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. 2020 Feb 18;128(2):027007. doi: 10.1289/EHP5337

Table 3.

Multivariable linear regression models for the association between potential predictors and serum concentrations of PFOA, PFOS, and PFHxS in the entire study population (n=18,122 subjects with complete records for all variables).

Predictor n (%) % difference (95% CI)
PFOA PFOS PFHxS
Gender
 Female 8,892 (49.1) Referent Referent Referent
 Male 9,230 (50.9) 66 (61; 71) 42 (39; 45) 93 (88; 98)
Explained variance (%) 11.52 9.94 18.17
 Age (y)
  14–19 4,478 (24.7) Referent Referent Referent
  20–24 3,194 (17.6) 9 (15; 4) 1 (4; 3) 1 (6; 4)
  25–29 3,044 (16.8) 12 (18; 5) 2 (2; 7) 10 (3; 16)
  30–34 3,304 (18.2) 18 (24; 11) 8 (3; 14) 14 (6; 21)
  35–39 4,102 (22.6) 5 (12; 3) 20 (14; 26) 30 (21; 39)
Explained variance (%) 2.96 0.13 0.74
 Country of birth
  Italian, HDC 16,696 (92.1) Referent Referent Referent
  HMPC 1,426 (7.9) 10 (15; 5)
Explained variance (%) 1.25
 Educational level
  Primary/Middle school 5,853 (32.3) Referent Referent Referent
  High school 9,012 (49.7) 4 (7; 0) 1 (2; 3) 3 (7; 0)
  University 3,257 (18.0) 2 (3; 8) 6 (3; 9) 0 (4; 4)
Explained variance (%) 0.33 0.33 0.26
 Occupational sector
  No farmer 17,903 (98.8) Referent Referent Referent
  Farmer 219 (1.2) 8 (0; 16)
Explained variance (%) 0.02
 Predominant residential area
  Red Area A 7,020 (38.7) 38 (27; 50) 5 (0; 10) 42 (33; 51)
  Red Area B 11,102 (61.3) Referent Referent Referent
Explained variance (%) 0.20 0.01 0.30
 Current municipality of residency (Red Area A or B)
  Terrazzo (B) 288 (1.6) Referent Referent Referent
  Albaredo D’Adige (B) 767 (4.2) 160 (131; 194) 14 (6; 23) 126 (104; 150)
  Arcole (B) 899 (5.0) 189 (156; 226) 25 (16; 34) 135 (113; 159)
  Bevilacqua (B) 216 (1.2) 342 (278; 416) 41 (28; 55) 268 (224; 319)
  Bonavigo (B) 279 (1.5) 170 (133; 213) 16 (6; 27) 137 (110; 168)
  Boschi Sant’Anna (B) 206 (1.1) 202 (158; 254) 22 (11; 35) 155 (124; 191)
  Legnago (B) 2,945 (16.3) 87 (68; 109) 7 (0; 14) 59 (45; 74)
  Minerbe (B) 628 (3.5) 325 (276; 381) 32 (23; 43) 241 (208; 278)
  Veronella (B) 778 (4.3) 340 (289; 397) 35 (25; 46) 248 (215; 285)
  Alonte (A) 346 (1.9) 236 (186; 296) 38 (25; 52) 168 (134; 207)
  Asigliano Veneto (A) 161 (0.9) 275 (210; 353) 34 (19; 50) 198 (155; 249)
  Brendola (A) 1,007 (5.6) 125 (95; 160) 21 (11; 32) 31 (16; 47)
  Cologna Veneta (A) 1,208 (6.7) 243 (199; 294) 35 (24; 47) 183 (153; 217)
  Lonigo (A) 2,569 (14.2) 252 (206; 303) 42 (31; 55) 173 (144; 206)
  Montagnana (A) 1,146 (6.3) 264 (216; 318) 40 (29; 53) 184 (153; 219)
  Noventa Vicentina (A) 1,410 (7.8) 166 (132; 206) 22 (12; 33) 101 (79; 126)
  Pojana Maggiore (A) 767 (4.2) 263 (214; 320) 33 (22; 46) 180 (148; 216)
  Pressana (A) 365 (2.0) 272 (218; 336) 29 (17; 42) 192 (156; 232)
  Roveredo Di Gua’ (A) 263 (1.4) 243 (190; 306) 25 (13; 39) 178 (142; 219)
  Sarego (A) 1,124 (6.2) 197 (157; 242) 46 (34; 59) 118 (94; 146)
