Cited by 273Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances researchToxic Organic Pollutants ImpactFluoride Effects and Removal

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in human serum and urine samples from a residentially exposed community

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Worley, Rachel Rogers, Moore, Susan McAfee, Tierney, Bruce C., Ye, Xiaoyun, Calafat, Antonia M., Campbell, Sean, Woudneh, Million B., Fisher, Jeffrey·2017·Environment International

Abstract

Background Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are considered chemicals of emerging concern, in part due to their environmental and biological persistence and the potential for widespread human exposure. In 2007, a PFAS manufacturer near Decatur, Alabama notified the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) it had discharged PFAS into a wastewater treatment plant, resulting in environmental contamination and potential exposures to the local community.Objectives To characterize PFAS exposure over time, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) collected blood and urine samples from local residents.Methods Eight PFAS were measured in serum in 2010 (n=153). Eleven PFAS were measured in serum, and five PFAS were measured in urine (n=45) from some of the same residents in 2016. Serum concentrations were compared to nationally representative data and change in serum concentration over time was evaluated. Biological half-lives were estimated for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) using a one-compartment pharmacokinetic model.Results In 2010 and 2016, geometric mean PFOA and PFOS serum concentrations were elevated in participants compared to the general U.S.Population In 2016, the geometric mean PFHxS serum concentration was elevated compared to the general U.S.Population Geometric mean serum concentrations of PFOA, PFOS, and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) were significantly (p≤0.0001) lower (49%, 53%, and 58%, respectively) in 2016 compared to 2010. Half-lives for PFOA, PFOS, and PFHxS were estimated to be 3.9, 3.3, and 15.5years, respectively. Concentrations of PFOA in serum and urine were highly correlated (r=0.75) in males.Conclusions Serum concentrations of some PFAS are decreasing in this residentially exposed community, but remain elevated compared to the U.S. general population.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.envint.2017.06.007

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  • Most human studies on PFAS toxicokinetic processes focused on long chain PFAS, showing heterogeneous estimates among chemical compounds and investigated populations.

    “Most human studies on PFAS toxicokinetic processes focused on long chain PFAS, showing heterogeneous estimates among chemical compounds and investigated populations (Chiu et al., 2022), potentially due to the variability of exposure settings and concentration levels (Worley et al., 2017).”

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  1. USEPA 2011 Exposure Factors Handbook 2011 Edition (Final) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA/600/R-09/052F

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Authors
Worley, R. R., Moore, S. M., Tierney, B. C., Ye, X., Calafat, A. M., Campbell, S., Woudneh, M. B., & Fisher, J.
Affiliations
  • Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (US)
  • National Center for Environmental Health (US)
  • AXYS Technologies (Canada) (CA)
  • National Center for Toxicological Research (US)
Corresponding author
Worley, Rachel Rogers
Venue
Environment International
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-09
Volume
106
Pages
135-143
ISSN
0160-4120 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2648474865
Cited by
272
References
70
Citations by year
2026: 25 · 2025: 38 · 2024: 41 · 2023: 48 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 36 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 4
FWCI
8.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Environment International (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • National Institutes of Health (CC999999)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Fluoride Effects and Removal
Keywords
per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS exposure, perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, biological half-life, serum concentration, wastewater treatment plant discharge, residential exposure
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Alabama, Female, Fluorocarbons, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Young Adult

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