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Kim KN, Park S, Choi J, Hwang IU. Associations between short-term exposure to air pollution and thyroid function in a representative sample of the Korean population. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 252:119018. [PMID: 38685294 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disruption of thyroid function can profoundly affect various organ systems. However, studies on the association between air pollution and thyroid function are relatively scarce and most studies have focused on the long-term effects of air pollution among pregnant women. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to explore the associations between short-term exposure to air pollution and thyroid function in the general population. METHODS Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2015) were analyzed (n = 5,626). Air pollution concentrations in residential addresses were estimated using Community Multiscale Air Quality models. The moving averages of air pollution over 7 days were set as exposure variables through exploratory analyses. Linear regression and quantile g-computation models were constructed to assess the effects of individual air pollutants and air pollution mixture, respectively. RESULTS A 10-ppb increase in NO2 (18.8-μg/m3 increase) and CO (11.5-μg/m3 increase) was associated with 2.43% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.42, 4.48] and 0.19% (95% CI: 0.01, 0.36) higher thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, respectively. A 10-μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 and a 10-ppb increase in O3 (19.6-μg/m3 increment) were associated with 0.87% (95% CI: 1.47, -0.27) and 0.59% (95% CI: 1.18, -0.001) lower free thyroxine (fT4) levels, respectively. A simultaneous quartile increase in PM2.5, NO2, O3, and CO levels was associated with lower fT4 but not TSH levels. CONCLUSIONS As the subtle changes in thyroid function can affect various organ systems, the present results may have substantial public health implications despite the relatively modest effect sizes. Because this was a cross-sectional study, it is necessary to conduct further experimental or repeated-measures studies to consolidate the current results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoung-Nam Kim
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - SoHyun Park
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Junseo Choi
- Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Il-Ung Hwang
- Division of Public Health and Medical Care, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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2
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Zhang E, Zhang Z, Chen G, Zhang YT, Su S, Gao S, Xie S, Liu J, Zhang Y, Yue W, Wu Q, Chen Y, Yang BY, Guo Y, Liu R, Dong GH, Yin C. Associations of Ambient Particulate Matter with Maternal Thyroid Autoimmunity and Thyroid Function in Early Pregnancy. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:9082-9090. [PMID: 38743497 PMCID: PMC11137865 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c10191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
This prospective birth cohort study evaluated the association of exposure to PM2.5 (diameter ≤2.5 μm), PM1-2.5 (1-2.5 μm), and PM1 (≤1 μm) with maternal thyroid autoimmunity and function during early pregnancy. A total of 15,664 pregnant women were included at 6 to 13+6 gestation weeks in China from 2018 to 2020. Single-pollutant models using generalized linear models (GLMs) showed that each 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 and PM1-2.5 was related with 6% (odds ratio [OR] = 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01, 1.12) and 15% (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.22) increases in the risk of thyroid autoimmunity, respectively. The odds of thyroid autoimmunity significantly increased with each interquartile range increase in PM2.5 and PM1-2.5 exposure (P for trend <0.001). PM1 exposure was not significantly associated with thyroid autoimmunity. GLM with natural cubic splines demonstrated that increases in PM2.5 and PM1-2.5 exposure were associated with lower maternal FT4 levels, while a negative association between PM1 and FT4 levels was found when exposure exceeded 32.13 μg/m3. Only PM2.5 exposure was positively associated with thyrotropin (TSH) levels. Our findings suggest that high PM exposure is associated with maternal thyroid disruption during the early pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enjie Zhang
- Department
of Central Laboratory, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,
Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal
and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing 100026, China
| | - Zheng Zhang
- Department
of Central Laboratory, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,
Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal
and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing 100026, China
| | - Gongbo Chen
- Climate,
Air Quality Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive
Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Yun-Ting Zhang
- Guangdong
Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental
and Health risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental
Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen
University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Shaofei Su
- Department
of Central Laboratory, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,
Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal
and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing 100026, China
| | - Shen Gao
- Department
of Central Laboratory, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,
Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal
and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing 100026, China
| | - Shuanghua Xie
- Department
of Central Laboratory, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,
Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal
and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing 100026, China
| | - Jianhui Liu
- Department
of Central Laboratory, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,
Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal
and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing 100026, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department
of Research Management, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,
Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal
and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing 100026, China
| | - Wentao Yue
- Department
of Research Management, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,
Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal
and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing 100026, China
| | - Qingqing Wu
- Department
of Ultrasound, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital
Medical University, Beijing Maternal and
Child Health Care Hospital. Beijing 100026, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Department
of Obstetrics, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital
Medical University, Beijing Maternal and
Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing 100026, China
| | - Bo-Yi Yang
- Guangdong
Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental
and Health risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental
Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen
University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yuming Guo
- Department
of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and
Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Ruixia Liu
- Department
of Central Laboratory, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,
Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal
and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing 100026, China
| | - Guang-Hui Dong
- Guangdong
Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental
and Health risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental
Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen
University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Chenghong Yin
- Department
of Central Laboratory, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,
Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal
and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing 100026, China
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Xie LN, Wang XC, Su LQ, Ji SS, Gu W, Barrett H, Dong XJ, Zhu HJ, Hou SS, Li ZH, Liu YL, Zhang L, Zhu Y. The association between per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances in serum and thyroid function parameters: A cross-sectional study on teenagers living near a Chinese fluorochemical industrial plant. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 920:170985. [PMID: 38367719 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Thyroid hormones (THs) play an important role in a wide range of crucial biological functions related to growth and development, and thyroid antibodies (TAs) can influence the biosynthesis of THs. Epidemiological studies have indicated that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) could induce thyroid disruption, but studies on teenagers living in areas with high PFAS exposure are limited. This cross-sectional study focused on 836 teenagers (11- 15 years) living near a Chinese fluorochemical industrial plant. Decreased levels of free thyroxine (FT4, ﹤9.6 pmol/L, abnormal rate = 19.0 %) and elevated levels of free triiodothyronine (FT3, ﹥6.15 pmol/L, abnormal rate = 29.8 %) were observed. Correlations of serum PFAS concentrations and TAs/THs were analyzed. Increased PFOA was identified as a risk factor of decreased FT4 by using unadjusted (OR: 11.346; 95 % CI: 6.029, 21.352, p < 0.001) and adjusted (OR: 12.566; 95 % CI: 6.549, 24.115, p < 0.001) logistic regression models. In addition, significantly negative correlations were found between log10 transformed PFOA and FT4 levels using linear (unadjusted: β = -1.543, 95 % CI: -1.937, -1.148, p < 0.001; adjusted: β = -1.534, 95 % CI: -1.930, -1.137, p < 0.001) and BKMR models. For abnormal FT3, a significantly positive association between PFHxS and FT3 levels was observed in a regression model (unadjusted: β = -0.903, 95 % CI: -1.212, -0.595, p < 0.001; adjusted: β = -0.894, 95 % CI: -1.204, -0.583, p < 0.001), and PFHxS was identified as a risk factor (unadjusted: OR: 4.387; 95 % CI: 2.619, 7.346, p < 0.001; adjusted: OR: 4.527; 95 % CI: 2.665, 7.688, p < 0.001). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the above results. This study reported the elevated PFAS exposure and thyroid function of teenagers living near a fluorochemical industrial plant from China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin-Na Xie
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Xiao-Chen Wang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Li-Qin Su
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Sai-Sai Ji
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Wen Gu
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Holly Barrett
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Xiao-Jie Dong
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Hui-Juan Zhu
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Sha-Sha Hou
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Zhen-Huan Li
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Yi-Lin Liu
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Zibo Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Zibo, Shandong Province 255000, China
| | - Ying Zhu
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China.
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Hu L, Mei H, Cai X, Song L, Xu Q, Gao W, Zhang D, Zhou J, Sun C, Li Y, Xiang F, Wang Y, Zhou A, Xiao H. Prenatal exposure to poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances and postpartum depression in women with twin pregnancies. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 256:114324. [PMID: 38271819 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women with multiple pregnancies are vulnerable to experience postpartum depression (PPD). Emerging evidence indicates an association between poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure and PPD in women delivering singletons. The health risks of PFAS may also be present in women delivering twins. OBJECTIVE To estimate the impacts of prenatal PFAS exposure on the risk of PPD in women with twin pregnancies. METHODS Our study included 150 mothers who gave birth to twins and were enrolled in the Wuhan Twin Birth Cohort. The concentrations of maternal plasma PFAS were measured in each trimester and averaged. Eight individual PFAS were included in analyses. We used Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to evaluate maternal depression at early pregnancy and 1 and 6 months after childbirth. The outcome was dichotomized using a cutoff value of ≥10 for main analyses. Associations were examined using multiple informant models and modified Poisson regressions. PFAS mixture effects were estimated using quantile g-computation. RESULTS Using quantile g-computation models, a quartile increase in the PFAS mixture during the first, second, third, and average pregnancy was significantly associated with a relative risk (RR) of 1.73 (95% CI: 1.42, 2.12), 1.54 (95% CI: 1.27, 1.84), 1.75 (95% CI: 1.49, 2.08), and 1.63 (95% CI: 1.35, 1.97) for PPD at 6 months after childbirth, respectively. The results of the single-PFAS models also indicated significant positive associations between individual PFAS and PPD at both 1 and 6 months. CONCLUSIONS The first study of women with twin pregnancies suggests that prenatal exposure to PFAS increases PPD risk up to 6 months postpartum. Twin pregnant women should receive long-term follow-up after delivery and extensive social support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqin Hu
- Institute of Maternal and Child Health, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Hong Mei
- Institute of Maternal and Child Health, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Xiaonan Cai
- Institute of Maternal and Child Health, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Lulu Song
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, PR China; Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Qiao Xu
- Department of Obstetrics, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Wenqi Gao
- Institute of Maternal and Child Health, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Woman Healthcare Department for Community, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Jieqiong Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Chen Sun
- Maternal Health Care Department, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Obstetrics, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Feiyan Xiang
- Institute of Maternal and Child Health, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Youjie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, PR China; Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Aifen Zhou
- Institute of Maternal and Child Health, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China.
| | - Han Xiao
- Institute of Maternal and Child Health, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China.
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5
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Xing Y, Li Z, Wang J, Qu Y, Hu Q, Ji S, Chang X, Zhao F, Lv Y, Pan Y, Shi X, Dai J. Associations between serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and thyroid hormones in Chinese adults: A nationally representative cross-sectional study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 184:108459. [PMID: 38320373 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Disruption of thyroid homeostasis has been indicated in human studies on the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). However, limited research exists on this topic within the general Chinese population. Based on a substantial and representative sample of the Chinese adult population, our study provides insight into how PFASs specifically affect thyroid homeostasis. The study included 10 853 participants, aged 18 years and above, sampled from nationally representative data provided by the China National Human Biomonitoring (CNHBM). Weighted multiple linear regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were used to explore the associations between eight individual PFAS concentrations and total thyroxine (T4), total triiodothyronine (T3), and the T4/T3 ratio. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and quantile-based g-computation (qgcomp) were employed to explore the joint and independent effects of PFASs on thyroid homeostasis. Both individual PFASs and PFAS mixtures exhibited a significant inverse association with serum T3 and T4 levels, and displayed a positive association with the T4/T3 ratio. Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) [-0.07 (95 % confidence interval (CI): -0.08, -0.05)] exhibited the largest change in T3 level. PFUnDA also exhibited a higher weight compared to other PFAS compounds in qgcomp models. Additionally, a critical exposure threshold for each PFAS was identified based on nonlinear dose-response associations; beyond these thresholds, the decreases in T3 and T4 levels plateaued. Specifically, for perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS) and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (6:2 Cl-PFESA), an initial decline in hormone levels was observed, followed by a slight increase when concentrations surpassed 0.7 ng/mL and 2.5 ng/mL, respectively. Sex-specific effects were more pronounced in females, and significant associations were observed predominantly in younger age groups. These insights contribute to our understanding of how PFAS compounds impact thyroid health and emphasize the need for further research and environmental management measures to address these complexities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Xing
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Zheng Li
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Jinghua Wang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yingli Qu
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China; National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Qiongpu Hu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Saisai Ji
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China; National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaochen Chang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Feng Zhao
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yuebin Lv
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China; National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yitao Pan
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
| | - Xiaoming Shi
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China; National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China; Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Jiayin Dai
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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6
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Hu L, Mei H, Cai X, Xiang F, Li N, Huang Z, Duan Z, Yang P, Xiao H. A co-twin control study of in utero exposure to poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances and associations with neonatal thyroid-stimulating hormone. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 239:117350. [PMID: 37821063 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Research quantifying associations between early-life exposure to poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and neonatal thyroid hormone levels is limited and reports inconsistent results. This study aimed to examine the associations of in utero PFAS exposure with neonatal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and to verify whether genetic and familial factors contribute to these associations. Within Wuhan Twin Birth Cohort study, we included 148 mother-twin pairs recruited between March 2016 and January 2018. Maternal plasma PFAS concentrations were measured at three different trimesters and averaged. Additionally, we measured cord plasma PFAS concentrations for twin newborns and retrieved their TSH levels from the medical system. Multivariable linear regression, generalized estimation equation, and linear mixed models were used to examine the covariate-adjusted associations. For maternal PFAS analyses, a 2-fold increment of average maternal perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) concentrations was linked with a 15% (95% CI: 2.5%, 28%) and 14% (95% CI: 2.4%, 28%) increase in neonatal TSH, respectively. For twin newborns discordant for PFAS exposure, a 2-fold increment of cord plasma PFOA, PFDA, perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUdA), and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) concentrations was related to a 7.1% (95% CI: 0.31%, 14%), 12% (95% CI: 4.8%, 20%), 7.5% (95% CI: 0.30%, 15%), and 8.5% (95% CI: 3.0%, 14%) increase in TSH among twins as individuals, respectively. Although these associations were mainly observed between twin pairs, certain PFAS exposure might have an independent association with increased TSH. Our present study suggests that higher maternal and cord plasma PFAS concentrations are associated with increased neonatal TSH, and genetic and familial factors contribute to these associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqin Hu
- Institute of Maternal and Child Health, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Hong Mei
- Institute of Maternal and Child Health, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Xiaonan Cai
- Institute of Maternal and Child Health, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Feiyan Xiang
- Institute of Maternal and Child Health, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Na Li
- Maternal Health Care Department, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Zhen Huang
- Department of Pathology, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Zhengrong Duan
- Maternal Health Care Department, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Pan Yang
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, PR China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Han Xiao
- Institute of Maternal and Child Health, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China.
