• The CDC has recognized a link between exposure to high levels of PFAS and impacts on the immune system.
   

• Data collected from human and animal trials have indicated a muted antibody response to vaccines and may reduce overall resistance to infectious diseases.
   

• There is still relatively little known about Covid-19, but a growing body of evidence suggests that PFAS exposure impacts general immune system response. These trends can likely be extrapolated to effects of COVID-19.

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• In addition to dampening vaccine efficacy, the interference of PFAS on the immune system can worsen COVID-19 associated illness. A recent study showed a statistically significant correlation between PFAS serum concentration and COVID-19 severity (Grandjean et al., 2020). This study documents a correlation between illness severity and PFAS exposure however, due to the novelty of the research and multiple confounding factors, results do not support a causal link.

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• PFBA, a type of PFAS, has been found to concentrate in the lungs which provides a future avenue for research regarding the link to COVID-19.

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• Finally, most research in this area has been conducted with background levels of PFAS exposure. The present findings suggest a need to extend studies to include subjects exposed to higher levels of environmental immunotoxicants.

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