An Investigation of Serum Levels of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Testicular Cancer Risk Within the Department of Defense Serum Repository
Abstract
FY18 PRCP Topic Area: Cancer in children, adolescents, and young adults Scientific Objectives: This project has two scientific objectives: (1) to investigate whether elevated blood levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are associated with an increased risk of testicular cancer among US Air Force Servicemen, and (2) to investigate whether Servicemen stationed at bases with PFAS contamination have elevated blood PFAS levels. Rationale: PFAS are man-made chemicals that, for several decades, had been used to make firefighting foams, non-stick cookware coating, and other products. PFAS are now widespread contaminants in the blood of Americans due to exposures through contaminated food and water. Military sites with a history of using PFAS containing firefighting foams have been identified as a major source of PFAS water contamination. The Department of Defense (DoD) recently identified 401 bases (including 203 US Air Force installations) with a known or suspected release of PFAS, including 126 bases (50 US Air Force) with tested drinking water or groundwater PFAS concentrations exceeding current safety guidelines. It is not known to what extent military personnel have been exposed to PFAS. The PFAS chemical perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has been classified as a possible cancer-causing agent by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, with suggestive evidence from epidemiologic studies of an increased risk of testicular cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer among US males aged 15 to 39 years, and among active-duty Servicemen. The cancer-causing potential of other PFAS has not yet been evaluated. Methods: To clarify whether exposure to PFOA and other PFAS is associated with testicular cancer risk, we propose to conduct a study using samples in the DoD Serum Repository, a biobank containing over 60 million vials of serum collected from routine blood tests of over 10 million active duty and reserve Service members since 1989. We will compare measurements of PFOA and 11 other PFAS chemicals in two stored serum samples from 500 US Air Force Servicemen who later developed testicular cancer to measurements in banked serum from 500 cancer-free US Air Force personnel. We will also investigate whether US Air Force Servicemen stationed at installations that used PFAS-containing firefighting foams have higher serum levels of PFAS than Servicemen stationed at locations that did not use these foams. Ultimate Applications of the Research: An important application of this research will be to help clarify whether PFOA and other PFAS cause testicular cancer. Our study findings will be very important in resolving this question, as it will be the largest study of its kind to date and the first to directly measure PFAS levels in blood samples. FY18 PRCRP Military Relevance Focus Area: Militarily relevant risk factors associated with cancer Benefits to Military Service Members and Military Beneficiaries: Our study has important relevance for military Service members. The issue of PFAS contamination has become a top environmental priority within DoD, with the Department having classified PFAS as emerging contaminants, conducted widespread testing of PFAS in DoD water systems, and planning cleanup efforts. However, to our knowledge, there has been no blood PFAS testing of military Service members conducted to date. Our project will provide the first insight into the extent of exposure to PFAS among military Service members and could stimulate additional research to better understand these exposures in this population and their health effects. These findings may help inform the process of applying for and evaluating disability compensation claims for Service members and veterans potentially related to PFAS exposure.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 19, 2019
- Source ID
- W81XWH1910444
Entities
People
- Mark P. Purdue
Organizations
- National Cancer Institute
- United States Army