Abstract
BackgroundPrenatal exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and psychosocial stressors has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth. Previous studies have suggested that joint exposure to environmental chemical and social stressors may be contributing to disparities observed in preterm birth. Elevated corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) during mid-gestation may represent one biologic mechanism linking chemical and nonchemical stress exposures to preterm birth.MethodsUsing data from a prospective birth cohort (N = 497), we examined the cross-sectional associations between five individual PFAS (ng/mL; PFNA, PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, and Me-PFOSA-AcOH) and CRH (pg/mL) using linear regression. PFAS and CRH were measured during the second trimester in serum and plasma, respectively. Coefficients were standardized to reflect change in CRH associated with an interquartile range (IQR) increase in natural log-transformed PFAS. We additionally examined if the relationship between PFAS and CRH was modified by psychosocial stress using stratified models. Self-reported depression, stressful life events, perceived stress, food insecurity, and financial strain were assessed using validated questionnaires during the second trimester and included as binary indicators of psychosocial stress.ResultsAn IQR increase in PFNA was associated with elevated CRH (β = 5.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.79, 8.55). Increased concentrations of PFOA were also moderately associated with CRH (β = 3.62, 95% CI = −0.42, 7.66). The relationship between PFNA and CRH was stronger among women who experienced stressful life events, depression, food insecurity, and financial strain compared to women who did not experience these stressors.ConclusionsThis cross-sectional study is the first to examine the relationship between PFAS exposure and CRH levels in mid-gestation. We found that these associations were stronger among women who experienced stress, which aligns with previous findings that chemical and nonchemical stressor exposures can have joint effects on health outcomes.
Highlights
Exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is ubiquitous in the US, with >95% of individuals having detectable serum levels [1]
corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) was stronger among women who experienced stressful life events (β = 7.06, 95% CI = 2.82, 11.3), depression (β = 20.77, 95% CI = 1.56, 39.99), food insecurity (β = 9.52, 95% CI = 1.72, 17.32), and financial strain (β = 10.61, 95% CI = 4.90, 16.33) compared to women who did not experience these stressors (Fig. 2 and Tables S5, S7– S9)
Among a diverse population of pregnant women in San Francisco, we found that an interquartile range (IQR) increase in levels of perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) in maternal serum was associated with higher CRH concentrations during the second trimester
Summary
Exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is ubiquitous in the US, with >95% of individuals having detectable serum levels [1]. Previous studies have linked prenatal PFAS exposure to increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Despite the consistency in these associations, the biologic pathways that link PFAS to preterm birth largely remain unknown. Prenatal exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and psychosocial stressors has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth. Previous studies have suggested that joint exposure to environmental chemical and social stressors may be contributing to disparities observed in preterm birth. Elevated corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) during mid-gestation may represent one biologic mechanism linking chemical and nonchemical stress exposures to preterm birth
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