A Time Trend Study of Significantly Elevated Perfluorocarboxylate Levels in Humans after Using Fluorinated Ski Wax

Abstract

A time trend study focusing on ski waxing technicians' exposure to perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) from fluorinated wax fumes was performed in 2007/2008. Levels of eight perfluorocarboxylates and three perfluorosulfonates were analyzed in monthly blood samples from eight technicians. Samples were collected before the ski season, i.e., preseason, then at four FIS World Cup competitions in cross country skiing, and finally during an unexposed 5-month postseason period. The perfluorinated carboxylates perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) bioaccumulate, and continued exposure may contribute to elevated levels in ski technicians compared to the general population. The wax technicians' median blood level of PFOA is 112 ng/mL compared to 2.5 ng/mL in the general Swedish population. A significant correlation was found between number of working years and levels of perfluorocarboxylates. The PFOA levels in three technicians with "low" initial levels of PFOA (<10.0 ng/mL in preseason blood) increased by 254, 134, and 120%, whereas five technicians with "high" initial levels (>100 ng/mL in preseason sample) were at steady state. PFHxA is suggested to have a short half-life in humans relative the other perfluorocarboxylates. The levels of perfluorosulfonates were unaffected by the wax exposure.

Characterisation of human exposure pathways to perfluorinated compounds — Comparing exposure estimates with biomarkers of exposure

“…The half-life range for PFOA was later confirmed in studies of general populations from Germany and the US exposed to PFOA through contaminated drinking water (Bartell et al 2009;Hölzer et al 2009;Seals et al 2010). Two recent studies on exposures of professional ski waxing technicians indicated long elimination half-lives for PFNA, PFDA and PFUnDA as well (Freberg et al 2010;Nilsson et al 2010). In contrast the half-life of PFBS in six occupationally exposed workers was found to be around one month (Olsen et al 2009a).…”

“…Increased PFOA concentrations have also been observed in a population living close to a manufacturing site (Emmett et al 2006). Further, two Nordic studies have seen elevated concentrations of PFCAs in serum from professional skiwaxers (Freberg et al 2010;Nilsson et al 2010). No clear regional differences have been observed for general populations.…”

Emissions of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in a Textile Manufacturing Plant in China and Their Relevance for Workers’ Exposure

“…Several studies confirm that PFAS concentrations in human serum are significantly higher when workers were occupationally exposed. 71,81,82 However, those studies mainly focused on workers from fluorochemical or fluoropolymer manufacturing plants. To the best of our knowledge, there is no study focusing on the exposure to PFASs during the manufacturing of textiles.…”

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) — main concerns and regulatory developments in Europe from an environmental point of view

“…Time trend studies show that PFOA levels are significantly associated with the time being exposed to PFOA, i.e. during work as a ski waxer [102][103][104]. And recent studies strongly indicate that PFOA levels increase with age [105,106].…”