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7
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Kuo KY, Chen Y, Chuang Y, Lin P, Lin YJ. Worldwide serum concentration-based probabilistic mixture risk assessment of perfluoroalkyl substances among pregnant women, infants, and children. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 268:115712. [PMID: 38000299 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Pregnant women, infants, and children are particularly vulnerable to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), yet little is known about related health risks. Here, we aimed to study the four main PFASs: perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), and assess the mixture risks of co-exposure to PFASs for pregnant women and children as well as for infants associated with maternal PFAS exposure at national and global scales, based on biomonitoring data on serum. We conducted a literature search and aggregated 69 data sources across 22 countries/regions from 2010 to 2020 to profile the serum concentrations of these four PFASs in pregnant women and children. Based on toxicity assessments by regulatory authorities, we determined conservative reference levels (RfLs) in the serum for the primary adverse effects of PFASs, including hepatic, developmental, and immune effects. The cumulative hazard quotient (HQ) was combined with probabilistic analysis to compare serum levels with RfLs and to quantify mixture risks. Our analysis revealed that PFOS was the dominant PFAS in maternal and child serum worldwide, with median levels 2.5-10 times higher than those of PFOA, PFNA, and PFHxS. The estimated global median serum levels of PFOS were 6.17 ng/mL for pregnant women and 4.85 ng/mL for children, and their immune effects in pregnant women and children are concerning as their cumulative HQs could exceed 1. For infants, the cumulative HQs for both developmental and immune effects could also be > 1, suggesting that maternal exposure to PFASs during pregnancy and breastfeeding may pose concerns for infant development and immunity. Our national and global serum database and risk assessment offer additional insights into PFAS exposures and mixture risks in susceptible populations, serving as a reference for evaluating the effectiveness of ongoing regulatory mitigation measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan-Yu Kuo
- Institute of Food Safety and Health Risk Assessment, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Yu Chen
- Institute of Food Safety and Health Risk Assessment, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Yi Chuang
- Institute of Food Safety and Health Risk Assessment, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Pinpin Lin
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 350, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Jun Lin
- Institute of Food Safety and Health Risk Assessment, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 350, Taiwan.
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8
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Reardon AJF, Hajihosseini M, Dinu I, Field CJ, Kinniburgh DW, MacDonald AM, Dewey D, England-Mason G, Martin JW. Maternal co-exposure to mercury and perfluoroalkyl acid isomers and their associations with child neurodevelopment in a Canadian birth cohort. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 178:108087. [PMID: 37454627 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) within the broader class of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are present in human serum as isomer mixtures, but epidemiological studies have yet to address isomer-specific associations with child development and behavior. OBJECTIVES To examine associations between prenatal exposure to 25 PFAAs, including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) isomers, and child neurodevelopment among 490 mother-child pairs in a prospective Canadian birth cohort, the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) study. To consider the influence of a classic neurotoxicant, total mercury (THg), based on its likelihood of co-exposure with PFAAs from common dietary sources. METHODS Maternal blood samples were collected in the second trimester and child neurodevelopment was assessed at 2 years of age using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd Edition (Bayley-III). Linear or curvilinear multiple regression models were used to examine associations between exposures and neurodevelopment outcomes. RESULTS Select PFAAs were associated with lower Cognitive composite scores, including perfluoroheptanoate (PFHpA) (β = -0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI): -1.7, -0.06) and perfluorododecanoate (PFDoA) (β = -2.0, 95% CI: -3.9, -0.01). Non-linear relationships revealed associations of total PFOS (β = -4.4, 95% CI: -8.3, -0.43), and linear-PFOS (β = -4.0, 95% CI: -7.5, -0.57) and 1m-PFOS (β = -1.8, 95% CI: -3.3, -0.24) isomers with lower Language composite scores. Although there was no effect modification, including THg interaction terms in PFAA models revealed negative associations between perfluorononanoate (PFNA) and Motor (β = -3.3, 95% CI: -6.2, -0.33) and Social-Emotional (β = -3.0, 95% CI: -5.6, -0.40) composite scores. DISCUSSION These findings reinforce previous reports of adverse effects of maternal PFAA exposure during pregnancy on child neurodevelopment. The unique hazards posed from isomers of PFOS justify isomer-specific analysis in future studies. To control for possible confounding, mercury co-exposure may be considered in studies of PFAAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J F Reardon
- Division of Analytical and Environmental Toxicology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Irina Dinu
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Catherine J Field
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - David W Kinniburgh
- Alberta Centre for Toxicology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Amy M MacDonald
- Alberta Centre for Toxicology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Deborah Dewey
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Owerko Centre at the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Community Health Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Gillian England-Mason
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Owerko Centre at the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jonathan W Martin
- Division of Analytical and Environmental Toxicology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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9
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Freire C, Vela-Soria F, Castiello F, Salamanca-Fernández E, Quesada-Jiménez R, López-Alados MC, Fernández M, Olea N. Exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and association with thyroid hormones in adolescent males. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 252:114219. [PMID: 37451108 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are found in a wide range of consumer products. Exposure to PFAS in children and adolescents may be associated with alterations in thyroid hormones, which have critical roles in brain function. OBJECTIVE This study investigated the association between plasma concentrations of PFAS and serum levels of total triiodothyronine (T3), free thyroxine (T4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in adolescent males. METHODS In 2017-2019, 151 boys from the Environment and Childhood (INMA)-Granada birth cohort, Spain, participated in a clinical follow up visit at the age of 15-17 years. Plasma concentrations of ten PFAS (PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA, PFDoDA, PFTrDA, PFOS, and PFHxS) and serum thyroid hormones were measured in 129 of these boys. Linear regression analysis was performed to determine associations of individual PFAS with total T3, free T4, TSH, and free T4/TSH ratio, and quantile g-computation models were performed to assess the mixture effect. Additional models considered iodine status as effect modifier. RESULTS PFOS was the most abundant PFAS in plasma (median = 2.22 μg/L), followed by PFOA (median = 1.00 μg/L), PFNA (median = 0.41 μg/L), and PFHxS (median = 0.40 μg/L). When adjusted by confounders (including age, maternal schooling, and fish intake), PFOA and PFUnDA were associated with an increase in free T4 (β [95% CI] = 0.72 [0.06; 1.38] and 0.36 [0.04; 0.68] pmol/L, respectively, per two-fold increase in plasma concentrations), with no change in TSH. PFOS, the sum of PFOA, PFNA, PFOS, and PFHxS, and the sum of long-chain PFAS were marginally associated with increases in free T4. Associations with higher free T4 and/or total T3 were seen for several PFAS in boys with lower iodine intake (<108 μ/day) alone. Moreover, the PFAS mixture was association with an increase in free T4 levels in boys with lower iodine intake (% change [95% CI] = 6.47 [-0.69; 14.11] per each quartile increase in the mixture concentration). CONCLUSIONS Exposure to PFAS, considered individually or as a mixture, was associated with an increase in free T4 levels in boys with lower iodine intake. However, given the small sample size, the extent of these alterations remains uncertain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Freire
- Department of Legal Medicine, Toxicology, and Physical Anthropology, School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016, Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012, Granada, Spain; Biomedical Research Centre, University of Granada, 18016, Granada, Spain; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain.
| | - Fernando Vela-Soria
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012, Granada, Spain; Biomedical Research Centre, University of Granada, 18016, Granada, Spain.
| | | | - Elena Salamanca-Fernández
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012, Granada, Spain; Biomedical Research Centre, University of Granada, 18016, Granada, Spain; Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, University of Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain.
| | - Raquel Quesada-Jiménez
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012, Granada, Spain.
| | | | - Marieta Fernández
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012, Granada, Spain; Biomedical Research Centre, University of Granada, 18016, Granada, Spain; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, University of Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain.
| | - Nicolás Olea
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012, Granada, Spain; Biomedical Research Centre, University of Granada, 18016, Granada, Spain; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, University of Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain.
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10
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Yang Z, Liu R, Liu H, Wei J, Lin X, Zhang M, Chen Y, Zhang J, Sun M, Feng Z, Liu J, Liu X, Huo X, Men K, Yang Q, Chen X, Tang NJ. Sex-specific effect of perfluoroalkyl substances exposure on liver and thyroid function biomarkers: A mixture approach. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 251:114189. [PMID: 37210847 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Although studies have investigated the effects of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) on liver and thyroid function, little is known about its combined and sex-specific effect. A total of 688 participants were interviewed and serum PFASs concentration was measured using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Five biomarkers of liver and thyroid function (ALT, GGT, TSH, FT3 and FT4) were chosen as outcomes. A restriction cubic spline function was applied to capture the dose-response relationship between PFASs and liver enzymes and thyroid hormones. Multivariable regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were performed to assess the single and overall associations of PFASs with targeted biomarkers. Single-pollutant analyses indicated that increased PFASs concentrations were associated with elevated ALT and GGT levels. BKMR models suggested positive dose-response relationships between PFASs mixtures and ALT and GGT levels. Significant associations were only detected between several PFASs and thyroid hormones, and joint effect of PFASs mixtures on FT3 levels was found at higher concentrations. Meanwhile, sex differences were found in the associations of PFASs with ALT and GGT levels, with significant results only in males. Our findings provide epidemiological evidence for combined and sex-specific effects of PFASs on ALT and GGT levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze Yang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environment, Nutrition, and Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Center for International Collaborative Research on Environment, Nutrition and Public Health, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Ruifang Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environment, Nutrition, and Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Center for International Collaborative Research on Environment, Nutrition and Public Health, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Hongbo Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environment, Nutrition, and Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Center for International Collaborative Research on Environment, Nutrition and Public Health, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Jiemin Wei
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environment, Nutrition, and Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Center for International Collaborative Research on Environment, Nutrition and Public Health, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Xiaohui Lin
- Sanitary Inspection Institute, Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin, 300171, China
| | - Mingyue Zhang
- Sanitary Inspection Institute, Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin, 300171, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Endocrinology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300202, China
| | - Jingyun Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital & Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Meiqing Sun
- Wuqing District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin, 301700, China
| | - Zhe Feng
- Wuqing District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin, 301700, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Wuqing District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin, 301700, China
| | - Xiangyang Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital & Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Xiaoxu Huo
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Kun Men
- Department of Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300202, China
| | - Qiaoyun Yang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environment, Nutrition, and Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Center for International Collaborative Research on Environment, Nutrition and Public Health, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environment, Nutrition, and Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Center for International Collaborative Research on Environment, Nutrition and Public Health, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Nai-Jun Tang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environment, Nutrition, and Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Center for International Collaborative Research on Environment, Nutrition and Public Health, Tianjin, 300070, China.
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11
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Dufour P, Pirard C, Lebrethon MC, Charlier C. Associations between endocrine disruptor contamination and thyroid hormone homeostasis in Belgian type 1 diabetic children. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2023:10.1007/s00420-023-01974-9. [PMID: 37071173 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-023-01974-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Humans are daily exposed to many environmental pollutants, some of which being suspected to be thyroid disruptors. Some populations could be particularly susceptible to thyroid disruption, such like diabetics due to the well-known relation between the thyroid function and the control of carbohydrate homeostasis by pancreas. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the associations between the exposure to several persistent and non-persistent chemicals and thyroid hormones levels in children with type 1 diabetes. METHODS Blood and urine sample were collected from 54 children diagnosed for type 1 diabetes mellitus. The concentrations of 7 phthalate metabolites, 4 parabens, 7 bisphenols, benzophenone 3 and triclosan were measured in urine, while 15 organochlorine pesticides, 4 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 7 perfluoroalkyl substances were analyzed in serum samples. In the same time, the blood levels of free thyroxine (fT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and glycated hemoglobin (Hb1Ac) were determined. RESULTS We highlighted positive associations between serum perfluorohexane sulfonate and urinary monoethylphthalate levels, and TSH level in blood. We also found that PCB 138 was positively associated to fT4 while urinary levels of bisphenol F were negatively correlated to this hormone. Finally, we observed positive associations between Hb1Ac levels and the contamination by PCB 153 and two urinary phthalate metabolites: mono-2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl phthalate and mono-2-ethyl-5-oxoxyhexyl phthalate. CONCLUSION Our results showed that our small cohort of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus is potentially susceptible to thyroid disruptions by some pollutants. Moreover, for these children, both di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites would potentially hamper the glucose homeostasis. Nevertheless, additional studies are mandatory to further explore these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrice Dufour
- Laboratory of Clinical, Forensic and Environmental Toxicology, University of Liege (ULiège), CHU (B35), 1, Avenue de L'Hôpital, 4000, Liege, Belgium.
