A mini-review on the health risks associated with sodium p-perfluorous nonenoxybenzene sulfonate exposure

Abstract Sodium p-perfluorous nonenoxybenzene sulfonate (OBS) is an alternative to perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), primarily used as surfactant in various industrial and commercial applications. Due to the presence of both perfluorinated carbon tail and sulfonate functional group in its molecular structure, OBS exhibits exceptional chemical stability and resistance to environmental degradation. Recent environmental monitoring studies have detected OBS in soil, surface and groundwater, across diverse geographic regions, indicating that human populations are inevitably exposed to this pollutant through multiple environmental pathways. As with other PFAS, the widespread distribution and environmental persistence of OBS have raised serious concerns about its potential adverse effects on human health. This review aims to summarize the current understanding of the health risks associated with OBS exposure. Moreover, we employed network toxicology analysis to identify potential molecular targets and disease associations related to OBS exposure by integrating computational target prediction algorithms with disease-related databases. Data from existing in vivo and in vitro studies suggest that OBS can bioaccumulate in multiple organs with dose-dependent manner and further induce hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, immunotoxicity, as well as neurovascular, thyroid, intestinal, developmental, and pancreatic toxicity. Additionally, network toxicology analysis revealed 90 targets associated with OBS exposure, which are implicated in 417 diseases, with cancer, diabetes, and metabolic disorders emerging as key concerns. While much of the current evidence is based on animal and cellular models, this review highlights the need for further research, particularly in human clinical settings, to validate these findings and fully understand the health risks posed by OBS.