Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Human Serum Samples of Selected Populations from Ghana

Emmanuel Dartey, Dag G. Ellingsen, Balazs Berlinger, Yngvar Thomassen, Jon Ø. Odland, Jan Brox, Vincent K. Nartey, Francis A. Yeboah and Sandra Huber
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Emmanuel Dartey: Faculty of Science and Environment Education, University of Education, Winneba, Mampong-Ashanti AM-0030-2291, Ghana
Dag G. Ellingsen: National Institute of Occupational Health, N-0363 Oslo, Norway
Balazs Berlinger: National Institute of Occupational Health, N-0363 Oslo, Norway
Yngvar Thomassen: National Institute of Occupational Health, N-0363 Oslo, Norway
Jon Ø. Odland: Department of Community Medicine, NTNU, The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway
Jan Brox: Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, N-9038 Tromsø, Norway
Vincent K. Nartey: Department of Chemistry, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra GA-490-6862, Ghana
Francis A. Yeboah: Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah, University of Science and Technology, Kumasi AK-448-9252, Ghana
Sandra Huber: Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, N-9038 Tromsø, Norway

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: The aims of this study were to assess serum concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in selected populations from Ghana, including workers engaged in the repair of electronic equipment (ERWs), and to elucidate PFAS concentrations in relation to blood mercury concentrations (B-Hg) as a biomarker of seafood consumption. In all, 219 participants were recruited into the study, of which 26 were women and 64 were ERWs. Overall, the PFAS concentrations were low. The most abundant components were perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS). Women had generally lower PFAS concentration than men. The ERWs had statistically significantly higher concentrations of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), which was associated with the concentration of tin in urine. This could indicate exposure during soldering. The concentration of B-Hg was associated with several of the PFASs such as PFOA, PFOS and perfluoroheptane sulfonate (PFHpS). Additionally, the concentrations of perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and perfluoroundecanoate (PFUnDA) were highly associated with the concentrations of B-Hg. It is noteworthy that the linear isomer of PFHxS was strongly associated with B-Hg while the branched isomers of PFHxS were not. In conclusion, the PFAS concentrations observed in the present study are low compared to other populations previously investigated, which also reflects a lower PFAS exposure within the Ghanaian cohorts. ERWs had significantly higher PFOA concentrations than the other participants. Several PFASs were associated with B-Hg, indicating that seafood consumption may be a source of PFAS exposure.

Keywords: PFAS; occupational exposure; Ghana; human serum; blood mercury (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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