Perfluoroalkyl acid levels in first-time mothers in relation to offspring weight gain and growth

Irina Gyllenhammar,Barbro Diderholm,Jan Gustafsson,Urs Berger,Peter Ridefelt,Jonathan P Benskin,Sanna Lignell,Erik Lampa,Anders Glynn

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2017.12.002

Abstract

We investigated if maternal body burdens of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) at the time of delivery are associated with birth outcome and if early life exposure (in utero/nursing) is associated with early childhood growth and weight gain. Maternal PFAA body burdens were estimated by analysis of serum samples from mothers living in Uppsala County, Sweden (POPUP), sampled three weeks after delivery between 1996 and 2011. Data on child length and weight were collected from medical records and converted into standard deviation scores (SDS). Multiple linear regression models with appropriate covariates were used to analyze associations between maternal PFAA levels and birth outcomes (n=381). After birth Generalized Least Squares models were used to analyze associations between maternal PFAA and child growth (n=200). Inverse associations were found between maternal levels of perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), and birth weight SDS with a change of −0.10 to −0.18 weight SDS for an inter-quartile range (IQR) increase in ng/g PFAA. After birth, weight and length SDS were not significantly associated with maternal PFAA. However, BMI SDS was significantly associated with PFOA, PFNA, and PFHxS at 3 and 4years of age, and with PFOS at 4 and 5years of age. If causal, these associations suggest that PFAA affects fetal and childhood body development in different directions.

Highlights

Owing to their stability and combined water and oil repelling properties, perfluoroalkyl moieties have been incorporated into numerous commercial products for over 50 years
Most studies have focused on perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) humans are exposed to numerous other polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), only a fraction of which are known
The aim of the present study was to investigate if maternal body burdens of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) at delivery are associated with birth outcomes and offspring weight gain and growth

Summary

Introduction

Owing to their stability and combined water and oil repelling properties, perfluoroalkyl moieties have been incorporated into numerous commercial products for over 50 years. Over 3000 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are known to exist on the global market. The perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) have garnered considerable international attention due to their environmental persistence and global occurrence in humans and wildlife. Pathways of human exposure are numerous and include food, drinking water, dust and air. Studies investigating associations between maternal PFAA concentrations in serum/plasma and birth weight in humans have reported conflicting results (Johnson et al, 2014; Bach et al, 2015). Most studies have focused on perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) humans are exposed to numerous other PFASs, only a fraction of which are known

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