Characterisation of human exposure pathways to perfluorinated compounds : - comparing exposure estimates with biomarkers of exposure

Abstract

This thesis shows that the indoor environment can significantly contribute to exposure to a type of environmental pollutants called perfluorinated compounds (PFC), although for most of us the highest intake comes from food, especially from fish and shellfish. A statistically significant relationship was found between consumption of PFCs through diet and PFC levels in blood. However, the presence of many PFCs in house dust also impacted the levels in blood. For six month old children who are predominantly breast-fed, breast milk was the main source of PFCs. In this study, PFC intakes through diet, indoor air and house dust were calculated for individuals and compared to blood levels. This is the first study of its kind and provides important information about how much variation can be expected between individuals. This knowledge is important in assessing the health risks of these substances so that the relevant authorities can take measures to limit exposure. The estimated intakes of PFCs for both adults and children in this study were lower than the tolerable daily intake defined by a subgroup of the European food safety agency (EFSA). Nevertheless, we should try to avoid exposure to persistent substances such as PFCs to limit the risk of health effects.