PMID- 38195989 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20240304 LR - 20240330 IS - 1559-064X (Electronic) IS - 1559-0631 (Print) IS - 1559-0631 (Linking) VI - 34 IP - 1 DP - 2024 Jan TI - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether acids in well water and blood serum from private well users residing by a fluorochemical facility near Fayetteville, North Carolina. PG - 97-107 LID - 10.1038/s41370-023-00626-x [doi] AB - BACKGROUND: A fluorochemical facility near Fayetteville, North Carolina, emitted per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether acids (PFEAs), a subgroup of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), to air. OBJECTIVE: Analyze PFAS in private wells near the facility and in blood from well users to assess relationships between PFEA levels in water and serum. METHODS: In 2019, we recruited private well users into the GenX Exposure Study and collected well water and blood samples. We targeted 26 PFAS (11 PFEAs) in water and 27 PFAS (9 PFEAs) in serum using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. We used regression modeling to explore relationships between water and serum PFAS. For the only PFEA detected frequently in water and serum, Nafion byproduct 2, we used generalized estimating equation (GEE) models to assess well water exposure metrics and then adjusted for covariates that may influence Nafion byproduct 2 serum concentrations. RESULTS: We enrolled 153 participants ages 6 and older (median = 56 years) using 84 private wells. Most wells (74%) had >/=6 detectable PFEAs; median summation operatorPFEAs was 842 ng/L (interquartile range = 197-1760 ng/L). Low molecular weight PFEAs (PMPA, HFPO-DA [GenX], PEPA, PFO2HxA) were frequently detected in well water, had the highest median concentrations, but were not detectable in serum. Nafion byproduct 2 was detected in 73% of wells (median = 14 ng/L) and 56% of serum samples (median = 0.2 ng/mL). Cumulative dose (well concentration x duration at address) was positively associated with Nafion byproduct 2 serum levels and explained the most variability (10%). In the adjusted model, cumulative dose was associated with higher Nafion byproduct 2 serum levels while time outside the home was associated with lower levels. IMPACT: PFAS are a large class of synthetic, fluorinated chemicals. Fluorochemical facilities are important sources of environmental PFAS contamination globally. The fluorochemical industry is producing derivatives of perfluoroalkyl acids, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether acids (PFEAs). PFEAs have been detected in various environmental samples but information on PFEA-exposed populations is limited. While serum biomonitoring is often used for PFAS exposure assessment, serum biomarkers were not good measures of long-term exposure to low molecular weight PFEAs in a private well community. Environmental measurements and other approaches besides serum monitoring will be needed to better characterize PFEA exposure. CI - (c) 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc. FAU - Kotlarz, Nadine AU - Kotlarz N AD - Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh, NC, USA. nkotlar@ncsu.edu. AD - Department of Biological Sciences, NC State, Raleigh, NC, USA. nkotlar@ncsu.edu. FAU - Guillette, Theresa AU - Guillette T AD - Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Research Participation Program, Oak Ridge, TN, USA. FAU - Critchley, Claire AU - Critchley C AD - Department of Biological Sciences, NC State, Raleigh, NC, USA. FAU - Collier, David AU - Collier D AD - Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh, NC, USA. AD - Department of Pediatrics, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University (ECU), Greenville, NC, USA. FAU - Lea, C Suzanne AU - Lea CS AD - Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh, NC, USA. AD - Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, ECU, Greenville, NC, USA. FAU - McCord, James AU - McCord J AD - Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA. FAU - Strynar, Mark AU - Strynar M AD - Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA. FAU - Cuffney, Michael AU - Cuffney M AD - Department of Biological Sciences, NC State, Raleigh, NC, USA. FAU - Hopkins, Zachary R AU - Hopkins ZR AD - Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, NC State, Raleigh, NC, USA. FAU - Knappe, Detlef R U AU - Knappe DRU AD - Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh, NC, USA. AD - Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, NC State, Raleigh, NC, USA. FAU - Hoppin, Jane A AU - Hoppin JA AD - Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh, NC, USA. AD - Department of Biological Sciences, NC State, Raleigh, NC, USA. LA - eng GR - EPA999999/ImEPA/Intramural EPA/United States GR - P30 ES025128/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States GR - P42 ES031009/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States GR - R21 ES029353/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States PT - Journal Article DEP - 20240110 PL - United States TA - J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol JT - Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology JID - 101262796 RN - 0F5N573A2Y (Ether) RN - 39464-59-0 (perfluorosulfonic acid) RN - 0 (ammonium 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)-propanoate) RN - 0 (Ethyl Ethers) RN - 0 (Ethers) RN - 0 (Fluorocarbons) RN - 0 (Fluorocarbon Polymers) RN - 0 (Propionates) SB - IM MH - Humans MH - *Ether MH - Serum MH - North Carolina MH - Ethyl Ethers MH - Ethers MH - *Fluorocarbons MH - *Fluorocarbon Polymers MH - *Propionates PMC - PMC10976930 MID - NIHMS1973943 OTO - NOTNLM OT - Biomonitoring OT - Emerging Contaminants OT - PFAS EDAT- 2024/01/10 06:42 MHDA- 2024/03/04 06:48 PMCR- 2025/01/10 CRDT- 2024/01/10 00:09 PHST- 2023/08/24 00:00 [received] PHST- 2023/11/28 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2023/11/27 00:00 [revised] PHST- 2025/01/10 00:00 [pmc-release] PHST- 2024/03/04 06:48 [medline] PHST- 2024/01/10 06:42 [pubmed] PHST- 2024/01/10 00:09 [entrez] AID - 10.1038/s41370-023-00626-x [pii] AID - 10.1038/s41370-023-00626-x [doi] PST - ppublish SO - J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2024 Jan;34(1):97-107. doi: 10.1038/s41370-023-00626-x. Epub 2024 Jan 10.