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research On Medicines (C.I.R.M.), University of Liege (ULiège), CHU (B35), 4000, Liege, Belgium.
| | - Catherine Pirard
- Laboratory of Clinical, Forensic and Environmental Toxicology, University of Liege (ULiège), CHU (B35), 1, Avenue de L'Hôpital, 4000, Liege, Belgium
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research On Medicines (C.I.R.M.), University of Liege (ULiège), CHU (B35), 4000, Liege, Belgium
| | | | - Corinne Charlier
- Laboratory of Clinical, Forensic and Environmental Toxicology, University of Liege (ULiège), CHU (B35), 1, Avenue de L'Hôpital, 4000, Liege, Belgium
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research On Medicines (C.I.R.M.), University of Liege (ULiège), CHU (B35), 4000, Liege, Belgium
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12
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Hall M, Lanphear B, Chevrier J, Hornung R, Green R, Goodman C, Ayotte P, Martinez-Mier EA, Zoeller RT, Till C. Fluoride exposure and hypothyroidism in a Canadian pregnancy cohort. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 869:161149. [PMID: 36764861 PMCID: PMC9992168 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While fluoride can have thyroid-disrupting effects, associations between low-level fluoride exposure and thyroid conditions remain unclear, especially during pregnancy when insufficient thyroid hormones can adversely impact offspring development. OBJECTIVES We evaluated associations between fluoride exposure and hypothyroidism in a Canadian pregnancy cohort. METHODS We measured fluoride concentrations in drinking water and three dilution-corrected urine samples and estimated fluoride intake based on self-reported beverage consumption. We classified women enrolled in the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals Study as euthyroid (n = 1301), subclinical hypothyroid (n = 100) or primary hypothyroid (n = 107) based on their thyroid hormone levels in trimester one. We used multinomial logistic regression to estimate the association between fluoride exposure and classification of either subclinical or primary hypothyroidism and considered maternal thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) status, a marker of autoimmune hypothyroidism, as an effect modifier. In a subsample of 466 mother-child pairs, we used linear regression to explore the association between maternal hypothyroidism and child Full-Scale IQ (FSIQ) at ages 3-to-4 years and tested for effect modification by child sex. RESULTS A 0.5 mg/L increase in drinking water fluoride concentration was associated with a 1.65 (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.04, 2.60) increased odds of primary hypothyroidism. In contrast, we did not find a significant association between urinary fluoride (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.00; 95%CI: 0.73, 1.39) or fluoride intake (aOR: 1.25; 95%CI: 0.99, 1.57) and hypothyroidism. Among women with normal TPOAb levels, the risk of primary hypothyroidism increased with both increasing water fluoride and fluoride intake (aOR water fluoride concentration: 2.85; 95%CI: 1.25, 6.50; aOR fluoride intake: 1.75; 95%CI: 1.27, 2.41). Children born to women with primary hypothyroidism had lower FSIQ scores compared to children of euthyroid women, especially among boys (B coefficient: -8.42; 95 % CI: -15.33, -1.50). DISCUSSION Fluoride in drinking water was associated with increased risk of hypothyroidism in pregnant women. Thyroid disruption may contribute to developmental neurotoxicity of fluoride.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan Hall
- Psychology Department, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bruce Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Jonathan Chevrier
- School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Rick Hornung
- Retired; Consultant to Psychology Department, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rivka Green
- Psychology Department, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Carly Goodman
- Psychology Department, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | | | - R Thomas Zoeller
- Biology Department, The University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Christine Till
- Psychology Department, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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13
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Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC, Boesen SAH, Wielsøe M, Henriksen TB, Bech BH, Halldórsson ÞI, Long M. Exposure to persistent organic pollutants in Danish pregnant women: Hormone levels and fetal growth indices. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 99:104108. [PMID: 36921699 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This study examines possible associations of maternal Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) exposure during pregnancy, maternal hormone levels and fetal growth indices (FGI). During 1st trimester, we measured maternal thyroids, androgens and estrogens, lipophilic POP and perfluorinated-alkyl-acid (PFAA) levels in serum from nulliparous women. Adjusted multivariate-linear regression models assessed associations between exposure and outcomes. Maternal characteristics and POP exposures associated with maternal hormone levels. Lipophilic POP elicited inverse association with androgen and estrogen levels but no strong association with thyroids. Higher level of PFAA was associated with higher thyroid and androgen levels. The PFAA did not associate with estrogens. Higher thyroid-peroxidase-antibody (TPO-Ab) and estradiol level associated with higher birth weight and length in sons. For daughters, the TPO-Ab associations were the opposite being inversely associated with birth weight and length, and higher TPO-Ab and estradiol associated with lower gestational age. Mediation analyses suggested that TPO-Ab mediates the association of PFAA with FGI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Cecilie Bonefeld-Jørgensen
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark; Greenland Centre for Health Research, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland.
| | - Sophie Amalie H Boesen
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Maria Wielsøe
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Tine Brink Henriksen
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; Perinatal Research Unit, Clinical Institute, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Bodil Hammer Bech
- Research Unit for Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Manhai Long
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark
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14
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Stoker TE, Wang J, Murr AS, Bailey JR, Buckalew AR. High-Throughput Screening of ToxCast PFAS Chemical Library for Potential Inhibitors of the Human Sodium Iodide Symporter. Chem Res Toxicol 2023; 36:380-389. [PMID: 36821091 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.2c00339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade, there has been increased concern for environmental chemicals that can target various sites within the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis to potentially disrupt thyroid synthesis, transport, metabolism, and/or function. One well-known thyroid target in both humans and wildlife is the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) that regulates iodide uptake into the thyroid gland, the first step of thyroid hormone synthesis. Our laboratory previously developed and validated a radioactive iodide uptake (RAIU) high-throughput assay in a stably transduced human NIS cell line (hNIS-HEK293T-EPA) to identify chemicals with potential for NIS inhibition. So far, we have tested over 2000 chemicals (US EPA's ToxCast chemical libraries PI_v2, PII, and e1K) and discovered a subset of chemicals that significantly inhibit iodide uptake in the hNIS assay. Here, we utilized this screening assay to test a set of 149 unique per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) (ToxCast PFAS library) for potential NIS inhibition. For this evaluation, the 149 blinded samples were screened in a tiered approach, first in an initial single-concentration (≤100 μM) RAIU assay and subsequent evaluation of the chemicals that produced ≥20% inhibition using multiconcentration (MC) response (0.001-100 μM) testing in parallel RAIU and cell viability assays. Of this set, 38 of the PFAS chemicals inhibited iodide uptake ≥20% in the MC testing with 25 displaying inhibition ≥50%. To prioritize the most potent PFAS NIS inhibitors in this set, chemicals were ranked based on outcomes of both iodide uptake and cytotoxicity and normalized to perchlorate, a known positive control. Consistent with previous findings, PFOS and PFHxS were again found to be potent NIS inhibitors, yet significant inhibition was also observed for several other screened PFAS chemicals. Although further studies are clearly warranted, this initial screening effort identifies NIS as a molecular target for potential thyroid disruption by this persistent and structurally diverse class of chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tammy E Stoker
- Neurotoxicology and Endocrine Toxicology Branch, Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center of Public Health and Environmental Assessments, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States
| | - Jun Wang
- Neurotoxicology and Endocrine Toxicology Branch, Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center of Public Health and Environmental Assessments, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, US Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Ashley S Murr
- Neurotoxicology and Endocrine Toxicology Branch, Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center of Public Health and Environmental Assessments, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States
| | - Jarod R Bailey
- Neurotoxicology and Endocrine Toxicology Branch, Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center of Public Health and Environmental Assessments, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, US Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Angela R Buckalew
- Neurotoxicology and Endocrine Toxicology Branch, Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center of Public Health and Environmental Assessments, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States
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15
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Li A, Hou J, Fu J, Wang Y, Hu Y, Zhuang T, Li M, Song M, Jiang G. Association between serum levels of TSH and free T4 and per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds concentrations in pregnant women. J Environ Sci (China) 2023; 124:11-18. [PMID: 36182121 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2021.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Many per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFASs) may disrupt maternal thyroid hormone homeostasis in pregnancy. Concerns should be raised regarding the PFASs exposure in pregnant women because thyroid hormones are involved in the early development of the fetus. In this study, we measured the concentrations of 13 PFASs, including five novel short-chain PFASs, in serum from 123 pregnant women in Beijing, China. Linear regression models were used to investigate the association between thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) or free thyroxine (FT4) levels and PFASs concentrations under consideration of the impacts of pregnancy-induced physiological factors. We found that perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) (β=0.189, 95%CI=-0.039, 0.417, p=0.10) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) (β=-0.554, 95%CI=-1.16, 0.049, p=0.071) were suggestive of significant association with TSH in thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) negative women. No association was observed between all PFASs and FT4 levels after controlling for these confounding factors, such as BMI, gestational weight gain and maternal age. These findings suggest that it should pay more attention to the association between thyroid hormone levels and short-chain PFASs concentrations. Future studies could consider a greater sample and the inclusion of other clinical indicators of thyroid function, such as free T3 and total T3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aijing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jian Hou
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Jianjie Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yinan Wang
- Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100026, China
| | - Yifei Hu
- Department of Child, Adolescent Health and Maternal Care, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Taifeng Zhuang
- Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100026, China
| | - Menglong Li
- Department of Child, Adolescent Health and Maternal Care, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Maoyong Song
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Guibin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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16
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Zhang L, Liang J, Gao A. Contact to perfluoroalkyl substances and thyroid health effects: A meta-analysis directing on pregnancy. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 315:137748. [PMID: 36610509 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In vivo, in vitro, and epidemiological evidence suggests that perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may alter thyroid function in human health, with negative effects on maternal and fetal development outcomes. However, data on the effects of PFAS on thyroid hormones remain controversial. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis of 13 eligible studies searched from Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science by July 10, 2022, to explore the relationship between maternal exposure to PFAS and thyroid health effects, including thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (TT3), thyroxin (TT4), free T3 (FT3), and free T4 (FT4). The estimated values (β) and the corresponding confidence intervals (95%CI) were extracted for analysis. The tests for heterogeneity, sensitivity and publication bias between studies were performed using Stata 15.0. The combined results showed a positive association between changes in TSH and exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), with no significant correlation observed between changes in other thyroid hormones and exposure to PFAS. This difference was attributed to sample size, region, sample type, body mass index (BMI), and gestational week. Our data recommend verifying the relationship between PFAS exposure and thyroid health effects in a large sample population cohort in future studies. In addition, health care should be taken into account in early and mid-pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Jiayi Liang
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Ai Gao
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
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17
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Mwapasa M, Huber S, Chakhame BM, Maluwa A, Odland ML, Röllin H, Choko A, Xu S, Odland JØ. Serum Concentrations of Selected Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Pregnant Women and Associations with Birth Outcomes. A Cross-Sectional Study from Southern Malawi. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1689. [PMID: 36767049 PMCID: PMC9914481 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20031689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Pervasive exposure to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) shows associations with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aim of the present study was to examine the determinants of different serum PFAS concentrations in late pregnancy and their relationship with birth outcomes in southern Malawi. The sample included 605 pregnant women with a mean age of 24.8 years and their offspring from three districts in the southern region of Malawi. Six PFAS were measured in serum from third-trimester women. The serum PFAS concentrations were assessed with head circumference, birth length, birth weight, gestational age and ponderal index. Participants living in urban areas had significantly higher serum levels of PFOA, PFNA and SumPFOS, while SumPFHxS concentrations were higher in women from rural settings. High PFOA, PFNA and SumPFHxS concentrations were generally inversely associated with head circumference. Birth length was negatively associated with PFOA and PFNA while SumPFHxS was negatively associated with birth weight. SumPFOS was inversely associated with gestational age. Urban area of residence was the strongest predictor for high PFAS concentrations in the maternal serum and was generally associated with adverse birth outcomes. The results highlight the need to investigate SumPFHxS further as it follows a pattern that is different to similar compounds and cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mphatso Mwapasa
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
- School of Maternal, Neonatal and Reproductive Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi
| | - Sandra Huber
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, 9038 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Bertha Magreta Chakhame
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
- School of Maternal, Neonatal and Reproductive Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi
| | - Alfred Maluwa
- Directorate of Research and Outreach, Malawi University of Science and Technology, Thyolo 310106, Malawi
| | - Maria Lisa Odland
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre 312233, Malawi
| | - Halina Röllin
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Augustine Choko
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre 312233, Malawi
| | - Shanshan Xu
- Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway
| | - Jon Øyvind Odland
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
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18
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In silico analysis decodes transthyretin (TTR) binding and thyroid disrupting effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Arch Toxicol 2023; 97:755-768. [PMID: 36566436 PMCID: PMC9968702 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-022-03434-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) is a homo-tetramer protein involved in the transport of thyroid hormone (thyroxine; T4) in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. Many pollutants have been shown to bind to TTR, which could be alarming as disruption in the thyroid hormone system can lead to several physiological problems. It is also indicated that the monomerization of tetramer and destabilization of monomer can lead to amyloidogenesis. Many compounds are identified that can bind to tetramer and stabilize the tetramer leading to the inhibition of amyloid fibril formation. Other compounds are known to bind tetramer and induce amyloid fibril formation. Among the pollutants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are known to disrupt the thyroid hormone system. The molecular mechanisms of thyroid hormone disruption could be diverse, as some are known to bind with thyroid hormone receptors, and others can bind to membrane transporters. Binding to TTR could also be one of the important pathways to alter thyroid signaling. However, the molecular interactions that drive thyroid-disrupting effects of long-chain and short-chain PFASs are not comprehensively understood at the molecular level. In this study, using a computational approach, we show that carbon chain length and functional group in PFASs are structural determinants, in which longer carbon chains of PFASs and sulfur-containing PFASs favor stronger interactions with TTR than their shorter-chained counterparts. Interestingly, short-chain PFAS also showed strong binding capacity, and the interaction energy for some was as close to the longer-chain PFAS. This suggests that short-chain PFASs are not completely safe, and their use and build-up in the environment should be carefully regulated. Of note, TTR homologs analysis suggests that thyroid-disrupting effects of PFASs could be most likely translated to TTR-like proteins and other species.
