Prenatal exposures to mixtures of endocrine disrupting chemicals and children\u2019s weight trajectory up to age 5.5 in the SELMA study

Katherine Svensson,Christian Lindh,Chris Gennings,Hannu Kiviranta,Sverre Wikström,Eva Tanner,Carl-Gustaf Bornehag

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-89846-5

Abstract

Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may impact early growth, although information is limited on exposure to combination of multiple EDCs. We aimed to evaluate the effect of prenatal exposure to EDC mixtures on birthweight z-scores and childhood weight trajectories. Twenty-six proven and suspected EDCs, were analyzed in prenatal urine and blood samples from 1118 mothers participating in the Swedish Environmental Longitudinal Mother and child Asthma and allergy (SELMA) study. Two growth parameters were estimated from each child’s weight trajectory from birth to 5.5 years of age: infant growth spurt rate and age at infant peak growth velocity (PGV). Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression was used to estimate the mixture effect and identify chemicals of concern. A one-unit increase in the EDC mixture WQS index, was associated with decreased birthweight z-scores of 0.11 (95% CI − 0.16, − 0.06), slower infant growth spurt rate of 0.01 (95% CI − 0.03, − 0.01, on the log10 scale), and delayed age at infant PGV of 0.15 months (95% CI 0.07, 0.24) after adjusting for potential confounders. Stratified analysis by sex, showed that delayed age at infant PGV was mostly observed in girls with 0.51 months (95% CI 0.26, 0.76). Identified chemicals of concern included perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), Triclosan, phthalates, non-phthalate plasticizers, bisphenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides and PCBs. Prenatal exposure to EDC mixtures was associated with lower birthweight and altered infant weight gain trajectories.

Highlights

Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may impact early growth, information is limited on exposure to combination of multiple EDCs
We evaluated the effect of prenatal exposure to a mixture of 26 proven and suspect EDCs on children’s birthweight and weight trajectory parameters from birth until 5.5 years of age using data from 1118 women and their children participating in the Swedish Environmental Longitudinal, Mother and child, Asthma and allergy (SELMA) study
perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) had the highest geometric mean (GM) at 5.5 ng/mL followed by PFOA at 1.6 ng/mL, and in plasma the GM of the ΣPCBs was 0.4 ng/mL

Summary

Introduction

Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may impact early growth, information is limited on exposure to combination of multiple EDCs. We aimed to evaluate the effect of prenatal exposure to EDC mixtures on birthweight z-scores and childhood weight trajectories. Identified chemicals of concern included perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), Triclosan, phthalates, non-phthalate plasticizers, bisphenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides and PCBs. Prenatal exposure to EDC mixtures was associated with lower birthweight and altered infant weight gain trajectories. Of special concern are those chemicals with suspected or proven endocrine disrupting properties (EDCs) (e.g., phthalates, perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)) which have been associated with adverse health effects impacting the metabolism (e.g., diabetes, insulin resistance), neurodevelopment (e.g., IQ), respiratory (e.g., asthma) and reproductive (e.g., early puberty) health[12,13]. Developing fetuses are considered especially vulnerable as EDCs may pass through the p lacenta[12,16], and exposure to EDCs during sensitive periods of development may result in permanent damage with long-term health e ffects[17]

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