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

Author

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  • Christel Nielsen

    (Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden)

  • Anna Jöud

    (Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
    Department of Research and Education, Skåne University Hospital, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden)

Abstract

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

Suggested Citation

  • Christel Nielsen & Anna Jöud, 2021. "Susceptibility to COVID-19 after High Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances from Contaminated Drinking Water: An Ecological Study from Ronneby, Sweden," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-8, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10702-:d:654483
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dolores Catelan & Annibale Biggeri & Francesca Russo & Dario Gregori & Gisella Pitter & Filippo Da Re & Tony Fletcher & Cristina Canova, 2021. "Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Mortality for COVID-19: A Spatial Ecological Analysis in the Veneto Region (Italy)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-11, March.
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