Population demographic patterns in PFAS-neurological health research

The Institute of Medicine's Board on Health Sciences Policy emphasizes that accurately measuring race and ethnicity is crucial in health services research, as these factors influence the quality of care individuals receive, regardless of socioeconomic status. Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called "forever chemicals", have been linked to various health issues, including neurological effects. While epidemiological studies have explored how PFAS impacts neurological health, participant demographic diversity remains underexamined. This study examined racial and ethnic representation in existing research on PFAS and neurological health outcomes. We hypothesized that, compared to the demographic distribution reported in the United States of America (U.S.) Census, minority groups would be underrepresented in these studies. We analyzed demographic reporting in neurological health studies identified through the PFAS-Tox Database, comparing racial and ethnic representation to U.S. Census data. Our analysis revealed significant disparities in racial and ethnic representation. White individuals were overrepresented by 12.8% (p < 0.001), while Black, Asian, and American Indian or Alaska Native individuals were underrepresented by 5.6% (p < 0.001), 6.1% (p < 0.001), and 1.3% (p < 0.001), respectively. Hispanic individuals were underrepresented by 8.2% (p < 0.001). Limitations, including geographic bias toward studies in Ohio and inconsistencies in race/ethnicity categorization, may have influenced these disparities. Future research should expand to more diverse regions, standardize demographic reporting, and adopt targeted recruitment strategies to improve inclusivity and support equitable public health interventions for PFAS exposure.