ArticleEnvironmental health : a global access science source2025
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), thyroid hormones, sexual hormones and pubertal development in adolescents residing in the neighborhood of a 3M factory.
Article in Environmental health : a global access science source, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed.
- Pediatric effects of forever chemicals may last for a long time.Pediatric research · 2026Review
- Integrative network toxicology analysis reveals mechanistic links between PFOA exposure and male reproductive dysfunction.Basic and clinical andrology · 2026Article
- The association between PFAS exposure, menstrual cycle parameters, and reproductive hormones in adolescent girls.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2026Observational
- Toxicological Effects and Health Impacts of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Humans.Toxics · 2026Review
- Article
- PFAS endocrine disruption affecting pubertal development: exposure-response is steeper below median PFAS serum concentrations.Environmental health : a global access science source · 2026Article
- Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Urine Samples from Eight-Year-Old Children Living in Northwest Spain.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Untargeted Metabolomics Profiling of a PFAS-Exposed Flemish Population.Metabolites · 2026Article
- Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Healthcare: Environmental and Clinical Insights.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
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9 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundNear Antwerp a 3M factory has been active since 1971 emitting PFAS, mainly PFOS, in the local environment. Production of C8 compounds was stopped in 2002, production of other PFAS continued until 2024. This study aimed to examine the association between internal PFAS concentrations and thyroid hormones, sexual hormones, and pubertal development in adolescents living in the neighborhood of the factory.
methodsWe measured PFAS in serum of 146 female and 139 male adolescents. For males sex hormones (LH, testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, inhibin B, FSH) and SHBG were measured in serum. For males and females we assessed serum thyroid hormone levels (TSH, T3, T4 and T3/T4) and pubertal development parameters self-assessed through a standardized questionnaire. Associations between PFAS concentrations and effect biomarkers/health effects were assessed through Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE), using linear models for continuous outcomes, logistic models for binary outcomes, and proportional odds models for ordinal outcomes.
resultsFor males LH, total and bioavailable testosterone showed significant negative associations with PFHxS and PFOA. LH and bioavailable testosterone also showed significant negative associations with other PFAS compounds. SHBG showed significant positive associations with PFDA, PFNA, PFHxS, PFOS and the sum of the linear forms of PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PFHxS. Males' length and growth spurt showed significant negative associations with PFOS, PFOA and PFAS sum parameters and length and growth spurt separately also with other PFAS compounds. For females growth spurt showed significant negative association with PFOA and a significant positive association with PFOS(branched). For both males and females body hair development showed significant negative associations with PFHxS, and, for males and females separately also with other PFAS compounds. For females, breast development showed significant negative associations with PFOA, pubertal development scale showed significant negative associations with PFOA, PFHxS, PFOS(linear) and the sum of 4 PFAS. For males, TSH showed a significant negative association with PFDA and FT3 showed significant positive associations with PFOA, PFOA and PFNA. For females, FT3 showed a significant negative association with PFOS(branched).
conclusionWe observed significant, consistent and biologically relevant associations of PFAS serum concentrations with sex hormone and SHBG levels in male adolescents. Moreover, a significant delay in physiological processes occurring in puberty was observed in females and males. Associations with thyroid hormones differed significantly by sex.
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