ScholarWorks@중앙대학교

초록

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent synthetic chemicals widely used in consumer and industrial products and lead to ubiquitous human exposure and adverse health effects. However, how various exposure sources contribute relatively to the human PFAS burden remains unclear. The primary exposure sources contributing to serum PFAS concentrations, specifically dietary intake and everyday product use, were examined in a nationally representative sample using Korean National Environmental Health Survey Cycle 4 (2018–2020) data, including 2990 adults and 778 secondary school students. Information on exposure sources was collected through questionnaires, and serum concentrations of perfluorohexanesulfonic (PFHxS), perfluorooctanesulfonic, perfluorooctanoic, perfluorononanoic, and perfluorodecanoic acids were measured. Exposure patterns were identified using sparse reduced-rank regression. In the first pattern, diet, particularly seafood consumption, and food contact material (FCM) use were identified as significant contributors to overall PFAS levels in adults. In the second, PFHxS showed distinct exposure characterized by a greater contribution from processed food and non-dietary sources, such as fast food, disposable paper cups, plastic containers for storing hot food, body wash, and household cleaners, compared to other PFAS compounds. Exposure patterns varied by age. The dominant exposure sources for older and younger adults were seafood and FCMs, respectively. Sex-stratified analyses revealed that bodywash was a primary exposure source in men, whereas cosmetic use was a major source in women, particularly for PFHxS. Students showed patterns similar to those of adults over 40, likely reflecting household lifestyles. These findings highlight exposure-related patterns that may inform future research aimed at reducing PFAS exposure.

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