  Zimella (A) 750 (4.1) 236 (192; 288) 40 (28; 52) 170 (140; 204)
Explained variance (%) 12.57 6.70 14.84
 Duration of residency in the Red Area (y)
  <5 1,082 (6.0) Referent Referent Referent
  5–9 1,375 (7.6) 45 (35; 56) 8 (3; 13) 27 (20; 35)
  10–14 3,962 (21.9) 97 (83; 111) 17 (12; 22) 68 (59; 79)
  15–19 3,380 (18.6) 120 (104; 137) 21 (16; 27) 98 (86; 111)
  20–24 2,887 (15.9) 120 (104; 137) 26 (20; 31) 111 (98; 124)
  25–29 2,663 (14.7) 131 (115; 148) 24 (19; 29) 125 (113; 138)
  more than 30 years 2,773 (15.3) 117 (102; 132) 17 (12; 22) 117 (105; 130)
Explained variance (%) 3.40 0.91 5.34
 Time-lag between the beginning of the study and blood sampling (months)
  Less than 6 months 2,221 (12.3) Referent Referent Referent
  6–10 5,152 (28.4) 6 (0; 12) 4 (7; 1) 13 (8; 18)
  11–15 5,283 (29.2) 0 (7; 7) 8 (12; 4) 5 (1; 11)
  16–20 4,156 (22.9) 13 (21; 5) 21 (25; 17) 4 (11; 3)
  21 1,310 (7.2) 23 (31; 15) 26 (30; 21) 12 (19; 4)
Explained variance (%) 0.43 0.62 0.42
 BMI (kg/m2)
  Underweight 1,437 (7.9) 0 (3; 3) 4 (8; 0)
  Normal weight 11,388 (62.9) Referent Referent Referent
  Pre-obesity 3,895 (21.5) 3 (5; 1) 3 (0; 6)
  Obesity 1,402 (7.7) 12 (14; 9) 5 (1; 9)
Explained variance (%) 0.53 0.06
 eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2)
  90 15,691 (86.6) Referent Referent Referent
  <90 2,431 (13.4) 5 (1; 10) 6 (3; 8) 5 (1; 8)
Explained variance (%) 0.09 0.13 0.09
 Number of deliveries
  0 15,490 (85.5) Referent Referent Referent
  1 1,100 (6.1) 40 (43; 36) 17 (20; 13) 30 (34; 27)
  2 1,213 (6.7) 57 (59; 54) 25 (28; 22) 45 (48; 42)
  3 319 (1.7) 63 (67; 59) 22 (27; 17) 48 (52; 43)
Explained variance (%) 3.42 1.15 2.19
 Smoking habit
  Never 11,364 (62.7) Referent Referent Referent
  Current 4,775 (26.4) 1 (2; 5) 6 (8; 4) 2 (1; 4)
  Former 1,983 (10.9) 5 (9; 1) 5 (7; 2) 2 (6; 1)
Explained variance (%) 0.09 0.11 0.06
 Alcohol intake (AU per week)
  Never 5,525 (30.5) Referent Referent Referent
  <3 7,438 (41.1) 2 (2; 5) 5 (3; 7) 1 (4; 2)
  3–6 3,232 (17.8) 8 (3; 13) 7 (4; 9) 3 (1; 7)
  7 1,927 (10.6) 13 (7; 19) 11 (7; 14) 8 (3; 12)
Explained variance (%) 0.47 0.44 0.29
 Water intake (L/d)
  Less than 1 1,739 (9.6) Referent Referent Referent
  1–1.5 5,037 (27.8) 3 (6; 0)
  1.5–2 9,463 (52.2) 9 (11; 6)
  2 1,883 (10.4) 14 (18; 11)
Explained variance (%) 0.41
 Milk/Yogurt intake
  I quartile 5,292 (29.2) Referent Referent Referent
  II quartile 3,985 (22.0) 2 (6; 2) 0 (2; 3) 3 (5; 0)
  III quartile 7,176 (39.6) 3 (6; 0) 1 (3; 1) 1 (4; 1)
  IV quartile 1,669 (9.2) 8 (12; 3) 7 (10; 4) 5 (9; 1)
Explained variance (%) 0.14 0.19 0.09
 Cheese intake
  I quartile 5,433 (30.0) Referent Referent Referent
  II quartile 4,574 (25.2) 0 (2; 2)
  III quartile 4,610 (25.4) 0 (2; 2)
  IV quartile 3,505 (19.4) 3 (5; 1)
Explained variance (%) 0.05
 Meat intake
  I quartile 6,867 (37.9) Referent Referent Referent
  II quartile 3,051 (16.8) 6 (9; 2) 2 (1; 4) 4 (7; 1)
  III quartile 6,813 (37.6) 5 (8; 2) 2 (0; 4) 2 (5; 0)
  IV quartile 1,391 (7.7) 12 (17; 7) 3 (6; 0) 10 (14; 5)