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19
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Shin HM, Oh J, J. Schmidt R, N. Pearce E. Prenatal Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, Maternal Thyroid Dysfunction, and Child Autism Spectrum Disorder. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul) 2022; 37:819-829. [PMID: 36415960 PMCID: PMC9816503 DOI: 10.3803/enm.2022.1598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with its high economic and societal costs, is a growing public health concern whose prevalence has risen steadily over the last two decades. Although actual increased incidence versus improved diagnosis remains controversial, the increased prevalence of ASD suggests non-inherited factors as likely contributors. There is increasing epidemiologic evidence that abnormal maternal thyroid function during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of child ASD and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is known to disrupt thyroid function and can affect early brain development; thus, thyroid dysfunction is hypothesized to mediate this relationship. The concept of a potential pathway from prenatal PFAS exposure through thyroid dysfunction to ASD etiology is not new; however, the extant literature on this topic is scant. The aim of this review is to evaluate and summarize reports with regard to potential mechanisms in this pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeong-Moo Shin
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
- Corresponding author: Hyeong-Moo Shin. Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97266, Waco, TX 76798, USA Tel: +1-254-710-7627, Fax: +1-254-710-3409 E-mail:
| | - Jiwon Oh
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca J. Schmidt
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- UC Davis MIND (Medical Investigations of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth N. Pearce
- Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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20
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Derakhshan A, Kortenkamp A, Shu H, Broeren MAC, Lindh CH, Peeters RP, Bornehag CG, Demeneix B, Korevaar TIM. Association of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances with thyroid homeostasis during pregnancy in the SELMA study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 167:107420. [PMID: 35870378 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the association of exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during early pregnancy with markers of the maternal thyroid system. METHODS Serum concentrations of seven PFAS as well as thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free and total thyroxine (FT4 and TT4), free and total triiodothyronine (FT3 and TT3) were measured in pregnant women in early pregnancy in the Swedish Environmental Longitudinal, Mother and child, Asthma and allergy (SELMA) study. Outcomes were concentrations of TSH and thyroid hormones, FT4/FT3 or TT4/TT3 ratios, TSH/FT4 ratio as a marker of the negative feedback loop, TT4/FT4 or TT3/FT3 ratios as markers of the binding of thyroid hormones to binding proteins. RESULTS The study population comprised 2,008 women with median (95% range) gestational age of 10 (6-14) weeks. There was no association between PFAS and TSH. Higher PFNA, PFDA, PFHpA and PFOA levels were associated with a higher FT4 (largest effect estimate for PFDA: β [95% CI]: 0.27 [0.10 to 0.45], P = 0.002). Higher PFUnDA levels, but no other PFAS, were associated with a lower FT3 (β [95% CI]: -0.05 [-0.09 to -0.01], P = 0.005). Higher PFUnDA levels were associated with lower TT4 (β [95% CI]: -1.58 [-3.07 to -0.09]) and there was an inverted U-shaped association of PFOS with TT4 (P = 0.03). Higher PFDA, PFUnDA, PFHpA levels were associated with a lower TT3. Overall, higher PFAS concentrations were associated with a higher FT4/FT3 ratio and a higher TT4/TT3 ratio. There was no association of PFAS with the TSH/FT4 ratio. Higher concentrations of several PFAS were associated with lower TT4/FT4 and TT3/FT3 ratios. CONCLUSIONS These findings translate results from experimental studies suggesting that exposure to PFAS may interfere with the thyroid system during pregnancy. Further experimental studies should take into account human evidence to better understand the potential underlying mechanisms of thyroid disruption by PFAS exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arash Derakhshan
- Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 15, 3051 GE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 15, 3051 GE, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Andreas Kortenkamp
- Division of Environmental Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University, London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Huan Shu
- Department of Public Health, Karlstad University, Sweden
| | - Maarten A C Broeren
- Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, Máxima Medical Centre, Veldhoven, De Run, 4600, The Netherlands
| | - Christian H Lindh
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, 22363 Lund, Sweden
| | - Robin P Peeters
- Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 15, 3051 GE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 15, 3051 GE, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Carl-Gustaf Bornehag
- Department of Public Health, Karlstad University, Sweden; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Barbara Demeneix
- Laboratoire d'Evolution des Régulations Endocriniennes, CNRS/Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 57 Rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Tim I M Korevaar
- Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 15, 3051 GE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 15, 3051 GE, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
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21
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Jensen RC, Glintborg D, Timmermann CAG, Nielsen F, Boye H, Madsen JB, Bilenberg N, Grandjean P, Jensen TK, Andersen MS. Higher free thyroxine associated with PFAS exposure in first trimester. The Odense Child Cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113492. [PMID: 35597289 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are endocrine disrupting chemicals with elimination half-lives ranging from four to eight years. Experimental studies found PFAS able to interfere with thyroid hormone-binding proteins. During the first 20 weeks of gestation (GW), the fetus is reliant on placental transfer of maternal thyroid hormones, mainly free thyroxine (FT4). However, previous studies investigating associations between exposure to PFAS and thyroid hormone status mainly focused on blood samples from late pregnancy or umbilical cord with mixed findings. OBJECTIVES To investigate associations between serum-PFAS concentrations and thyroid hormone status in early pregnancy as reflected by FT4 and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). METHODS In the Odense Child Cohort, a single-center study, we measured maternal pregnancy serum concentrations of five PFAS: perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA); and FT4 and TSH in 1048 pregnant women at median GW 12 (25th, 75th percentile: 10, 15). Multivariate linear regression models were performed to estimate associations between PFAS exposure and thyroid hormone status. RESULTS A doubling in PFOS, PFOA, and PFNA concentrations was associated with an increment in FT4 concentration by 1.85% (95% CI: 0.66%, 3.05%), 1.29% (95% CI: 0.21%, 2.39%), and 1.70% (95% CI: 0.48%, 2.94%), respectively, in adjusted analyses. A statistically significant dose-response relationship was observed across exposure quartiles for PFOS, PFOA, and PFNA in the association with FT4. No association was found between concentrations of PFAS and TSH in adjusted analyses. CONCLUSION Exposure to PFOS, PFOA, and PFNA was associated with higher FT4 concentrations in women during early pregnancy. The potential clinical implications of these findings remain to be clarified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Christian Jensen
- Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Søndre Blvd. 29, 5000, Odense C, Denmark; Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 17A, 5000, Odense C, Denmark.
| | - Dorte Glintborg
- Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Søndre Blvd. 29, 5000, Odense C, Denmark; Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, 5000, Odense, Denmark
| | - Clara Amalie Gade Timmermann
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 17A, 5000, Odense C, Denmark; National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Studiestræde 6, 1455, København K, Denmark
| | - Flemming Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 17A, 5000, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Henriette Boye
- Odense Child Cohort, Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Kløvervænget 23C, 5000, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Jeppe Buur Madsen
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Lillebaelt Hospital, Kabbeltoft 25, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, 7100, Vejle, Denmark
| | - Niels Bilenberg
- Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, 5000, Odense, Denmark; Odense Child Cohort, Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Kløvervænget 23C, 5000, Odense C, Denmark; Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Odense, Mental Health Services in the Region of Southern Denmark, J. B. Winsløws Vej 16, 5000, Odense, Denmark
| | - Philippe Grandjean
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 17A, 5000, Odense C, Denmark; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 677 Huntington Avenue Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Tina Kold Jensen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 17A, 5000, Odense C, Denmark; Odense Child Cohort, Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Kløvervænget 23C, 5000, Odense C, Denmark; OPEN, University of Southern Denmark, J. B. Winsløws Vej 9a, 5000, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Marianne S Andersen
- Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Søndre Blvd. 29, 5000, Odense C, Denmark; Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, 5000, Odense, Denmark
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22
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Bach CC, Liew Z, Matthiesen NB, Henriksen TB, Bech BH, Nøhr EA, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC, Olsen J. In utero exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and attention and executive function in the offspring: A study in the Danish National Birth Cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113262. [PMID: 35405133 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in the environment and accumulate in humans. PFAS are suspected to affect the neuropsychological function of children, but only few studies have evaluated the association with childhood attention and executive function. OBJECTIVES To investigate the association between intrauterine exposure to PFAS and offspring attention and executive function. METHODS A total of 1593 children from the Danish National Birth Cohort, born 1996-2003, were included. The levels of 16 PFAS were measured in maternal plasma during pregnancy. At 5 years of age, the Test of Everyday Attention for Children at Five (TEACh-5) and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) were performed. TEACh-5 scores were standardized to a mean of 0 and standard deviation (SD) of 1. BRIEF scores were standardized to a mean of 50 and a SD of 10. The associations between levels of seven PFAS and TEACh-5 and BRIEF were examined by multivariable linear regression adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS Perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA) was associated with poorer selective attention [standardized mean difference (95% confidence interval) -0.5 (-0.7, -0.3), highest versus lowest quartile]. Other PFAS were not clearly associated with selective attention, and we found no clear associations between PFAS exposure and sustained attention. For parent rated executive function, perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) was associated with poorer scores, standardized mean difference 3.8 (95% confidence interval 1.6, 6.0), highest versus lowest quartile. Regarding other PFAS, the associations were less clear. We found no clear associations between any PFAS and executive function rated by preschool teachers. CONCLUSION Intrauterine exposure to PFOSA was associated with poorer selective attention, while PFOA was associated with poorer executive function. Given the widespread nature of PFAS exposure, these findings may have public health implications, warranting further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathrine Carlsen Bach
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; Perinatal Epidemiology Research Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Viborg Regional Hospital, Viborg, Denmark.
| | - Zeyan Liew
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Niels Bjerregård Matthiesen
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; Perinatal Epidemiology Research Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Tine Brink Henriksen
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; Perinatal Epidemiology Research Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Bodil Hammer Bech
- Research Unit for Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ellen Aagaard Nøhr
- Research Unit for Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Eva Cecilie Bonefeld-Jørgensen
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Greenland Center for Health Research, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Jørn Olsen
- Research Unit for Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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23
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Khan S, Naushad M, Govarthanan M, Iqbal J, Alfadul SM. Emerging contaminants of high concern for the environment: Current trends and future research. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 207:112609. [PMID: 34968428 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 69.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater is contaminated water that must be treated before it may be transferred into other rivers and lakes in order to prevent further groundwater pollution. Over the last decade, research has been conducted on a wide variety of contaminants, but the emerging contaminants are those caused primarily by micropollutants, endocrine disruptors (EDs), pesticides, pharmaceuticals, hormones, and toxins, as well as industrially-related synthetic dyes and dye-containing hazardous pollutants. Most emerging pollutants did not have established guidelines, but even at low concentrations they could have harmful effects on humans and aquatic organisms. In order to combat the above ecological threats, huge efforts have been done with a view to boosting the effectiveness of remediation procedures or developing new techniques for the detection, quantification and efficiency of the samples. The increase of interest in biotechnology and environmental engineering gives an opportunity for the development of more innovative ways to water treatment remediation. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of emerging sources of contaminants, detection technologies, and treatment strategies. The goal of this review is to evaluate adsorption as a method for treating emerging pollutants, as well as sophisticated and cost-effective approaches for treating emerging contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shamshad Khan
- School of Geography and Resources Science, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang, 641100, China.
| | - Mu Naushad
- Advanced Materials Research Chair, Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Muthusamy Govarthanan
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Jibran Iqbal
- College of Natural and Health Sciences, Zayed University, P.O. Box 144534, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sulaiman M Alfadul
- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, 11442, Saudi Arabia
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Starnes HM, Rock KD, Jackson TW, Belcher SM. A Critical Review and Meta-Analysis of Impacts of Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances on the Brain and Behavior. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:881584. [PMID: 35480070 PMCID: PMC9035516 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.881584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of structurally diverse synthetic organic chemicals that are chemically stable, resistant to degradation, and persistent in terrestrial and aquatic environments. Widespread use of PFAS in industrial processing and manufacturing over the last 70 years has led to global contamination of built and natural environments. The brain is a lipid rich and highly vascularized organ composed of long-lived neurons and glial cells that are especially vulnerable to the impacts of persistent and lipophilic toxicants. Generally, PFAS partition to protein-rich tissues of the body, primarily the liver and blood, but are also detected in the brains of humans, wildlife, and laboratory animals. Here we review factors impacting the absorption, distribution, and accumulation of PFAS in the brain, and currently available evidence for neurotoxic impacts defined by disruption of neurochemical, neurophysiological, and behavioral endpoints. Emphasis is placed on the neurotoxic potential of exposures during critical periods of development and in sensitive populations, and factors that may exacerbate neurotoxicity of PFAS. While limitations and inconsistencies across studies exist, the available body of evidence suggests that the neurobehavioral impacts of long-chain PFAS exposures during development are more pronounced than impacts resulting from exposure during adulthood. There is a paucity of experimental studies evaluating neurobehavioral and molecular mechanisms of short-chain PFAS, and even greater data gaps in the analysis of neurotoxicity for PFAS outside of the perfluoroalkyl acids. Whereas most experimental studies were focused on acute and subchronic impacts resulting from high dose exposures to a single PFAS congener, more realistic exposures for humans and wildlife are mixtures exposures that are relatively chronic and low dose in nature. Our evaluation of the available human epidemiological, experimental, and wildlife data also indicates heightened accumulation of perfluoroalkyl acids in the brain after environmental exposure, in comparison to the experimental studies. These findings highlight the need for additional experimental analysis of neurodevelopmental impacts of environmentally relevant concentrations and complex mixtures of PFAS.
