ES&T - Levels Of Stain Repellent Chemical (PFBS) In Study Group's Blood Doubling Every 6 Yrs

As the phased-out stain repellent PFOS steadily decreases in people, its replacement is rising rapidly at levels that are doubling every six years, a Swedish study shows. Levels of perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) in the women's blood rose 11 percent per year between 1996 and 2010. Whether there are any potential health effects of these exposures -- which are still far lower than PFOS levels -- is unknown.

The research is part of a larger study that examined time trends of persistent organic pollutants in the blood and breast milk of pregnant and nursing women in Uppsala County, Sweden.

Blood samples were collected from first-time mothers, aged 19 - 41 years, three weeks after delivery. Samples were collected each year between 1996 and 2010, except in 2003 and 2005. For each year, several individual blood samples were pooled together for analysis. In general, three pooled samples per year were analyzed.

The study investigated levels of 13 PFAAs, including PFBS and PFOS. The study also measured perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA), which is known to degrade to PFOS.

EDIT

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/2012/08/2012-1120-fluorinated-stain-repellent-rises-in-blood/