Explained variance (%) 0.12 0.06 0.09
 Fish intake
  I tertile 10,998 (60.7) Referent Referent Referent
  II tertile 4,725 (26.1) 4 (7; 1) 4 (3; 6)
  III tertile 2,399 (13.2) 2 (6; 2) 9 (6; 11)
Explained variance (%) 0.02 0.22
 Eggs intake
  I quartile 5,211 (28.8) Referent Referent Referent
  II quartile 7,701 (42.5) 9 (7; 11)
  III quartile 3,545 (19.5) 9 (6; 12)
  IV quartile 1,665 (9.2) 13 (10; 17)
Explained variance (%) 0.35
 Sweets/snacks/sweet beverages intake
  I quartile 6,340 (35.0) Referent Referent Referent
  II quartile 4,936 (27.2) 1 (5; 3) 2 (4; 0) 3 (6; 0)
  III quartile 4,555 (25.2) 3 (6; 1) 2 (4; 1) 4 (7; 1)
  IV quartile 2,291 (12.6) 8 (13; 3) 5 (7; 2) 9 (13; 5)
Explained variance (%) 0.03 0.08 0.06
 Bread/pasta/cereals intake
  I tertile 7,497 (41.4) Referent Referent Referent
  II tertile 7,880 (43.5) 2 (2; 6) 1 (2; 5)
  III tertile 2,745 (15.1) 8 (3; 14) 7 (3; 12)
Explained variance (%) 0.02 0.02
 Fruit/vegetables intake
  I tertile 5,435 (30.0) Referent Referent Referent
  II tertile 5,738 (31.7) 0 (3; 4) 6 (4; 9) 3 (0; 6)
  III tertile 3,776 (20.8) 4 (0; 8) 7 (4; 9) 6 (3; 10)
  IV tertile 3,173 (17.5) 4 (0; 9) 8 (5; 11) 7 (4; 11)
Explained variance (%) 0.02 0.23 0.08
 Growing vegetables for personal consumption
  No 8,891 (49,1) Referent Referent Referent
  Yes 9,231 (50.9) 3 (0; 6) 10 (8; 12) 3 (1; 6)
Explained variance (%) 0.33 2.52 0.73
 Raising animals for personal consumption
  No 14,334 (79.1) Referent Referent Referent
  Yes 3,788 (20.9) 4 (8; 1) 24 (21; 26)
Explained variance (%) 0.05 1.19
 Total variance explained (%) 37.44 22.61 43.10

Note: Red Area: the area of the Veneto Region including municipalities supplied by PFAS contaminated waterworks. Red Area A: part of Red Area whose municipalities are located on the groundwater contamination plume. Red Area B: part of Red Area whose municipalities are located outside the groundwater contamination plume. HDC were defined as not Central–Eastern Europe, North America, Oceania, Israel and Japan. HMPC were defined as Central-Eastern Europe, North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, Asia except Israel and Japan, and Central and South America countries. Duration of residency in the Red Area was calculated as the number of years spent in the Red Area between 1980 and 2013 (when granular activated carbon filters were installed). Intake of food items was categorized based on quartiles or tertiles. Predictors shown for each PFAS were selected using a stepwise approach based on the Akaike information criterion (AIC). Values of % difference were derived from beta coefficients. —, no data. AU, alcohol units; BMI, body mass index; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; HDC, highly developed countries; HMPC, high migratory pressure countries; PFHxS, perfluorohexanesulfonic acid; PFOA, perfluorooctanoic acid; PFOS, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid.

HHS Vulnerability Disclosure