Community exposure to perfluorooctanoate: relationships between serum levels and certain health parameters
Edward Anthony Emmett1, Hong Zhang, Frances Susan Shofer
1University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-4284, USA. emmetted@mail.med.upenn.edu
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.
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