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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Australia: Current levels and estimated population reference values for
L M L Toms1, J Bräunig2, S Vijayasarathy2
1School of Public Health and Social Work, And Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
New reference values for serum PFAS in Australia are now available. These values help identify elevated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) levels in biomonitoring, aiding public health assessments.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Biomonitoring
Background:
- Public concern over PFAS contamination in Australia has increased.
- Serum biomonitoring is being conducted in potentially affected communities.
- Population-based reference values for assessing PFAS levels are lacking in Australia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate population upper bound reference values for serum PFAS in Australia.
- To utilize updated serum PFAS concentrations and US population variation data.
- To establish reference values for biomonitoring in the Australian general population.
Main Methods:
- Calculated 95th percentile to arithmetic mean (P95:AM) ratios using US NHANES data for key PFAS.
- Estimated Australian age-specific mean PFAS concentrations from pooled serum samples (2014-17).
- Applied P95:AM ratios to Australian data to estimate 95th percentile concentrations.
Main Results:
- PFAS P95:AM ratios were consistent across US NHANES cycles and age groups.
- Estimated compound-specific ratios for PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFHxS, and PFOS.
- Observed declining trends in Australian mean serum PFAS concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Estimated 95th percentile PFAS values provide preliminary reference points for Australian biomonitoring.
- These values can help identify clearly elevated serum PFAS concentrations.
- Continued monitoring of mean and estimated 95th percentile PFAS levels is recommended to track declining trends.
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