Perfluorinated compounds: biomonitoring and study of health effects

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are a large group of man-made chemicals characterized by a completely fluorinated hydrophobic linear carbon chain attached to a hydrophilic head. The presence of PFCs has been related with various adverse effects on several organs and systems. 100 aldult and 61 children (6-11 years of age) living in Sicily underwent medical examination and blood and urine routinary tests, as well as the serum concentration of 16 PFCs. These compounds in adult were found: ∑ 6.743 ng/mL (min-max:4.120-10.078 ng/mL). PFOS and PFOA were detected and quantified in 100% (n=100) of samples. PFOS showed a median of 6.975 ng/mL (min-max: 2.975-5.280 ng/mL); whereas PFOA had a median of 2.941 ng/mL (range 0.423- 1.946 ng/mL). PFCs (∑PFCs = 5.888 ng/mL, range 1.035-12.94 ng/mL) were widely detected in the samples of all children, showing that they had been extensively exposed to PFCs, especially perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxs) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA). In addition, long-chained PFCs were found in children's blood correlated with short-chained ones. Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) (beta=-0.114) and PFHxS (beta = 0.003) levels were correlated with maternal parity; while the "months of breastfeeding" variable is correlated with perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) concentrations (beta = 0.008). Female gender is negatively associated with PFOS (beta = 0.008). The 16 PFCs were detected in the serum samples of adult and children from Catania (South Italy), showing that they had been exposed to PFCs, especially for PFOS, PFOA, PFHxs and PFDA. Moreover, the exposure to PFOS and PFOA in particular, was similar or lower than that reported in investigation from other Countries of Northern Europe, USA, China, Australia. The low levels of PFCs observed in children reflect the reduction of production and use of PFOS and PFOA in recent years. In addition, long-chained PFCs were found in serum was correlated with short-chained ones. Therefore, further studies are needed to monitor and address adverse health outcomes of PFCs, especially those living in industrial regions.