Read the study here.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A new scientific study has found a possible connection between increased cholesterol levels and concentrations of the toxic chemical C8 similar to those present in an average American's blood.

Researchers at Boston University found C8 levels were associated with higher cholesterol in blood samples from a national Centers for Disease Control survey used to monitor levels of chemicals in the general U.S. population.

Previous studies of workers and of people who live near plants where C8 was made or used reported similar findings, but based on much higher levels of C8. The median C8 level in the blood samples in the new study was 3.8 parts per billion, similar to what has been found in various studies of the general population.

"We think that's important and it's provocative," said Jessica Nelson of the BU School of Public Health and the study's lead author. "We need to know what is really going on."

The study was published online Monday by Environmental Health Perspectives, the peer-reviewed journal of the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

It comes just days after the public disclosure of new data that found higher cholesterol levels among children who live near the DuPont Co.'s Washington Works plant near Parkersburg and had higher C8 levels in their blood.

C8 is another name for perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA. It is one of a family of perfluorinated chemicals, or PFCs. In West Virginia, DuPont had used C8 since the 1950s at its Washington Works plant south of Parkersburg. C8 is a processing agent used to make Teflon and other nonstick and stain-resistant products.

Around the world, researchers are finding that people have C8 and other PFCs in their blood at low levels. People can be exposed by drinking contaminated water, eating tainted food or through food packaging and stain-proof agents on furniture or carpeting.

Read the study here.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A new scientific study has found a possible connection between increased cholesterol levels and concentrations of the toxic chemical C8 similar to those present in an average American's blood.

Researchers at Boston University found C8 levels were associated with higher cholesterol in blood samples from a national Centers for Disease Control survey used to monitor levels of chemicals in the general U.S. population.

Previous studies of workers and of people who live near plants where C8 was made or used reported similar findings, but based on much higher levels of C8. The median C8 level in the blood samples in the new study was 3.8 parts per billion, similar to what has been found in various studies of the general population.

"We think that's important and it's provocative," said Jessica Nelson of the BU School of Public Health and the study's lead author. "We need to know what is really going on."

The study was published online Monday by Environmental Health Perspectives, the peer-reviewed journal of the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

It comes just days after the public disclosure of new data that found higher cholesterol levels among children who live near the DuPont Co.'s Washington Works plant near Parkersburg and had higher C8 levels in their blood.

C8 is another name for perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA. It is one of a family of perfluorinated chemicals, or PFCs. In West Virginia, DuPont had used C8 since the 1950s at its Washington Works plant south of Parkersburg. C8 is a processing agent used to make Teflon and other nonstick and stain-resistant products.

Around the world, researchers are finding that people have C8 and other PFCs in their blood at low levels. People can be exposed by drinking contaminated water, eating tainted food or through food packaging and stain-proof agents on furniture or carpeting.

Evidence is mounting about the chemical's dangers, but regulators have yet to set a binding limit for emissions or human exposure.

Among other things, scientists have been concerned that C8 and similar PFCs could be causing increased total cholesterol and, especially, increased "bad cholesterol" in exposed humans.

High cholesterol is closely linked to coronary heart disease and related disorders. While changes in diet and lifestyle are considered important factors, there is growing interest among scientists in the potential role that chemical exposure may play in these disorders.

BU researchers separated blood samples into those with varying levels of C8. Those with the highest had a median of about 6.9 parts per billion. Those with the lowest had a median of about 2.1 parts per billion. In the group with the highest levels, the researchers found an increase in total cholesterol levels of 9.8 milligrams per deciliter, compared to those with the lowest levels.

Generally, a cholesterol level of 200 milligrams per deciliter is considered desirable. An increase to between 200 and 240 becomes borderline high risk, and higher than 240 is considered a high risk.

The new paper also reported that for every additional 1 part per billion of C8 in the blood, researchers found a corresponding increase in total cholesterol levels of 1.22 milligrams per deciliter.

The researchers said they found "little evidence" consistent with an association between C8 levels and body size or insulin resistance, the other specific issues they examined.

One weakness in the study is that it used one measure of C8 in blood at one particular time. Because it didn't measure C8 changes over time, researchers could not say if the chemical exposure of the higher cholesterol levels came first.

"Despite its limitations, this study contributes to the literature suggesting that PFC exposure may disrupt cholesterol metabolism or homeostasis in humans," the study said. "While this study does not demonstrate a casual association between PFC exposure and serum cholesterol levels, it provides clues about where to focus future epidemiologic and toxicology research."

Reach Ken Ward Jr. at kw...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1702.