Residential Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) via Household Dust in Eight Impacted Communities

Per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) are persistent anthropogenic chemicals that have been widely used for their water-, stain, fire-, and stick-resistant properties and are persistent in the environment and human body. They have also been linked to adverse health effects such as liver and kidney disease, decreased fertility, developmental impacts, and cancer. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) conducted exposure assessments in eight U.S. communities with a history of contaminated groundwater due to the use of aqueous film forming foams at nearby military installations. Although drinking water contamination was mitigated in these communities over two years prior to the assessment, blood serum levels of some PFAS were elevated compared to the general population, which may be explained by the long half-lives of many PFAS. However, PFAS exposure can also occur via non-drinking water pathways, such as ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact with house dust, which is an aggregate of chemicals present in the residential environment. Here, we analyze ATSDR’s exposure assessment data for seven PFAS for a subset of 201 participants with paired household dust and blood serum samples. Across all communities, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were detected in the dust of 88% and 85% of households, respectively. Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) was detected the least frequently in dust, having been detected in only 46% of households. Geometric mean dust concentrations ranged from 11.8 ng/g for PFOS to 2.2 ng/g for PFUnA, although there was significant variation between communities for three of the seven PFAS. This presentation will explore the relationship between PFAS levels in participants’ blood serum and PFAS measured in their household dust, using hierarchical linear models. Additionally, we will examine associations between participants’ responses to a questionnaire and PFAS levels in their household dust. We expect that the results will build the understanding of how exposure via household dust contributes to total PFAS exposure in impacted communities and what factors drive PFAS contamination in the residential environment.   Disclaimer (if allowed outside of word limit): The views expressed in this presentation are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views or the policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Impact/Purpose

Under Section 8006 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, CDC/ATSDR was required to conduct statistically based biomonitoring exposure assessments (EAs) at “no less than eight current or former domestic military installations” that have or have had documented exposures to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. The intention of the EAs was to determine how exposure to PFAS in drinking water in communities near the military installations may have impacted levels of PFAS in serum and urine. In addition to serum and urine testing, indoor dust was also sampled in a subset of homes. Although drinking water contamination was mitigated over two years prior to the assessment, blood serum levels of some PFAS were elevated compared to the general population, which may be explained by the long half-lives of many PFAS. However, PFAS exposure can also occur via non-drinking water pathways, such as ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact with house dust, which is an aggregate of chemicals present in the residential environment. Here, we present a statistical analysis of household dust data for the eight EA communities. A Cooperative Interagency Agreement between EPA and ATSDR was established in 2020 with funding from SHC to further evaluate potential non-drinking water exposure in EA participants.  Under this IAA, additional environmental sampling is being conducted in partnership with ATSDR in two of the eight original EA communities to further evaluate potential non-drinking water exposures to PFAS. This analysis of existing EA dust data will serve to inform this on-going work.

Citation

Minucci, J., N. Deluca, B. Goodwin, P. Kowalski, K. Scruton, K. Thomas, AND E. Hubal. Residential Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) via Household Dust in Eight Impacted Communities. Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) 43rd Annual North America Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, November 13 - 17, 2022.