Serum concentrations of PFASs and exposure-related behaviors in African American and non-Hispanic white women.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional observational study evaluating associations between self-reported behaviors and serum biomarker levels.
PubMed 30622332 · doi:10.1038/s41370-018-0109-y
What was done
Researchers measured serum concentrations of six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) from blood collected in 2010–2013 in 178 middle-aged women (approximately half African American and half non-Hispanic white) from the Child Health and Development Studies. Participants completed interviews in 2015–2016 regarding six behaviors hypothesized to influence PFAS exposure. Associations between behaviors and serum concentrations were analyzed using multiple regression. Particle-induced γ-ray emission (PIGE) spectroscopy was also used to test dental floss products for fluorine.
What was found
African American women had lower levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) than non-Hispanic white women. Frequent consumption of prepared food from coated cardboard containers was associated with higher levels of four PFASs in African American women, but not in white women. Elevated levels of some PFASs were also associated with flossing with Oral-B Glide, having stain-resistant carpet or furniture, and living in a city with a PFAS-contaminated water supply. PIGE spectroscopy confirmed detectable fluorine in Oral-B Glide and competitor flosses. The abstract reports no exact numerical values or effect sizes.
Why it matters
This paper identifies consumer product behaviors, including the use of PTFE-based dental floss and food packaging, as potential contributors to human PFAS body burden.
Limits
The study is limited by a modest sample size (n = 178) restricted to middle-aged women. There was a notable multi-year lag between serum collection (2010–2013) and behavioral interviews (2015–2016), introducing risk of exposure misclassification and recall bias. The abstract does not provide numerical effect estimates or confidence intervals.
Cited by
- supports Dental floss contains PFAS chemicals.