Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in children’s serum and contribution from PFAA contaminated drinking water

We investigated associations between serum perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) concentrations in children aged 4, 8, and 12 years (sampled in 2008-2015; n=57, 55, and 119, respectively) and exposure via placental transfer, breast-feeding, and ingestion of PFAA-contaminated drinking water. Sampling took place in Uppsala County, Sweden, where the drinking water has been historically contaminated with perfluorobutanesulfonate (PFBS), perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluoroheptanoate (PFHpA), and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA). PFOS showed the highest median concentrations in serum (3.8-5.3 ng g-1 serum) followed by PFHxS (1.6-5.0 ng g-1 serum), PFOA (2.0-2.5 ng g-1 serum), and perfluorononanoate (PFNA) (0.59-0.69 ng g-1 serum) in children. Including all children, serum PFOA, PFHxS, and PFOS concentrations in children increased 10%, 10%, and 1.3% (adjusted mean), respectively, per unit (ng g-1 serum) of increase in maternal serum level (at delivery), the associations being strongest for...