Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2010 Dec;118(12):1762-7.
doi: 10.1289/ehp.1001898. Epub 2010 Jun 15.

Exposure to polyfluoroalkyl chemicals and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in U.S. children 12-15 years of age

Kate Hoffman  1 , Thomas F Webster, Marc G Weisskopf, Janice Weinberg, Verónica M Vieira
Affiliations

Exposure to polyfluoroalkyl chemicals and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in U.S. children 12-15 years of age

Kate Hoffman et al. Environ Health Perspect. 2010 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFCs) have been widely used in consumer products. Exposures in the United States and in world populations are widespread. PFC exposures have been linked to various health impacts, and data in animals suggest that PFCs may be potential developmental neurotoxicants.

Objectives: We evaluated the associations between exposures to four PFCs and parental report of diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods: Data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2000 and 2003-2004 for children 12-15 years of age. Parental report of a previous diagnosis by a doctor or health care professional of ADHD in the child was the primary outcome measure. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) levels were measured in serum samples from each child.

Results: Parents reported that 48 of 571 children included in the analysis had been diagnosed with ADHD. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for parentally reported ADHD in association with a 1-μg/L increase in serum PFOS (modeled as a continuous predictor) was 1.03 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01-1.05]. Adjusted ORs for 1-μg/L increases in PFOA and PFHxS were also statistically significant (PFOA: OR = 1.12; 95% CI, 1.01-1.23; PFHxS: OR = 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.11), and we observed a nonsignificant positive association with PFNA (OR = 1.32; 95% CI, 0.86-2.02).

Conclusions: Our results, using cross-sectional data, are consistent with increased odds of ADHD in children with higher serum PFC levels. Given the extremely prevalent exposure to PFCs, follow-up of these data with cohort studies is needed.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. 3M Company. AR 226-1486. St Paul, MN: 3M Company; 2003. Environmental and Health Assessment of Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid and Its Salts.
    1. Bartell SM, Calafat AM, Lyu C, Kato K, Ryan B, Steenland K. Rate of decline in serum PFOA concentrations after granular activated carbon filtration at two public water systems in Ohio and West Virginia. Environ Health Perspect. 2010;118:222–228. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bellinger D, Leviton A, Allred E, Rabinowitz M. Pre- and postnatal lead exposure and behavior problems in school-aged children. Environ Res. 1994;66((1)):12–30. - PubMed
    1. Botting N, Powls A, Cooke RW, Marlow N. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders and other psychiatric outcomes in very low birthweight children at 12 years. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1997;38((8)):931–941. - PubMed
    1. Boulanger B, Vargo J, Schnoor JL, Hornbuckle KC. Detection of perfluorooctane surfactants in Great Lakes water. Environ Sci Technol. 2004;38((15)):4064–4070. - PubMed

Publication types