PFAS levels and determinants of variability in exposure in European teenagers – Results from the HBM4EU aligned studies (2014–2021)

Richterová, Denisa; Govarts, Eva; Fábelová, Lucia; Rausova, Katarina; Martín, Laura Rodríguez; Gilles, Liese; Rémy, Sylvie; Colles, A.; Rambaud, Loı̈c; Riou, Margaux; Gabriel, Catherine; Sarigiannis, Dimosthenis; Pedraza-Dı́az, Susana; Ramos, Juan José; Kosjek, Tina; Tratnik, Janja Snoj; Lignell, Sanna; Gyllenhammar, Irina; Thomsen, Cathrine; Haug, Line Småstuen; Kolossa-Gehring, Marike; Vogel, Nina; Franken, Carmen; Vanlarebeke, Nik; Bruckers, Liesbeth; Stewart, Lorraine; Sepai, Ovnair; Schoeters, Greet; Uhl, Maria; Castaño, Argelia; López, Marta Esteban; Göen, Thomas; Murínová, Ľubica Palkovičová

doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114057

Cited by 40 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 43 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…chicken eggs is associated with higher PFAS blood levels. The use of cosmetics can be a possible route of exposure to PFAS [232], which was also demonstrated in another study [233]. These studies indicate that increased attention should be given to ongoing blood serum testing to estimate population exposure to PFAS.…”

Section: Human Exposure From Foodmentioning

confidence: 53%

PFAS: forever chemicals—persistent, bioaccumulative and mobile. Reviewing the status and the need for their phase out and remediation of contaminated sites

Brunn

Arnold²,

Körner

et al. 2023

Environ Sci Eur

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) have received increasing scientific and political attention in recent years. Several thousand commercially produced compounds are used in numerous products and technical processes. Due to their extreme persistence in the environment, humans and all other life forms are, therefore, increasingly exposed to these substances. In the following review, PFAS will be examined comprehensively. Results The best studied PFAS are carboxylic and sulfonic acids with chain lengths of C4 to C14, particularly perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). These substances are harmful to aquatic fauna, insects, and amphibians at concentrations of a few µg/L or less, accumulate in organisms, and biomagnify in food webs. Humans, as the final link in numerous food chains, are subjected to PFAS uptake primarily through food and drinking water. Several PFAS have multiple toxic effects, particularly affecting liver, kidney, thyroid, and the immune system. The latter effect is the basis for the establishment of a tolerable weekly dose of only 4.4 ng/kg body weight for the sum of the four representatives PFOA, PFOS, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2020. Exposure estimates and human biomonitoring show that this value is frequently reached, and in many cases exceeded. PFAS are a major challenge for analysis, especially of products and waste: single-substance analyses capture only a fragment of the large, diverse family of PFAS. As a consequence, sum parameters have gained increasing importance. The high mobility of per and polyfluorinated carboxylic and sulfonic acids makes soil and groundwater pollution at contaminated sites a problem. In general, short-chain PFAS are more mobile than long-chain ones. Processes for soil and groundwater purification and drinking water treatment are often ineffective and expensive. Recycling of PFAS-containing products such as paper and food packaging leads to carryover of the contaminants. Incineration requires high temperatures to completely destroy PFAS. After PFOA, PFOS and a few other perfluorinated carboxylic and sulfonic acids were regulated internationally, many manufacturers and users switched to other PFAS: short-chain representatives, per- and polyfluorinated oxo carboxylic acids, telomeric alcohols and acids. Analytical studies show an increase in environmental concentrations of these chemicals. Ultra-short PFAS (chain length C1–C3) have not been well studied. Among others, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is present globally in rapidly increasing concentrations. Conclusions The substitution of individual PFAS recognized as hazardous by other possibly equally hazardous PFAS with virtually unknown chronic toxicity can, therefore, not be a solution. The only answer is a switch to fluorine-free alternatives for all applications in which PFAS are not essential.

show abstract

Section: Human Exposure From Foodmentioning

confidence: 53%

PFAS: forever chemicals—persistent, bioaccumulative and mobile. Reviewing the status and the need for their phase out and remediation of contaminated sites

