Decoding the partitioning behavior of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances: Insights from human liver and blood
Linping Cao1, Yishu Zheng2, Wenfei Yu2
1Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, PR China; Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, PR China.
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
|July 15, 2026
Summary
This study reveals how perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) distribute between human liver and blood. Machine learning identified molecular shape and hydrophobicity as key factors in PFAS partitioning, offering new insights into their bioaccumulation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Toxicology
- Biomonitoring
Background:
- Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent environmental contaminants known to accumulate in the human liver, raising concerns about potential hepatotoxicity.
- The precise relationship between PFAS concentrations in liver tissue and their distribution within whole blood remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution patterns of 15 common PFASs in paired human liver and whole blood samples.
- To identify key physicochemical factors influencing PFAS partitioning between the liver and blood using machine learning.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 15 PFASs in paired normal liver tissue and whole blood samples from patients undergoing liver resection.
- Quantification of PFAS concentrations and calculation of liver-to-blood ratios (RL/B).
- Application of machine learning models to determine factors affecting PFAS distribution.
Main Results:
- Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonate (6:2 Cl-PFESA) were the most abundant PFASs detected.
- The liver-to-blood ratio (RL/B) for perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) varied with carbon chain length, generally increasing with chain length up to PFOA before declining.
- Molecular shape, charge state, and hydrophobicity were identified as critical determinants of PFAS partitioning between liver and blood.
Conclusions:
- This study provides a comprehensive characterization of PFAS distribution between human liver and whole blood.
- Physicochemical properties significantly influence PFAS behavior and accumulation in different biological compartments.
- Findings offer novel insights into the mechanisms underlying PFAS bioaccumulation and potential health risks.
