Serum Vaccine Antibody Concentrations in Adolescents Exposed to Perfluorinated Compounds.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Prospective observational birth cohort follow-up study
PubMed 28749778 · doi:10.1289/EHP275
What was done
Researchers prospectively evaluated 516 adolescents (79% of an eligible Faroese birth cohort) at age 13 to assess whether postnatal exposure to perfluorinated alkylate substances (PFASs) affects humoral immunity. Serum concentrations of PFASs and antibodies against diphtheria and tetanus were measured at age 13 and compared to prior measurements taken at age 7. Multiple regression analyses and structural equation models evaluated associations between postnatal PFAS levels and antibody concentrations, with sensitivity analyses excluding subjects with emergency room visits/likely booster shots (n = 68) or higher antibody titers at 13 years than at 7 years (n = 202).
What was found
Both PFAS concentrations and vaccine antibodies generally declined from age 7 to 13. Elevated PFAS concentrations were associated with reduced diphtheria antibody levels at ages 7 and 13. Specifically, statistically significant decreases of approximately 25% per exposure doubling were observed for perfluorodecanoate (PFDA) at age 7 and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) at age 13. Structural equation modeling indicated that a doubling of exposure to five PFASs at age 7 was associated with a 10% to 30% decrease in diphtheria antibody concentrations at age 13. Few associations were observed between PFAS concentrations and tetanus antibody titers.
Why it matters
This study provides longitudinal evidence that routine childhood and adolescent PFAS exposures are associated with diminished long-term antibody persistence for certain routine childhood vaccines.
Limits
The observational design cannot establish causality. The study was conducted in a Faroese cohort with distinct marine-based exposure profiles, which may limit generalizability. A substantial subset of children received off-protocol boosters or had unexpected antibody increases, requiring subgroup exclusions. Findings were not consistent across antigens, with effects concentrated on diphtheria rather than tetanus.
Cited by
- supports PFAS chemicals interfere with human antibody responses to vaccinations.