environmental health
New Jersey Uses Biomonitoring and Environmental
Data to Assess Intervention Effectiveness
By: Chang Ho Yu, Research Scientist 3, Environmental and Chemical Laboratory Services, Public Health and Environmental Laboratories, New Jersey
Department of Health and Zhihua (Tina) Fan, program manager, Environmental and Chemical Laboratory Services, Public Health and Environmental
Laboratories, New Jersey Department of Health
In 2012, elevated perfluorononanoic
acid (PFNA), within the class of per- and
poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs),
was detected in public water systems
and private wells in Paulsboro and West
Deptford communities in New Jersey.
PFNA is very stable in the environment
and can be bioaccumulated in the
human body once absorbed through
ingestion. It may lead to adverse health
effects, such as liver and immune
system impacts, elevated cholesterol
levels, and delayed growth and
development of fetuses and infants.
Beginning in 2014, interventions were
carried out intermittently by the NJ
Department of Environmental Protection
(NJDEP) in these communities, and
granular-activated charcoal (GAC)
filters were installed in public water
systems and private wells. However, the
communities expressed serious concerns
about their exposure to PFNA and the
effectiveness of the interventions. To
respond to these concerns, the Public
Health and Environmental Laboratories,
New Jersey Department of Health
(NJDOH), partnered with Environmental
Table. Analytes meas ured in serum, water, and dust matrices by the
NJDOH PFAS community exposure study.
Analytes in
Water/Dust Analytes in
Serum
Chemical Name
Chemical
Formula CAS Number
PFBS PFBuS Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid C 4 HF 9 O 3 S 375-73-5
PFHxS PFHxS Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid C 6 HF 13 O 3 S 355-46-4
PFOS PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid C 8 HF 17 O 3 S 1763-23-1
PFHxA - Perfluorohexanoic acid C 6 HF 11 O 2 307-24-4
PFHpA PFHpA Perfluoroheptanoic acid C 7 HF 13 O 2 375-85-9
PFOA PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid C 8 HF 15 O 2 335-67-1
PFNA PFNA Perfluorononanoic acid C 9 HF 17 O 2 375-95-1
PFDA PFDeA Perfluorodecanoic acid C 10 HF 19 O 2 335-76-2
PFUnA PFUA Perfluoroundecanoic acid C 11 HF 21 O 2 2058-94-8
PFDoA PFDoA Perfluorododecanoic acid C 12 HF 23 O 2 307-55-1
PFTrDA — Perfluorotridecanoic acid C 13 HF 25 O 2 72629-94-8
PFTA — Perfluorotetradecanoic acid C 14 HF 27 O 2 376-06-7
— PFOSA Perfluorooctanesulfonamide C 8 H 2 F 17 NO 2 S 754-91-6
NMeFOSAA Me-PFOSA-
AcOH N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid
or
2-(N-methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido) acetic
acid C 11 H 6 F 17 NO 4 S 2355-31-9
NEtFOSAA Et-PFOSA-
AcOH N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid
or
2-(N-ethyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido) acetic
acid C 12 H 8 F 17 NO 4 S 2991-50-6
Note: PFHxA, PFTrDA and PFTA are measured by the EPA Method 537; PFOSA are measured by the CDC Method
6304.04.
24
LAB MATTERS Winter 2018
and Occupational Health and Sciences
Institute (EOHSI) from Rutgers University,
initiated an exposure study to monitor
the change of PFNA in blood serum of
local residents after interventions.
This study aims to measure PFNA and 11
additional PFASs (listed in CDC Method
6304.04) in serum for three consecutive
years, once per year, for a total of 100-200
volunteers between the ages of 20-74,
from residents who have lived in the
affected communities during the past
three years. In the first year, drinking
water and house dust will be measured
for 14 PFASs listed in EPA Water Testing
Method 537. Questionnaires will be
administered to collect information
on demographics and potential PFNA
sources. The data will be used to evaluate
whether the intervention is effective
and to identify significant sources
of PFNA exposure. In addition to the
half-life of PFNA and PFNA in serum,
the water ratio will be explored.
The most challenging aspect of this
project has been development of the
outreach/recruitment plan. Since the
project aims to address a top community
issue which has generated public
attention, extensive outreach and
communication efforts were required,
This study aims to measure PFNA
and 11 additional PFASs (listed in
CDC Method 6304.04) in serum for
three consecutive years, once per
year, for a total of 100-200 volunteers
between the ages of 20-74, from
residents who have lived in the
affected communities during the past
three years.
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