December 5, 2011
Below are summaries and links to four probable link evaluation reports submitted to the Wood County Court in Parkersburg, West Virginia under the C8 Settlement.
Birth defects are structural malformations in the infant that arise during fetal development. The evidence to evaluate the probable link between PFOA exposure and birth defects comes from various studies, making use of the C8 Health Project data such as serum PFOA levels and self-reported birth defects, and historically estimated PFOA levels. Limited evidence for an increased risk of congenital heart defects with increased estimated serum PFOA was observed in one study, but the Science Panel considered this most likely to be due to chance. In the other studies, either no meaningful associations were found or specific types of birth defects could not be examined due to the small population size.
On the basis of epidemiologic studies and other scientific data available to the C8 Science Panel, the conclusion is that there is not a probable link between exposure to PFOA (C8) and birth defects. For more details, follow the link below.
Probable Link Report: Probable Link Evaluation of Birth Defects
Pregnancy-induced hypertension is defined as significantly elevated blood pressure that begins after the 20th week of pregnancy. Preeclampsia is a specific type of pregnancy-induced hypertension, which is accompanied by leakage of protein into the urine. The evidence to evaluate the probable link between PFOA exposure and pregnancy-induced hypertension comes from various studies using data from the C8 Health Project (such as residential data, measured serum PFOA, and self-reported pregnancy conditions), data from birth certificates, and historically estimated serum PFOA levels. While one study found no association between C8 and pregnancy-induced hypertension, other studies showed a small association. There was also evidence of an association between estimated serum PFOA and pregnancy-induced hypertension based on the continuous exposure indicator. Measured serum PFOA was weakly and irregularly associated with preeclampsia, an association that was strengthened when the analysis was restricted to more recent pregnancies.
On the basis of epidemiologic and other scientific data available to the C8 Science Panel, the conclusion is that there is a probable link between exposure to PFOA (C8) and pregnancy-induced hypertension. For more details, follow the link below.
Probable Link Report: Probable Link Evaluation of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension and Preeclampsia
Pregnancy loss refers to miscarriage and stillbirth, the former defined as loss of pregnancy before 20 weeks of gestation and the latter at 20 weeks gestation or later. The evidence to evaluate the probable link between PFOA exposure and pregnancy loss comes from various Science Panel studies using C8 Health Project and follow-up data (such as measured serum PFOA and self-reported pregnancy loss), WV Health Dept vital records, and historically estimated serum PFOA. The studies found no association (or essentially none) between pregnancy loss and measured or estimated serum PFOA exposure among these pregnancies.
On the basis of epidemiologic and other scientific data available to the C8 Science Panel, the conclusion is that there is not a probable link between exposure to PFOA (C8) and miscarriage or stillbirth. For more details, follow the link below.
Probable Link Report: Probable Link Evaluation of Miscarriage and Stillbirths
Preterm birth is defined as early delivery of an infant before completing 37 weeks of gestation. The evidence to evaluate the probable link between PFOA exposure and pregnancy loss comes from various studies, most of which were Science Panel studies, but also included studies from other populations. These studies used, but were not restricted to, data from C8 Health Project and follow-up study (such as measured serum PFOA and self-reported preterm birth), birth certificate records, and historically estimated serum PFOA. Most studies found no association between preterm birth and measured or estimated serum PFOA. An association with early preterm birth and estimated PFOA was found in one study, although the sample size was small. The results from the studies of other populations found little or no association between measured serum PFOA and preterm birth.
On the basis of epidemiologic and other scientific data available to the C8 Science Panel, the conclusion is that there is not a probable link between exposure to PFOA (C8) and preterm birth or low birth weight. For more details, follow the link below.
Probable Link Report: Probable Link Evaluation of Preterm Birth and Low Birth Weight