Today FORMAS granted a follow-up project of MiSSE where the health effects of the per- and polyfluroalkyl substances (PFASs) will be in focus. In MiSSE we could show that all household cats are exposed to PFAS levels similar to humans, with levels of the two regulated PFASs perfluoroctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) up to 5 and 15 ng/mL serum respectively (Weiss et al 2021).

In this newly granted project, abbreviated FELIX, we will further investigate the exposure by analysis of >200 PFASs in cats and their environment. Cat serum PFAS levels will investigated for associations to cats’ health status, including feline hyperthyroidism, diabetes, acromegaly and obesity; endocrine diseases with shared etiology in cats and humans. Cat hair will be investigated as a non-invasive sampling matrix for analysis of PFAS and cortisol, linking the exposure to chronic stress and effects on the glucocorticoids, which will simplify feline diagnostics.

FELIX will start in early 2022.