Biology subjects

Boatman, A. K.

Publications and source records attributed to Boatman, A. K..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Novel PFAS in Alligator Blood Discovered with Non-Targeted Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large and growing class of chemicals gaining global attention due to their persistence, mobility, and toxicity. Given the diverse chemical properties of PFAS and their varying distributions in water and tissue, monitoring of different matrices is critical to determine their presence and accumulation. Here, we used a platform combining liquid chromatography, ion mobility spectrometry, and high-resolution mass spectrometry for non-targeted analysis to detect and identify PFAS in alligator plasma from North Carolina (5 years, 2018-2022) and Florida (2021 only). Structures for 12 PFAS were elucidated, including 2 novel structures, and an additional 34 known PFAS were detected. Three of these compounds were previously unreported in environmental media. More PFAS were detected in North Carolina alligators and no novel PFAS were detected in Florida gators. Quantitative analysis of 21 of the known PFAS revealed that plasma concentrations did not change over the 5-year study. HighlightsO_LI46 PFAS were detected in blood plasma from North Carolina and Florida alligators using LC-IMS-HRMS C_LIO_LIStructures for 12 previously unreported PFAS were elucidated, including 2 novel structures C_LIO_LICape Fear River alligators had the most types and highest concentrations of PFAS C_LI

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2025

Updated Guidance for Communicating PFAS Identification Confidence with Ion Mobility Spectrometry

Over the last decade, global contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has become apparent due to their detection in countless matrices worldwide, from consumer products to human blood to drinking water. As researchers implement non-targeted analyses (NTA) to more fully understand the PFAS present in the environment and human bodies, clear guidance is needed for consistent and objective reporting of the identified molecules. Confidence levels for small molecules analyzed and identified with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) have existed since 2014; however, unification of currently-used levels and improved guidance for their application is needed due to inconsistencies in reporting and continuing innovations in analytical methods. Here, we (i) investigate current practices for confidence level reporting of PFAS identified with liquid chromatography (LC), gas chromatography (GC), and/or ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) coupled with HRMS and (ii) propose a simple, unified confidence level guidance that incorporates both PFAS-specific attributes and IMS collision cross section (CCS) values. SynopsisUnified and simplified requirements to guide confidence level assignment in non-targeted PFAS identification efforts with ion mobility spectrometry. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=109 SRC="FIGDIR/small/634925v2_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (23K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1b9808dorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1a6e663org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@5f8813org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1dea0d1_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG For Table of Contents only C_FIG

scientific communication and education↗

bioRxiv2023

Assessing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Fish Fillet Using Non-Targeted Analyses

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of thousands of man-made chemicals that are persistent and highly stable in the environment. Fish consumption has been identified as a key route of PFAS exposure for humans. However, routine fish monitoring targets only a handful of PFAS, and non-targeted analyses have largely only evaluated fish from heavily PFAS-impacted waters. Here, we evaluated PFAS in fish fillets from recreational and drinking water sources in central North Carolina to assess whether PFAS are present in these fillets that would not be detected by conventional targeted methods. We used liquid chromatography, ion mobility spectrometry, and mass spectrometry (LC-IMS-MS) to collect full scan feature data, performed suspect screening using an in-house library of 100 PFAS for high confidence feature identification, searched for additional PFAS features using non-targeted data analyses, and quantified perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in the fillet samples. A total of 36 PFAS were detected in the fish fillets, including 19 that would not be detected using common targeted methods, with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 22 in individual fish. Median fillet PFOS levels were concerningly high at 11.6 to 42.3 ppb, and no significant correlation between PFOS levels and number of PFAS per fish was observed. Future PFAS monitoring in this region should target more of these 36 PFAS, and other regions not considered heavily PFAS contaminated should consider incorporating non-targeted analyses into ongoing fish monitoring studies. SYNOPSISConcerningly high PFOS levels were detected in fish fillets from recreational and drinking water sources in central North Carolina. Of the 36 total PFAS identified, 19 would not be detected using routine targeted monitoring methods. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=109 SRC="FIGDIR/small/555938v2_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (30K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@b3084org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@9e69bborg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@2f9628org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@2b33c8_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG For use in table of contents only

pharmacology and toxicology↗