Abstract
Background: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are stable and persistent in the environment, animals, and humans. PFASs can penetrate placenta and affect fetal growth. We investigated associations between prenatal exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctyl sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUA) and global methylation levels. Specific Aims and Methods: The study used the subjects from Taiwan Birth Panel birth cohort study, including all pregnant women who gave birth between July 2004 and June 2005 in four hospitals in Taipei city and New Taipei City. A total of 363 mother-infant pairs were included in the final analyses. PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, and PFUA were measured by UPLC-MS/MS in cord blood. LINE-1 and Alu repeated elements from cord blood was used to represent global DNA methylation levels. Multivariable regression models were used to adjust potential confounders. Results: After controlling for potential confounders, each unit increase in the natural log-transformed PFOS exposure was associated with an adjusted OR of 1.72 (95% CI: 1.03, 2.88) for low Alu methylation level when dichotomized methylation level by medium. No significant effects between PFOA, PFNA, PFUA and methylation levels in the multivariable regression models were observed. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that prenatal PFOS exposure may be associated with low Alu methylation level.
Highlights
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), a class of man-made chemicals, are composed of completely fluorinated carbon chains with different functional head groups
perfluorooctyl sulfonate (PFOS) exposure was associated with an adjusted OR of 1.72 for low Alu methylation level when dichotomized methylation level by medium
Our findings suggest that prenatal PFOS exposure may be associated with low Alu methylation level
Summary
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), a class of man-made chemicals, are composed of completely fluorinated carbon chains with different functional head groups. Due to the strong carbon-fluorine bond, PFASs are stable and persistent in the environment, including air dust, surface water and soil, and in many species, range from wildlife, plants and humans. Animal [2,3,4,5] and human studies [6,7,8] have reported PFOS and PFOA exposure, especially during pregnancy, were associated with adverse birth outcomes [4,6,9,10], allergic responses [11,12], and cancer through a non-genotoxic mechanism [13]. We investigated associations between prenatal exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctyl sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUA) and global methylation levels. LINE-1 and Alu repeated elements from cord blood was used to represent global
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