Plasma concentration of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in relation to menstrual characteristics

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.