in natural waters. Concern for public health requires reliable measurement methods for determining their distribution and risks. Here, a sampling method based on diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) was developed for measuring PFASs in drinking water sources. Fluorinated graphite (FG) particles were used to prepare the DGT binding gel for selective enrichment of trace PFASs in an aqueous environment. The FG-DGT method did not show sensitivity to relevant environmental parameters including pH (5.0–9.0), ionic strength (0.001–0.5 M), or DOM concentration (0–30 mg/L). The FG-DGT had enough capacity for deployment of up to four months. Six traditional and emerging PFASs including PFOS, PFOA, PFHpA, PFHxS , PFNA, and 6:2 FTSA at the ng/L level were detected in two major reservoirs serving as public drinking water sources by FG-DGT method coupled with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). PFOA appeared at the highest observed concentrations in the drinking water sources. The research demonstrates that FG-DGT is an effective and efficient tool for monitoring PFASs in drinking water.
研究领域:
环境科学
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分析化学
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水质
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高影响因子
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL
·
2026
·
IF 8.3
Guoci Lu,Jiaxin Xiao,Lingjun Bu,Guangchao Li,Shumin Zhu,Shiqing Zhou
A fluorinated TICT probe enables low-background turn-on PFOA detection. • Dispersion-driven F⋯F contacts mediate selective probe-PFOA recognition. • Robust PFOA detection in complex waters with an LOD of 593 nM in surface water. • A microfluidic platform delivers < 10 min PFOA screening at suspected sites. Fluorescent sensors based on intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) are commonly used to detect environmental pollutants like perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), yet their typical fluorescence “turn-off” response often leads to high background and a limited signal-to-noise ratio, constraining sensitivity. In this study, we present a fluorinated fluorescent probe, DMASP-F, which operates via a fluorescence “turn-on” mechanism mediated by twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT), significantly reducing background interference for PFOA sensing. Integrating with dichloromethane-based liquid-liquid extraction, we demonstrate the probe with a limit of detection (LOD) of 37.9 nM. More importantly, implementation into a compact microfluidic platform also enables rapid (within minutes) and on-site PFOA detection, achieving excellent LODs of 87.7 nM in deionized water and 593 nM in actual water samples from Xiangjiang. The on‑site sensing performance competes favorably with, and often surpasses, that of most reported fluorescent PFOA sensors. Furthermore, energy decomposition analysis and molecular dynamic simulations reveal that the sensing performance arises from dispersion dominated F⋯F interactions, which promote probe-analyte binding, restrict molecular torsion, and thereby enhance fluorescence. This work showcases a TICT-based sensing strategy for rapid PFAS analysis and provides a field-deployable platform for monitoring PFOA contamination. Download: Download high-res image (211KB) Download: Download full-size image
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JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
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2026
·
IF 8.8
Langrun Song,Jun Nan,Yunyun Cao,Hui Zhang,Xiaoyue Zhang,Zhencheng Ge,Wenxing Jin,Ying Wang,Meng Chen
Ultra-low-pressure ceramic microfiltration (ULPCM) is fundamentally constrained by the permeability-selectivity trade-off: the accumulation of compact cake layers increases hydraulic resistance, whereas the intrinsic large pore size of microfiltration membranes limits the rejection of trace micropollutants. In this study, a tri-functional quaternary ammonium silane (AC) was introduced during polyaluminum chloride (PACl) pre-coagulation to regulate floc architecture and engineer the structure of the coagulation-derived cake layer. During 360 h (15 d) of continuous operation in both synthetic surface water and actual surface water, the AC-integrated system achieved a stable normalized flux (J/J 0 = 0.38-0.40) and exceptional PFOA sequestration (>93.71%), significantly outperforming conventional systems. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and spectroscopic analyses (XPS/FT-IR) elucidated that the C 18 alkyl chains and quaternary ammonium groups dictate PFOA capture through synergistic hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, while hydrophilic silanol groups enhance dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal via hydrogen bonding. At the interfacial level, XDLVO theory and dynamic light scattering (DLS) quantification revealed that AC effectively regulates the thermodynamics of floc adhesion, promoting the assembly of a highly branched, low-fractal-dimension (D f ) scaffold. Morphology measurements confirmed that the engineered cake layer maintained a high porosity (up to 62.79%) with a pore size distribution dominated by micro-channels (< 0.5 μm), which enhanced the water permeability of the cake layer and its retention capacity for foulants. Integrated fouling analysis using Hermia, Tansel, and saturation decay models, together with statistical evaluation, demonstrated that floc size, cake layer porosity, pore size distribution, and AC-induced hydrophobic interactions played key roles in mitigating membrane fouling and enhancing contaminant retention. These findings highlight that regulating floc architecture via amphiphilic coagulant aids provides an effective strategy for engineering cake layer microstructure and mitigating membrane fouling in low-pressure microfiltration systems.
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JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
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2025
·
IF 11.3
Tao Cang,Lu Lv,Yue Yin,Dou Wang,Kan Shao,Zhenlan Xu,Xinquan Wang,Yanhua Wang
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), as persistent global contaminants, pose substantial threats to pollinators like honeybees ( Apis mellifera L.), yet their sub-lethal effects remain insufficiently explored. Here, we exposed bees to environmentally relevant concentrations (0.5–50 μg/L) of PFOA and PFHxS for 10 days, assessing midgut toxicity through pathology, metabolomics, and gene expression, and examined curcumin (Cur) as a potential mitigator. Although acute toxicity assays indicated relatively high LC₅₀ values (266–331 mg/L), sub-lethal exposures induced pronounced midgut injury, characterized by decreased epithelial cell density and thinning of the protective gel layer. Disruption of glycerophospholipid metabolism was detected, impairing membrane integrity. Additionally, PFOA and PFHxS downregulated barrier integrity genes ( ZO-2 and Mucin-1 ), while upregulating inflammatory ( Eiger and Relish ) and apoptotic indicators ( Caspase-3 , Caspase-8 , and Caspase-9 ). For several sub-lethal endpoints, PFHxS triggered more pronounced effects than PFOA. Notably, curcumin treatment restored midgut integrity and reversed many of the associated molecular disruptions. These results demonstrated that environmentally relevant concentrations of PFAS could substantially compromise honeybee gut health, offering critical insights for ecological risk assessments aimed at safeguarding these essential pollinators.
研究领域:
昆虫学
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环境毒理学
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生态毒理学
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代谢组学
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分子生物学
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传粉生态学
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高影响因子
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