Association of polyfluoroalkyl substances and allergy in US adolescents: Results from NHANES 2005–2006

By Huan Wang, Zekun Gong, and Lei Zhang
J. Occup. Environ. Med.
June 13, 2022
DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002560

Objective

To investigate association between polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and allergy in U.S. adolescents.

Methods

This study was conducted in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2006. PFAS as a universal pollutant can be obtained directly from laboratory data files. Allergy included current allergic symptoms and allergen sensitization. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between PFAS and allergy in U.S. adolescents.

Results

Multivariate regression models showed that PFAS was positively associated with current allergic symptoms (adjusted OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 1-1.03). PFAS as a categorical variable, compared with the lowest tertile, the adjusted ORs with increasing tertiles were 1.21 (95% CI: 0.74,1.96) and 1.67 (95% CI: 1.01, 2.74).

Conclusions

Our study shows that PFAS are associated with increased incidence of current allergic symptoms in U.S. adolescents. More prospective studies are needed to provide evidences.

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