# 5P42ES027706 Sources, Transport, Exposure, and Effects of PFASs (STEEP) SRP

> **NIH NIH P42** · UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND · 2021 · $15,950

## Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a chemical class of highly fluorinated
anthropogenic chemicals. Exposures to perfluoroalkyl compounds have been linked to numerous
adverse hepatic and immunological outcomes. Polyfluoroalkyl compounds, which can degrade
into perfluoroalkyl compounds and share similar chemical properties, have received minimal
scientific and regulatory attention. Extensive use of the polyfluoroalkyl 6:2 fluorotelomer
sulfonate (6:2 FTSA) and its precursors (6:2 FT) in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) and
mist suppressants used in metal plating has resulted in widespread contamination of groundwater
and waste infrastructure. Critical gaps in understanding of the disposition of these chemicals in
vitro, their metabolites, possible health effects, and potential contributions to the human body
burden of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCA) hinder ongoing risk assessment. This proposal
aims to address these gaps by measuring these compounds, and their metabolites, in CD-1 mice
exposed to 6:2 FTSA and 6:2 FT mixtures used in AFFF. Our team will first evaluate PFAS
bioaccumulation and metabolic pathways for PFCA production in these mice. The mice will be
exposed for 28 days to 10 µM F 6:2 FTSA or AFFF via oral gavage and levels of PFAS and
extractable organofluorine (EOF) will be quantified in serum, liver, and other organs using liquid
chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy and combustion ion chromatography. Total protein,
lipids, and phospholipids will be simultaneously measured to assess distribution among tissues
using a mixed effects model. Nontargeted analysis using high resolution mass spectroscopy will
be performed to identify unknown metabolites and degradation mechanisms. A follow-up study
will be performed to assess dose-response relationships during developmental and chronic
exposure to 6:2 FTSA in the mice. Pregnant mice will be exposed to 0 to 1 µM F as 6:2 FTSA
via oral gavage and their pups will be split into acute (PFAS free) or chronic (0.001 µM F as 6:2
FTSA) exposure groups. PFAS and EOF will be quantified in the mothers’ breast milk and the
pup’s serum and liver at postnatal day 4, 21, and 126.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10381901
- **Project number:** 3P42ES027706-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
- **Principal Investigator:** Rainer Lohmann
- **Activity code:** P42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $15,950
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-07-19 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10381901

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10381901, 5P42ES027706 Sources, Transport, Exposure, and Effects of PFASs (STEEP) SRP (3P42ES027706-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10381901. Licensed CC0.

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