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Zhao Y, Jin H, Qu J, Zhang S, Hu S, Xue J, Zhao M. The influences of perfluoroalkyl substances on the rheumatoid arthritis clinic. BMC Immunol 2022; 23:10. [PMID: 35246023 PMCID: PMC8895528 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-022-00483-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effect of environmental factors on genetically susceptible individuals is a basic link in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a class of synthetic organic fluorine chemicals, which have been mass-produced and widely used in the past 60 years, and also have been shown to be one of the major pollutants affecting human health. The impact of fluoride on the development of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is unclear. This study explored the relationship between common fluoride and clinical manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis. RESULTS A cohort of 155 patients with RA and 145 health controls in Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine were investigated. Serum concentrations of all fluoride detected were higher in RA patients than in healthy controls. There were 43 male patients and 112 female patients in the RA cohort. Some of perfluoroalkyl substances (perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), perfluorotrdecanoate (PFTrA), perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS)) were correlated negatively with the Body Mass Index (BMI); some of them (PFOA, PFNA, PFTrA, PFOS, 8:2 Chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (8:2Cl-PFESA)) were correlated positively with the Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28); two (PFOA, PFOS) of them were correlated positively with the white blood cell count, and one (Perfluoroundecanoate (PFUnA)) of them was correlated negatively with the hemoglobin; two (Perfluorodecanoate (PFDA), PFUnA) of them were correlated negatively with the presence of interstitial lung disease. CONCLUSION These data suggest that exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances may promote the disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis and the visceral lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine Second Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Hangbiao Jin
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianli Qu
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Sunzhao Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine Second Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Shilei Hu
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Xue
- Department of Rheumatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine Second Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
| | - Meirong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
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Qiu L, Shen W, Ye C, Wu J, Zheng S, Lou B, Chen Z, Xu P, Xu D, Wang X, Feng B. Association of exposure to PM 2.5-bound metals with maternal thyroid function in early pregnancy. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 810:151167. [PMID: 34699824 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological evidence linking metals bound to ambient particulate matters with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and maternal thyroid function is limited. In this study, we investigated the association of PM2.5-bound metals with maternal thyroid hormones (TH) during the first trimester. We retrospectively reviewed data for 2528 pregnant women attending prenatal care in Jinhua Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Jinhua, China, from January to December 2018. Information including thyroid hormone levels and demographics was retrieved from existing medical records. We analyzed the concentration of 10 metals for collected particulate samples, and estimated their exposure levels during the first trimester for each woman. We employed multivariate linear regression models to estimate the association of exposure to individual PM2.5-bound metals with serum levels of maternal TH, and weighted quantile sum (WQS) to estimate the overall association of exposure to PM2.5-bound metals within a mixture. Higher exposures to most of the PM2.5-bound metals were associated with lower levels of maternal free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3). The thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) or thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) status had no effect modification on the observed associations. WQS analyses further suggested that Be, Ni, Tl and Ba contributed the most to the associations. These findings highlight the associations of exposure to PM2.5-bound metals with maternal thyroid function, and emphasize the public health significance of commitments to improve air quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Qiu
- Department of Preventive Health Care, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua 321000, China
| | - Weiying Shen
- Department of Hospital Infection Management, Jinhua Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Jinhua 321000, China
| | - Chunmei Ye
- Disease Prevention and Control Center of Linping District, Hangzhou 311100, China
| | - Junqi Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua 321000, China
| | - Shufa Zheng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Clinical in Vitro Diagnostic Techniques of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China; Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Bin Lou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Clinical in Vitro Diagnostic Techniques of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China; Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Zhijian Chen
- Department of Environmental Health, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China
| | - Peiwei Xu
- Department of Environmental Health, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China
| | - Dandan Xu
- Department of Environmental Health, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China
| | - Xiaofeng Wang
- Department of Environmental Health, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China.
| | - Baihuan Feng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Clinical in Vitro Diagnostic Techniques of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China; Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
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Yang Z, Liu HY, Yang QY, Chen X, Li W, Leng J, Tang NJ. Associations between exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and birth outcomes: A meta-analysis. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 291:132909. [PMID: 34785180 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Although previous meta-analyses have shown that prenatal PFASs exposure is associated with reduction in birth weight, effects of prenatal PFASs exposure on birth outcomes have not been fully explored. We conducted a meta-analysis of 23 eligible studies searched from Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science before March 21, 2021 to analyze the association between prenatal PFASs exposure and birth outcomes, including premature birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), small for gestational age (SGA) and miscarriage. Odds ratio (OR) and corresponding confidence intervals were extracted for analysis. According to the heterogeneity of the included studies, fixed-effects (I2 ≤ 50%) and random-effects (I2 > 50%) models were applied respectively. The significant associations between PFOS and PTB (pooled OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.20-1.98), PFOA and miscarriage (pooled OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.15-1.70), and PFOS and LBW (pooled OR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.19-1.94) were obtained. There were differences between included studies with different study regions, sampling time, and samples type used for PFASs assessment. These findings may provide insight in risk assessment and decision-making in producing products that contain PFASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze Yang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environment, Nutrition, and Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Center for International Collaborative Research on Environment, Nutrition and Public Health, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Huan-Yu Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environment, Nutrition, and Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Center for International Collaborative Research on Environment, Nutrition and Public Health, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Qiao-Yun Yang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environment, Nutrition, and Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Center for International Collaborative Research on Environment, Nutrition and Public Health, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environment, Nutrition, and Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Center for International Collaborative Research on Environment, Nutrition and Public Health, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Weiqin Li
- Tianjin Women and Children's Health Center, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Junhong Leng
- Tianjin Women and Children's Health Center, Tianjin, 300070, China.
| | - Nai-Jun Tang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environment, Nutrition, and Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China; Center for International Collaborative Research on Environment, Nutrition and Public Health, Tianjin, 300070, China.
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Rickard BP, Rizvi I, Fenton SE. Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and female reproductive outcomes: PFAS elimination, endocrine-mediated effects, and disease. Toxicology 2022; 465:153031. [PMID: 34774661 PMCID: PMC8743032 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.153031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread environmental contaminants frequently detected in drinking water supplies worldwide that have been linked to a variety of adverse reproductive health outcomes in women. Compared to men, reproductive health effects in women are generally understudied while global trends in female reproduction rates are declining. Many factors may contribute to the observed decline in female reproduction, one of which is environmental contaminant exposure. PFAS have been used in home, food storage, personal care and industrial products for decades. Despite the phase-out of some legacy PFAS due to their environmental persistence and adverse health effects, alternative, short-chain and legacy PFAS mixtures will continue to pollute water and air and adversely influence women's health. Studies have shown that both long- and short-chain PFAS disrupt normal reproductive function in women through altering hormone secretion, menstrual cyclicity, and fertility. Here, we summarize the role of a variety of PFAS and PFAS mixtures in female reproductive tract dysfunction and disease. Since these chemicals may affect reproductive tissues directly or indirectly through endocrine disruption, the role of PFAS in breast, thyroid, and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function are also discussed as the interplay between these tissues may be critical in understanding the long-term reproductive health effects of PFAS in women. A major research gap is the need for mechanism of action data - the targets for PFAS in the female reproductive and endocrine systems are not evident, but the effects are many. Given the global decline in female fecundity and the ability of PFAS to negatively impact female reproductive health, further studies are needed to examine effects on endocrine target tissues involved in the onset of reproductive disorders of women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany P Rickard
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27599, USA
| | - Imran Rizvi
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27599, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Suzanne E Fenton
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 TW Alexander Dr., Rm E121A, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
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Itoh S, Yamazaki K, Suyama S, Ikeda-Araki A, Miyashita C, Ait Bamai Y, Kobayashi S, Masuda H, Yamaguchi T, Goudarzi H, Okada E, Kashino I, Saito T, Kishi R. The association between prenatal perfluoroalkyl substance exposure and symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in 8-year-old children and the mediating role of thyroid hormones in the Hokkaido study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 159:107026. [PMID: 34890903 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.107026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disruption of thyroid hormone (TH) levels during pregnancy contributes to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during gestation may affect levels of maternal and neonatal TH; however, little is known about the effect of PFAS on ADHD mediated by TH. OBJECTIVES We investigated the impact of maternal PFAS exposure on children's ADHD symptoms with the mediating effect of TH. METHODS In a prospective birth cohort (the Hokkaido study), we included 770 mother-child pairs recruited between 2002 and 2005 for whom both prenatal maternal and cord blood samples were available. Eleven PFAS were measured in maternal serum obtained at 28-32 weeks of gestation using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry. TH and thyroid antibody, including thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), and thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) were measured in maternal blood during early pregnancy (median 11 gestational weeks) and in cord blood at birth. ADHD symptoms in the children at 8 years of age were rated by their parents using the ADHD-Rating Scale (ADHD-RS). The cut-off value was set at the 80th percentile for each sex. RESULTS Significant inverse associations were found between some PFAS in maternal serum and ADHD symptoms among first-born children. Assuming causality, we found only one significant association: maternal FT4 mediated 17.6% of the estimated effect of perfluoroundecanoic acid exposure on hyperactivity-impulsivity among first-born children. DISCUSSION Higher PFAS levels in maternal serum during pregnancy were associated with lower risks of ADHD symptoms at 8 years of age. The association was stronger among first-born children in relation to hyperactivity-impulsivity than with regard to inattention. There was little mediating role of TH during pregnancy in the association between maternal exposure to PFAS and reduced ADHD symptoms at 8 years of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachiko Itoh
- Center for Environmental Health and Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Keiko Yamazaki
- Center for Environmental Health and Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Suyama
- Funded Research Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hokkaido University Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Atsuko Ikeda-Araki
- Center for Environmental Health and Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Chihiro Miyashita
- Center for Environmental Health and Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yu Ait Bamai
- Center for Environmental Health and Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Sumitaka Kobayashi
- Center for Environmental Health and Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Masuda
- Center for Environmental Health and Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Takeshi Yamaguchi
- Center for Environmental Health and Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Houman Goudarzi
- Center for Environmental Health and Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Center for Medical Education and International Relations, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Emiko Okada
- National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ikuko Kashino
- Center for Environmental Health and Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Takuya Saito
- Funded Research Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hokkaido University Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Reiko Kishi
- Center for Environmental Health and Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
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Cao Y, Ng C. Absorption, distribution, and toxicity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the brain: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2021; 23:1623-1640. [PMID: 34533150 DOI: 10.1039/d1em00228g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic chemicals colloquially known as "forever chemicals" because of their high persistence. PFAS have been detected in the blood, liver, kidney, heart, muscle and brain of various species. Although brain is not a dominant tissue for PFAS accumulation compared to blood and liver, adverse effects of PFAS on brain functions have been identified. Here, we review studies related to the absorption, accumulation, distribution and toxicity of PFAS in the brain. We summarize evidence on two potential mechanisms of PFAS entering the brain: initiating blood-brain barrier (BBB) disassembly through disrupting tight junctions and relying on transporters located at the BBB. PFAS with diverse structures and properties enter and accumulate in the brain with varying efficiencies. Compared to long-chain PFAS, short-chain PFAS may not cross cerebral barriers effectively. According to biomonitoring studies and PFAS exposure experiments, PFAS can accumulate in the brain of humans and wildlife species. With respect to the distribution of PFAS in specific brain regions, the brain stem, hippocampus, hypothalamus, pons/medulla and thalamus are dominant for PFAS accumulation. The accumulation and distribution of PFAS in the brain may lead to toxic effects in the central nervous system (CNS), including PFAS-induced behavioral and cognitive disorders. The specific mechanisms underlying such PFAS-induced neurotoxicity remain to be explored, but two major potential mechanisms based on current understanding are PFAS effects on calcium homeostasis and neurotransmitter alterations in neurons. Based on the information available about PFAS uptake, accumulation, distribution and impacts on the brain, PFAS have the potential to enter and accumulate in the brain at varying levels. The balance of existing studies shows there is some indication of risk in animals, while the human evidence is mixed and warrants further scrutiny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuexin Cao
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
| | - Carla Ng
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
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Sarzo B, Ballesteros V, Iñiguez C, Manzano-Salgado CB, Casas M, Llop S, Murcia M, Guxens M, Vrijheid M, Marina LS, Schettgen T, Espada M, Irizar A, Fernandez-Jimenez N, Ballester F, Lopez-Espinosa MJ. Maternal Perfluoroalkyl Substances, Thyroid Hormones, and DIO Genes: A Spanish Cross-sectional Study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:11144-11154. [PMID: 34314170 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c01452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Results of studies on perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and thyroid hormones (THs) are heterogeneous, and the mechanisms underlying the action of PFASs to target THs have not been fully characterized. We examined the relation between first-trimester maternal PFAS and TH levels and the role played by polymorphisms in the iodothyronine deiodinase 1 (DIO1) and 2 (DIO2) genes in this association. Our sample comprised 919 pregnant Spanish women (recruitment = 2003-2008) with measurements of perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), total triiodothyronine (TT3), and free thyroxine (FT4), and we genotyped for single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the DIO1 (rs2235544) and DIO2 (rs12885300) genes. We performed multivariate regression analyses between PFASs and THs and included the interaction term PFAS-genotypes in the models. PFHxS was associated with an increase in TSH (% change in outcome [95% CI] per 2-fold PFAS increase = 6.09 [-0.71, 13.4]), and PFOA and PFNA were associated with a decrease in TT3 (-7.17 [-13.5, -0.39] and -6.28 [-12.3, 0.12], respectively). We found stronger associations between PFOA, PFNA, and TT3 for DIO1-CC and DIO2-CT genotypes, although interaction p-values were not significant. In conclusion, this study found evidence of an inverse association between PFOA and TT3 levels. No clear effect modification by DIO enzyme genes was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Sarzo
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-University Jaume I-University of Valencia, 46019 Valencia, Spain
| | - Virginia Ballesteros
- Andalusian Health and Environment Observatory (OSMAN), Andalusian School of Public Health, 18011 Granada, Spain
| | - Carmen Iñiguez
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-University Jaume I-University of Valencia, 46019 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Statistics and Operational Research, University of Valencia, 46100 Valencia, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Maribel Casas
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- ISGlobal, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sabrina Llop
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-University Jaume I-University of Valencia, 46019 Valencia, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Mario Murcia
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-University Jaume I-University of Valencia, 46019 Valencia, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Health Information Systems Analysis Service, Conselleria de Sanitat, Generalitat Valenciana, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Mònica Guxens
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- ISGlobal, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Martine Vrijheid
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- ISGlobal, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Loreto Santa Marina
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Health of the Basque Government, Subdirectorate of Public Health of Gipuzkoa, 20013 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
- Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development Group, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Thomas Schettgen
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Mercedes Espada
- Clinical Chemistry Unit, Public Health Laboratory of Bilbao, 8160 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Amaia Irizar
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development Group, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), 20018 San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Nora Fernandez-Jimenez
- Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, Biocruces-Bizkaia Health Research Institute and University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Ferran Ballester
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-University Jaume I-University of Valencia, 46019 Valencia, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Faculty of Nursing and Chiropody, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Maria-Jose Lopez-Espinosa
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-University Jaume I-University of Valencia, 46019 Valencia, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Faculty of Nursing and Chiropody, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
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Birru RL, Liang HW, Farooq F, Bedi M, Feghali M, Haggerty CL, Mendez DD, Catov JM, Ng CA, Adibi JJ. A pathway level analysis of PFAS exposure and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus. Environ Health 2021; 20:63. [PMID: 34022907 PMCID: PMC8141246 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00740-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been found to be associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) development, a maternal health disorder in pregnancy with negative effects that can extend beyond pregnancy. Studies that report on this association are difficult to summarize due to weak associations and wide confidence intervals. One way to advance this field is to sharpen the biologic theory on a causal pathway behind this association, and to measure it directly by way of molecular biomarkers. The aim of this review is to summarize the literature that supports a novel pathway between PFAS exposure and GDM development. Epidemiological studies demonstrate a clear association of biomarkers of thyroid hormones and glucose metabolism with GDM development. We report biologic plausibility and epidemiologic evidence that PFAS dysregulation of maternal thyroid hormones and thyrotropin (TSH) may disrupt glucose homeostasis, increasing the risk of GDM. Overall, epidemiological studies demonstrate that PFAS were positively associated with TSH and negatively with triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). PFAS were generally positively associated with glucose and insulin levels in pregnancy. We propose dysregulation of thyroid function and glucose metabolism may be a critical and missing component in the accurate estimation of PFAS on the risk of GDM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahel L. Birru
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Hai-Wei Liang
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Fouzia Farooq
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Megha Bedi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Maisa Feghali
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Catherine L. Haggerty
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Dara D. Mendez
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Janet M. Catov
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Carla A. Ng
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Environmental and Occupational Health, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Jennifer J. Adibi
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
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Zhang Y, Xu Y, Ding H, Yu W, Chen L. Prenatal exposure of female mice to perfluorononanoic acid delays pubertal activation of the reproductive endocrine axis through enhanced hepatic FGF21 production. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 269:128776. [PMID: 33131727 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The developmental toxicity of perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, has been associated with the activation of PPARα. This study investigated influence of prenatal exposure to PFNA in pubertal activation of reproductive endocrine axis in female mice and explored underlying molecular mechanisms. Herein, we show that when PFNA (3 mg kg-1 body weight) was orally administered during gestational days 1-18, dams showed an increase in liver weight and hepatic FGF21 synthesis via PPARα activation, and their female offspring (PFNA mice) showed an increase in liver weight and hepatic FGF21 synthesis from postnatal day (PND) 1 to PND21, which were corrected by the administration of the PPARα antagonist GW6471 from PND1-14 (pup-GW). Expression of vasopressin (VAP) in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) was reduced in PND14-30 PFNA mice, and could be rescued by pup-GW. Pubertal activation of kisspeptin neurons in anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) and hypothalamic GnRH neurons in PND21-30 PFNA mice was obviously suppressed, but were recovered by pup-GW or PND21-30 application of VAP. The times of vaginal opening and first estrus were delayed in PFNA mice with a decrease in ovary size and the numbers of primary, secondary and antral follicles, and corpora lutea, which were relieved by pup-GW or application of VAP. The findings indicate that prenatal exposure to PFNA through increased FGF21 production in postnatal female offspring impedes postnatal activation of SCN-VAP neurons, which suppresses pubertal onset in AVPV-kisspeptin neurons and reproductive endocrine axis, leading to delayed puberty and dysfunction of ovaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajie Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Ye Xu
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Hong Ding
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China; Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenfeng Yu
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases of Education Ministry, Guizhou Medical University, Guian New District, Guizhou, 550025, China.
