Risk to human health related to the presence of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid in food

Acknowledgements: The Panel wishes to thank the hearing experts: Tony Fletcher, Philippe Adam Grandjean and Marco Zeilmaker, and EFSA staff members: Davide Arcella for the support provided to this scientific output. The Panel acknowledges all European Competent Authorities that provided occurrence data on perfluoroalkylated substances in food, and supported the data collection for the Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database. The Panel would also like to thank the following authors and co‐authors for providing additional data in relation to their respective studies: Esben Budtz‐Jørgensen, Jerry Campbell, Jessie A Gleason, Berit Granum, Mette Sørenson, Kyle Steenland and Kristina W Whitworth.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Reducing exposure to high levels of perfluorinated compounds in drinking water improves reproductive outcomes: evidence from an intervention in Minnesota.

BackgroundPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been detected in drinking water supplies around the world and are the subject of intense regulatory debate. While they have been associated with several illnesses, their effects on reproductive outcomes remains uncertain.MethodsWe analyzed birth outcomes in the east Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area from 2002 to 2011, where a portion of the population faced elevated exposure to PFASs due to long-term contamination of drinking water supplies from industrial waste disposal. Installation of a water filtration facility in the highly contaminated city of Oakdale, MN at the end of 2006 resulted in a sharp decrease in exposure to PFASs, creating a "natural experiment". Using a difference-in-differences approach, we compare the changes in birth outcomes before and after water filtration in Oakdale to the changes over the same period in neighboring communities where the treatment of municipal water remained constant.ResultsAverage birth weight and average gestational age were statistically significantly lower in the highly exposed population than in the control area prior to filtration of municipal water supply. The highly exposed population faced increased odds of low birth weight (adjusted odds ratio 1.36, 95% CI 1.25-1.48) and pre-term birth (adjusted odds ratio 1.14, 95% CI 1.09-1.19) relative to the control before filtration, and these differences moderated after filtration. The general fertility rate was also significantly lower in the exposed population (incidence rate ratio 0.73, 95% CI 0.69-0.77) prior to filtration and appeared to be rebounding post-2006.ConclusionsOur findings provide evidence of a causal relationship between filtration of drinking water containing high levels of exposure to PFASs and improved reproductive outcomes

Differences in Exposure to Perfluorocarbons and Renal and Liver Function among Foreign-Born U.S. Residents

Polyfluorochemicals (PFCs) are industrial compounds that tend to bioaccumulate in humans and may be associated with impaired renal and liver function. Differences in background exposure to PFCs in the general population exist worldwide, which suggest that populations with lower exposure concentrations, such as foreign-born U.S. residents, may have lower risk for adverse health effects associated with PFCs. Using data from the 2007-2012 waves of US National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) this study investigated differences in serum concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid, (PFOA), perfluoroctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sufonic acid (PFHxS) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) among native-born and foreign-born U.S. residents; and examined the association between these chemicals and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamylytransferase (GGT) and total bilirubin among foreign-born U.S. residents, and on stratifying by length of residence (LOR). Additionally, the association between joint exposures to multiple PFCs and renal and liver function was examined. The results showed that least square geometric mean concentrations of PFOA and PFHxS were higher, and least square mean of eGFR was lower among native-born when compared to foreign-born residents. As LOR increased, mean and median concentrations of PFOS and PFHxS significantly increased, and mean eGFR decreased. LogPFOA, logPFHxS, and logPFNA concentrations were significantly associated with increased odds of having low eGFR. The associations remained significant among individuals who had been resident for 10-19 years, and 20+ years. Differences in the mean and median concentrations of ALT, GGT, and Total bilirubin between foreign-born and native-born residents, and by LOR were inconclusive. Similarly, significant associations between the selected PFCs and liver function indicators were not conclusive. Increasing quartiles of a combined PFOS/PFHxS exposure variable was associated with increased odds of low eGFR, and elevated total bilirubin. Findings from this study suggest that differences in exposure to PFCs exist among native-and foreign-born U.S. residents. Also, increasing serum concentrations of some PFCs with increasing LOR may be associated with increased risk for decreased renal function. Longitudinal studies among new U.S. residents can help determine whether exposure to low background concentrations of the selected PFCs may be associated with any negative health effects over time. There are currently no studies on the combined effect of exposure to multiple PFCs. The findings of this study can serve as the basis for future studies on the association between combined exposures and adverse health outcomes

