A study which examined the association between perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) exposure and hypertension, hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) and coronary heart disease has found raised cholesterol among workers at a chemical plant in Ohio and residents of the surrounding community. Participants completed surveys between 2008 and 2011 covering demographics, health-related behaviours and medical history.
The researchers, based at the environmental health department of Emory University in Atlanta, found that incidence of high cholesterol increased with increasing cumulative PFOA exposure, most notably among males between 40 and 60 years of age. Higher PFOA exposure was found to be associated with incident hypercholesterolemia with medication, but not with hypertension or coronary artery disease.
The study is published in the journal, Environmental Health Perspectives.
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