Longitudinal poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) levels in Dutch infants

Inge A L P van Beijsterveldt; Bertrand D van Zelst; Sjoerd A A van den Berg; Kirsten S de Fluiter; Manouk van der Steen; Anita C S Hokken-Koelega

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2021.107068

Longitudinal poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) levels in Dutch infants

Environ Int. 2022 Feb:160:107068. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.107068. Epub 2021 Dec 27.

Authors

Inge A L P van Beijsterveldt¹, Bertrand D van Zelst², Sjoerd A A van den Berg³, Kirsten S de Fluiter⁴, Manouk van der Steen⁵, Anita C S Hokken-Koelega⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Subdivision of Endocrinology, Erasmus University Medical Center /Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: i.vanbeijsterveldt@erasmusmc.nl.
² Diagnostic Laboratory of Endocrinology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
³ Diagnostic Laboratory of Endocrinology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Chemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, Subdivision of Endocrinology, Erasmus University Medical Center /Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
⁵ Dutch Growth Research Foundation, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
⁶ Department of Pediatrics, Subdivision of Endocrinology, Erasmus University Medical Center /Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Dutch Growth Research Foundation, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

PMID: 34968992
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.107068

Abstract

Background and aims: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a potential hazard for public health. These man-made-chemicals are non-degradable with an elimination half-life of multiple years, causing accumulation in the environment and humans. Rodent studies demonstrated that PFAS are harmful, especially when present during the critical window in the first months of life. Because longitudinal data during infancy are limited, we investigated longitudinal plasma levels in infants aged 3 months and 2 years and its most important determinants.

Methods: In 369 healthy term-born Dutch infants, we determined plasma PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFNA and PFDA levels at age 3 months and 2 years, using liquid chromatography-electrospray-ionization-tandem-mass-spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). We studied the associations with maternal and child characteristics by multiple regression models.

Results: At age 3 months, median plasma levels of PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFNA and PFDA were 1.48, 2.40, 0.43, 0.23 and 0.07 ng/mL, resp. Levels decreased slightly until age 2 years to 1.30, 1.81, 0.40, 0.21 and 0.08 ng/mL, resp. Maternal age, first born, Caucasian ethnicity and exclusive breastfeeding were associated with higher infant's plasma levels at age 3 months. Levels at 3 months were the most important predictor for PFAS levels at age 2 years. Infants with exclusive breastfeeding during the first 3 months of life (EBF) had 2-3 fold higher levels throughout infancy compared to infants with exclusive formula feeding (EFF), with PFOA levels at 3 months 3.72 ng/mL versus 1.26 ng/mL and at 2 years 3.15 ng/mL versus 1.22 ng/mL, respectively.

Conclusion: Plasma PFAS levels decreased only slightly during infancy. Higher levels at age 3 months were found in Caucasian, first-born infants from older mothers and throughout infancy in EBF-infants. Our findings indicate that trans-placental transmission and breastfeeding are the most important determinants of PFAS exposure in early life.

Keywords: Breastfeeding; Exposure; Infants; PFAS; Plasma.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Alkanesulfonic Acids* / analysis
Environmental Pollutants*
Ethnicity
Female
Fluorocarbons*
Humans
Placenta / chemistry
Pregnancy
Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

Alkanesulfonic Acids
Environmental Pollutants
Fluorocarbons