Community exposure to perfluorooctanoate: relationships between serum concentrations and exposure sources.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine serum (perfluorooctanoate [PFOA]) in residents near a fluoropolymer production facility: the contributions from air, water, and occupational exposures, personal and dietary habits, and relationships to age and gender.


METHODS
The authors conducted questionnaire and serum PFOA measurements in a stratified random sample and volunteers residing in locations with the same residential water supply but with higher and lower potential air PFOA exposure.


RESULTS
Serum (PFOA) greatly exceeded general population medians. Occupational exposure from production processes using PFOA and residential water had additive effects; no other occupations contributed. Serum (PFOA) depended on the source of residential drinking water, and not potential air exposure. For public water users, the best-fit model included age, tap water drinks per day, servings of home-grown fruit and vegetables, and carbon filter use.


CONCLUSIONS
Residential water source was the primary determinant of serum (PFOA).
Emmett
Edward Anthony
EA
University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-4284, USA. emmetted@mail.med.upenn.edu
Shofer
Frances Susan
FS
Zhang
Hong
H
Freeman
David
D
Desai
Chintan
C
Shaw
Leslie Michael
LM
D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000097:blood* / Q000506:poisoning; D002210:Caprylates / Q000097:blood* / Q000506:poisoning; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000097:blood* / Q000506:poisoning; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000097:blood* / Q000506:poisoning; D014881:Water Supply; D014903:West Virginia
D000393:Air Pollutants; D002210:Caprylates; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C023036:perfluorooctanoic acid