<p class="first" id="P1">Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse class of manufactured
compounds used
in a wide range of industrial processes and consumer products and have been detected
in human serum worldwide. Previous cross-sectional and cohort studies in humans have
suggested exposure to PFAS is associated with a wide array of chronic diseases, including
endocrine disruption, developmental health effects, cancer and metabolic changes.
We examined the associations between a panel of eight PFAS and indicators of thyroid
disruption, kidney function, and body mass index (BMI), all of which were measured
at repeated time points (1990-2008) over the course of the study. Participants (N=210)
were selected from the Fernald Community Cohort based on household water supply from
a PFAS-contaminated aquifer. In adjusted repeated measures models, we observed several
notable associations between serum PFAS and thyroid hormones as well as kidney function
as measured by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). An interquartile (IQR)
increase in serum PFOS was associated with a 9.75% (95% CI= 1.72, 18.4) increase in
thyroid stimulating hormone. An IQR increase in serum PFNA, PFHxS, and PFDeA was associated
with a −1.61% (95% CI= −3.53, −0.59), −2.06% (95% CI= −3.53, −0.59), and −2.20% (95%
CI= −4.25, −0.14) change in eGFR, respectively. On the other hand, an IQR increase
in serum Me-PFOSA was associated with a 1.53% (95% CI= 0.34, 2.73) increase in eGFR.
No significant associations with BMI and serum PFAS were noted. Our findings are in
agreement with previous reports that serum PFAS are associated with altered kidney
and thyroid function.
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