研究发现，狗和猫会排出可能有害的化学物质
研究发现，狗和猫会排出可能有害的化学物质
Cats and dogs are pooping out potentially dangerous levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) after being exposed in a variety of ways, which could have implications for pet owners, according to new research published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters.
根据发表在《环境科学与技术快报》上的一项新研究，猫和狗在以各种方式接触到每一种多氟烷基物质(PFAS)后，其排泄物有潜在的危险水平，这可能会对宠物主人产生影响。
PFAS and related PFOS are man-made chemicals that have been manufactured globally since the 1940s in a variety of products, from non-stick cookware to food packaging.
全氟辛酸盐和相关的全氟辛酸盐是自20世纪40年代以来在全球范围内从不粘锅到食品包装等生产的各种产品中的人造化学品。
Madison Dapcevich
These water- and stain-repelling substances have become ubiquitous in the environment and persistent in the human body, meaning that they do not break down over time and instead accumulate, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Human exposure has been linked to low infant birth weights, cancer, impacts on the immune system, thyroid hormone disruption but little else is known about how these chemicals impact the human body.
据美国环境保护署称，这些抗水和抗污物质已经在环境中普遍存在，并在人体中持续存在，这意味着它们不会随着时间的推移而分解，而是会积累起来。人类接触这些化学物质与婴儿出生体重过低、癌症、对免疫系统的影响、甲状腺激素紊乱有关，但人们对这些化学物质如何影响人体知之甚少。
Pets are often “sentinels of human exposure to environmental contaminants,” and analyzing what goes in – and out – of their bodies helps scientists determine which chemicals their owners are being exposed to and how certain compounds might build up.
宠物通常是“人类接触环境污染物的前哨”，通过分析它们的体内和体外的物质，科学家可以确定它们的主人接触了哪些化学物质，以及某些化合物是如何形成的。
To determine the occurrence and profile of PFAS in pet feces as a proxy for human levels, scientists collected pet poop from 41 cats and 37 dogs between January and March 2019 from the Albany area of New York State. Feces samples were taken from both pets owned by an individual as well as those in a pet shelter and the animal’s age, gender, and breed were recorded. Immediately after pooping, the feces samples were collected and put in a polypropylene (PP) container. Liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry revealed the “widespread exposure” of PFAS were observed in pets, in particular, 13 of the 15 targeted chemicals.
为了确定PFAS在宠物粪便中的发生率和分布情况，作为人类粪便水平的代表，科学家们在2019年1月至3月期间从纽约州奥尔巴尼地区收集了41只猫和37只狗的宠物粪便。从个人和宠物收容所的宠物身上采集粪便样本，并记录动物的年龄、性别和品种。大便后立即收集粪便样本，并将其放入聚丙烯(PP)容器中。液相色谱和串联质谱分析显示，在15种靶向化学物质中，有13种存在于宠物体内。
Levels observed in both cats and dogs were shown to be above the minimum risk level for exposure.classen/Shutterstock
After ingesting, inhaling, or being exposed to PFAS, the chemicals can be found throughout the body, some of which have been metabolized while some may be accumulated. Levels observed in pets are consistent with what has been previously modeled in humans with the highest concentrations being found in the liver, kidneys, and blood. Furthermore, the amount of PFAS that are excreted in animals suggests that both dogs and cats are at doses that are above the minimum risk level recommended for humans. Because pets share homes with people, the researchers add that monitoring chemical compounds in animals’ feces may be used to monitor human exposure.
在摄入、吸入或暴露于PFAS后，可在全身发现这些化学物质，有些已被代谢，有些可能会积累。在宠物身上观察到的浓度与之前在人类身上模拟的浓度一致，在肝脏、肾脏和血液中发现的浓度最高。此外，动物体内排泄的全氟辛酸盐的量表明，狗和猫的摄入量都超过了推荐给人类的最低风险水平。因为宠物和人类共享家园，研究人员补充说，监测动物粪便中的化合物可能被用来监测人类接触的情况。
“In summary, this study provides evidence that PFASs are present at measurable concentrations in feces of cats and dogs,” write the authors, adding that the “age and gender of pets did not affect concentrations of PFAS in cats and dogs.”
作者写道:“总而言之，这项研究提供了证据，证明猫和狗的粪便中存在可测量浓度的PFAS，”并补充说，“宠物的年龄和性别并不影响猫和狗的PFAS浓度。”
The researchers add that further studies are needed to evaluate the sources and health effects of PFAS in pets.
研究人员补充说，还需要进一步的研究来评估PFAS的来源和对宠物健康的影响。
