We found positive associations of breastfeeding > 12 months (vs. no breastfeeding) and serum PFOA and PFOS in infants; however, estimates were based on small numbers of observations and must be interpreted with caution.
We also observed an association between increased MN frequency in women who took baths, and a decreased frequency of MN among women who consumed primarily spring water, based on small numbers of observations.
This study is based on small numbers of observations but provides a richness of qualitative data that may not be generalised, but the commonality of themes expressed by participants suggests similarity in the experience [ 43].
Although based on small numbers of observations, this suggests that mechanisms responsible for the association between mineral oil exposure and RA may be different from those responsible for the association between smoking and RA, where a pronounced interaction between smoking and the HLA-DR SE genes was observed [ 20, 21].
Our findings were based on small numbers of observations and indirect estimates of exposure, but if confirmed, have important implications for the role of livestock operations in the MRSA epidemic, the different roles of colonization and infection studies, and the identification of other MRSA strains that may be arising from high-density livestock production.
All except the lowest of these ORs [OR = 3.0; 95% CI: 1.2, 7.8; observed for lower chlorinated PCBs in the study by Hardell et al. (2009)] are greater than would be expected under biologic independence (Rothman et al. 2008); however, most are based on small numbers of observations.
To our knowledge, we are the first to have estimated associations between breastfeeding and serum PFAA concentrations in infants, and although our findings were based on small numbers of observations, they provide preliminary evidence that breastfeeding for > 6 months may increase serum PFOS and PFOA concentrations in infants.
Although based on small numbers, both these observations are consistent with the literature (Antoniou et al, 2003; Willems et al, 2008).
Many studies have focused on long-term arithmetic mean exposure estimates based on small time scale (short-term) observations and assuming lognormal RF to model exposure distributions (Clayton et al. 1999; Wallace and Williams 2005).
This finding, albeit based on small numbers, is consistent with observations from studies conducted in cosmetic breast implant patients [ 21, 22] and suggests psychiatric consultation should also be considered for breast cancer patients seeking reconstructive surgery with breast implants.
