PFAS Exposure as a Driver of Increased Brain Tumor Incidences in NC Military Bases

Introduction: Poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are linked to various adverse health outcomes. These compounds can cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in brain tissue, with some evidence suggesting that higher concentrations of PFOA, PFOS, and GenX compounds in water correlate with increased glioma incidence and severity. This study explores the association between PFAS levels in North Carolina water supplies and glioma incidence, especially in counties near military bases.

Methods: This retrospective study, based at The University of North Carolina Neurological Surgery Department, utilizes glioma incidence data from the National Cancer Institute’s SEER Database and the North Carolina Cancer Registry. PFOS, PFOA, and GenX concentrations per county are sourced from the ECHO registry and the EPA PFAS Analytical Database. These PFAS levels are then cross-referenced with histological data from biopsied glioma tissues. Mass spectrometry is employed to analyze PFAS concentrations in these tissues, with comparisons to tumor grade and pathology markers like Ki-67 levels.

Results: Geographic analysis shows that 11 out of 14 active military bases in North Carolina are located in areas where PFAS contamination exceeds the EPA’s Health Advisory Limit (HAL), indicating a likely contribution from military activities to local PFAS pollution. Preliminary findings suggest a relationship between elevated PFAS contamination in water and an increase in glioma incidence in affected areas.

Conclusion : With the VA now recognizing brain cancers as presumptive conditions linked to military service, our findings support the potential role of PFAS in glioma development. Military bases appear to be significant sources of PFAS contamination in drinking water, underscoring the importance of further research into how environmental PFAS exposure may impact glioma pathogenesis and broader public health.