Emerging Food Contaminants conference - 28 September 2026

Oliver Lindtner*, Katrin Blume, Tobias Hoepfner, Christian Jung, Mandy Stadion

German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment

*Presenting author

Abstract

Monitoring the intake of undesirable substances through food is a key aspect of health protection. Children are particularly important in this context, as they consume larger amounts of food relative to their body weight - and thus also larger relative amounts of the substances contained therein - than adults do. Regular monitoring of their dietary exposure is therefore essential to identify and minimize health risks at an early stage. To calculate exposure estimates for German children consumption data from the KiESEL study were combined with the results of the first German Total Diet Study, the BfR MEAL Study).

The KiESEL study includes randomly selected infants, toddlers and other children from the age of six months up to and including five years. The BfR MEAL Study is a so-called Total Diet Study, a method recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to estimate mean levels of substances in the average human diet in a cost-effective approach.

In the BfR MEAL Study, around 60,000 foods were bought, prepared as consumed, grouped into pools (e.g. 356 MEAL foods referring to 869 pools in the core module) and analyzed for more than 300 desired and undesired substances including heavy metals, mycotoxins, pesticide residues and nutrients. This concentration data was combined with dietary intake data from children (KiESEL study) to calculate long-term exposure to 21 different substances and to visualize the exceedance of health-based guidance values (HBGVs) or Margin of Exposure (MoE). Selected results for concentration and exposure including dioxins, dl-PCBs and ndl-PCBs will be presented.

Farhad Vahid ^1#*, Isabelle Moyersoen ², Nicolas Berger ², Aline Lecomte ³, Sophie Couffignal ³, Caroline Merten ⁴, Torsten Bohn ^1#

¹Nutrition and Health Research Group, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, L-1445 Strassen, Luxembourg.

²Nutrition and Physical Activity Unit, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium.

³Public Health Expertise, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, L-1445 Strassen, Luxembourg.

⁴Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Administration, L-1445 Strassen, Luxembourg.

^#Corresponding authors: torsten.bohn@lih.lu, farhad.vahid@lih.lu

*Presenting author

Abstract

Background: Robust dietary intake data are fundamental for assessing population exposure to food contaminants, including persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has developed the EU Menu framework to harmonize food consumption data across Europe. However, Luxembourg remains (with Malta) one of the EU Member States without a nationally representative, EFSA-compliant food consumption survey. Given its diverse and multicultural population, this represents a critical gap for both national chemical dietary risk assessment and relating food consumption to health outcomes.

Objectives: LuxFoods will implement a pilot food consumption survey among adults (18-64 years) in Luxembourg from 2026–2029 to: (i) develop EFSA-aligned methodologies/tools for dietary data collection; (ii) evaluate the feasibility of collecting online food consumption data by means of dietary recalls and a food propensity questionnaire (FPQ); (iii) assess recruitment strategies across diverse populations; and (iv) generate methodological recommendations for a future full-scale national survey.

Methods: A feasibility-oriented study (n≈60) will be conducted, using a stratified sampling design (sex × urban/rural residence). Dietary intake will be assessed through three non-consecutive 24-hour recalls, using a culturally adapted version of Intake24®, complemented by an FPQ. Additional data will include anthropometrics, lifestyle/socioeconomic variables, and biological samples (e.g., blood, urine) for biomarker-based exposure assessment.

Results (Expected): The pilot will deliver (i) a validated, multilingual dietary assessment tool adapted to Luxembourg's context; (ii) evidence on feasibility, participation, and data quality; and (iii) standardized protocols for recruitment, data collection, and quality control.

Conclusion: This pilot represents a critical step toward integrating Luxembourg into the European harmonized food consumption database. The project will support chemical risk assessment, nutritional risk /benefit assessment and inform chemical and nutritional regulatory decisions.

Funding:

This project is funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture of Luxembourg and supported by the Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Administration (ALVA).

Irene Fontes Marques ¹, Maria Torres Toda ¹, Ruth Moeller ¹, Matteo Creta ², Françoise Schaefers ², Maria-Mirela Ani ², Emilie Hardy ², Cathy Jacobs ³, Giuseppe Arena ¹, Lorenzo Favilli ², Dorota Turonova ², Nicolas Joblin ¹, El Hassane Ouaalaya ¹, Radu Duca ⁴, An van Nieuwenhuyse ⁵

¹Medical Expertise and Data Intelligence Service, Department of Health Protection, Laboratoire National de Santé, Dudelange, Luxembourg.

