Susceptibility to COVID-19 after High Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances from Contaminated Drinking Water: An Ecological Study from Ronneby, Sweden

• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010702
• Publication Date: 2021-10-13T10:38:41Z
• Authors: Christel Nielsen; Anna Jöud
• Keywords: Pandemic; Ecological study; Environmental epidemiology

There is concern that immunotoxic environmental contaminants, particularly perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), may play a role in the clinical course of COVID-19 and epidemiologic studies are needed to answer if high-exposed populations especially vulnerable light ongoing pandemic. The objective was, therefore, determine exposure highly PFAS-contaminated drinking water was associated with an increased incidence Ronneby, Sweden, during first year We conducted ecological study determining sex- age-standardized ratio (SIR) adult population relative neighboring reference town similar demographic characteristics but only background levels exposure. In subject mandatory reporting, we retrieved aggregated data on all verified cases until 3 March 2021 from Public Health Agency Sweden. SIR Ronneby estimated at 1.19 (95% CI: 1.12; 1.27). results suggest potential link between high PFAS susceptibility warrants further research clarify causality.