Northern Virginia study links school meals and diet to PFAS exposure in Hispanic children

A George Mason University-led study of 106 Hispanic children in Prince William County, Virginia, found school meal participation was linked to lower blood levels of some PFAS, while some animal-based foods were tied to higher exposure. The findings add clues about where “forever chemicals” may be coming from in children from primarily Central American families.

Why it matters: - PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, can persist in the body for years and are found in products such as nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics and grease-resistant food packaging. - Early-life PFAS exposure has been linked in prior research to weaker vaccine responses, asthma and changes in metabolism and thyroid function. - The new study does not measure health effects in children, but it helps identify exposure sources that families and public health researchers may be able to target.

What happened: - George Mason University researchers studied blood samples from 106 Hispanic children ages 4–11 in Prince William County, Virginia. - The children were mostly from Central American families and were participating in a family lifestyle program. - The study was published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology. - Rooshna Mohsin, a recent George Mason University PhD graduate, led the research with mentor Michael S. Bloom of the Department of Global and Community Health.

The details: - School meal participation was associated with lower blood concentrations of certain PFAS. - Children receiving free or reduced-price lunches had lower levels of five PFAS. - School breakfast participation was associated with lower levels of another PFAS. - The authors suggest school meals may reduce reliance on individually packaged foods, but the study did not directly test that explanation. - Stronger English skills were associated with lower levels of one PFAS. - U.S.-born Hispanic children had 75% lower odds of PFBS detection than Hispanic children born elsewhere. - Each additional year a mother had lived in the United States was associated with 8% lower odds of detecting PFBS. - Greater cheese consumption was linked to higher levels of one PFAS. - Greater fish consumption was linked to a higher likelihood of detecting another PFAS. - Burrito consumption was associated with higher total PFAS. - Among mothers who reported birthplace, about two-thirds were born in El Salvador. - Most of the children in the study had obesity.

Between the lines: - The findings point to diet, school food access and immigration-linked household factors as possible exposure pathways. - The stronger English, U.S.-birth and longer maternal U.S. residency associations may reflect differences in food access, packaging exposure or other household behaviors, but the study cannot prove cause and effect. - Because the study is a snapshot from one county, the results may not apply to other communities. - The questionnaire did not capture drinking water, household products or some culturally specific foods, leaving key exposure sources unmeasured.

What's next: - The researchers say larger studies that follow children over time are needed. - Future work should examine drinking water, household products and culturally specific foods that were missing from the survey. - Mohsin said community-informed interventions, including changes to dietary habits, are needed to help reduce PFAS exposure. - George Mason University coauthors included Jenna R. Krall, Lameck Chiwaka, Allison J. McKay, Margaret T. Jones, Robyn Mehlenbeck, Virginia Espina and Veronica G. Sanchez. - Additional researchers came from the University of California, San Francisco, and the University of Georgia. - More information is available through George Mason University College of Public Health, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.