Category Research project
  • Expositionsschätzung

Associations between internal exposure to perfluorinated substances (PFAS) and the risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes in the EPIC-Potsdam study

Project status
In Progress
Project start
Apr 2023
Project end
Aug 2026
Department
Lebens- und Futtermittelsicherheit in der Nahrungskette

Description and Objective

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a complex group of man-made chemicals with unique water- and oil-repellent properties. They have been used for decades in the manufacture of numerous consumer products, such as non-stick cookware, breathable textiles and food packaging. Consumption of food and drinking water is the main route of human exposure. Based on the observed associations between the blood concentration of PFAS and blood lipid levels (especially LDL cholesterol), it is suspected that PFAS may play a role in the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The association with the risk of type 2 diabetes is also discussed. This study aims to investigate the associations between baseline concentrations of PFOS/PFOA and other perfluorinated compounds in the blood and the risk of developing myocardial infarction, stroke and/or heart failure and type 2 diabetes during follow-up in a case-cohort study nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Potsdam study (n=3000).
Type of project

Third-party funded project

Research focus

Expositionsabschätzung und Bewertung biologischer Risiken

Organisational units and partners

Lead specialist group: Humanstudienzentrum Gesundheitlicher Verbraucherschutz (8HSZ) External partner: Deutsches Institut für Ernährungsforschung Potsdam-Rehbrücke

Funding body and grant number

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft e.V.
ME 6150/1-1

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