Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and children’s allergic diseases

Abstract

TPS 752: Respiratory effects and allergies, Exhibition Hall, Ground floor, August 27, 2019, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Background/Aim: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widely present and previous studies showed their association with allergic diseases. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationships between prenatal exposure to PFASs and allergic diseases in childhood. Methods: The participants were 486 mother-infant pairs from Taiwan Birth Panel Study. During the follow-ups, we collected the information on allergic diseases using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaires when they were two, three and nine years old. PFASs in cord blood were analyzed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/ tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Among 282 study children, the mean concentrations of PFAS including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUA) in cord blood were 2.49, 5.67, 6.91, and 15.92 ng/mL, respectively. Proportions of children with allergic diseases including atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis were 22.3% in two years old, 11.7% in three years old, and 38.3% in nine years old. There was a significant association between PFUA and atopic dermatitis at the age of three, and a similar association between PFOS and asthma in nine-year-old children. Conclusions: Our study shows that PFOS and PFUA may be associated with occurrences of allergic diseases. Further mechanistic investigations are needed.