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. 2022 Apr 1;64(4):287-294.
doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002479. Epub 2022 Jan 6.

Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Abdominal Aortic Calcification

Antti Koskela  1 , Alan Ducatman, John T Schousboe, Ramzi W Nahhas, Naila Khalil
Affiliations

Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Abdominal Aortic Calcification

Antti Koskela et al. J Occup Environ Med. .

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate if serum perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) were associated with abdominal aortic calcification (AAC).

Methods: We used weighted logistic regression to investigate the gender-specific association between PFAS serum levels and AAC more than or equal to 6 from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans of the thoraco-lumbar spine from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2014 survey participants aged more than or equal to 40 years.

Results: After adjusting for confounding, none of log-transformed perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), or perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) were significantly associated with AAC for either men or women (adjusted odds ratios [ORs] ranged from 0.80 to 1.33, P > 0.05 each). For PFOA and PFOS, the association was positive only in women (although the difference was not statistically significant in either case).

Conclusion: These findings do not provide general support for a relationship of PFAS exposure to AAC, although the results show a need for gender-specific consideration in a larger dataset.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: A.D. has been a paid consultant to three communities seeking class action relief for PFAS contamination (payers include Faraci Lange, Motley Rice, Langrock Sperry, and Cohen Milstein), and a volunteer consultant to community leaders concerned about PFAS contamination in multiple settings. In addition, A.D. has provided unpaid lectures or service concerning PFAS to the Michigan State Medical State Medical Society, the US Government Accounting Office, the Australian Land and Groundwater Association, a committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, the Agency for Toxics Substances and Disease Control, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Koskela, Ducatman, Schousboe, Nahhas, and Khalil have no relationships/conditions/circumstances that present potential conflict of interest.

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