²Environmental Hygiene and Human Biological Monitoring Service, Department of Health Protection, Laboratoire National de Santé, Dudelange, Luxembourg.

3Forensic Toxicology Service, Department of Forensic Medicine, Laboratoire National de Santé, Dudelange, Luxembourg.

⁴Department Health Protection, Luxembourg Health Directorate, Strassen, Luxembourg.

⁵Department of Health Protection, Laboratoire National de Santé, Dudelange, Luxembourg.

*Presenting author

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of human-made chemicals that are persistent in the environment, widespread and bioaccumulative in humans and wildlife. In humans, PFAS exposure has been associated with multiple health outcomes. As such, PFAS have been prioritized for human biomonitoring under the Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC). The PARC programme brings together nearly 200 European institutions working in the areas of the environment or public health from 28 countries and three EU authorities, including the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Environment Agency (EEA).

Within PARC, the Health Protection Department of the Laboratoire national de santé (LNS) contributes to multiple activities addressing PFAS exposure and risk assessment at national and European level. These activities include: (a) the generation of human biomonitoring (HBM) and personal environmental (indoor, drinking water) data on PFAS exposure through epidemiological surveys conducted in Luxembourg among the general population (children and adults), vulnerable groups (infants and pregnant women), and occupational populations (waste management workers); (b) contribution to the harmonisation of targeted analysis of PFAS in biological samples, and provision of samples for suspect screening approaches; (c) derivation of HBM Guidance Values (HBM-GVs) for PFAS to support health-based interpretation of internal exposures; and (d) participation in joint case studies on integrated assessment of PFAS immunotoxicity, including real-life mixture risk assessment and environmental burden of disease.

This integrated approach strengthens the science‑policy evidence base linking PFAS exposure to potential health effects to inform public health and environmental policy supporting regulatory and risk‑mitigation actions.

Zahra Hejazi ¹*, Francesca Mancini ², Torsten Bohn ¹

¹Nutrition and Health Research Group, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 1445 Strassen, Luxembourg. E-mail: zahra.hejazi@lih.lu

²Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, 2, avenue de Université, L-4265 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg

³Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, Gustave Roussy, CESP, Villejuif, France

*Presenting author

Abstract

Background: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are environmental contaminants characterized by persistence, bioaccumulation, and long-range transport. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a major class of lipophilic POPs, can accumulate in adipose tissue and may disrupt metabolic pathways such as those related to insulin sensitivity and oxidative stress, increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as type 2 diabetes (T2D). As PCBs are suspected to act as “obesogens”, this study aimed to investigate whether obesity mediates the association between dietary PCB exposure and T2D incidence.

Methods and materials: This study uses data from the “European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition” (EPIC), including approximately 401,000 participants (recruited 1992-2000 across eight countries), of which 38,600 are classified as having obesity, based on their BMI at baseline. Dietary exposure to PCBs was estimated linking individual food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) data with contamination data provided by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). A positive association between exposure to ndl-PCBs and T2D has been reported in the literature. In this study Cox proportional hazards models were applied to estimate the association between PCB exposure and incident T2D. Confounders including socio-economic aspects and dietary patterns were considered.

Results: We hypothesize that a significant proportion of the association between PCB exposure and T2D is mediated through obesity. Mediation analysis is expected to demonstrate a measurable indirect effect via obesity, contributing to the overall increased risk of T2D associated with PCB exposure.

Conclusion: The present findings will highlight the importance of obesity as a modifiable risk factor in reducing the burden of NCDs, particularly in populations exposed to environmental contaminants and adhering to Western dietary patterns.

Finnian Freeling¹

¹ Section of Water Chemistry Research, Department of Water Chemistry, TZW: DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser (German Water Centre), Germany

Abstract

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is the smallest member of the perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs). It enters the environment through various human activities, with industrial emissions representing a major primary source.¹ Secondary sources are highly diverse, since any compound containing a carbon‑bound trifluoromethyl group (C‑CF₃) can potentially degrade into TFA.² This makes the identification of specific sources particularly challenging. A monitoring study from 2018/19 showed that wet deposition alone contributes roughly 0.35 μg/L of TFA to surface waters in Germany.³ Analyses of ice cores from the Canadian High Arctic,⁴ archived plant leaves in Germany,⁵ and groundwater in Denmark⁶ demonstrate that atmospheric deposition of TFA has risen sharply over the past 3-4 decades. With increasing use of certain CFC substitutes, a further global rise in atmospheric TFA deposition is expected.