| | - Ling Chen
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
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Fenton SE, Ducatman A, Boobis A, DeWitt JC, Lau C, Ng C, Smith JS, Roberts SM. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Toxicity and Human Health Review: Current State of Knowledge and Strategies for Informing Future Research. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2021; 40:606-630. [PMID: 33017053 PMCID: PMC7906952 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 646] [Impact Index Per Article: 215.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 08/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Reports of environmental and human health impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have greatly increased in the peer-reviewed literature. The goals of the present review are to assess the state of the science regarding toxicological effects of PFAS and to develop strategies for advancing knowledge on the health effects of this large family of chemicals. Currently, much of the toxicity data available for PFAS are for a handful of chemicals, primarily legacy PFAS such as perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate. Epidemiological studies have revealed associations between exposure to specific PFAS and a variety of health effects, including altered immune and thyroid function, liver disease, lipid and insulin dysregulation, kidney disease, adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes, and cancer. Concordance with experimental animal data exists for many of these effects. However, information on modes of action and adverse outcome pathways must be expanded, and profound differences in PFAS toxicokinetic properties must be considered in understanding differences in responses between the sexes and among species and life stages. With many health effects noted for a relatively few example compounds and hundreds of other PFAS in commerce lacking toxicity data, more contemporary and high-throughput approaches such as read-across, molecular dynamics, and protein modeling are proposed to accelerate the development of toxicity information on emerging and legacy PFAS, individually and as mixtures. In addition, an appropriate degree of precaution, given what is already known from the PFAS examples noted, may be needed to protect human health. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:606-630. © 2020 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne E. Fenton
- National Toxicology Program Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Alan Ducatman
- West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Alan Boobis
- Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jamie C. DeWitt
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Christopher Lau
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Carla Ng
- Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - James S. Smith
- Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center, Portsmouth, Virginia, USA
| | - Stephen M. Roberts
- Center for Environmental & Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Khazaee M, Christie E, Cheng W, Michalsen M, Field J, Ng C. Perfluoroalkyl Acid Binding with Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors α, γ, and δ, and Fatty Acid Binding Proteins by Equilibrium Dialysis with a Comparison of Methods. TOXICS 2021; 9:45. [PMID: 33652875 PMCID: PMC7996760 DOI: 10.3390/toxics9030045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The biological impacts of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are linked to their protein interactions. Existing research has largely focused on serum albumin and liver fatty acid binding protein, and binding affinities determined with a variety of methods show high variability. Moreover, few data exist for short-chain PFAS, though their prevalence in the environment is increasing. We used molecular dynamics (MD) to screen PFAS binding to liver and intestinal fatty acid binding proteins (L- and I-FABPs) and peroxisome proliferator activated nuclear receptors (PPAR-α, -δ and -γ) with six perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) and three perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs). Equilibrium dissociation constants, KDs, were experimentally determined via equilibrium dialysis (EqD) with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for protein-PFAS pairs. A comparison was made between KDs derived from EqD, both here and in literature, and other in vitro approaches (e.g., fluorescence) from literature. EqD indicated strong binding between PPAR-δ and perfluorobutanoate (0.044 ± 0.013 µM) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (0.035 ± 0.0020 µM), and between PPAR-α and perfluorohexanoate (0.097 ± 0.070 µM). Unlike binding affinities for L-FABP, which increase with chain length, KDs for PPARs showed little chain length dependence by either MD simulation or EqD. Compared with other in vitro approaches, EqD-based KDs consistently indicated higher affinity across different proteins. This is the first study to report PPARs binding with short-chain PFAS with KDs in the sub-micromolar range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoochehr Khazaee
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (M.K.); (W.C.)
| | - Emerson Christie
- Department of Molecular and Environmental Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA; (E.C.); (J.F.)
| | - Weixiao Cheng
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (M.K.); (W.C.)
| | - Mandy Michalsen
- U.S. Army Engineer Research Development Center—Environmental Lab, Vicksburg, MS 39180, USA;
| | - Jennifer Field
- Department of Molecular and Environmental Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA; (E.C.); (J.F.)
| | - Carla Ng
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (M.K.); (W.C.)
- Secondary Appointment, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
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36
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Panieri E, Buha-Đorđevic A, Saso L. Endocrine disruption by PFAS: A major concern associated with legacy and replacement substances. ARHIV ZA FARMACIJU 2021. [DOI: 10.5937/arhfarm71-34197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Perand poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) have been used for decades in a great variety of processes and products by virtue of their exceptional properties, versatility and chemical stability. Nevertheless, it is increasingly recognized that these substances can represent a serious hazard to human health and living organisms due to their persistence, long-range transport potential and tendency to accumulate in biota. For this reason, some efforts have been made across the EU to identify alternative molecules, with a shorter carbon chain and theoretically safer profile, that might replace the previous generation of legacy PFAS. Unfortunately, this strategy has not been entirely successful and serious concerns are still posed by PFAS in different human populations. Among others, an emerging aspect is represented by the adverse effects that both legacy and alternative PFAS can exert on the human endocrine system, with respect to vulnerable target subpopulations. In this review we will briefly summarize PFAS properties, uses and environmental fate, focusing on their effects on human reproductive capacity and fertility, body weight control and obesity as well as thyroid function.
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Romano ME, Gallagher LG, Eliot MN, Calafat AM, Chen A, Yolton K, Lanphear B, Braun JM. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance mixtures and gestational weight gain among mothers in the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment study. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2021; 231:113660. [PMID: 33181449 PMCID: PMC7799649 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmentally persistent chemicals commonly used in the production of household and consumer goods. While exposure to PFAS has been associated with greater adiposity in children and adults, less is known about associations with gestational weight gain (GWG). METHODS We quantified using mass spectrometry perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexanesulfanoate (PFHxS) and perfluorononanoate (PFNA) in maternal serum from 18 ± 5 weeks' gestation (mean ± standard deviation (std)) in a prospective pregnancy and birth cohort (2003-2006, Cincinnati, Ohio) (n = 277). After abstracting weight data from medical records, we calculated GWG from 16 ± 2 weeks' gestation (mean ± std) to the measured weight at the last visit or at delivery, rate of weight gain in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters (GWR), and total weight gain z-scores standardized for gestational age at delivery and pre-pregnancy BMI. We investigated covariate-adjusted associations between individual PFAS using multivariable linear regression; we assessed potential effect measure modification (EMM) by overweight/obese status (pre-pregnancy BMI<25 kg/m2 v. ≥25 kg/m2). Using weighted quantile sum regression, we assessed the combined influence of these four PFAS on GWG and GWR. RESULTS Each doubling in serum concentrations of PFOA, PFOS, and PFNA was associated with a small increase in GWG (range 0.5-0.8 lbs) and GWR (range 0.03-0.05 lbs/week) among all women. The association of PFNA with GWG was stronger among women with BMI≥25 kg/m2 (β = 2.6 lbs; 95% CI:-0.8, 6.0) than those with BMI<25 kg/m2 (β = -1.0 lbs; 95% CI:-3.8, 1.8; p-EMM = 0.10). We observed associations close to the null between PFAS and z-scores and between the PFAS exposure index (a combined summary measure) and the outcomes. CONCLUSION Although there were consistent small increases in gestational weight gain with increasing PFOA, PFOS, and PFNA serum concentrations in this cohort, the associations were imprecise. Additional investigation of the association of PFAS with GWG in other cohorts would be informative and could consider pre-pregnancy BMI as a potential modifier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E Romano
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA.
| | - Lisa G Gallagher
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Melissa N Eliot
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Aimin Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Bruce Lanphear
- Child and Family Research Institute, BC Children's and Women's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Joseph M Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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van Gerwen M, Alpert N, Alsen M, Ziadkhanpour K, Taioli E, Genden E. The Impact of Smoking on the Association between Perfluoroalkyl Acids (PFAS) and Thyroid Hormones: A National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Analysis. TOXICS 2020; 8:toxics8040116. [PMID: 33316920 PMCID: PMC7768414 DOI: 10.3390/toxics8040116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAS) are known endocrine disrupting chemicals, potentially affecting thyroid function. Smoking has been associated with PFAS levels as well as with thyroid function. The impact of smoking on the association between PFAS and thyroid function remains to be elucidated, so the objective was to assess the effect of PFAS exposure on thyroid function in the general population, stratified by smoking status, using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). NHANES adult participants who were part of the 2011–2012 laboratory subsample and had PFAS and thyroid function measured were included (n = 1325). Adjusted linear regression models and stratified analyses were performed. There was a significant positive association between perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) (p = 0.003), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) (p = 0.014), total PFAS (p = 0.004) concentrations and free T4 (FT4). No significant associations were found between perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), PFOS, perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), PFNA, total PFAS and total T4 (TT4) or thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). In non-smokers, a significant positive association was found between PFOS (p = 0.003), PFHxS (p = 0.034), PFNA (p = 0.012), total PFAS (p = 0.003) and FT4 while no significant associations were found in smokers. The present study showed that increased PFAS exposure was associated with increased FT4 in non-smokers, while no association was found in smokers. These results confirm that smoking modifies the association between PFAS exposure and thyroid function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maaike van Gerwen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (M.A.); (E.G.)
- Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (N.A.); (E.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-212-659-9620; Fax: +1-212-423-2998
| | - Naomi Alpert
- Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (N.A.); (E.T.)
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Mathilda Alsen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (M.A.); (E.G.)
| | - Kimia Ziadkhanpour
- Department of Medical Education, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA;
| | - Emanuela Taioli
- Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (N.A.); (E.T.)
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Eric Genden
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (M.A.); (E.G.)
