Line Norenga,b, Tina Kallesona,b, Marie Findsen Helstada,b, Aleksandra Aizenshtadtb, Dorte Herzkec, Steven
Ray Wilson,a,b, Hanne Røberg-Larsena,b
a Section for Chemical Life Sciences, Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Norway
b Hybrid Technology Hub, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
c Department of Food Safety, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
Email: line.noreng@kjemi.uio.no
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly persistent pollutants widely used in consumer products and industrial applications1 due to their thermal stability and amphiphilic properties. Despite increasing regulatory restrictions2, their global distribution1 remains a major concern for both human health and the environment. Human PFAS exposure occurs primarily through the diet3 and has been linked to multiple adverse health effects, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)4, a condition that can progress to liver cancer.
We aim to elucidate how PFAS exposure may contribute to MASLD development using human liver organoids. These 3D cell-based in vitro models, cultivated under controlled conditions, are well suited for exposure studies in environmental toxicology5. They also offer high translational relevance and align with the 3Rs of animal research (replacement, reduction, and refinement).
Given recent findings of PFAS leaching from polymeric materials6, evaluating background contamination is essential to ensure analytical accuracy. As a critical first step, we applied a validated LC-MS method7 to quantify PFAS originating from single-use laboratory plastics and reagents used in organoid cultivation. Key findings will be presented, including: (1) detection of perfluorobutanesulfonic acid at low levels across multiple samples, (2) time-dependent leaching of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids from cell culture flasks, and (3) elevated PFAS concentrations in fetal bovine serum and bovine serum albumin.
The effects of PFAS exposure on organoids will be evaluated using LC-MS methods for biomolecules associated with MASLD. In that regard, a targeted LC-MS method for bile acid quantification is currently being developed, and preliminary results may also be presented.
References
1 Evich, M. G., et al. Science 2022. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abg9065
2 Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
https://chm.pops.int/implementation/industrialpops/pfos/overview/tabid/5221/default.aspx (2025-10-28)
3 Poothong, S., et al. Environ. Int. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.105244
4 Fenton, S. E., et al. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.4890
5 Hu, C., et al. Environ. Int. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2024.108415
6 Joudan, S., et al. Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.3c00797
7 Haug, L. S., et al. J. Chromatogr. A 2009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2008.10.113