Several studies have linked elevated concentrations or distinct temporal trends of TFA in surface and groundwater to agricultural activity within watersheds.^7,8 One potential explanation is the use of C‑CF₃-containing pesticides. In addition, manure contains substantial amounts of TFA, and its application as fertilizer may represent another pathway for TFA to enter and accumulate in the environment. Reports also document the widespread presence of TFA in plant‑based foods. For example, recent international wines contain variable but generally high TFA levels, reaching up to 620 μg/L.⁹ These findings provide strong evidence for the global and expanding environmental burden of TFA.

Although TFA is highly polar and therefore unlikely to accumulate significantly in animal or human tissues, its increasing presence in plant‑derived foods is driving a steady rise in dietary exposure. This is mirrored by the high concentrations of TFA detected in human samples such as urine.¹⁰ These observations underscore the urgent need for research on the chronic toxicity of TFA to human health and the environment, a major knowledge gap that remains largely unaddressed.

Additional studies are required to better quantify the contributions of individual TFA sources, as this information is crucial for developing effective mitigation strategies. Reducing the environmental burden of TFA will require measures implemented across the entire life cycle of TFA and its precursors. Due to the current lack of cost‑ or energy‑efficient remediation technologies, a tiered approach is needed that extends beyond end‑of‑pipe solutions (i.e. water treatment) and includes strategies such as substance avoidance and production‑integrated environmental protection. Regrettable substitution of TFA precursors with compounds that are more hazardous or otherwise problematic must be prevented. Finally, the case of TFA underscores the importance of considering the formation of highly persistent and mobile transformation products during chemical development and authorization.

(1) Scheurer, M.; Nödler, K.; Freeling, F.; Janda, J.; Happel, O.; Riegel, M.; Müller, U.; Storck, F.R.; Fleig, M.; Lange, F. T.; Brunsch, A.; Brauch, H.-J. Small, mobile, persistent: Trifluoroacetate in the water cycle - Overlooked sources, pathways, and consequences for drinking water supply. Water Res. 2017, 126, 460–471.

(2) Freeling, F.; Björnsdotter, M. K. Assessing the environmental occurrence of the anthropogenic contaminant trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry 2023, 41, 100807.

(3) Freeling, F.; Behringer, D.; Heydel, F.; Scheurer, M.; Ternes, T. A.; Nödler, K. Trifluoroacetate in Precipitation: Deriving a Benchmark Data Set. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2020, 54, 11210–11219.

(4) Pickard, H. M.; Criscitiello, A. S.; Persaud, D.; Spencer, C.; Muir, D. C. G.; Lehnherr, I.; Sharp, M. J.; Silva, A. O. de; Young, C. J. Ice Core Record of Persistent Short‐Chain Fluorinated Alkyl Acids: Evidence of the Impact From Global Environmental Regulations. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2020, 47, 65.

(5) Freeling, F.; Scheurer, M.; Koschorreck, J.; Hoffmann, G.; Ternes, T. A.; Nödler, K. Levels and Temporal Trends of Trifluoroacetate (TFA) in Archived Plants: Evidence for Increasing Emissions of Gaseous TFA Precursors over the Last Decades. Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. 2022, 9, 400–405.

(6) Albers, C. N.; Sültenfuss, J. A 60-Year Increase in the Ultrashort-Chain PFAS Trifluoroacetate and Its Suitability as a Tracer for Groundwater Age. Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. 2024, 11, 1090–1095.

(7) Lange, J.; Bulka, L.; Nöltge, D.; Freeling, F.; Ilgen, K.; Külls, C.; Müller, M. Trifluoroacetate (TFA) - Potentials and limits of a new hydrological pollution tracer. Sci. Total Environ. 2025, 997, 180175.

(8) Joerss, H.; Freeling, F.; van Leeuwen, S.; Hollender, J.; Liu, X.; Nödler, K.; Wang, Z.; Yu, B.; Zahn, D.; Sigmund, G. Pesticides can be a substantial source of trifluoroacetate (TFA) to water resources. Environment international 2024, 193, 109061.

(9) Freeling, F.; Mira de Orduña Heidinger, R. Tracking Trifluoroacetate (TFA) through Time: A 78-Year Record from Archived Wines. Environmental science & technology 2025, 59, 26762–26769.

(10) Muir, D. C. G.; Freeling, F.; Nilsson, S.; Bugsel, B.; Bowles, K.; Hobson, P.; Toms, L.-M.; Mueller, J. F. Trifluoroacetic Acid in Australian Human Urine Samples. Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. 2025, 12, 1411–1417.

