PFAS exposure and implications on human metabolic function based on a cross-sectional study from a southern city, China

Although Per - and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) like PFOS and PFOA have been widely reported, comprehensive data on exposure to various alternatives and their health effects on the general population are still limited. This study comprehensively assessed the serum exposure profiles of 52 PFAS in 711 adult residents from Shenzhen, China, and explored the associations between 22 highly detected PFAS and 16 biochemical indicators, including lipid and glucose metabolism, liver, and thyroid function. The median concentration of Σ 52 PFAS was 16.51 ng/mL, and PFOS (5.08 ng/mL), PFOA (4.32 ng/mL), 6:2 Cl-PFAES (1.24 ng/mL), PFNA (0.75 ng/mL), and PFDA (0.57 ng/mL) were the predominant compounds, with significantly higher levels in males, and age-dependent accumulation trends. Multiple complementary models generally indicated that mixed PFAS exposure was positively associated with disturbance of lipid metabolism (TC, TG, and LDL) and glucose metabolism (HbA1c), identifying PFBS, PFHpS, and PFTeDA as the primary contributors to observed associations with metabolic markers. Furthermore, positive associations with GGT and AST/ALT indicated hepatic stress, primarily driven by PFHpS and PFOS. Conversely, a significant negative association was observed with thyroid hormones (TSH, FT3, FT4, T4, and TGAb), with PFOS, PFPeA, PFDoA, and 6:2 FTS as the main contributing chemicals. Our results highlighted potential implications of PFAS exposure for metabolic homeostasis. This study provides the most comprehensive PFAS exposure assessment to date of the general population from Shenzhen, offering critical insights for public health monitoring and contributing to the global understanding of PFAS-related health risk.