Polyfluorinated Compounds in Serum Linked to Indoor Air in Office Environments

Abstract

We aimed to investigate the role of indoor office air on exposure to polyfluorinated compounds (PFCs) among office workers. Week-long, active air sampling was conducted during the winter of 2009 in 31 offices in Boston, MA. Air samples were analyzed for fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), sulfonamides (FOSAs), and sulfonamidoethanols (FOSEs). Serum was collected from each participant (n=31) and analyzed for twelve PFCs including PFOA and PFOS. In air, FTOHs were present in the highest concentrations, particularly 8:2-FTOH (GM=9,920 pg/m3). FTOHs varied significantly by building with the highest levels observed in a newly constructed building. PFOA in serum was significantly correlated with air levels of 6:2-FTOH (r=0.43), 8:2-FTOH (r=0.60), and 10:2-FTOH (r=0.62). Collectively, FTOHs in air significantly predicted PFOA in serum (p < 0.001) and explained approximately 36% of the variation in serum PFOA concentrations. PFOS in serum was not associated with air levels of FOSAs/FOSEs. In conclusion, FTOH concentrations in office air significantly predict serum PFOA concentrations in office workers. Variation in PFC air concentrations by building is likely due to differences in the number, type, and age of potential sources such as carpeting, furniture and/or paint.

Characterization of Adipogenic Activity of House Dust Extracts and Semi-Volatile Indoor Contaminants in 3T3-L1 Cells

“…Many nuclear receptor pathways can regulate adipogenesis, including the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ), thyroid receptor-beta (TRβ), liver X receptor (LXR), farnesoid X receptor (FXR), glucocorticoid receptor (GR), estrogen receptor (ER), androgen receptor (AR), retinoid X receptor (RXR), insulin receptor, and others 13 . EDCs that can impact these receptors are ubiquitous, commonly found in consumer products, and accumulating in the indoor environment 14–17 . As such, humans are exposed to complex mixtures of contaminants throughout development.…”

“…As such, humans are exposed to complex mixtures of contaminants throughout development. Newborn cord blood often contains hundreds of contaminants 18, 19 , and exposure continues via oral routes such as breast-feeding 20, 21 and from inhalation and dermal contact in indoor environments 14, 22–24 in early life.…”

“…Research from our laboratory and others has characterized the chemicals present in house dust and reported a number of semi-volatile organic contaminants (SVOCs) that are suspected of being hormonally active, including phthalates, flame-retardants, and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) 23, 25, 26 . Notably, the EPA estimates children ingest 50 mg of dust per day from indoor environments 22 , contributing to chronic oral and inhalation exposures to EDCs 14, 23, 24 . Previous research from our laboratory assessed the ligand binding and subsequent activation of PPARγ by house dust extracts, reporting that 21 of 24 samples exhibited significant PPARγ binding at 3 mg dust equivalence per mL (DEQ/mL; mass of extracted dust per volume of assay medium; or 120 μg dust per assay well) 27 and receptor activation in 15 of 25 samples at ≤50% of the maximal positive control response and at concentrations ≥100 μg DEQ/mL (4 μg dust per well) 28, 29 .…”

Determination of fluorotelomer alcohols in selected consumer products and preliminary investigation of their fate in the indoor environment

“…PFCAs have been detected in body fluid samples of the general population and wildlife, environmental media and consumer products (Calafat et al, 2006;Guo et al, 2009;Fiedler et al, 2010;Shoeib et al, 2011;Haug et al, 2011b;Fraser et al, 2012). Intensive research has been conducted to study their sources, fate, transport, and distribution in environmental media, human exposure, and ways to reduce the health risks.…”

Predictors of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Plasma Concentrations in 6–10 Year Old American Children

“…2,15–17 The use of PFASs in food packaging as well as their presence in some foods suggests dietary exposures may also be important. 2,4,15,16 Young children, who have increased hand-to-mouth activity and exposure to dust on household surfaces and greater food consumption relative to body weight, may have higher uptake of PFAS than adults.…”