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Luo J, Xiao J, Gao Y, Ramlau-Hansen CH, Toft G, Li J, Obel C, Andersen SL, Deziel NC, Tseng WL, Inoue K, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC, Olsen J, Liew Z. Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and behavioral difficulties in childhood at 7 and 11 years. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 191:110111. [PMID: 32846178 PMCID: PMC7657987 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are suggested to interfere with thyroid hormone during pregnancy and influence fetal neurodevelopment. Epidemiological evidence regarding behavioral difficulties in childhood associated with prenatal PFAS exposure has been inconclusive. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the association between prenatal PFAS exposure and behavioral difficulties at 7 and 11 years, and investigated the potential mediating role of maternal thyroid hormones. METHODS Using pooled samples in the Danish National Birth Cohort established between 1996 and 2002, we estimated the associations between concentrations of six types of PFAS in maternal plasma (median, 8 gestational weeks) and child behavioral assessments from the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), reported by parents at 7 years (n = 2421), and by parents (n = 2070) and children at 11 years (n = 2071). Behavioral difficulties were defined as having a composite SDQ score above the 90th percentile for total difficulties and externalizing or internalizing behaviors. We used logistic regression to estimate the adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) by doubling increase of prenatal PFAS (ng/ml). The possible mediating effect of maternal thyroid function classified based on thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4) levels were evaluated. RESULTS Prenatal perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) was consistently associated with total and externalizing behavioral difficulties in all three SDQ measures reported by parents (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.14-1.73 for age 7; OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.05-1.53 for age 11) or children (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.11-1.58) while no consistent associations were observed for other types of PFAS. A small magnitude of natural indirect effects via maternal thyroid dysfunction (ORs ranged from 1.01 to 1.03) of several PFAS were observed for parent-reported total and externalizing behaviors at 7 years only. DISCUSSION Prenatal PFNA exposure was associated with externalizing behavioral difficulties in childhood in repeated SDQ measures at 7 and 11 years. The slight mediating effects of maternal thyroid hormones in early gestation warrant further evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajun Luo
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA.
| | - Jingyuan Xiao
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA.
| | - Yu Gao
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | | | - Gunnar Toft
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Jiong Li
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Carsten Obel
- Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Stine Linding Andersen
- Department of Endocrinology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
| | - Nicole C Deziel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA.
| | - Wan-Ling Tseng
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Kosuke Inoue
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | | | - Jørn Olsen
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Zeyan Liew
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA.
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Caron-Beaudoin É, Ayotte P, Blanchette C, Muckle G, Avard E, Ricard S, Lemire M. Perfluoroalkyl acids in pregnant women from Nunavik (Quebec, Canada): Trends in exposure and associations with country foods consumption. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 145:106169. [PMID: 33041046 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are persistent and ubiquitous environmental contaminants that potentially disrupt endocrine system functions. While some PFAAs (perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)) are regulated, currently used fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) can be transported to the Arctic and are degraded in a number of PFAAs which biomagnify in Arctic wildlife (e.g. perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUdA)). OBJECTIVES From 2004 to 2017, 279 pregnant Inuit women were recruited as part of biomonitoring projects in Nunavik. Our goal was to evaluate: (i) time-trends in plasma/serum PFAAs levels in pregnant Nunavimmiut women between 2004 and 2017; (ii) compare plasma/serum PFAAs levels in Nunavimmiut women in 2016-2017 to those measured in women of childbearing age in the Canadian Health Measure Survey (CHMS); and (iii) evaluate the associations of PFAAs levels with the consumption of country foods and pregnancy and maternal characteristics during pregnancy in the 97 participants recruited in 2016-2017. METHODS Individual blood sample were collected for serum or plasma PFAAs (PFOS, PFOA, pentafluorobenzoic acid (PFBA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), perfluorohexane-1-sulfonic acid (PFHxS), PFNA, PFDA, PFUdA) analyses. Socio-demographic data, pregnancy and maternal characteristics and country foods consumption were documented using a questionnaire. Omega-3 and -6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were measured in red blood cell membranes and their ratio used as a biomarker of marine country foods consumption. Time-trends in PFAAs levels were evaluated using ANCOVA models adjusted for relevant co-variables. Serum/plasma levels of PFAAs in the 97 pregnant women aged 16 to 40 years old and recruited in 2016-2017 were compared to those measured in women aged 18 to 40 years old from the CHMS cycle 5 (2016-2017) using the geometric means (GM) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Multivariate regression analyses were performed to examine associations between concentrations of PFAAs and country foods consumption data. RESULTS Statistically-significant downward time trends were noted for concentrations of PFOS, PFOA and PFHxS in pregnant Nunavik women between 2004 and 2017. Conversely, between 2011 and 2016-2017, PFNA, PFDA and PFUdA maternal serum levels increased by 19, 13 and 21% respectively. Among participants in 2016-2017, mean concentrations for PFNA (GM: 2.4 μg/L), PFDA (0.53 μg/L) and PFUdA (0.61 μg/L) were higher than those measured in women aged 18-40 years old in the Cycle 5 (2016-2017) of the CHMS. PFOA (0.53 μg/L) and PFHxS (0.26 μg/L) were lower than in CHMS, whereas PFBA, PFHxA and PFBS were not detected in 2016-2017. Ratios of serum/plasma levels of PFNA/PFOA, PFNA/PFOS, PFNA/PFHxS and PFUdA/PFDA were significantly higher in the 97 pregnant women from Nunavik recruited in 2016-2017 compared to CHMS, highlighting their distinct exposure profile. In multivariate models, PFHxS, PFOS, PFNA, PFDA and PFUdA levels in 2016-2017 were strongly associated with the omega-3/omega-6 PUFA ratio, indicating a positive association between marine country foods consumption and higher exposure to PFAAs. CONCLUSIONS The exposure of pregnant women to long-chain PFAAs (PFNA, PFDA and PFUdA) increased from 2004 to 2017 in Nunavik. Associations noted between PFAAs levels and the omega-3/omega-6 ratio highlights the importance of implementing additional strict regulations on PFAAs and their precursors to protect the high nutritional quality and cultural importance of country foods in Nunavik.
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Affiliation(s)
- Élyse Caron-Beaudoin
- Department of Health and Society and Department of Environmental and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, VCH Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Centre de toxicologie du Québec, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Caty Blanchette
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; École de psychologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Ellen Avard
- Nunavik Research Centre, Makivik Corporation, Kuujjuaq, QC, Canada
| | - Sylvie Ricard
- Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, Kuujjuaq, QC, Canada
| | - Mélanie Lemire
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
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Starling AP, Liu C, Shen G, Yang IV, Kechris K, Borengasser SJ, Boyle KE, Zhang W, Smith HA, Calafat AM, Hamman RF, Adgate JL, Dabelea D. Prenatal Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, Umbilical Cord Blood DNA Methylation, and Cardio-Metabolic Indicators in Newborns: The Healthy Start Study. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2020; 128:127014. [PMID: 33356526 PMCID: PMC7759236 DOI: 10.1289/ehp6888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Revised: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmentally persistent chemicals widely detected in women of reproductive age. Prenatal PFAS exposure is associated with adverse health outcomes in children. We hypothesized that DNA methylation changes may result from prenatal PFAS exposure and may be linked to offspring cardio-metabolic phenotype. OBJECTIVES We estimated associations of prenatal PFAS with DNA methylation in umbilical cord blood. We evaluated associations of methylation at selected sites with neonatal cardio-metabolic indicators. METHODS Among 583 mother-infant pairs in a prospective cohort, five PFAS were quantified in maternal serum (median 27 wk of gestation). Umbilical cord blood DNA methylation was evaluated using the Illumina HumanMethylation450 array. Differentially methylated positions (DMPs) were evaluated at a false discovery rate ( FDR ) < 0.05 and differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified using comb-p (Šidák-adjusted p < 0.05 ). We estimated associations between methylation at candidate DMPs and DMR sites and the following outcomes: newborn weight, adiposity, and cord blood glucose, insulin, lipids, and leptin. RESULTS Maternal serum PFAS concentrations were below the median for females in the U.S. general population. Moderate to high pairwise correlations were observed between PFAS concentrations (ρ = 0.28 - 0.76 ). Methylation at one DMP (cg18587484), annotated to the gene TJAP1, was associated with perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) at FDR < 0.05 . Comb-p detected between 4 and 15 DMRs for each PFAS. Associated genes, some common across multiple PFAS, were implicated in growth (RPTOR), lipid homeostasis (PON1, PON3, CIDEB, NR1H2), inflammation and immune activity (RASL11B, RNF39), among other functions. There was suggestive evidence that two PFAS-associated loci (cg09093485, cg09637273) were associated with cord blood triglycerides and birth weight, respectively (FDR < 0.1 ). DISCUSSION DNA methylation in umbilical cord blood was associated with maternal serum PFAS concentrations during pregnancy, suggesting potential associations with offspring growth, metabolism, and immune function. Future research should explore whether DNA methylation changes mediate associations between prenatal PFAS exposures and child health outcomes. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP6888.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne P. Starling
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Cuining Liu
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Guannan Shen
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Ivana V. Yang
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Division of Biomedical Informatics and Personalized Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Center for Genes, Environment and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Katerina Kechris
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Division of Biomedical Informatics and Personalized Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Sarah J. Borengasser
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Kristen E. Boyle
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Weiming Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Harry A. Smith
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Antonia M. Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Richard F. Hamman
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - John L. Adgate
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Dana Dabelea
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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Boesen SAH, Long M, Wielsøe M, Mustieles V, Fernandez MF, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC. Exposure to Perflouroalkyl acids and foetal and maternal thyroid status: a review. Environ Health 2020; 19:107. [PMID: 33050930 PMCID: PMC7557068 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-020-00647-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to perfluorinated-alkyl-acids (PFAAs) is ubiquitous. PFAAs are hormone-disrupting compounds that are strongly suspected to affect mother-child-health such as fetal growth. Thyroid disruption is a plausible mechanism of action. We aim to summarize the epidemiological evidence for the relation between prenatal and postnatal exposure to PFAAs and disruption of thyroid homeostasis in mothers and/or infants. METHOD Fifteen original publications on PFAAs concentrations and thyroid hormones (TH) in pregnant women and/or infants were found upon a literature search in the PubMed database. Information on exposure to seven PFAAs congeners [Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA), and Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)] and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free and total thyroxine (FT4 and TT4), free and total triiodothyronine (FT3 and TT3), T3RU (Free triiodothyronine resin uptake) and FT4-index (FT4I) levels were recorded. We evaluated sampling of maternal TH by trimester, and infant TH by sex stratification. Reported associations between mother or infant PFAAs and TH were not uniformly assessed in the selected studies. RESULTS Ten out of the fifteen studies examined maternal PFAAs concentration and TSH level. Seven studies showed significant associations between TSH and exposure to six PFAAs congeners, most of them were positive. Maternal T4 and T3 were investigated in nine studies and five studies found inverse associations between exposure to six PFAAs congeners and TH (TT3, TT4, FT3, FT4 and FT4I) levels. Eight of the fifteen studies investigated PFAAs concentrations and infant TSH. Infant TSH level was significantly affected in four studies, positively in three studies. Nine studies investigated infant T4 and T3 and seven studies found significant associations with PFAAs exposure. However, both inverse and positive significant associations with infant TH were found eliciting no clear direction. CONCLUSION Results indicate a mainly positive relationship between maternal PFAAs concentrations and TSH levels, and suggestion of an inverse association with T4 and/or T3 levels. Associations of infant TH with PFAAs concentration were less consistent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie A H Boesen
- Centre for Arctic Health and Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Manhai Long
- Centre for Arctic Health and Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Maria Wielsøe
- Centre for Arctic Health and Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Vicente Mustieles
- School of Medicine, Center of Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mariana F Fernandez
- School of Medicine, Center of Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Eva C Bonefeld-Jørgensen
- Centre for Arctic Health and Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
- Greenland Centre for Health Research, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland.
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Blake BE, Fenton SE. Early life exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and latent health outcomes: A review including the placenta as a target tissue and possible driver of peri- and postnatal effects. Toxicology 2020; 443:152565. [PMID: 32861749 PMCID: PMC7530144 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2020.152565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous drinking water contaminants of concern due to mounting evidence implicating adverse health outcomes associated with exposure, including reduced kidney function, metabolic syndrome, thyroid disruption, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. PFAS have been produced in the U.S. since the 1940s and now encompass a growing chemical family comprised of diverse chemical moieties, yet the toxicological effects have been studied for relatively few compounds. Critically, exposures to some PFAS in utero are associated with adverse outcomes for both mother and offspring, such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including preeclampsia, and low birth weight. Given the relationship between HDP, placental dysfunction, adverse health outcomes, and increased risk for chronic diseases in adulthood, the role of both developmental and lifelong exposure to PFAS likely contributes to disease risk in complex ways. Here, evidence for the role of some PFAS in disrupted thyroid function, kidney disease, and metabolic syndrome is synthesized with an emphasis on the placenta as a critical yet understudied target of PFAS and programming agent of adult disease. Future research efforts must continue to fill the knowledge gap between placental susceptibility to environmental exposures like PFAS, subsequent perinatal health risks for both mother and child, and latent health effects in adult offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bevin E Blake
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Division of the National Toxicology Program (DNTP), NTP Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institute of Health (NIH), Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Suzanne E Fenton
- Division of the National Toxicology Program (DNTP), NTP Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institute of Health (NIH), Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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Conti A, Strazzeri C, Rhoden KJ. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, a persistent organic pollutant, inhibits iodide accumulation by thyroid follicular cells in vitro. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 515:110922. [PMID: 32621861 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) reported to alter thyroid function. Iodide uptake by thyroid follicular cells, an early step in the synthesis of thyroid hormones, is a potential target for thyroid disruption by EDCs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the acute effects of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctane carboxylic acid (PFOA), two of the most abundant PFAS in the environment, on iodide transport by thyroid follicular cells in vitro. Dynamic changes in intracellular iodide concentration were monitored by live cell imaging using YFP-H148Q/I152, a genetically encoded fluorescent iodide biosensor. PFOS, but not PFOA, acutely and reversibly inhibited iodide accumulation by FRTL-5 thyrocytes, as well as by HEK-293 cells transiently expressing the Sodium Iodide Symporter (NIS). PFOS prevented NIS-mediated iodide uptake and reduced intracellular iodide concentration in iodide-containing cells, mimicking the effect of the NIS inhibitor perchlorate. PFOS did not affect iodide efflux from thyroid cells. The results of this study suggest that disruption of iodide homeostasis in thyroid cells may be a potential mechanism for anti-thyroid health effects of PFOS. The study also confirms the utility of the YFP-H148Q/I152 cell-based assay to screen environmental PFAS, and other EDCs, for anti-thyroid activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalia Conti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, via Massarenti 9, Bologna, 40138, Italy.
| | - Chiara Strazzeri
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, via Massarenti 9, Bologna, 40138, Italy.
| | - Kerry J Rhoden
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), and Health Sciences & Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (CIRI SDV), University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, via Massarenti 9, Bologna, 40138, Italy.
