PFAS Blood Testing in New Hampshire: An Evolving Response to Community Health Concerns

摘要

Per- and polyfluoroalkinated substances (PFAS) are contaminants of emerging concern due to their widespread use in industry and in stain and water resistant commercial products. They are persistent in the environment and have a long half-life in humans. New Hampshire has identified multiple communities with PFAS-contaminated public and private drinking water supplies. Community demand and decisions by elected and public health officials have led to a biomonitoring program, coordinated by multiple state agencies, to provide individuals with PFAS blood levels and inform these communities about exposure levels. Biomonitoring began in April 2015 at the Pease Tradeport, a former U.S. Air Force base, and has expanded to include an area of southern NH (SNH) and, now, people served by the Merrimack Village District public water system. In 2015, 1,578 individuals exposed at Pease Tradeport had their blood tested for 11 PFAS compounds. Since July 2016, another 612 individuals from Pease and the two additional communities have had PFAS blood testing. Individuals exposed at Pease Tradeport had higher geometric mean (GM) and 95th percentile levels for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) compared to U.S. background levels; individuals in SNH had comparatively higher GM and 95th percentile levels for PFOA only. Results so far have been consistent with identified PFAS drinking water contamination. Interpretation of test results, however, remains difficult and there is frustration with the uncertainty about how levels may relate to past, present or future health problems; thus, while biomonitoring provides useful information about levels of exposure, individual test results have limited ability to inform healthcare decisions. Biomonitoring should be conducted as a scientifically based community exposure assessment and should not be viewed as a way to inform individuals about adverse health risk.