An Epidemiologic Review of Menstrual Blood Loss as an Excretion Route for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances.

Abstract

Menstrual blood loss, a common physiologic occurrence, provides an excretion route for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) since these chemicals are bound to proteins in blood. To increase awareness of this relationship in environmental epidemiology, we reviewed the available epidemiologic data on menstrual bleeding and PFAS concentrations. Initial epidemiologic studies reported generally higher PFAS concentrations in men, menopausal women, and those with a history of hysterectomy compared to premenopausal women. Although subsequent studies investigating menstrual cycle characteristics observed somewhat discrepant results for menstrual irregularity and cycle length, consistent associations have been observed between heavy menstrual bleeding and lower PFAS concentrations. This review highlights the important role of menstrual bleeding on the excretion of PFAS. Given the high prevalence of menstrual bleeding in the population and the implications for environmental epidemiology, we provide recommendations to move this field forward.