Associations between prenatal maternal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) with birth outcomes among pregnant women in San Francisco

Abstract

Background: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are used in consumer products for their water repellent and flame retardant properties, respectively. Both PFAS and PBDEs have been found to travel from the placenta to the fetus. There is concern about their potential harm to the developing fetus.Methods: We examined the association between prenatal exposure to 12 PFAS and 19 PBDEs, measured in maternal serum during the 2nd trimester of pregnancy, with low birth weight (LBW; <2500 grams) and preterm birth (PTB; gestational age <37 weeks) among women in the San Francisco Bay Area between 2014 and 2018. In our analysis, we included 5 PFAS and 2 PBDE congeners with >80% of samples above the minimum detection limit.Results: Adjusted logistic regression models showed a slightly elevated risk of LBW associated with increasing concentrations of PFNA (odds ratio [OR]= 1.56, 95% confidence interval [CI]= 0.85, 2.77, N=474), PFOS (OR=1.03, 95% CI= 0.59, 1.74, N=476), PFOA (OR=1.62, 95% CI= 0.87, 2.96, N=476), Me-PFOSA-AcOH (OR=1.05, 95% CI= 0.59, 1.77, N=475), PFHxS (OR=1.24, 95% CI= 0.70, 2.11, N=476). We also observed a slightly increased risk of PTB associated with higher concentrations of PFNA (OR=1.32, 95% CI= 0.78, 2.17, N=479), PFOA (OR=1.54, 95% CI= 0.89, 2.63, N=481), and Me-PFOSA-AcOH (OR=1.10, 95% CI= 0.71, 1.67, N=480).Conclusions: Our findings suggest that increased maternal serum PFAS concentrations may be associated with LBW and PTB. There was no evidence of an association between maternal serum concentrations of PBDEs and LBW or PTB.