Prenatal PFAS Exposure Influences Infant Lean and Fat Mass

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have shown maternal exposure to Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) during pregnancy to be associated with birthweight and infant body composition. Childhood obesity rates among Hispanic and African American populations continue to rise and understanding the role of modifiable chemical exposures may reduce the burden of childhood obesity. Methods: Maternal blood samples collected at a mean of 18.8±9.0 weeks gestation from 34 predominantly Hispanic (76.5%) pregnant mothers (mean age 29.5±6.4 years) from the Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors (MADRES) cohort were assayed for levels of 14 PFAS. Infant body composition was measured at 1-2 months (52.9% female, mean age 37.9±6.9 days old) by novel technology using quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (QMR) to assess infant fat and lean mass. Associations between prenatal PFAS levels and infant body composition were assessed by multiple linear regression. Results: Of the PFAS measured, Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS, mean 1.3±0.9 ng/mL), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, mean 0.2±0.3 ng/ml), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA, mean 0.08±0.11 ng/mL), Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA, mean 0.05±0.04ng/mL), and Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHXA, mean 1.1±0.6ng/mL) were detected above the limit of detection in more than 50% of samples. These chemicals were all significantly correlated to each other (R=0.51-0.80). After controlling for gestational age at time of blood collection and child age at scan, infant fat mass (mean 1.5±0.3 kg) was significantly inversely associated with PFHXS (β= -0.1, p=0.04) while infant lean mass (mean 2.9±0.4 kg) was significantly positively associated with PFOS (β= 0.2, p=0.02). Conclusion: In this subset of largely Hispanic mother child pairs, maternal exposure to PFHXS in pregnancy was inversely related to infant fat mass while PFOS was positively associated with infant lean mass. Although there is evidence for PFAS influencing newborn body composition, the exact relationships with infant and child body composition and growth over time remain unclear.