Schuppe Marie ¹, Stoffels Charlotte ¹, Cambier Sébastien ¹, Biesemeier Antje ¹, Thomann Jean-Sébastien ¹, Mercier-Bonin Muriel ², Audinot Jean-Nicolas ¹

¹Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) Belvaux – Luxembourg

²Toxalim UMR INRAE 1331 – Toulouse – France

*Presenting author, contact: Marie.schuppe@list.lu

Abstract

Contaminants are ubiquitous in the environment and increasingly detected throughout the food chain, raising concerns about their potential effects on human health. Among these, per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) [1] and plastic particles are emerging contaminants of particular concern. However, their behaviour and toxicity within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) - which acts as the first biological barrier and a major portal of entry - remain poorly understood. The GIT is still an understudied site of contaminant interaction, highlighting the critical need for improved or newly developed methodologies to detect these substances and characterize their biological impacts.

In this context, the present work, conducted in Luxembourg, focuses on PFAS and nanoplastics.

The ANR‑FNR FLUO‑GUT project investigated the fate and toxicity of PFOA along the gut–liver axis using combined in vitro (Caco‑2) and in vivo (mouse) models, while establishing a robust multimodal mass spectrometry workflow to characterize PFOA behaviour from tissue to sub‑cellular levels [3].

Building on this analytical and methodological framework, the ANR‑FNR microPLAstox project extends the approach to nanoplastics, examining their fate, uptake, and toxicity following oral exposure. Environmentally relevant nanoplastics derived from bio‑based PLA and conventional LDPE are tracked by mass spectrometry imaging after simulated digestion (INFOGEST, TIM, M‑ARILE) and used to expose Caco‑2/HT29‑MTX co‑cultures and HepG2 cells under healthy and Western‑diet‑impaired conditions.

This continuity ensures methodological consistency while advancing a cutting-edge analytical framework to study an emerging class of contaminants, generating mechanistic insights into nanoplastics-gut interactions to support evidence-based risk assessment of plastic contaminants in food.

References

[1] Stoffels CBA, Angerer TB, Robert H, Poupin N, Lakhal L, Frache G, Mercier-Bonin M, Audinot JN. Lipidomic profiling of PFOA-exposed mouse liver by multi-modal mass spectrometry analysis. Anal Chem. 2023;95(16):6568-6576. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.2c05470

[2] Liebgott C, Chaib I, Doyen P, Robert H, Eutamene H, Duflos G, Reynaud S, Grassl B, Mercier-Bonin M. Fate and impact of nanoplastics in the human digestive environment after oral exposure: A common challenge for toxicology and chemistry. Trends Anal Chem. 2023;166:117175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2023.117175

[3] Stoffels CBA, Cambier S, Subirana MA, Schaumlöffel D, Gomez G, Pittois D, Guignard C, Schwamborn JC, Wirtz T, Gutleb AC, Mercier-Bonin M, Audinot JN. When subcellular chemical imaging enlightens our understanding on intestinal absorption, intracellular fate and toxicity of PFOA in vitro. J Hazard Mater. 2024;480:136205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136205

Claude Schummer*, Beatrice Rizzi, Danielle Ruckert

Administration des Services Techniques de l’Agriculture Division des laboratoires – Service d’analyse des engrais, des aliments pour animaux et d’alcools

*Presenting author

Abstract

Microplastics originate either as primary particles intentionally produced or as secondary particles resulting from the degradation of larger plastic items. Major sources include tire wear, plastic packaging, synthetic textiles, and wastewater treatment residues, all largely linked to human activity.

These particles pose significant environmental and health risks and are an emerging threat in agriculture. Microplastics in agriculture contaminate soils and crops, where they can alter soil structure, disrupt microbial communities, and negatively affect plant growth. They also act as carriers for toxic chemicals (e.g. heavy metals, PFAS) and pathogens, allowing harmful substances to enter the food chain and potentially impact animal and human health. Microplastics have been detected in animal products like meat and blood, raising concerns about human exposure and potential effects such as endocrine disruption and metabolic diseases. Unfortunately, the regulatory framework, particularly in the EU, does not yet define specific limits for microplastics in food or feed, although general safety and contamination rules still apply.

In this study, a rapid and low-cost screening method was developed and applied to detect microplastics ranging from 0.5 to 5 mm in cereal-based animal feed. The extraction process involved water and NaCl, followed by the removal of organic matter through H₂O₂ digestion, while identification was performed using optical microscopy. More than half of the samples analyzed contained at least one plastic particle per 5 g.

