Serum Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) Concentrations and Liver Function Biomarkers in a Population with Elevated PFOA Exposure

Authors

Valentina Gallo, Imperial College London
Giovanni Leonard, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Bernd Genser, University of Heidelberg
Maria-Jose Lopez-Espinosa, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Stephanie J. Frisbee, Department of Community Medicine and Center for Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences
Lee Karlsson, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Alan M. Ducatman, West Virginia University
Tony Fletcher, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Author ORCID Identifier

N/A

N/A

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5787-0902

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1202-8740

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1526-1839

N/A

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9446-0459

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3385-200X

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2013

College/Unit

School of Medicine

Department/Program/Center

Medicine

Abstract

Background: Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) persist in the environment and are found in relatively high concentrations in animal livers. Studies in humans have reported inconsistent associations between PFOA and liver enzymes.

Objectives: We examined the cross-sectional association between serum PFOA and PFOS concentrations with markers of liver function in adults.

Methods: The C8 Health Project collected data on 69,030 persons; of these, a total of 47,092 adults were included in the present analysis. Linear regression models were fitted for natural log (ln)-transformed values of alanine transaminase (ALT), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and direct bilirubin on PFOA, PFOS, and potential confounders. Logistic regression models were fitted comparing deciles of PFOA or PFOS in relation to high biomarker levels. A multilevel analysis comparing the evidence for association of PFOA with liver function at the individual level within water districts to that at the population level between water districts was also performed.

Results: ln-PFOA and ln-PFOS were associated with ln-ALT in linear regression models [PFOA: coefficient, 0.022; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.018, 0.025; PFOS: coefficient, 0.020; 95% CI: 0.014, 0.026] and with raised ALT in logistic regression models [with a steady increase in the odds ratio (OR) estimates across deciles of PFOA and PFOS; PFOA: OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.13; PFOS: OR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.18]. There was less consistent evidence of an association of PFOA and GGT or bilirubin. The relationship with bilirubin appears to rise at low levels of PFOA and to fall again at higher levels.

Conclusions: These results show a positive association between PFOA and PFOS concentrations and serum ALT level, a marker of hepatocellular damage.

Digital Commons Citation

Gallo, Valentina; Leonard, Giovanni; Genser, Bernd; Lopez-Espinosa, Maria-Jose; Frisbee, Stephanie J.; Karlsson, Lee; Ducatman, Alan M.; and Fletcher, Tony, "Serum Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) Concentrations and Liver Function Biomarkers in a Population with Elevated PFOA Exposure" (2013). Faculty & Staff Scholarship. 2735.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/faculty_publications/2735

Source Citation

Gallo, V., Leonardi, G., Genser, B., Lopez-Espinosa, M.-J., Frisbee, S. J., Karlsson, L., Ducatman, A. M., & Fletcher, T. (2012). Serum Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) Concentrations and Liver Function Biomarkers in a Population with Elevated PFOA Exposure. Environmental Health Perspectives, 120(5), 655–660. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1104436