Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in sera from children 3 to 11 years of age participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2014

Abstract

Several per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been measured in U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants 12 years of age and older since 1999-2000, but PFAS data using NHANES individual samples among children younger than 12 years do not exist. To obtain the first nationally representative PFAS exposure data in U.S. children, we quantified serum concentrations of 14 PFAS including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), in a nationally representative subsample of 639 3-11year old participants in NHANES 2013-2014. We used on-line solid-phase extraction coupled to isotope dilution-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry; limits of detection were 0.1ng/mL for all analytes. We calculated geometric mean concentrations, determined weighted Pearson correlations, and used linear regression to evaluate associations of sex, age (3-5 vs 6-11 years), race/ethnicity (Hispanic vs non-Hispanic), household income, and body mass index with concentrations of PFAS detected in more than 60% of participants. We detected PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, and PFNA in all children at concentrations similar to those of NHANES 2013-2014 adolescents and adults, suggesting prevalent exposure to these PFAS or their precursors among U.S. 3-11year old children, most of whom were born after the phase out of PFOS in the United States in 2002. PFAS concentration differences by sex, race/ethnicity, and age suggest lifestyle differences that may impact exposure, and highlight the importance of identifying exposure sources and of studying the environmental fate and transport of PFAS.

NTP Technical Report on the Toxicity Studies of Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylates (Perfluorohexanoic Acid, Perfluorooctanoic Acid, Perfluorononanoic Acid, and Perfluorodecanoic Acid) Administered by Gavage to Sprague Dawley (Hsd:Sprague Dawley SD) Rats

“…In the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the national geometric means measured in human plasma for one year from 2013 to 2014 were 1.94 ng/mL PFOA, 0.68 ng/mL PFNA, and 0.19 ng/mL PFDA 8 . All children, ages 3 to 11, surveyed in that year had detectable levels of PFOA (1.92 ng/mL) and PFNA (0.794 ng/mL) but not PFDA 9 . A more recent survey year (2015 to 2016) reported decreases in the geometric means measured in the total population for each PFAS: 1.56 ng/mL PFOA, 0.58 ng/mL PFNA, and 0.15 ng/mL PFDA 8 .…”

“…No increases in the frequencies of micronucleated erythrocytes (either immature or mature [NCEs]) were observed in peripheral blood of rats administered WY (6.25 to 25 mg/kg/day) by gavage for 28 days (Table B- 9). However, WY caused significant, dose-dependent decreases in % PCEs in the peripheral blood of female rats, suggesting that the bone marrow was a target for cytotoxicity.…”

Evaluation of Developmental Toxicity, Developmental Neurotoxicity, and Tissue Dose in Zebrafish Exposed to GenX and Other PFAS

“…Despite reductions, exposures are still widespread, with PFAS detectable in 95% of NHANES subjects (2013-2014) (CDC 2019) and in pregnant women, maternal serum levels for PFOS (35:3 ng=mL) and PFOA (5:6 ng=mL) have been reported (Fei et al 2007). Of additional concern, an examination of these compounds in U.S. children 3-11 years of age, most of whom were born after PFOS and PFOA were phased out of use, revealed detectable levels of 14 PFAS, including PFOS and PFOA, in more than 60% of study subjects (Ye et al 2018). A longitudinal study in Finnish children and adolescents showed that although serum levels of PFOS, PFOA, perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) decreased over the study period, calculated body burdens generally remained constant and, in some cases, increased (Koponen et al 2018).…”

Examining Endocrine Disruptors Measured in Newborn Dried Blood Spots and Early Childhood Growth in a Prospective Cohort

“…We recognize that biological matrices may generate unique findings rather than consistent findings across all biological media. As blood is typically processed into serum or plasma, use of whole blood may explain differences in concentrations found in the blood spots (which were lower for both PFOS and PFOA compared with NHANES 2013‐2014 median concentrations) .…”