Health consulation : Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Pease Tradeport Public Water System : EPA PWS ID: 1951020 : Pease Air Force Base : Portsmouth, Newington, and Greenland, New Hampshire : EPA Facility ID: NJ7570024847

cdc:77122In April 2015, the U.S. Air Force asked the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to evaluate past and current exposures to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Pease Tradeport public water system (PWS). The Pease Tradeport PWS serves the Pease International Tradeport and the New Hampshire Air National Guard base at the former Pease Air Force Base (AFB). The source of PFAS in the Pease Tradeport PWS is assumed to be from aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) used on the former Pease AFB, now known as the Pease International Tradeport. This evaluation focuses on exposures to persons who worked at the Pease International Tradeport and children who attended the two childcare centers at the Pease International Tradeport from 1993 to the present. However, ATSDR acknowledges that exposures to military and base personnel could have occurred before 1993 through drinking water and other sources.Scientific information suggests an association between perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) exposure and various health endpoints, including effects on serum lipids, immune responses, fetal growth and development, and the liver. Several other PFAS were detected in the water, some of which have similar health endpoints as PFOA and PFOS (see Appendix A, Table A-1).The Harrison, Haven, and Smith wells provided water to the Pease Tradeport PWS. The wells were sampled and analyzed for several PFAS in April and May 2014 [CB&I 2015]. PFAS were found in each of the wells. At that time, only the Haven well, where the maximum concentration of PFOS was 2.5 \u3bcg/L, exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) provisional health advisory level of 0.2 micrograms per liter (\u3bcg/L) for PFOS. The Haven well, located near the middle of the Pease AFB airstrip, was shut down on May 12, 2014, immediately after the results were known. Since the Haven well was shut down, the Harrison and Smith wells have continued to provide water for the Pease Tradeport PWS, supplemented by water from the City of Portsmouth PWS (ID 1951010).ATSDR develops health-based comparison values (HBCVs) using available scientific findings about exposure levels and health effects. The HBCVs reflect an estimated contaminant concentration for a given chemical that is expected to cause no adverse health effects, assuming a standard daily water intake rate and body weight. To be conservative and protective of public health, HBCVs are generally based on contaminant concentrations many times lower than levels at which animal or human studies found no observable effects. ATSDR uses HBCVs in this health consultation to screen PFAS contaminant concentrations to determine if a further in-depth evaluation is needed which includes calculating an exposure dose and comparing these doses to ATSDR provisional minimal risk levels or MRLs.Drinking water sampling from June 2014 through May 2017 indicated that the maximum detected PFOS concentration was equal to ATSDR\u2019s HBCV at the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) office and above the HBCV at the water treatment plant. The treatment consists of corrosion control and then it is mixed to provide drinking water. A demonstration water treatment system (granular activated carbon filters) has been operational since September 2016. There were no exceedances of any other PFAS at any other sampling locations, which included two childcare centers and a fire station [City of Portsmouth 2017a]. A water treatment system to remove PFAS from the Smith and Harrison wells began operating on September 23, 2016. Tests of the treated water collected in October and November 2016 did not detect either PFOS or PFOA. Detection limits for PFAS typically range from 0.0026 \u3bcg/L for PFOS to 0.0046 \u3bcg/L for PFOA or 2.6 to 4.6 parts per trillion [Walton R. (Air Force Civil Engineer Center-BRAC Program Management Division) email to Gary Perlman (ATSDR), February 22, 2018, with datasheets, including Maxxam Analytics PFAS detection limits]. A few other PFAS occasionally were detected at very low concentrations. Both PFOA and PFOS were below EPA\u2019s lifetime health advisory in all samples analyzed since June 2014.ATSDR evaluated PFAS exposures in the Pease Tradeport PWS for two timeframes. The first timeframe included the time when the Haven well was operational (1993 to May 2014). The second included the time when the Haven well was shut down (June 2014 to the present).On April 1, 2019, ATSDR released this health consultation report for public comment. The comment period ended on June 3, 2019. ATSDR received 76 comments from individuals, agencies, and a consultant during the public comment period. Appendix C provides responses to the comments received.Pease_Air_Force_Base_HC-508.pdf2020749

Cumulative Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Impacting Veteran Cancer Diagnosis

Based on the ecosocial theory of disease distribution, this study investigated potential links between US military veterans’ exposure to PFAS-contaminated water sources and specific health diagnoses from 2005 to 2015. Utilizing a quantitative cross-sectional design, with the NHANES datasets for years 2005-2015, the study examined the associations between prostate cancer, liver damage, thyroid disease diagnoses, and cumulative environmental exposures resulting from permanent change of station assignments during veterans’ US Military service. Despite rigorous analytical approaches incorporating tools such as Pearson correlation, Spearman rank correlation, and multiple linear regression, the study did not identify any statistically significant relationship between the specific health conditions and PFAS exposure. However, the study’s significance goes beyond primary findings, emphasizing the complex and multi-layered nature of disease distribution, which is influenced by various environmental, societal, and biological determinants. The study underscored the importance of a multi-dimensional approach to health determinants, as suggested by the ecosocial theory. This approach can inspire positive social change through leading policy-makers to consider the intricate interplay between societal constructs, biological predispositions, and environmental exposures when making decisions

