Sources of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans to sediment in the Newtown Creek Superfund Site.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDD/Fs) are contaminants of concern in the New York/New Jersey Harbor and in the organisms of the Newtown Creek Superfund site, which lies within the harbor. Because PCDD/Fs are never intentionally produced, identifying their sources can be challenging. In this work, sources of PCDD/Fs to the sediment of Newtown Creek were investigated using Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) to analyze two data sets containing data on concentrations of (1) PCDD/Fs and (2) PCDD/Fs plus polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Source apportionment of polychlorinated biphenyls in the sediment of the Newtown Creek superfund site.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a primary contaminant of potential concern at the Newtown Creek superfund site. Measurements of PCBs in hundreds of samples of sediment (surface and cores) within Newtown Creek and at nearby reference locations were obtained from the Remedial Investigation (RI) databases. This data set was analyzed using Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF).

Dynamic regulation of airway surface liquid pH by TMEM16A and SLC26A4 in cystic fibrosis nasal epithelia with rare mutations.

In cystic fibrosis (CF), defects in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) channel lead to an acidic airway surface liquid (ASL), which compromises innate defence mechanisms, predisposing to pulmonary failure. Restoring ASL pH is a potential therapy for people with CF, particularly for those who cannot benefit from current highly effective modulator therapy. However, we lack a comprehensive understanding of the complex mechanisms underlying ASL pH regulation.

Exploring intrinsic variability between cultured nasal and bronchial epithelia in cystic fibrosis.

The nasal and bronchial epithelium are unified parts of the respiratory tract that are affected in the monogenic disorder cystic fibrosis (CF). Recent studies have uncovered that nasal and bronchial tissues exhibit intrinsic variability, including differences in mucociliary cell composition and expression of unique transcriptional regulatory proteins which relate to germ layer origin. In the present study, we explored whether intrinsic differences between nasal and bronchial epithelial cells persist in cell cultures and affect epithelial cell functioning in CF.

Airway Epithelial Cultures of Children with Esophageal Atresia as a Model to Study Respiratory Tract Disorders.

Esophageal atresia (EA) is a rare birth defect in which respiratory tract disorders are a major cause of morbidity. It remains unclear whether respiratory tract disorders are in part caused by alterations in airway epithelial cell functions such as the activity of motile cilia. This can be studied using airway epithelial cell culture models of patients with EA.

Effectiveness and feasibility of structured emotionally focused family therapy for parents and adolescents: Protocol of a within-subjects pilot study.

Mental health issues are widespread among children and adolescents worldwide. Although mental health difficulties may manifest themselves in many different diagnoses, there is growing support for a limited number of underlying transdiagnostic processes. Attachment encompasses a key transdiagnostic mechanism, namely emotional regulation.

Protocol for generating airway organoids from 2D air liquid interface-differentiated nasal epithelia for use in a functional CFTR assay.

We present a protocol to generate organoids from air-liquid-interface (ALI)-differentiated nasal epithelia. We detail their application as cystic fibrosis (CF) disease model in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-dependent forskolin-induced swelling (FIS) assay. We describe steps for isolation, expansion and cryostorage of nasal brushing-derived basal progenitor cells, and their differentiation in ALI cultures.

PFAS in municipal landfill leachate: Occurrence, transformation, and sources.

To understand sources and processes affecting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), 32 PFAS were measured in landfill leachate from 17 landfills across Washington State in both pre-and post-total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay samples, using an analytical method that was the precursor to EPA Draft Method 1633. As in other studies, 5:3FTCA was the dominant PFAS in the leachate, suggesting that carpets, textiles, and food packaging were the main sources of PFAS. Total PFAS concentrations (ΣPFAS) ranged from 61 to 172,976 ng/L and 580-36,122 ng/L in pre-TOP and post-TOP samples, respectively, suggesting that little or no uncharacterized precursors remained in landfill leachate.

