Preliminary Associations between the Detection of Perfluoroalkyl Acids (PFAAs) in Drinking Water and Serum Concentrations in a Sample of California Women

This study compared detection of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in public drinking water with PFAA serum concentrations for 1566 California women. PFAA occurrence in drinking water from U.S. EPA's third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) database was linked by residential zip code to study participants. Detectable water concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) ranged from 0.020 to 0.053 mu g/L and of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) from 0.041 to 0.156 mu g/L. Forty percent of detectable concentrations exceeded the 2016 Health Advisory Level of 0.07 mu g/L for combined PFOA and PFOS concentrations. Serum concentrations of PFOS and PFOA significantly differed between participants with and without detectable measures of these compounds in water (Wilcoxon P <= 0.0007). Median serum concentrations of PFOS and PFOA were 29% and 38% higher, respectively, among those with detectable levels in water compared to those without detectable levels. Validation of this approach and replication of these results in other study populations are warranted.