MM. Ani ¹, M. Torres Toda ², C.M. Jacobs ^1#, R.Duca ^1##, L. Favilli ¹*, E.M. Hardy ¹, M. Creta ¹, R. Moeller ², G. Arena ², A. Van Nieuwenhuyse ³, F. Schaefers ¹

¹Laboratoire national de santé (LNS), Department Health Protection, Service Environmental Hygiene and Human Biological Monitoring, 1 Rue Louis Rech, L-3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg

²Laboratoire national de santé (LNS), Department Health Protection, Service Medical Expertise and Data Intelligence, 1 Rue Louis Rech, L-3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg

³Laboratoire national de santé (LNS), Department Health Protection, 1 Rue Louis Rech, L-3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg

^#Current : Laboratoire national de santé (LNS), Department of Forensic Medicine, Service Forensic Toxicology, 1 Rue Louis Rech, L-3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg

^##Current : Health Directorate, Department Health Protection, Ministry of Health and Social Security, 2a, Rue de Thomas Edison, L-1445 Strassen, Luxembourg

*Presenting author

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants widely detected in the environment, food chain, and human biological samples. Due to their persistence, bioaccumulation potential, and possible adverse health effects, PFAS are considered priority contaminants in exposome and human biomonitoring research. Reliable and harmonized analytical methods capable of covering extended PFAS panels across different biological matrices are essential for large-scale epidemiological and regulatory studies. This study aimed to develop, validate, and apply a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous determination of 40 PFAS in human serum and plasma, and to assess matrix comparability for biomonitoring purposes.

A targeted LC-MS/MS method was developed and optimized for the analysis of 40 PFAS in serum and plasma. Method validation was performed according to international guidelines, evaluating matrix effects, extraction recovery, accuracy, precision, and analyte stability. The method was subsequently applied in a proof-of-concept study involving 25 individuals, in which matched serum and plasma samples were analyzed in parallel to evaluate matrix equivalence using multiple statistical approaches.

The method was successfully validated for all compounds, and chromatographic separation of linear and branched isomers was achieved for 11 PFAS, allowing both isomer-specific and total concentration measurements. The limits of detection and quantification were suitable for assessing background exposure levels in the general population. No statistically significant differences were found between PFAS concentrations measured in serum and plasma.

This validated method provides a robust and comprehensive tool for PFAS biomonitoring and supports harmonized exposure assessment across population-based and regulatory studies.

Astrid Vincze ¹*, Viacheslav A. Petrov ¹, Tuesday Lowndes ¹, Alissa Caroline Muller ¹, Delphine Collard ², Henry-Michel Cauchie ², Emma Schymanski ¹, Paul Wilmes ¹

¹Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg

²Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg

*Presenting author, astrid.vincze@uni.lu

The microbial resistome includes the complete set of resistance genes in microbial communities and is essential for understanding antimicrobial resistance and co-selection. Although several tools detect resistance genes, few integrate antibiotics, metals, and biocides within a unified framework that also explores their interactions. Many existing methods rely primarily on sequence-based identification, and although ML and deep learning approaches are emerging, they are not yet widely integrated into standard pipelines, which limits the discovery of novel resistance genes. This project aims to integrate machine learning models into the PathoFact microbiome pipeline to enable pattern-based and reduced-dependence on strict sequence similarity for identifying resistance genes and to apply this approach to environmental and human microbiome datasets. The workflow begins with the construction of a database incorporating metal and biocide resistance genes from BacMet, UniProt, CARD, ResFinder, and AMRFinderPlus. Machine learning models will be trained and benchmarked against existing tools, and the best models will be integrated into PathoFact. The improved pipeline will be applied to publicly available human gut microbiome datasets and to seasonal river samples from Luxembourg. Environmental samples of 20 liters will be concentrated, filtered, and processed for Nanopore metagenomics and Illumina metatranscriptomics. Nanopore methylation data will assist in linking unbinned contigs to their microbial hosts. Expected outcomes include a tool capable of detecting known and novel resistance genes and revealing interactions within the resistome. This work will enhance resistome profiling in environmental and clinical contexts and support advances in antimicrobial resistance research.

References

Narayanasamy S. et al. (2016) IMP: a pipeline for reproducible reference-independent integrated metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses. Genome Biology 16;17(1):260.

de Nies L. et al. (2021) PathoFact: a pipeline for the prediction of virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance genes in metagenomic data. Microbiome. 17;9(1):49.