Brunn

Arnold²,

Körner

et al. 2023

Environ Sci Eur

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Accumulating evidence has revealed that humans are universally exposed to PFASs ( 20 – 24 ). The intake of polluted food and drinking water, inhalation of indoor air and dust, and dermal contact are claimed as the major routes of human exposure to PFASs ( 14 , 25 – 27 ).…”

Section: Human Exposure To Pfassmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxic effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on sperm: Epidemiological and experimental evidence

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

As emerging organic contaminants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have aroused worldwide concern due to their environmental persistence, ubiquitous presence, bioaccumulation, and potential toxicity. It has been demonstrated that PFASs can accumulate in human body and cause multiple adverse health outcomes. Notably, PFASs have been detected in the semen of human, posing a potential hazard to male fecundity. This article reviews the evidence about the toxic effects of exposure to PFASs on male reproduction, focusing on the sperm quality. Epidemiological studies showed that PFASs, such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), were adversely associated with the semen parameters in humans, including sperm count, morphology and motility. Experimental results also confirmed that PFAS exposure led to testicular and epididymal damage, therefore impairing spermatogenesis and sperm quality. The mechanisms of reproductive toxicity of PFASs may be involved in blood-testosterone barrier destruction, testicular apoptosis, testosterone synthesis disorder, and membrane lipid composition alteration, oxidative stress and Ca2+ influx in sperm. In conclusion, this review highlighted the potential threat of exposure to PFASs to human spermatozoa.

show abstract

“…PFAS can be transferred from the mother to the child through the placenta and through breastfeeding [7]. Internal exposure to PFAS has been observed in populations of different age groups of many countries including Belgium (Flanders) as described by Colles et al [8], Salihovic et al [9], Richterova et al [10] and Kirk et al [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and immune system-related diseases: results from the Flemish Environment and Health Study (FLEHS) 2008–2014

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background The successive FLEHS campaigns assess internal exposure to pollutants and associated early biological and health effects in participants of different age groups. Materials and methods Mother–newborn pairs (N = 220 in 2008–2009, age 18–42 years; N = 269 in 2013–2014, age 18–44 years), 197 adolescents 14–15 years (2010–2011), 201 adults 20–40 years (2008–2009) and 205 adults 50–65 years (2014) were recruited. For the various groups of subjects different sets of PFAS were assessed. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) were determined in cord plasma and peripheral serum as these were the PFAS compounds for which we had access to high quality measurements and which were expected to be present in the highest concentrations. Participants filled out a questionnaire based on the European Community Respiratory Health Survey questionnaire on asthma and allergy. In these cross-sectional studies associations were assessed using stepwise multiple logistic regression, with confounders (including smoking and familial occurrence of the disease) and potential covariates selected on the basis of experience in our previous studies and a literature search. Forest plots of odds ratios summarize the associations between the various PFAS on the one hand and the different immune outcomes on the other hand. Results For several self-reported immune system-related diseases inverse associations with PFAS serum concentrations were observed. These inverse associations were more pronounced in mothers and adults than in adolescents. A significant inverse association was observed in adults and mothers (for mothers based on measurements on cord plasma) between PFNA, PFOS, and PFHxS and asthma (for mothers also for PFOA), in mothers between PFHxS, PFNA and PFOS and allergic rhinitis, in mothers and adults between PFHxS and PFOS and some forms of allergy (for mothers also for PFOA), in adults between PFOA and eczema, and in adolescents between PFOS and systemic allergy. Conclusion Internal exposure to PFAS was associated with changes in immunological processes consistent with what has been reported in the literature. Whereas these changes were observed in many publications to be associated with adverse health effects, our findings suggest that they can also lead to inverse associations with certain immune system-related diseases.

show abstract

PFAS levels and determinants of variability in exposure in European teenagers – Results from the HBM4EU aligned studies (2014–2021)

Cited by 40 publications

References 43 publications

PFAS: forever chemicals—persistent, bioaccumulative and mobile. Reviewing the status and the need for their phase out and remediation of contaminated sites

PFAS: forever chemicals—persistent, bioaccumulative and mobile. Reviewing the status and the need for their phase out and remediation of contaminated sites

Toxic effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on sperm: Epidemiological and experimental evidence

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and immune system-related diseases: results from the Flemish Environment and Health Study (FLEHS) 2008–2014

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About