The relationship between maternal perfluoroalkylated substances exposure and low birth weight of offspring: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Xuehui Liu,Xue Wang,Tengrui Cao,Zixuan Li,Wenjuan Wang,Yaxiong Nie,Aibin Qu,Ran Liu,Xiaolin Zhang,Suju Sun

doi:10.1007/s11356-021-15061-4

Abstract

Some studies have shown that maternal perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) exposure may be associated with low birth weight (LBW) of offspring. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the association between maternal PFASs exposure and LBW in offspring. The researchers searched PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Embase to find all the articles before October 2020. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate the quality of the studies. Finally, six articles were included for meta-analysis. Our meta-analysis showed no significant correlation between maternal perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) exposure and LBW of offspring: odds ratio (OR) = 0.90, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.80-1.01, with low heterogeneity (I2 = 18.4%, P = 0.289); there was a significant positive correlation between maternal perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) exposure and LBW of offspring (OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.09-1.55) with no heterogeneity (I2 = 0.00%, P = 0.570). The grouping analysis of PFOS showed was a significant positive correlation between maternal PFOS exposure and LBW of offspring in American (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.15-1.72). This study provided a systematic review and meta-analysis evidence for the relationship between maternal PFASs exposure and LBW of offspring through a small number of studies. Researchers should conduct further studies between different regions.

Highlights

In the early stage of human development, the interference of environmental endocrine disruptors (EEDs) on natural hormones in the body may not lead to apparent structural changes of organs
Our meta-analysis showed were no significant correlation between maternal perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) exposure and low birth weight (LBW) of offspring: odds ratio (OR) = 0.90, 95% confidence interval = 0.80– 1.01, with low heterogeneity (I2 = 18.4%, P = 0.289); there was a significant positive correlation between maternal perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) exposure and LBW of offspring (OR = 1.32, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.09–1.55) with no heterogeneity (I2 = 0.00%, P = 0.570)
The results of Begg's tests showed no evidence of material publication bias (P = 0.133 for PFOA) (P = 1.000 for PFOS). (Fig. 5) In order to know whether the results were stable, the researchers conducted sensitivity analysis. (Fig. 6) The result showed that the relationship between maternal PFOA exposure and LBW of offspring had changed after excluding Study one of Savitz et al (Savitz, Stein et al 2012)

Summary

Introduction

In the early stage of human development, the interference of environmental endocrine disruptors (EEDs) on natural hormones in the body may not lead to apparent structural changes of organs. It may bring delayed physiological dysfunction and even diseases. Perfluoroalkylated substances (PFASs) are environmental endocrine disruptors (Woods, Lanphear et al 2017), which exist widely in the environment and organisms and have long-lasting toxicity. Some studies have shown that the longer the time of breast milk intake in infancy, the higher concentrations of PFOA and PFOS in children's serum (Pinney, Biro et al 2014)

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Discussion

Conclusion