Drug Repurposing for Cystic Fibrosis: Identification of Drugs That Induce CFTR-Independent Fluid Secretion in Nasal Organoids.

Individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) suffer from severe respiratory disease due to a genetic defect in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which impairs airway epithelial ion and fluid secretion. New CFTR modulators that restore mutant CFTR function have been recently approved for a large group of people with CF (pwCF), but ~19% of pwCF cannot benefit from CFTR modulators Restoration of epithelial fluid secretion through non-CFTR pathways might be an effective treatment for all pwCF. Here, we developed a medium-throughput 384-well screening assay using nasal CF airway epithelial organoids, with the aim to repurpose FDA-approved drugs as modulators of non-CFTR-dependent epithelial fluid secretion.

Sources of polychlorinated biphenyls to Upper Hudson River fish post-dredging.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals that are the dominant contaminant in the Upper Hudson River (UHR) in New York State where two General Electric (GE) plants historically discharged PCBs to the river. Portions of the UHR were dredged from 2009 to 2015 to address PCB contamination. In 2017, the first post-dredging survey of yearling feeder fish and sediment PCB contamination was conducted to establish a baseline for the recovery of the river.

The SLC26A9 inhibitor S9-A13 provides no evidence for a role of SLC26A9 in airway chloride secretion but suggests a contribution to regulation of ASL pH and gastric proton secretion.

The solute carrier 26 family member A9 (SLC26A9) is an epithelial anion transporter that is assumed to contribute to airway chloride secretion and surface hydration. Whether SLC26A9 or CFTR is responsible for airway Cl transport under basal conditions is still unclear, due to the lack of a specific inhibitor for SLC26A9. In the present study, we report a novel potent and specific inhibitor for SLC26A9, identified by screening of a drug-like molecule library and subsequent chemical modifications.

Measuring cystic fibrosis drug responses in organoids derived from 2D differentiated nasal epithelia.

Cystic fibrosis is caused by genetic defects that impair the CFTR channel in airway epithelial cells. These defects may be overcome by specific CFTR modulating drugs, for which the efficacy can be predicted in a personalized manner using 3D nasal-brushing-derived airway organoids in a forskolin-induced swelling assay. Despite of this, previously described CFTR function assays in 3D airway organoids were not fully optimal, because of inefficient organoid differentiation and limited scalability.

Recurrent Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in a CD14-Deficient Patient.

Background: Recurrent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection requiring hospitalization is rare and the underlying mechanism is unknown. We aimed to determine the role of CD14-mediated immunity in the pathogenesis of recurrent RSV infection.

Methods: We performed genotyping and longitudinal immunophenotyping of the first patient with a genetic CD14 deficiency who developed recurrent RSV infection.

Effect of membrane filtration on the fate of polychlorinated biphenyls in wastewater treatment.

The Spokane River is impacted by levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that have triggered fish consumption advisories and exceed water quality standards. Select wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) on the river have been upgraded from secondary (biological) treatment to tertiary treatment in the form of membrane filtration to address phosphorus contamination. Because membrane filtration is effective at removing particles, it is likely to reduce PCB concentrations in the effluent as well.

Source apportionment of perfluoroalkyl substances in Great Lakes fish.

Due to the complex sources and fate of perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), their source apportionment in the environment remains a challenge. A data set of 11 straight-chain PFAS in 139 samples of fish in the Great Lakes was analyzed using positive matrix factorization (PMF) to investigate their primary sources, whose spatial variations were examined against the surrounding environmental factors. PMF analysis produced five fingerprints.

Concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls in serum from New Jersey biomonitoring study: 2016-2018.

The first statewide New Jersey Biomonitoring (NJBM) of serum polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was conducted from 2016 to 2018. Forty ortho-substituted PCBs were measured in serum samples collected from 920 NJ residents in compliance with the CDC method. The lipid adjusted geometric mean (GM) of ∑PCB concentration for all the 920 measured subjects was 65.

Sources of polychlorinated biphenyls to Upper Hudson River sediment post-dredging.

