Study: blood donations reducing PFAS levels

Take away:

Both blood and plasma donations were effective in reduction of PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) type of PFAS. Plasma donations were more effective than whole blood donations.

Only plasma donation reduced the PFHxS (Perfluorohexane sulfonate) levels type of PFAS.

Plasma donation is more effective than blood donation at lowering PFOS levels:

In this randomized clinical trial of 285 firefighters, both blood and plasma donations resulted in significantly lower PFAS levels than observation alone. Plasma donation was the most effective intervention, reducing mean serum perfluorooctane sulfonate levels by 2.9 ng/mL compared with a 1.1-ng/mL reduction with blood donation, a significant difference; similar changes were seen with other PFASs. - ref

Note: The groups started with around 13-ng/mL concentration of PFOS.

Approximate percentage reduction

After 8 donations,reduction in PFOS levels:

• Approximately 20% reduction in PFOS for plasma donation
• Approximately 8% reduction for whole blood donation

How often

Firefighters with baseline PFOS levels of 5 ng/mL or more were randomly assigned to donate plasma every 6 weeks for 12 months, donate blood every 12 weeks for 12 months (8 times), or be observed only. - ref

Only Plasma worked for PFHxS

The mean level of PFHxS was significantly reduced by plasma donation (–1.1 ng/mL; 95% CI, –1.6 to –0.7 ng/mL; P < .001), but no significant change was observed in the blood donation or observation groups. - study