Exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and age at menopause in the Canadian prospective cohort study CartaGene

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental chemicals commonly found in consumer products and widely detected in the Canadian population. This project examines whether exposure to PFAS influences the timing of menopause by measuring PFAS levels in blood samples collected from nearly 2,800 premenopausal women participating in CARTaGENE and linking these measurements to subsequent menopausal outcomes. Preliminary findings show that several PFAS were detected in most participants, while exposure to newer PFAS compounds was generally low. The study also found that pregnancy and breastfeeding were associated with lower levels of several PFAS, highlighting their role in eliminating these chemicals from the body. By improving understanding of PFAS exposure patterns and their potential effects on reproductive aging, this research may help inform future environmental health policies and public health guidelines in Canada.

• Environment and lifestyle
• Public health and epidemiology

• Biochemical and hematological data
• Biological samples
• Physical and cognitive measures
• Questionnaire data