Decoding the partitioning behavior of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances: Insights from human liver and blood biomonitoring with machine learning.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) show variable liver-to-blood ratios, with PFOA reaching a ratio of 0.32, indicating differential distribution based on chain length and isomer type.

• Why it matters: Understanding PFAS distribution between liver and blood is crucial because these chemicals accumulate in the liver and may cause hepatotoxicity, yet their distribution patterns are not well characterized.
• What they did: The study analyzed 15 PFASs in paired liver and blood samples from liver cancer patients, and used machine learning to identify molecular factors affecting their partitioning.
• The result: Longer-chain PFCAs have higher liver-to-blood ratios, branched isomers show lower ratios, and molecular shape, charge, and hydrophobicity are key factors influencing PFAS distribution, offering mechanistic insights.