The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) awarded a $709,575 Project Grant (CFDA 93.113 - Environmental Health) to the University of Southern California (USC) to conduct a prospective study on the impact of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure on bone health in the Latino population across different life stages.
The key objectives of this 5-year research project are to: 1) determine the associations between plasma PFAS concentrations and measures of bone mineral density, bone turnover, and bone structural quality in Latino adolescents, young adults, and older adults; 2) investigate the relationship between PFAS exposure and dysregulation of plasma proteins involved in inflammation, bone metabolism, and maintenance pathways; and 3) develop integrated risk profiles for impaired bone health in Latino populations across the life course. The study will leverage data from three distinct, well-characterized longitudinal cohorts to provide a comprehensive assessment of PFAS effects on bone health throughout different life stages. Cutting-edge omics and data science methodologies will be employed to elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms. The findings have the potential to inform the development of targeted environmental health strategies to mitigate adverse bone health outcomes in high-risk Latino populations.