Abstract
BackgroundHumans are widely exposed to environmental perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which may affect fetal neurodevelopment. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important factor in neurodevelopment, but its role in PFAS-induced neurotoxicity is unclear. We investigated the association between prenatal PFAS exposure and fetal BDNF level in the umbilical cord blood in a large prospective cohort.MethodsA total of 725 pregnant women who participated in the Shanghai Birth Cohort were included. 10 PFAS were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS-MS) in the plasma samples of early pregnancy. The BDNF level was determined by ELISA. The concentration of total mercury (Hg) in the umbilical cord blood was tested by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and included as a main confounder, along with other covariates. Multiple linear regression was used to explore the associations between PFAS concentrations and BDNF level. Quantile-based g-computation was applied to explore the joint and independent effects of PFAS on BDNF level.ResultsThe mean BDNF level in the total population was 10797 (±4713) pg/ml. Male fetuses had a higher level than female fetuses (P<0.001). A significant positive association was observed between PFHxS and BDNF level after adjusting for potential confounders [β=1285 (95% CI: 453, 2118, P=0.003)]. No association was observed between other PFAS congeners and BDNF level. Results of the mixed exposure model showed that the joint effects of PFAS mixture were not associated with BDNF [β=447 (95% CI: -83, 978, P=0.10)], while the positive association with PFHxS exposure remained significant after controlling for other PFAS [β=592 (95% CI: 226, 958, P=0.002)]. The above associations were more prominent in male [β=773 (95% CI: 25, 1520, P= 0.04)] than female fetuses [β=105 (95% CI: -791, 1002, P= 0.82)] for the mixed effects.ConclusionsPrenatal exposure to PFHxS was associated with an increased BDNF level in the umbilical blood, especially in male fetuses.
Highlights
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals and have been used extensively in industrial and consumer products due to their thermal stability, hydrophobic and oleophobic properties
We investigated the association between prenatal PFAS exposure and fetal Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level in the umbilical cord blood in a large prospective cohort
No association was observed between other PFAS congeners and BDNF level
Summary
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals and have been used extensively in industrial and consumer products due to their thermal stability, hydrophobic and oleophobic properties. They are commonly used as additives in oil- and water-resistant paper, clothing, carpets, food packing material and kitchenware. Even though perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) had been phased out in industrial production in most western countries, they are still universally detectable across populations worldwide due to their long persistence and bioaccumulation in human biomonitoring [1]. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important factor in neurodevelopment, but its role in PFAS-induced neurotoxicity is unclear. We investigated the association between prenatal PFAS exposure and fetal BDNF level in the umbilical cord blood in a large prospective cohort
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