Publication Details

Category Software Publication
DOI 10.5281/zenodo.11633376
Licence GPL-3.0-only
Title (Primary) PFlow: data processing workflow for PFAS identification
Version 1.0
Author Dudášová, S. ORCID logo ; Wurz, J. ORCID logo ; Berger, U.; Reemtsma, T.; Fu, Q.; Lechtenfeld, O.J. ORCID logo
Source Titel Zenodo
Year 2024
Department EAC
Topic T9 Healthy Planet
Abstract The increasing recognition of the health impacts from human exposure to per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) has surged the need for sophisticated analytical techniques and advanced data analyses, especially for assessing exposure by food of animal origin. Despite the existence of nearly 15,000 PFAS listed in the CompTox chemicals dashboard by the US Environmental Protection Agency, conventional monitoring and suspect screening methods often fall short, covering only a fraction of these substances. This study introduces an innovative automated data processing workflow, named PFlow, for identifying PFAS in environmental samples using direct infusion Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (DI-FT-ICR MS). PFlow’s validation on a bream liver sample, representative of low-concentration biota, involves data pre-processing, annotation of PFAS based on their precursor masses, and verification through isotopologues. Notably, PFlow annotated 17 PFAS absent in the comprehensive targeted approach and tentatively identified an additional 53 compounds, thereby demonstrating its efficiency in enhancing PFAS detection coverage. From an initial dataset of 30,332 distinct m/z values, PFlow thoroughly narrowed down the candidates to 84 potential PFAS compounds, utilizing precise mass measurements and chemical logic criteria, underscoring its potential in advancing our understanding of PFAS prevalence and of human exposure.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=29497
Dudášová, S., Wurz, J., Berger, U., Reemtsma, T., Fu, Q., Lechtenfeld, O.J. (2024):
PFlow: data processing workflow for PFAS identification
Version: 1.0 Zenodo 10.5281/zenodo.11633376