Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure profiles for pregnant women living in urban, rural, and remote areas of Suriname, South America suggest higher serum concentrations in remote rainforest communities

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2026 Jul 23. doi: 10.1038/s41370-026-00950-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse group of organofluorine compounds used in industrial and consumer applications. The primary route of human exposure to PFAS is ingestion of contaminated food and drinking water, representing a significant and sometimes unavoidable exposure for many populations. Ecotoxicological and epidemiological studies have established associations between PFAS exposures and adverse health effects. Fetal and childhood development is a particularly susceptible window of exposure.

OBJECTIVE: We characterized PFAS exposures for pregnant women in Suriname who identified as Indigenous or Tribal Peoples, and we examined regional variations in exposure patterns between urban, rural, and remote populations.

METHODS: We measured 24 PFAS analytes in the blood serum of 100 pregnant Tribal and Indigenous women living in Suriname. Samples were collected from December 2016 to July 2019 and were purposively selected for laboratory analysis. We assessed differences in serum concentrations visually and statistically by location and ethnicity.

RESULTS: Ten unique PFAS were detected in at least one sample. The median total PFAS across all participants was 1.05 ng/mL (IQR: 0.73-1.45 ng/mL). The most frequently detected PFAS were PFOS (DF = 100%, median concentration ( $\tilde{x}$ ) = 0.59 ng/mL), PFOA (DF = 86%, $\tilde{x}$ = 0.15 ng/mL), PFNA (DF = 84%, $\tilde{x}$ = 0.09 ng/mL), PFUnDA (DF = 72%, $\tilde{x}$ = 0.09 ng/mL), and PFHxS (DF = 71%, $\tilde{x}$ = 0.06 ng/mL). Median total PFAS concentrations were highest for participants in the remote interior district, although differences among the districts were not statistically significant (p = 0.37) and should be interpreted cautiously due to limited statistical power. Indigenous Peoples tended to have higher total PFAS in their blood serum ( $\tilde{x}$ = 1.25 ng/mL) compared to Tribal Peoples ( $\tilde{x}$ = 0.84 ng/mL, p < 0.01), although we did not assess potential confounding variables.

SIGNIFICANCE: Our analysis revealed mostly long-chain legacy PFAS with possibly different exposure risks for secluded interior communities compared to urban-coastal populations, indicating a need for contaminant source assessments.

IMPACT: Our study adds to the growing literature around PFAS exposures for people living in remote areas. Suriname aims to reduce environmental contamination from persistent organic pollutants through the Stockholm Treaty. Our study provides data needed for policymakers and communities to make informed decisions about their environmental health.

PMID:42493588 | DOI:10.1038/s41370-026-00950-y