Target Group: PhD student (1 month)

Project description (project #2): Adverse health effects from occupational exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances: a systematic review​

Description of organization “Armed Forces Centre for Defense medicine”
The main goal of Armed Forces Centre for Defense Medicine is to preserve the wellbeing of personnel, via preventive medicine during national and international missions to emergency medical treatment of gunshot wounds in combat. Our members are officers, civilian specialists, group commanders and officer reservists –ensuring care is provided during peacetime, on international missions, at times of crisis and in combat.¹ 

Description of project
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is a large synthetic group of highly fluorinated organic chemicals that serves as surfactants and surface protectors in industries and consumer products. High level of PFAS in drinking water has been detected around Sweden², including in areas were the Swedish Armed Forces practice firefighting³. In these areas, civilian have been exposed to PFAS and studies have found elevated serum levels of certain PFAS. In addition, military personnel exposed to firefighting foam also have elevated levels of serum PFAS.  

Several health effects are associated with PFAS, such as liver cancer, kidney cancer, changes in levels of liver enzymes and total cholesterol. However, scientific data are not conclusive. 

Objective: The overall aim of this research is to examine the current understanding of negative health effects from occupational exposure to PFAS.  

Methods: A systematic literature search in accordance with the guidelines from PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) was recently made in the form of a diploma work.⁴ This research needs to be complemented with an additional reviewer to review eligible research articles. 

Goal: to complete the systematic literature search into a manuscript and to submit the manuscript to a scientific journal.  

The project gives the student opportunity to:   

• Screen and review PFAS literature to meet the demands for publication. 
• Practice on QA of scientific papers according to NOS and AMSTAR 2. 
• Get a deeper understanding on health risks in relation to PFAS exposures. 
  
  

Suitable qualifications of applicant:  

• Background in occupational medicine/hygiene, toxicology, epidemiology or similar fields  
• Skills in statistics and systematic literature research 
• Scientific writing (English) 

Project period:  From April 2025 

Workplace: Your ordinary workplace, but with possibility to visit Joint Centre for Defense Medicine. 

Interaction with other people:  To be announced 

Contact person: Dr. Fabian Taube, associate professor, phone: +46 70-335 14 09, Email: fabian.taube@mil.se