Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and birth outcomes: A longitudinal cohort with repeated measurements

Lin Chen; Chuanliang Tong; Xiaona Huo; Jun Zhang; Ying Tian; Shanghai Birth Cohort

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128899

Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and birth outcomes: A longitudinal cohort with repeated measurements

Chemosphere. 2021 Mar:267:128899. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128899. Epub 2020 Nov 7.

Authors

Lin Chen¹, Chuanliang Tong², Xiaona Huo¹, Jun Zhang³, Ying Tian⁴; Shanghai Birth Cohort

Affiliations

¹ Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
² The International Peace Maternity & Child Health Hospital of China Welfare Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
³ Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: junjimzhang@sina.com.
⁴ Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: tianmiejp@sjtu.edu.cn.

PMID: 33220988
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128899

Abstract

Background: Previous studies on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) showed inconsistent results when biological samples were collected in different time of pregnancy.

Objectives: To describe the change of PFAS concentration during pregnancy and to identify a sensitive window for adverse effects of PFAS on the fetus.

Methods: A total of 255 pregnant women were selected from the Shanghai Birth Cohort (SBC). We quantified 10 PFAS with high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) in maternal plasma at three trimesters and cord blood at delivery. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to analyze the association between PFAS and birth outcomes, including birth weight, birth length, and head circumference.

Results: The concentrations of most PFAS declined substantially during pregnancy. PFOS, PFNA, PFDA, PFUA and PFDoA were negatively related to birth length only in the first trimester. The coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of birth length change with a log-unit increase in PFOS, PFNA, PFDA, PFUS and PFDoA concentrations were -0.27 cm (-0.51, -0.02), -0.34 cm (-0.65, -0.03), -0.27 cm (-0.53, -0.01), -0.29 cm (-0.58, -0.01), and -0.54 cm (-1.00, -0.08), respectively. The effects were only observed for female fetuses. No association between PFAS and birth weight or head circumference was observed.

Conclusion: The concentrations of most PFAS in the maternal circulation declined during pregnancy. There were negative associations between several PFAS and birth length. The sensitive window of exposure appeared to be the first trimester. The association was stronger for female fetuses.

Keywords: Birth length; PFAS; Pregnant; SBC.

MeSH terms

Alkanesulfonic Acids*
China
Environmental Pollutants*
Female
Fluorocarbons*
Humans
Pregnancy
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects*
Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

Alkanesulfonic Acids
Environmental Pollutants
Fluorocarbons