Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from contaminated water and risk of childhood cancer in California, 2000–2015

Abstract

Background: Few studies have investigated associations between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and childhood cancers. Detectable levels of PFAS in California water districts were reported in the Third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule for 2013–2015. Methods: Geocoded residences at birth were linked to corresponding water district boundaries for 10,220 California-born children (aged 0–15 years) diagnosed with cancers (2000–2015) and 29,974 healthy controls. A pharmacokinetic model was used to predict average steady-state maternal serum concentrations of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) from contaminated drinking water. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) per doubling of background exposure were calculated for cancers with at least 90 cases. Results: Predicted PFOS and PFOA maternal serum concentrations ranged from background (5ng/ml PFOS and 2ng/ml PFOA) to 22.89ng/ml and 6.66ng/ml, respectively. There were suggestive associations between PFOS and nonastrocytoma gliomas (n = 268; AOR = 1.26; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.60), acute myeloid leukemia (n = 500; AOR = 1.14; 95% CI: 0.94, 1.39), Wilms tumors (n = 556, AOR = 1.15; 95% CI: 0.96, 1.38), and noncentral system embryonal tumors (n = 2,880; AOR = 1.07; 95% CI: 0.98, 1.17), and between PFOA and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 384; AOR = 1.19; 95% CI: 0.95, 1.49). Among children of Mexico-born mothers, there was increased risk of Wilms tumor (n = 101; AORPFOS = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.06, 2.18; AORPFOA = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.24) and noncentral system embryonal tumors (n = 557; AORPFOS = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.50; AORPFOA = 1.19, 95% CI: 0.98, 1.45). Conclusion: Results suggest associations between predicted prenatal maternal PFAS serum concentrations and some childhood cancers. Future analyses are warranted.