Harnessing the rumen to mitigate PFAS exposure and improve herd and human health

PI: Kimberely Stietz, associate professor of Comparative Biosciences

Co-PIs:

Jeffrey Martell, assistant professor of Chemistry

Laura Hernandez, professor of Animal and Dairy Sciences

Hilario Mantovani, associate professor of Animal and Dairy Sciences

Sathish Kumar, professor of Comparative Biosciences

Description: Exposure to environmental contaminants like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are of increasing concern, PFAS have been linked to adverse health outcomes in humans and animals. Reducing PFAS exposures from dietary sources, particularly food production animals, could play a major role in reducing human exposures and improving health of our livestock. Harnessing the unique biochemical and microbial environment of the rumen may be a promising strategy to transform, sequester, or otherwise reduce levels of PFAS before they accumulate in associated milk or meat, thereby decreasing amounts ultimately consumed by humans. In parallel, development of cost effective, rapid, and high throughput methods for detecting PFAS in food producing animals would represent a significant technological innovation. Such tools may enable more efficient monitoring of exposure, support identification of animals which may have higher levels of chemicals than others and help prevent largescale exposure events before they escalate.