Community exposure to perfluorooctanoate: relationships between serum levels and certain health parameters.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine whether certain biomarkers of toxicity and/or a past diagnosis of liver or thyroid disease were associated with serum perfluorooctanoate concentrations (PFOA) in a community with longstanding environmental exposure to PFOA.


METHODS
Serum (PFOA), hematologic and biochemical biomarkers, and a questionnaire were administered to 371 residents selected by stratified random sampling and a lottery among volunteers. Median PFOA was 354 ng/mL (interquartile range, 181-571 ng/mL).


RESULTS
No significant positive relationships between serum (PFOA) and liver or renal function tests, cholesterol, thyroid-stimulating hormone, or with red cell indices, white cell, or platelet counts. Mean serum (PFOA) was not increased in those with a history of liver or thyroid disease.


CONCLUSIONS
No toxicity from PFOA was demonstrated using the measured end points; other end points need to be addressed.
Emmett
Edward Anthony
EA
University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-4284, USA. emmetted@mail.med.upenn.edu
Zhang
Hong
H
Shofer
Frances Susan
FS
Freeman
David
D
Rodway
Nancy Virginia
NV
Desai
Chintan
C
Shaw
Leslie Michael
LM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002210:Caprylates / Q000097:blood* / Q000506:poisoning; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood* / Q000506:poisoning; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000097:blood* / Q000506:poisoning; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000097:blood; D014903:West Virginia
D002210:Caprylates; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005466:Fluorocarbons; C023036:perfluorooctanoic acid