title: Human nails analysis as biomarker of exposure to perfluoroalkyl compounds.
abstract: Extensive human exposure to perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAA) together with their persistence and various toxicities have arisen increasing concern. A noninvasive method would improve exposure assessment for large population, especially the children susceptible to contaminants. The aim of the study was to assess the use of PFAA measurements in human nails as a biomarker of exposure to PFAAs. Fingernail, toenail, and blood samples were collected from 28 volunteers. The PFAA concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Six PFAA were detected in nails, with perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) being the compound with the highest median concentration (33.5 and 26.1 ng/g in fingernail and toenail, respectively). Followed was perfluorononanoate (PFNA), with the median concentrations of 20.4 and 16.8 ng/g, respectively, in fingernail and toenail. Other PFAA detected were perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorodecanoate (PFDA), perfluorododecanoate (PFDoA), and perfluorotetradecanoate (PFTA), with median levels ranging between 0.19 and 8.94 ng/g. PFOS and PFNA concentrations in fingernail significantly correlated with those in serum. Fingernail PFOS and PFNA levels were 2.8 and 24.4 times, respectively, higher than the serum levels. The accumulation of PFAA in nails, together with its advantages in noninvasive sampling and ability of reflecting long-term exposure, made nails PFAA an attractive biomarker of exposure.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering, MOE, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology , Dalian 116024, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yi He
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Norimitsu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Itaru
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsuda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000378:metabolism*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011786:Quality Control; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005466:Fluorocarbons