Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent a class of persistent synthetic chemicals extensively utilized across industrial and consumer sectors, raising substantial environmental and human health concerns. Epidemiological investigations have robustly linked PFAS exposure to a spectrum of adverse health outcomes. Altered metabolites stand as promising biomarkers, offering insights into the identification of specific environmental pollutants and their deleterious impacts on human health. However, elucidating metabolic alterations attributable to PFAS exposure and their ensuing health effects has remained challenging. In light of this, this review aims to elucidate potential biomarkers of PFAS exposure by presenting a comprehensive overview of recent metabolomics-based studies exploring PFAS toxicity. Details of PFAS types, sources, and human exposure patterns are provided. Furthermore, insights into PFAS-induced liver toxicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, cardiovascular toxicity, glucose homeostasis disruption, kidney toxicity, and carcinogenesis are synthesized. Additionally, a thorough examination of studies utilizing metabolomics to delineate PFAS exposure and toxicity biomarkers across blood, liver, and urine specimens is presented. This review endeavors to advance our understanding of PFAS biomarkers regarding exposure and associated toxicological effects.

(1) Background: Plant growth regulators (PGRs) can accelerate growth or improve the quality and quantity of bean sprouts but are forbidden to use in bean sprout cultivation, as the sprouting process’s increased chemicals will disturb the PGRs analysis. This article aimed to increase the accuracy and level of sensitivity of the LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous analysis of 10 PGRs after mixed solid phase extraction (SPE) purification. (2) Methods: An LC-MS/MS detection method for 10 kinds of PGRs was established based on ESI ionization in the positive ion mode for 6-furfurylaminopurine (6-KT), paclobutrazol (PBZ), indole-2-acetic acid (IAA), and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and in the negative ion mode for gibberellin A3 (GA₃), 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (4-CPA), forchlorfenuron (FCF), thidiazuron (TDZ), and 6-benzyl adenine (6-BA). (3) Results: The 10 PGR compounds were detected within a concentration range of 1.0–50 ng/mL. The average recovery was 68.3–97.3% with relative standard deviations (RSD) of 4.6–15.2% (n = 6); the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were found to be 2 and 5 ng/g, respectively. PGRs were surveyed in 36 soybean sprouts and 33 mungbean sprouts; the results showed that 4-CPA and IAA were detected in 10 soybean sprouts and 10 mungbean sprouts, respectively. Five samples contained both 4-CPA and IAA. (4) Conclusions: The established method is simple, rapid, accurate, and highly sensitive for the detection of PGR residues in bean sprout products.

(1) Background: Preservatives may pose a potential threat to human health. To ensure food safety, this study has devised a method that concurrently detects a dozen preservatives (acetic acid, propionic acid, dehydroacetic acid, benzoic acid, sorbic acid, dimethyl fumarate, methyl parahydroxybenzoate, ethyl parahydroxybenzoate, propyl parahydroxybenzoate, isopropyl parahydroxybenzoate, butyl parahydroxybenzoate, and isobutyl parahydroxybenzoate) in pastry, utilizing gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. (2) Methods: The pastry samples were acidified with hydrochloric acid, extracted with acetonitrile via vortexing, purified by hexane and saturated with sodium chloride solution to remove lipids and impurities, and then concentrated via nitrogen blowing. The method was then quantitatively analyzed using GC-MS with the internal standard method after methanol re-dissolution. (3) Results: The results showed that the content of the 12 preservatives had good linearity within the range of 1.0–50 μg/mL, with correlation coefficients all greater than 0.99. The method detection limit was 0.04–2.00 mg/kg and the quantification limit was 0.12–6.67 mg/kg. The average recovery rates of the samples at three different spiked concentrations of low, medium, and high were 70.18–109.22%, and the relative standard deviations were 1.82–9.79% (n = 6). (4) Conclusions: This method requires a small amount of sample, has high sensitivity, and is simple and fast to operate, making it suitable for the simultaneous determination of 12 preservatives in pastry. This approach contributes to the effective surveillance and regulation of preservative usage in pastries, thereby safeguarding public well-being.

The four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon markers (PAH4) of benzo[a]anthracene (BaA), chrysene (Chr), benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF), and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) are indicators showing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination levels in Chinese medicine raw materials (CMRMs), extracts and health food products; Samples of herbal medicine, herbal extracts, and food supplements were extracted with n-hexane, then cleaned up sequentially on Florisil and EUPAH solid-phase extraction (SPE) columns. A gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method for the determination of four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon markers in Chinese medicine raw material, extracts, and health food products was established; In spiked-recovery experiments, the average recovery was about 78.6–107.6% with a precision of 2.3–10.5%. The limit of quantification (LOQ) and limit of detection (LOD) of the PAH4 markers in this method were 2.0 μg/kg and 0.7 μg/kg, respectively. When the developed method was utilized to determine PAH4 contents in 12 locally available health food products, 3 samples contained over 10.0 μg/kg BaP, and 5 samples contained over 50.0 μg/kg PAH4. The European Union (EU) limits for BaP and PAH4 are 10 and 50.0 μg/kg, respectively; therefore, more attention must be drawn to the exposure risk of BaP and PAH4 in CMRMs, their extracts, and health food products. According to the risk assessment based on the Margin of Exposure (MOE) method, it is recognized that the products mentioned in this study pose a low risk.