Elsevier

Environmental Pollution

Volume 231, Part 1, December 2017, Pages 387-395
Environmental Pollution

Exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers and perfluoroalkyl substances in a remote population of Alaska Natives

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.08.020Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Arctic fish accumulate PBDEs and PFAAs, and suggest both global and local sources.

  • Serum concentrations of PFNA and PFUNA suggest local foods contribute to exposure.

  • Serum PBDE concentrations of St. Lawrence Island residents were similar to residents of the contiguous United States.

  • PBDEs were detected in the dust from all homes. Household dust is a source of exposure to PBDEs in this population.

Abstract

Background

Many Alaska Native communities rely on a traditional marine diet that contains persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The indoor environment is also a source of POPs. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are present both in the traditional diet and the home indoor environment.

Objectives

We assessed exposure to PBDEs and PFASs among residents of two remote Alaska Native villages on St. Lawrence Island. Ninespine stickleback (Pungitious pungitious) and Alaska blackfish (Dallia pectoralis) were used to detect accumulation of these compounds in the local environment.

Methods

Concentrations of PBDEs and PFASs were measured in dust collected from 49 households on St. Lawrence Island, as well as in blood serum from 85 island residents. Resident ninespine stickleback and Alaska blackfish were used as sentinels to detect accumulation of PBDEs and PFASs in the food web.

Results

Serum concentrations of perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) were elevated, despite low concentrations of PFASs in dust samples. Concentrations of PBDEs in dust and serum were similar to those from the contiguous United States. Statistical associations between dust and serum concentrations are apparent for a small number of PBDEs, suggesting a possible route of exposure. Predominant compounds were similar between human sera and stickleback; however, blackfish accumulated PFASs not found in either stickleback or human sera.

Conclusion

Household dust contributes to PBDE exposure, but not PFAS exposure. Elevated concentrations of long chain PFASs in serum are likely due to exposure from traditional foods. The presence of both PFASs and PBDEs in sentinel fish species suggests atmospheric deposition and bioaccumulation, as well as local environmental contamination.

Section snippets

Background

The Arctic is a hemispheric sink for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) due to global distillation and bioaccumulation of these compounds (AMAP, 2009, AMAP, 2015). However, relatively little is known about the indoor sources of POPs in remote northern regions. Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are used in many consumer applications to impart beneficial surface characteristics, such as water or stain proofing, or non-stick properties. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of

Methods

Participants were recruited through flyers posted in public spaces, or were directly recruited by bilingual (English-Yupik) research assistants. Inclusion criteria of recruited participants included being 18–45 years old, and having a willing adult participant of the opposite sex from the same home. Participants were excluded for a history of adverse outcomes during blood draws. A total of 85 individuals from 49 homes were recruited for the study. The median age of participants was 29 (range of

Results

Overall concentrations of PFASs in household dust were in the low ng/g range (Table 1). Approximately 95% of dust samples contained at least one detectable PFAS; however, detection rates of individual PFASs were low. PFOA was the most commonly detected compound, detected in 80% of homes at a median concentration of 0.76 ng/g. PFOS was detected in 71% of homes, with a median concentration of 1.40 ng/g. PFHpA was detected in 67% of homes with a median concentration of 0.39 ng/g. Only PFOA, PFOS,

Discussion

Concentrations of PFASs in household dust on St. Lawrence Island appear to be on the lower end of those reported worldwide in other studies. With a few exceptions, PFAS concentrations in the current study were in the low ng/g range. Several studies have discussed the geographic variability in indoor PFAS concentrations, and there appears to be great variation in both the prevalence and concentrations of these compounds in household dust (Goosey and Harrad, 2011, Knobeloch et al., 2012). Studies

Conclusion

Locally collected stickleback indicate a point source of PBDE and PFAS pollution near Gambell, while the lower concentration of these compounds in fish collected elsewhere on the island also suggest that both PFASs and PBDEs are present due to atmospheric deposition. Concentrations of PFASs in household dust from St. Lawrence Island are among the lowest reported in the literature. The proportion of PFNA is enriched in serum as compared to dust. PFNA and PFUnDA are elevated compared to the U.S.

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIH R01ES019620). The authors would like to thank the many individuals who contributed to accomplishing this research including Jane Kava, Jesse Gologergen, Erika Apatiki, Kristi Apangalook, Tiffany Immingan, Millie Kingeekuk, Susie Booshu, Sharon Campbell-Aningayou, Naomi Madsen, Shelley Klein-Apatiki, Carolyn Kava, Carol Gologergen, Bobby Ungwiluk, Kevin Zweifel, and Heidi Zimmer. The authors also thank Dr.

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