Congener specific organic carbon normalized soil and sediment-water partitioning coefficients for the C1 through C8 perfluorinated alkylsulfonic and alkylcarboxylic acids

Organic carbon normalized soil and sediment-water partitioning (Koc) coefficients were estimated for all C1 through C8 perfluorinated alkylsulfonic acid (PFSA) and alkylcarboxylic acids (PFCA) congeners. The limited experimental Koc dataset for the straight chain C7 through C10 PFCAs and C8 and C10 PFSAs was correlated to SPARC and ALOGPS computationally estimated octanol-water partitioning constants and used to predict Koc values for both branched and linear C1 through C8 isomers. All branched and linear congeners in this homologue range are expected to have Koc values>1, leading to their accumulation in organic matter on sediments and soils, retardation during ground and pore water flow, and the preferential association with dissolved organic matter in aquatic systems. Both increasing perfluoroalkyl chain length and linearity increase Koc values with substantial intra- and inter-homologue variation and interhomologue mixing. Variability in Koc values among the PFCA and PFSA congeners will likely lead to an enrichment of more linear and longer chain isomers in organic matter fractions, resulting in aqueous phases fractionated towards shorter chain branched congeners. The expected magnitude of fractionation will require inclusion in source apportionment models and risk assessments. A comparison of representative established quantitative structure property relationships for estimated Koc values from octanol-water partitioning constants suggests that equilibrium partitioning frameworks may be applicable towards modeling PFCA and PFSA environmental fate processes and warrants further study using other partitioning coefficients for which suitable experimental data is available

Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Pease Tradeport Public Water System : EPA PWS ID: 1951020 : Portsmouth, Newington, and Greenland, New Hampshire EPA facility id: NH7570024847

Public Comment VersionAPRIL 1, 2019PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ENDS: JUNE 3, 2019In April 2015, the U.S. Air Force asked the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to evaluate past and current exposures to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Pease Tradeport public water system (PWS). The Pease Tradeport PWS serves the Pease International Tradeport and the New Hampshire Air National Guard base at the former Pease Air Force Base (AFB). The source of PFAS in the Pease Tradeport PWS is assumed to be from aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) used on the former Pease AFB, now known as the Pease International Tradeport. This evaluation focuses on exposures to persons who worked at the Pease International Tradeport and children who attended the two childcare centers at the Pease International Tradeport from 1993 to present. However, ATSDR acknowledges that exposures to military and base personnel could have occurred before 1993 through drinking water and other sources.Pease-Tradeport-Public-Water-PFAS-HC-508.pdf2019609

Perfluoroalkyls

"This toxicological profile for perfluoroalkyls was prepared consistent with guidelines developed by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the preparation of toxicological profiles. The original guidelines were published in the Federal Register on April 17, 1987. While Perfluoroalkyls are not found on the ATSDR list of Priority Hazardous Substances, ATSDR has determined that a profile for these substances was necessary because data indicate that some perfluoroalkyls are found in the blood of the U.S. general population and in the environment. The agency also determined that it was important to characterize the current available information regarding the health effects from exposure in order to support and inform public health responses and activities by ATSDR and other." -- p. vprepared by SRC, Inc. under contract no. 200-2004-09793 ; prepared for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry."Draft for public comment. Comment period ends: October 30, 2009."--Cover."May 2009.""Chemical manager(s)/author(s): Selene Chou, Ph.D. Dennis Jones, DVM, Ph.D. Hana R. Pohl, M.D., Ph.D. Amanda Cadore, M.P.H. ATSDR, Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, Atlanta, GA;Fernando T. Llados, Ph.D. Gary L. Diamond, Ph.D. Daniel J. Plewak, B.S. Syracuse Research Corporation, North Syracuse, NY."-- p. ixAlso available via the World Wide Web.Includes bibliographical references and index

Pfas environmental pollution and antioxidant responses: An overview of the impact on human field

Due to their unique properties, perfluorinated substances (PFAS) are widely used in multiple industrial and commercial applications, but they are toxic for animals, humans included. This review presents some available data on the PFAS environmental distribution in the world, and in particular in Europe and in the Veneto region of Italy, where it has become a serious problem for human health. The consumption of contaminated food and drinking water is considered one of the major source of exposure for humans. Worldwide epidemiological studies report the negative effects that PFAS have on human health, due to environmental pollution, including infertility, steroid hormone perturbation, thyroid, liver and kidney disorders, and metabolic disfunctions. In vitro and in vivo researches correlated PFAS exposure to oxidative stress effects (in mammals as well as in other vertebrates of human interest), produced by a PFAS-induced increase of reactive oxygen species formation. The cellular antioxidant defense system is activated by PFAS, but it is only partially able to avoid the oxidative damage to biomolecules