Perfluoroalkyl chemicals in neurological health and disease: Human concerns and animal models

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are man-made organic pollutants that are found ubiquitously in the environment and may impact human health. Here, we review the published literature concerning PFAA impacts on neurobiological, neuroendocrine, and neurobehavioral outcomes. We find that there are many mech...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neurotoxicology (Park Forest South) 2020-03, Vol.77, p.155-168
Main Authors: Piekarski, DJ, Diaz, KR, McNerney, MW
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal diseases
Animal models
Animals
Brain
Brain - drug effects
Environmental Exposure
Environmental impact
Environmental Pollutants - toxicity
Epidemiology
Exposure
Fluorocarbons - toxicity
Humans
Literature reviews
Metabolism
Models, Animal
Nervous system
Neuroendocrinology
Neurons - drug effects
Neurosecretory Systems - drug effects
Perfluoroalkyl & polyfluoroalkyl substances
Perfluoroalkyl substances
PFAA
PFAS
Pollutants
Thyroid Gland - drug effects
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Summary:Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are man-made organic pollutants that are found ubiquitously in the environment and may impact human health. Here, we review the published literature concerning PFAA impacts on neurobiological, neuroendocrine, and neurobehavioral outcomes. We find that there are many mechanisms through which PFAAs may enter the brain and interact with biochemical endpoints to impact neurological function. These results are supported by epidemiological evidence in humans and experimental evidence in animals that demonstrate numerous and varied PFAA impacts on the nervous system. However, the methods commonly used in animal models of PFAA exposure result in durations of exposure and serum PFAA concentrations in blood that may not appropriately mimic human absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. If animal models lack validity, confidence in mechanistic inferences regarding PFAA exposure and brain function is reduced, limiting these studies’ utility. Finally, we end by suggesting some potential impacts of PFAA exposure in human neurological health and disease states whose associations may not readily present themselves in the epidemiological literature.
ISSN:0161-813X
1872-9711
DOI:10.1016/j.neuro.2020.01.001