The Upper Hudson River (UHR) has been contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) since the 1940s due to the manufacture of capacitors at two plants near Hudson Falls and Fort Edward, NY by General Electric (GE). Dredging of portions of the UHR was conducted from 2009 to 2015 as a partial remedy for this contamination. In 2017, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation undertook a comprehensive post-dredging survey of sediment contamination in the UHR.

Isolating different natural and anthropogenic PAHs in the sediments from the northern Bering-Chukchi margin: Implications for transport processes in a warming Arctic.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have become the dominating burden in the Arctic ecosystems, but their transport pathways and relative importance of different sources in the Arctic remained unclear, and this would be further complicated by climate change. Here we interpreted 27 PAHs in 34 surface sediments from the northern Bering-Chukchi margin. We integrated source apportionment methods (including diagnostic ratios, principal component analysis, hierarchical analysis, and positive matrix factorization (PMF) model) together with geochemistry parameters, which reveal a gradually clear picture of the spatial patterns of different sources.

Perfluoroalkyl substances in sediments from the Bering Sea to the western Arctic: Source and pathway analysis.

Although perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are ubiquitous in the Arctic, their dominant pathways to the Arctic remain unclear. Most modeling studies support major oceanic transport for PFASs in the Arctic seawater, but this conclusion contradicts the rapid response of PFASs to global emissions in some biota species. Sediments, which act as important PFAS sinks for seawater and potential PFAS source to the benthic food web, are important for interpreting the fate of PFASs in the Arctic.

Source Apportionment of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Atmospheric Deposition in the Seattle, WA, USA Area Measured with Method 1668.

Atmospheric deposition can be an important pathway for the delivery of toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to ecosystems, especially in remote areas. Determining the sources of atmospheric PCBs can be difficult, because PCBs may travel long distances to reach the monitoring location, allowing for a variety of weathering processes that may alter PCB fingerprints. Previous efforts to determine the sources of atmospheric PCBs have been hampered by the electron capture detection methods used to measure PCBs.

Alterations in fingerprints of polychlorinated biphenyls in benthic biota at the Portland Harbor Superfund Site (Oregon, USA) suggest metabolism.

In order to understand the sources and fate of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in several species of benthic biota, including clams (Corbicula fluminea), oligochaetes (Lumbriculus variegatus), and mussels (Margaritifera falcata and Anodonta nuttalliana) at the Portland Harbor Superfund Site (PHSS), their congener fingerprints were examined. First, diagnostic ratios of congeners known to be metabolizable vs. recalcitrant in the cytochrome P450 (CYP) pathway were significantly lower in biota than in its co-located sediment, indicating metabolism may have occurred.

Sewer Sediment Bacterial Communities Suggest Potential to Transform Persistent Organic Pollutants.

Sediments of combined sewers are seeded with microbes from a variety of sources, and experience varying biogeochemical conditions. A variety of redox processes have been demonstrated to occur within sewer systems, as well as transformation of several recalcitrant xenobiotic contaminants. Illumina sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene from sediments of three combined sewer systems in the northeastern United States resulted in 10 000 to 47 000 operational taxonomic units per sample.

Positive Matrix Factorization analysis shows dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls during domestic wastewater collection and treatment.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent, toxic and bioaccumulative pollutants. One of the few pathways via which they break down is microbial dechlorination, which has been shown to occur in sewers. Questions remain about where within sewers this process takes place and which conditions encourage dechlorination.

Using positive matrix factorization to investigate microbial dehalogenation of chlorinated benzenes in groundwater at a historically contaminated site.

Chlorinated benzenes are common groundwater contaminants in the United States, so demonstrating whether they undergo degradation in the subsurface is important in determining the best remedy for this contamination. The purpose of this work was to use a new data mining approach to investigate chlorinated benzene degradation pathways in the subsurface. Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) was used to analyze long-term measurements of chlorinated benzene concentrations in groundwater at a contaminated site in New Jersey.