title: Rate of decline in serum PFOA concentrations after granular activated carbon filtration at two public water systems in Ohio and West Virginia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Drinking water in multiple water districts in the Mid-Ohio Valley has been contaminated with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which was released by a nearby DuPont chemical plant. Two highly contaminated water districts began granular activated carbon filtration in 2007.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the rate of decline in serum PFOA, and its corresponding half-life, during the first year after filtration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Up to six blood samples were collected from each of 200 participants from May 2007 until August 2008. The primary source of drinking water varied over time for some participants; our analyses were grouped according to water source at baseline in May-June 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For Lubeck Public Service District customers, the average decrease in serum PFOA concentrations between May-June 2007 and May-August 2008 was 32 ng/mL (26%) for those primarily consuming public water at home (n = 130), and 16 ng/mL (28%) for those primarily consuming bottled water at home (n = 17). For Little Hocking Water Association customers, the average decrease in serum PFOA concentrations between November-December 2007 and May-June 2008 was 39 ng/mL (11%) for consumers of public water (n = 39) and 28 ng/mL (20%) for consumers of bottled water (n = 11). The covariate-adjusted average rate of decrease in serum PFOA concentration after water filtration was 26% per year (95% confidence interval, 2528% per year).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The observed data are consistent with first-order elimination and a median serum PFOA half-life of 2.3 years. Ongoing follow-up will lead to improved half-life estimation.
authors.affiliation: Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-1250, USA. sbartell@uci.edu
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bartell
authors.forename: Antonia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Calafat
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lyu
authors.forename: Kayoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: P Barry
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Steenland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002210:Caprylates / Q000097:blood*; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005374:Filtration / Q000379:methods*; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009820:Ohio; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000097:blood*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*; D014903:West Virginia
chemical_list: D002210:Caprylates; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002606:Charcoal; C023036:perfluorooctanoic acid