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Schrenk D, Bignami M, Bodin L, Chipman JK, del Mazo J, Grasl‐Kraupp B, Hogstrand C, Hoogenboom L(R, Leblanc J, Nebbia CS, Nielsen E, Ntzani E, Petersen A, Sand S, Vleminckx C, Wallace H, Barregård L, Ceccatelli S, Cravedi J, Halldorsson TI, Haug LS, Johansson N, Knutsen HK, Rose M, Roudot A, Van Loveren H, Vollmer G, Mackay K, Riolo F, Schwerdtle T. Risk to human health related to the presence of perfluoroalkyl substances in food. EFSA J 2020; 18:e06223. [PMID: 32994824 PMCID: PMC7507523 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2020.6223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 223] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The European Commission asked EFSA for a scientific evaluation on the risks to human health related to the presence of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in food. Based on several similar effects in animals, toxicokinetics and observed concentrations in human blood, the CONTAM Panel decided to perform the assessment for the sum of four PFASs: PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS and PFOS. These made up half of the lower bound (LB) exposure to those PFASs with available occurrence data, the remaining contribution being primarily from PFASs with short half-lives. Equal potencies were assumed for the four PFASs included in the assessment. The mean LB exposure in adolescents and adult age groups ranged from 3 to 22, the 95th percentile from 9 to 70 ng/kg body weight (bw) per week. Toddlers and 'other children' showed a twofold higher exposure. Upper bound exposure was 4- to 49-fold higher than LB levels, but the latter were considered more reliable. 'Fish meat', 'Fruit and fruit products' and 'Eggs and egg products' contributed most to the exposure. Based on available studies in animals and humans, effects on the immune system were considered the most critical for the risk assessment. From a human study, a lowest BMDL 10 of 17.5 ng/mL for the sum of the four PFASs in serum was identified for 1-year-old children. Using PBPK modelling, this serum level of 17.5 ng/mL in children was estimated to correspond to long-term maternal exposure of 0.63 ng/kg bw per day. Since accumulation over time is important, a tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 4.4 ng/kg bw per week was established. This TWI also protects against other potential adverse effects observed in humans. Based on the estimated LB exposure, but also reported serum levels, the CONTAM Panel concluded that parts of the European population exceed this TWI, which is of concern.
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Aimuzi R, Luo K, Huang R, Huo X, Nian M, Ouyang F, Du Y, Feng L, Wang W, Zhang J. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluroalkyl substances and maternal thyroid hormones in early pregnancy. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 264:114557. [PMID: 32388293 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development of the embryo and fetal brain depends on maternal transfer of thyroid hormones (THs) in early pregnancy. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) may disrupt maternal TH homeostasis in pregnancy, but findings from epidemiologic studies were inconsistent. We aimed to assess this relationship in early pregnancy in a large prospective cohort study. METHODS A total of 1885 pregnant women enrolled in the Shanghai Birth Cohort were used. Ten PFAS, free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) were measured in maternal blood collected prior to 16 weeks of gestation. Multiple linear regression accompanied by restricted cubic spline was used to examine the association and the exposure-response relationship between each PFAS and TH in separate models. Possible effect modification by TPOAb status was also investigated. RESULTS Perfluorooctanoic acid [PFOA, β = 0.121, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.015, 0.227] and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS, β = 0.123, 95% CI: 0.024, 0.222) were positively associated with FT4. Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA, β = 0.179, 95% CI: 0.047, 0.311) and PFHxS (β = 0.197, 95% CI: 0.054, 0.339) were positively associated with FT3, while PFHxS was negatively associated with TSH (β = -0.115, 95%CI: 0.216, -0.014). TPOAb-positivity appeared to modify the associations between PFAS and THs. In TPOAb-positive women, several long-chain PFAS were positively associated with FT4 and/or FT3 and tended to be negatively associated with TSH. CONCLUSIONS Several long-chain PFAS were associated with disrupted TH homeostasis in Chinese pregnant women, especially among TPOAb-positive women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruxianguli Aimuzi
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China; School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Kai Luo
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China; School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Rong Huang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Xiaona Huo
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Min Nian
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China; School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Fengxiu Ouyang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yatao Du
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Liping Feng
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Weiye Wang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China; School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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Lebeaux RM, Doherty BT, Gallagher LG, Zoeller RT, Hoofnagle AN, Calafat AM, Karagas MR, Yolton K, Chen A, Lanphear BP, Braun JM, Romano ME. Maternal serum perfluoroalkyl substance mixtures and thyroid hormone concentrations in maternal and cord sera: The HOME Study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 185:109395. [PMID: 32222633 PMCID: PMC7657649 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous. Previous studies have found associations between PFAS and thyroid hormones in maternal and cord sera, but the results are inconsistent. To further address this research question, we used mixture modeling to assess the associations with individual PFAS, interactions among PFAS chemicals, and the overall mixture. METHODS We collected data through the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study, a prospective cohort study that between 2003 and 2006 enrolled 468 pregnant women and their children in the greater Cincinnati, Ohio region. We assessed the associations of maternal serum PFAS concentrations measured during pregnancy with maternal (n = 185) and cord (n = 256) sera thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), total thyroxine (TT4), total triiodothyronine (TT3), free thyroxine (FT4), and free triiodothyronine (FT3) using two mixture modeling approaches (Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and quantile g-computation) and multivariable linear regression. Additional models considered thyroid autoantibodies, other non-PFAS chemicals, and iodine deficiency as potential confounders or effect measure modifiers. RESULTS PFAS, considered individually or as mixtures, were generally not associated with any thyroid hormones. A doubling of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) had a positive association with cord serum TSH in BKMR models but the 95% Credible Interval included the null (β = 0.09; 95% CrI: -0.08, 0.27). Using BKMR and multivariable models, we found that among children born to mothers with higher thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), PFOS, and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) were associated with decreased cord FT4 suggesting modification by maternal TPOAb status. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that maternal serum PFAS concentrations measured in the second trimester of pregnancy are not strongly associated with thyroid hormones in maternal and cord sera. Further analyses using robust mixture models in other cohorts are required to corroborate these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M Lebeaux
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Brett T Doherty
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | | | - R Thomas Zoeller
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Andrew N Hoofnagle
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Margaret R Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Aimin Chen
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Bruce P Lanphear
- Child and Family Research Institute, BC Children's and Women's Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Joseph M Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Megan E Romano
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA.
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48
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Preston EV, Webster TF, Claus Henn B, McClean MD, Gennings C, Oken E, Rifas-Shiman SL, Pearce EN, Calafat AM, Fleisch AF, Sagiv SK. Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and maternal and neonatal thyroid function in the Project Viva Cohort: A mixtures approach. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 139:105728. [PMID: 32311629 PMCID: PMC7282386 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal and neonatal thyroid function is critical for growth and neurodevelopment. Exposure to individual per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can alter circulating thyroid hormone levels, but few studies have investigated effects of combined exposure to multiple PFAS. OBJECTIVES Estimate associations of exposure to multiple PFAS during early pregnancy with maternal and neonatal thyroid function. METHODS The study population consisted of 726 mothers and 465 neonates from Project Viva, a Boston, Massachusetts area longitudinal pre-birth cohort. We measured six PFAS [perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), 2-(N-ethyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido)acetate (EtFOSAA), and 2-(N-methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido)acetate (MeFOSAA)] and thyroxine (T4), Free T4 Index (FT4I), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in maternal plasma samples collected during early pregnancy, and neonatal T4 in postpartum heel sticks. We estimated individual and joint effects of PFAS exposure with thyroid hormone levels using weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), and evaluated potential non-linearity and interactions among PFAS using BKMR. RESULTS Higher concentrations of the PFAS mixture were associated with significantly lower maternal FT4I, with MeFOSAA, EtFOSAA, PFOA, and PFHxS contributing most to the overall mixture effect in BKMR and WQS regression. In infants, higher concentrations of the PFAS mixture were associated with lower T4 levels, primarily in males, with PFHxS and MeFOSAA contributing most in WQS, and PFHxS contributing most in BKMR. The PFAS mixture was not associated with maternal T4 or TSH levels. However, in maternal BKMR analyses, ln-PFOS was positively associated with T4 levels (Δ25th to 75th percentile: 0.21 µg/dL; 95% credible interval: -0.03, 0.47) and ln-PFHxS was associated with a non-linear effect on TSH levels. CONCLUSIONS These findings support the hypothesis that there may be combined effects of prenatal exposure to multiple PFAS on maternal and neonatal thyroid function, but the direction and magnitude of these effects may vary across individual PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma V Preston
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Thomas F Webster
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Birgit Claus Henn
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael D McClean
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chris Gennings
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Emily Oken
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sheryl L Rifas-Shiman
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth N Pearce
- Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Abby F Fleisch
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland, ME, USA
| | - Sharon K Sagiv
- Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health, University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health, Berkeley, CA, USA
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49
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Peropadre A, Hazen MJ, Pérez Martín JM, Fernández Freire P. An acute exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid causes non-reversible plasma membrane injury in HeLa cells. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 260:114008. [PMID: 31995777 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Health and environmental risks regarding perfluorooctanoic acid, a well-known perfluorinated compound, are still a subject of great concern. Ubiquitous exposure and disparity of results make it difficult to determine the underlying mechanism of action, especially at the cellular level. This study proposes an experimental design to assess the reversibility of adverse effects after a one-time exposure to the compound, in comparison with other more conventional timings. Complementary endpoints including total protein content, neutral red uptake and MTT reduction tests along with division rates and microscopic observations were evaluated in HeLa cells. In addition, PFOA quantification inside the cells was performed. The cellular effects exerted after 24 h exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid are non-reversible after a 48 h recovery period. In addition, we describe for the first time the induction of plasma membrane blebbing and the activation of membrane repair mechanisms after recovery from non-cytotoxic treatments with the compound. This experimental design has provided relevant information regarding the toxicity of this perfluorinated compound, relating all the adverse effects detected to its interaction with the plasma membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Peropadre
- Department of Biology (Lab A-110), Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Darwin 2, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria José Hazen
- Department of Biology (Lab A-110), Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Darwin 2, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Manuel Pérez Martín
- Department of Biology (Lab A-110), Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Darwin 2, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Fernández Freire
- Department of Biology (Lab A-110), Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Darwin 2, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
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50
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Warner M, Rauch S, Ames J, Mocarelli P, Brambilla P, Signorini S, Eskenazi B. Prenatal dioxin exposure and thyroid hormone levels in the Seveso second generation study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 183:109280. [PMID: 32311913 PMCID: PMC7176740 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In animal studies, perinatal exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) alters thyroid homoeostasis and thyroid hormone concentrations; epidemiologic evidence is limited. OBJECTIVES We aimed to determine the association of prenatal exposure to TCDD with thyroid hormone concentrations in the Seveso Second Generation Study, a unique cohort of children born to TCDD-exposed women resulting from a 1976 chemical factory explosion in Seveso, Italy. METHODS We included 570 children (288 female, 282 male) with complete follow-up data, including a fasting blood draw. Serum levels of total and free thyroxine (T4), free triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured using immunoassays. We defined prenatal TCDD exposure as: 1) maternal initial TCDD concentration measured in serum collected soon after the explosion and 2) maternal TCDD estimated at pregnancy. RESULTS Compared to the lowest quartile (Q1), maternal initial serum TCDD was associated with lower free T3 (Q2: adj-β = -0.13, 95%CI -0.26, 0.00; Q3: adj-β = -0.22, 95%CI -0.35, -0.09; Q4: adj-β = -0.14, 95%CI -0.28, 0.00; p-trend = 0.02). In participants with high thyroid antibody status, inverse associations between maternal initial serum TCDD and free T3 were significantly stronger than in participants with normal antibody status (p-interaction = 0.02). We also observed a positive association between maternal initial serum TCDD and TSH concentrations in participants with high thyroid antibody status (Q2: adj-β = 11.4%, 95%CI -25.2, 66.1; Q3: adj-β = 49.0%, 95%CI 3.0, 115.5; Q4: adj-β = 105.5, 95%CI 36.6, 209.2; p-trend < 0.01) but not in those participants with normal antibody status (p-interaction < 0.01). Similar results were found for TCDD estimated at pregnancy. DISCUSSION Our results suggest prenatal exposure to TCDD, a potent endocrine-disrupting compound, may alter thyroid function later in life. Populations with additional thyroid stress may be particularly susceptible to in utero exposure of thyroid disrupting chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Warner
- Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Stephen Rauch
- Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer Ames
- Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Paolo Mocarelli
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, School of Medicine, Hospital of Desio, Desio, Milano, Italy
| | - Paolo Brambilla
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, School of Medicine, Hospital of Desio, Desio, Milano, Italy
| | - Stefano Signorini
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, School of Medicine, Hospital of Desio, Desio, Milano, Italy
| | - Brenda Eskenazi
- Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
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