Research project Identification and Characterization of Lipophilic Fluorinated Organics in Blubber of Marine Mammals

Most known per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) bioaccumulate by binding to proteins or partitioning to phospholipids, leading to their prevalence in tissues such as liver and blood. As a result, efforts to improve PFAS exposure estimates, for example by identifying novel bioaccumulative substances, have focused on these tissues. However, the recent discovery of high concentrations of unidentified extractable organofluorine in killer whale blubber suggests that some fluorinated substances bioaccumulate preferentially in storage lipids. Since blubber can constitute up to 50% of the body mass of certain marine mammals, overlooking chemicals in this compartment could significantly underestimate their overall exposure. IDing-LFOs will address this knowledge gap by developing methods to isolate lipophilic organofluorines from environmental samples, including biological tissues, human milk, and wastewater treatment plant sludge. Using advanced gas chromatography–atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-ion mobility mass spectrometry (GC-APCI-IMS), we will quantify the distribution and temporal trends of these novel substances. Furthermore, we will compare the effects of lipophilic organofluorines to traditional protein-binding PFAS by assessing their ability to bind to nuclear receptors. Ultimately, IDing-LFOs will challenge the current assumption that PFAS are exclusively proteinophilic and provide novel data to assess the risks these compounds pose to humans and wildlife.