PLASMA CHOLECYSTOKININ AND HEPATIC ENZYMES, CHOLESTEROL AND LIPOPROTEINS IN AMMONIUM PERFLUOROOCTANOATE PRODUCTION WORKERS

Abstract

Ammonium perfluorooctanoate is a potent synthetic surfactant used in industrial applications. It rapidly dissociates in biologic media to perfluorooctanoate [CF3(CF2)6CO2−], which is the anion of perfluorooctanoic acid [PFOA, CF3(CF2)6COOH]. PFOA is a peroxisome proliferator known to increase the incidence of hepatic, pancreas and Leydig cell adenomas in rats. The pancreas acinar cell adenomas may be the consequence of a mild but sustained increase of cholecystokinin as a result of hepatic cholestasis. Although no significant clinical hepatic toxicity was observed, PFOA was reported to have modulated hepatic responses to obesity and alcohol consumption among production workers. To further assess these hypotheses, we examined medical surveillance data of male workers involved in ammonium perfluorooctanoate production in 1993 (n = 111), 1995 (n = 80) and 1997 (n = 74). Serum PFOA was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry methods. Plasma cholecystokinin was measured (only in 19...