A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Blood Spot per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) from Adolescents in Chitwan Valley, Nepal

Details

• Personal Author:
  Ward, Lauren M. ; Bhandari, Shristi ; Aleem, Hafsa ; Goodrich, Jaclyn M. ; Parajuli, Rajendra P.
• Description:
  Background/Objectives: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are globally widespread contaminants linked to adverse health outcomes, including immune dysregulation. We aimed to characterize PFAS exposure among adolescents in Nepal. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Chitwan District, Nepal, during September-October 2023, enrolling 73 adolescents from the Chitwan Birth Cohort. Methods: Dried blood spots from 48 participants were analyzed for 45 PFAS by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Sociodemographic and contextual behavioral covariates information (e.g., water source and local fish consumption) were collected via questionnaire. We used linear regression to analyze the association between contextual behavioral covariates and PFAS concentrations. Results: PFOS was detected in 46% of samples, followed by PFNA (25%) and PFOA (12.5%); other PFAS were rarely detected. Participants who consumed locally caught fish more than once per month had significantly higher PFOS levels (β = 0.35, p = 0.006). Conclusions: Frequent fish intake was the only factor significantly associated with PFAS levels, suggesting a dietary exposure pathway. This study provides the first documentation of PFAS exposure among Nepalese adolescents, revealing low-level exposures. Findings underscore the need for ongoing surveillance of environmental contaminants in vulnerable populations.
• Subjects:
  Adolescent Fluorocarbons
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: PFAS; Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances; Biological Monitoring; Adolescent Health; Nepal Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances; PFAS; Adolescents; Biological Monitoring; Cross Sectional Studies; Dietary Effects; Environmental Contamination; Blood Samples; Immune System Disorders;
• ISSN:
  2673-3986
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Michigan ; California ; Chicago Region [OSHA] ; San Francisco Region [OSHA]
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  12 pdf pages
• Volume:
  7
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071157
• Citation:
  Epidemiologia 2026 Jan; 7(1):5
• Email:
  gaydojac@umich.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2026
• Performing Organization:
  University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Epidemiologia
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:37650c64744ca03019a18adf2e6587b11b95420f8f67e2de5d955ffd321e37ec2652489bf00a5b77a46fb10a03e0291dd94e6a89de86a1dd4b65f6cff0a0b128
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/257924/cdc_257924_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 807.60 KB ]