In vitro biotransformation and evaluation of potential transformation products of chlorinated paraffins

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are high production volume chemicals, which leads to their ubiquitous presence in the environment. Limited studies suggested lower concentrations in humans compared with their relatively high exposure from the environment, and little is known about their fate in humans. To investigate the in vitro biotransformation of CPs by human liver fractions, we determined the changes of the CP concentrations after the enzymatic transformation with human liver microsomes and evaluated their potential transformation products, using high resolution mass spectrometric analysis. We measured rapidly decreased CP concentrations, as well as the shifted profiles after the biotransformation. Oxidation products and carbon chain shortening products were detected, including very short CP (carbon chain length <10), alcohols, aldehydes, and carboxylic acids. 

Dr. Chang He is a postdoctoral research fellow in QAEHS. Chang completed his PhD on investigation into the sources, fate and exposure to organophosphate esters in Australian environment with Prof Jochen Mueller. His key interests at QAEHS are on the relationships between the environment and humans for a range of organic pollutants, including flame retardants, plasticizers, paraffins, etc.