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the Fonds National de la Recherche (FNR) for funding this work through the project PRIDE23/18356118/Xpose.

Arnesdotter E¹*, Mannino L², Weber P¹, Federico T², Leo C³, Gutleb A.C¹, Greco D^2,4, Serchi T¹

¹Environmental Sustainability Assessment and Circularity (SUSTAIN) Unit, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Luxembourg

²FHAIVE Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Finland,

³Polo d'innovazione di Genomica, Genetica e Biologia Srl, Italy,

⁴Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Finland

*Presenting author

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent a critical group of persistent environmental contaminants, widely recognised for their bioaccumulation potential and adverse effects on human health. Here, we aim to elucidate the respiratory toxicity and cellular responses induced by selected PFAS compounds using ALIsens, an advanced human-relevant in vitro model.

The ALIsens model is a sophisticated 3-dimensional co-culture model cultivated at the air-liquid interface, combining epithelial cells, PMA-differentiated macrophages (THP-1), endothelial cells, and naïve THP-1 cells. This configuration accurately replicates key anatomical and functional features of the human respiratory tract, facilitating physiologically relevant exposure scenarios.

We exposed the ALIsens model to seven environmentally relevant PFAS. Single-cell transcriptomics (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA-seq was applied to dissect cell-type specific molecular responses and identify sensitive biomarkers of PFAS-induced cellular stress, inflammation, and barrier dysfunction.

PFOS was used as a benchmark PFAS and shown to induce a monotonic transcriptional programme dominated by oxidative stress/NRF2 imbalance, lipid and membrane perturbation, mitochondrial–ER/autophagy stress, inflammatory epithelial responses, and early injury-repair/fibrotic signalling. As the remaining PFAS were tested at a single concentration, their responses were interpreted as concentration-specific mechanistic snapshots rather than full concentration–response profiles. These snapshots were compared with the PFOS response to identify shared transcriptional signatures, enriched key events, and pathway-level perturbations indicative of potentially common mechanisms of action.

The study provides mechanistic insight into PFAS-associated perturbations at the human alveolar interface and supports the use of advanced in vitro models and transcriptomic approaches for hazard characterisation of inhaled environmental contaminants.

Audrey Lenouvel*, Sébastien Cambier, Cédric Guignard

Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), 5 avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette

*Presenting author

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse class of persistent contaminants of increasing concern due to their widespread occurrence and potential impacts on human health and the environment. This study presents the development and optimization of a robust analytical workflow for the detection and quantification of selected PFAS in complex matrices. The approach combines tailored sample preparation with high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry. Specific attention was placed on minimizing background contamination and enhancing sensitivity, enabling quantification at trace levels compatible with current regulatory expectations and environmental relevance. Application of the method revealed diverse PFAS profiles, highlighting variability in occurrence patterns across different water types. A second application focused on model microorganisms exposed to selected PFAS, enabling the investigation of compound-specific interactions at the biological level. Distinct behaviours were observed depending on the analyte. These findings demonstrate the versatility of the analytical workflow for both environmental monitoring and mechanistic studies, providing new insights into PFAS distribution and their interactions with biological systems.

Nouzia Mammar

Background:

Emerging food contaminants such as PFAS, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and microplastics are increasingly challenging current food safety surveillance systems and public health authorities across Europe. The growing volume of food safety alerts and scientific publications makes the early identification and prioritization of emerging risks more complex and resource-intensive.

Objective:

This project aims to develop a low-cost, AI-assisted surveillance framework for the early detection and prioritization of emerging food contaminants using publicly available European food safety and scientific data.

Methods:

Open-access datasets from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), EFSA Open Data, and scientific literature databases such as PubMed will be integrated into a unified analytical framework. Exploratory data analysis, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and machine learning approaches will be used to identify recurring contaminants, detect emerging trends, and classify high-risk food–contaminant combinations. Temporal analyses and risk-scoring strategies will also be explored to support contaminant prioritization and public health surveillance.

Expected Results:

The project is expected to identify temporal and geographical patterns in emerging contaminant alerts across Europe, highlight contaminant–food combinations requiring increased monitoring, and demonstrate the feasibility of AI-assisted approaches for strengthening food safety surveillance systems.

Conclusion:

This study proposes an accessible, scalable, and data-driven framework for enhancing food safety monitoring through artificial intelligence and public health analytics. By leveraging open European data, the project may support regulatory agencies and public health authorities in improving risk anticipation, prioritization strategies, and evidence-based decision-making regarding emerging food contaminants.