Xeno-estrogenic activity of real-life mixtures of perfluoroalkylated substances in human placenta homogenates

Reprod Toxicol. 2023 Sep:120:108444. doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2023.108444. Epub 2023 Jul 19.

Abstract

Humans are simultaneously exposed to complex chemical mixtures, and its combined effect can affect human health. As part of the HBM4EU project, the actual mixture of perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) in 25 human placenta samples was extracted by chromatographic methods and assessed for xeno-estrogenic activity using two in-vitro bioassays: the estrogen receptor transactivity and the E-Screen assay. Most of the PFAS extracts displayed xeno-estrogenic activity, in one or both assays. The xeno-estrogenic activities in the two bioassays were not correlated, but both assays showed an overall negative correlation with placenta concentrations of single PFAS. Xeno-estrogenic activities were significantly related to maternal characteristics; being higher in young, smokers and primiparous women, but not with fetal growth (birth weight, birth length, head circumference, gestational age, placenta weight). The presented extraction method can be used to study the combined effect of real-life mixtures of PFAS in relation to health outcomes in large-scale human biomonitoring studies.

Keywords: Chemical mixtures; Endocrine disruptors; Fluorocarbon; HBM4EU; Pregnancy outcomes; Xeno-estrogenic activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Birth Weight
  • Endocrine Disruptors* / analysis
  • Endocrine Disruptors* / toxicity
  • Female
  • Fluorocarbons* / toxicity
  • Humans
  • Placenta / chemistry
  • Pregnancy
  • Receptors, Estrogen

Substances

  • Endocrine Disruptors
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Fluorocarbons