Persistent Organic Pollutants

Question 1

What is a contaminant?

Answer 1

• All contaminants ≠ pollutants
• Not always harmful
• Naturally occurring or anthropogenic
• Impacts are on a limited scale or
  confined area

Question 2

What is a pollutant?

Answer 2

• All pollutants = contaminants
• Harmful
• Anthropogenic
• Impacts the larger environment

Question 3

What are the general characteristics of POPs?

Answer 3

• Persistent
• Toxic
• Bioaccumulative
• Hydrophobic & lipophilic

Question 4

What is PFAS?

Answer 4

*Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
* Synthetic compounds made of carbon - fluorine backbone
* Carbon - fluorine strongest in nature, resists
degradation = “forever chemicals”
* ~16,000 PFAS compounds
* Manufactured to resist oil, water, temperature,
fire
* Used in countless consumer and industrial
products

Question 5

What are the main sources of PFAS?

Answer 5

Food wrappers and coated paper/packaging, fire fighting foam, water and stain resistant coatings and clothing, non-stick cookware, personal care products, and electronics

Question 6

In TB, what types of organisms did Dr. Pullster study that are ‘infected’ with PFAS?

Answer 6

• demersal fish (tilefish)
• inverts
• marine mammals

Question 7

Why bile? Why livers?

Answer 7

Biliary - Acute
Liver - Chronic

Question 8

In TB, what does the distribution of PFAS look like?

Answer 8

• Nationwide, concentrated in areas near military bases or areas w fire fighting
• widespread in sediment, water, and biota

Question 9

In TB, what are some of the health implications of PFAS?

Answer 9

BIOMAGNIFICATION
* abnormal bodyweight, size, and growth
* immune system not functioning properly
* nervous system and behavioral issues
* cancer
* cell toxicity/mortality
* metabolic and digestive system issues
* musculoskeletal system malformation and weakness
* endocrine system health decline
* altered respiratory system
* urinary system issues
* increased sensory irritation
* higher likelihood of circulatory system malfunction and disease
* altered reproductive system
* mutation of genes
* alter gene expression
* pathological changes
* imbalance microbiome

Question 10

What are some sources of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)?

Answer 10

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
* Pyrogenic: associated with combustion sources
* Petrogenic: associated with petroleum
* Biogenic: organism derived hydrocarbons
* Phytogenic: hydrocarbons derived from plants
* Only accounts for ~2-7% of the constituents in
crude oil but it is the most toxic

Question 11

What are some types of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)?

Answer 11

Pyrogenic, petrogenic, biogenic, photogenic

Question 12

How was the identification of DWH oil byproducts in bile and livers of demersal fish used? What are the implications? What did they learn?

Answer 12

• Allowed for scientists to spatially model the distribution of PAH
• As well as examine spatiotemporal variation:
  *NC region has the highest levels of PAHs
  *Increasing trends in PAH exposure
  *Trends varied by species
• DWH was affecting these fish even though they may not have been directly at the wellhead