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. 2010 Sep;164(9):860-9.
doi: 10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.163.

Perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorooctanesulfonate, and serum lipids in children and adolescents: results from the C8 Health Project

Stephanie J Frisbee  1 , Anoop Shankar, Sarah S Knox, Kyle Steenland, David A Savitz, Tony Fletcher, Alan M Ducatman
Affiliations

Perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorooctanesulfonate, and serum lipids in children and adolescents: results from the C8 Health Project

Stephanie J Frisbee et al. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2010 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) are man-made compounds with widespread presence in human sera. In previous occupational and adult studies, PFOA and PFOS were positively associated with serum lipid levels.

Objective: To interrogate associations between PFOA and PFOS and serum lipids in children and adolescents.

Design: Cross-sectional community-based study.

Setting: Mid-Ohio River Valley.

Participants: A total of 12 476 children and adolescents included in the C8 Health Project, which resulted from the pretrial settlement of a class action lawsuit pursuant to PFOA contamination of the drinking water supply.

Main outcome measures: Serum lipids (total, high-density lipoprotein [HDL-C], and low-density lipoprotein [LDL-C] cholesterol and fasting triglycerides).

Results: Mean (SD) serum PFOA and PFOS concentrations were 69.2 (111.9) ng/mL and 22.7 (12.6) ng/mL, respectively. In linear regression after adjustment for covariables, PFOA was significantly associated with increased total cholesterol and LDL-C, and PFOS was significantly associated with increased total cholesterol, HDL-C, and LDL-C. Using general linear model analysis of covariance, between the first and fifth quintiles of PFOA there was a 4.6-mg/dL and a 3.8-mg/dL increase in the adjusted mean levels of total cholesterol and LDL-C levels, respectively, and an 8.5-mg/dL and a 5.8-mg/dL increase in the adjusted mean levels of total cholesterol and LDL-C, respectively, between the first and fifth quintiles of PFOS. Increases were 10 mg/dL for some age- and sex-group strata. Observed effects were nonlinear, with larger increases in total cholesterol and LDL-C levels occurring at the lowest range, particularly of PFOA.

Conclusion: Although the epidemiologic and cross-sectional natures of this study limit causal inferences, the consistently observed associations between increasing PFOA and PFOS and elevated total cholesterol and LDL-C levels warrant further study.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Changes in Covariate-Adjusted Estimated Marginal Means (GLM Analysis) Across PFOA and PFOS Quintiles
Figure 2
Figure 2
Non-Linear Changes in Covariate-Adjusted Estimated Marginal Means (GLM Analysis) Across PFOA 20-Group Quantiles
Figure 3
Figure 3
Non-Linear Changes in Covariate-Adjusted Estimated Marginal Means (GLM Analysis) Across PFOS 20-Group Quantiles
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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