Geiger SD, et al. – This cross–sectional study was conducted to examine the association between perfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFCs) and hypertension in children. Investigations revealed that exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was not significantly associated with hypertension in children at the lower PFC exposure levels typical of the general population.

Methods

• This study included 1,655 children from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2000 and 2003–2008.
• Hypertension, defined as age, height, and sex specific systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure level at the 95th percentile were considered as the main outcome.

Results

• No association was reported between serum levels of PFOA and PFOS and hypertension in either unadjusted or multivariable–adjusted analyses controlling for age, sex, race–ethnicity, body mass index, annual household income, moderate activity, total serum cholesterol, and serum cotinine.
•  Compared with the lowest quartile, the multivariable–adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of hypertension in the highest quartile of exposure was 0.69 (0.41–1.17) for PFOA and 0.77 (0.37–1.61) for PFOS (all P–trend values >0.30).