The immunotoxicity of perfluorinated compounds: Recent developments

Published

March 19, 2012

Author(s)

Jennifer M. Lynch, Jamie DeWitt, M.M. Peden-Adams, Dori Germolec

Abstract

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are environmentally widespread, persistent, and bioaccumulative chemicals with multiple toxicities reported in experimental models and wildlife, including immunomodulation. The two most commonly detected compounds, which also generally occur in the highest concentrations in environmentally-exposed organisms, are perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). PFOA and PFOS have been reported to alter inflammatory responses, production of cytokines, and adaptive and innate immune responses in rodent models, avian models, reptilian models, and in mammalian and non-mammalian wildlife. Mounting experimental animal evidence suggests that immune effects in laboratory models occur at serum concentrations below, within the reported range, or just above those reported for highly exposed humans and wildlife. Thus, the risk of immune effects for humans and wildlife exposed to PFCs cannot be discounted, especially when bioaccumulation and exposure to multiple PFCs is considered. This review contains brief descriptions of current and recently published work exploring immunomodulation by PFOA, PFOS, and other PFCs in rodent models, alternative laboratory models, and wildlife.

Citation

Toxicologic Pathology

Volume

40

Issue

2

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

DOI Link

Keywords

environmental contaminants, immune system, perfluorinated compounds

Citation

Lynch, J. , DeWitt, J. , Peden-Adams, M. and Germolec, D. (2012), The immunotoxicity of perfluorinated compounds: Recent developments, Toxicologic Pathology, [online], https://doi.org/10.1177/0192623311428473 (Accessed April 27, 2026)

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