Plasma concentration of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in relation to menstrual characteristics
Project
|Updated
Our project will allow an enhanced assessment of why menses-related outcomes are related to PFAS concentrations.
Summary
In addition to exposure, elimination from the human body is an important determinant of PFAS concentrations in plasma. Given that PFASs are stored in plasma, with 95% of the chemical being bound to albumin, one important pathway of elimination may be menstruation. Menstrual fluid has a high concentration of albumin which is lost with each menses. Partly because of this loss through menstruation, lower plasma levels of PFOS and PFOA and shorter elimination half-life have been observed in women compared to men. Understanding PFAS loss through menstruation is critical in the study of the effects of these chemicals on women’s health. The concentration of PFAS in plasma has been associated with earlier age at menopause, endometriosis, and alterations of the menstrual cycle. However, the associations observed in these studies may be due to physiological and pharmacokinetic phenomena related to PFAS loss through menstruation rather than an adverse effect of PFAS. Our project will allow an enhanced assessment of why menses-related outcomes are related to PFAS concentrations.
Project leader
Line Småstuen Haug, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Project participants
Eleni Zoumpoulia Papadopoulou, Infection Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Start
03.01.2015
End
01.02.2022
Status
Concluded
Approvals
Regional committees for medical and health research ethics
Project owner/ Project manager
Norwegian Institute of Public Health