Could PFAS in your drinking water impact your response to COVID-19?
WHAT WE KNOW
Chemicals in drinking water can stay in our bodies. One group of chemicals that could be present in drinking water are PFAS. PFAS chemicals in the body may negatively impact the immune system, which fights against disease like COVID-19.
Below are some resources to learn more about the relationship between PFAS exposure and COVID-19.
LEARN MORE ABOUT…
PFAS RESEARCH AT NC STATE
- The GenX Exposure Study measures GenX and other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in people in the Cape Fear River Basin, North Carolina. The GenX Exposure Study will use this data and other information to understand current PFAS exposures and potential health effects. The Study will also try to learn more about the relationship between COVID-19 and PFAS in the Cape Fear River Basin.
- NC State’s Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS is a federally funded research center that supports research related to PFAS chemicals in North Carolina. In addition to research, the Center works to develop new technology, train new scientists, and engage with communities impacted by PFAS.
FEDERAL RESOURCES ON PFAS AND COVID-19
- The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is a federal public health agency. The ATSDR wrote a statement on PFAS exposure and COVID-19 disease, which can be found here.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS ON PFAS AND COVID-19
Interest in the role of PFAS on COVID-19 is a hot topic. While people are concerned both about whether PFAS may make response to COVID-19 infection worse and whether PFAS may influence response to vaccines, to date, the research has focused on the relationship between PFAS and infection. The table below summarizes the published papers to date on the topic. Taken as a whole, they are suggestive of some increased risk of infection and mortality with higher PFAS. These studies are mostly ecological, meaning they compare rates of infection or mortality in regions with higher PFAS to those with lower PFAS exposure. The studies with individual level data (China and Denmark) suggest that recent exposure levels may be more important, but are not consistent with regard to what PFAS is involved. None of the studies to date have been conducted in a region with high fluoroether PFAS exposure (like GenX or Nafion by-product 2).
| Reference | Location of Study | Research Question: Does PFAS exposure influence ... | Population | Exposure | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nielsen, et al., 2021 | Sweden | COVID-19 infection? | Residents of two towns in southern Sweden | Living in a PFAS-contaminated region | COVID-19 infection rates were 19% higher in a population highly exposed to PFAS than a population with background exposures. |
| Ji, et al., 2021 | China | COVID-19 infection? | 80 people infected with COVID-19 and 80 people who were symptom free | PFAS levels in urine samples | Urinary levels of two PFAS (PFOA and PFOS) and the sum of all PFAS tested were associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 infection. |
| Catelan, et al., 2021 | Italy | COVID-19 mortality? | Residents of the Veneto region in Italy | Living in a PFAS-contaminated region | COVID-19 mortality was higher in the region with PFAS contaminated water than the surrounding populations with background exposures. |
| Grandjean, et al., 2020 | Denmark | COVID-19 severity? | 323 people infected with COVID-19 | PFAS levels in blood samples | The presence of PFBA in blood was associated with more severe COVID-19 infections while the other more frequently detected PFAS were not. |
RECOMMENDATIONS TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF COVID-19
- Vaccines: Learn more about COVID-19 vaccine options and boosters here.
- Testing: Learn more about COVID-19 testing options here.
- Masking up: Learn more about mask recommendations here.