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Heinsberg LW, Niu S, Arslanian KJ, Chen R, Bedi M, Unasa-Apelu F, Fidow UT, Soti-Ulberg C, Conley YP, Weeks DE, Ng CA, Hawley NL. Characterization of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) concentrations in a community-based sample of infants from Samoa. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 353:141527. [PMID: 38401869 PMCID: PMC10997188 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141527] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent contaminants with documented harmful health effects. Despite increasing research, little attention has been given to studying PFAS contamination in low- and middle-income countries, including Samoa. Using data and biosamples collected through the Foafoaga o le Ola ("Beginning of Life") Study, which recruited a sample of mothers and infants from Samoa, we conducted an exploratory study to describe concentrations of 40 PFAS analytes in infant cord blood collected at birth (n = 66) and infant dried blood spots (DBS) collected at 4 months post-birth (n = 50). Of the 40 PFAS analytes tested, 19 were detected in cord blood, with 10 detected in >50% of samples (PFBA, PFPeA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnA, PFTrDA, PFHxS, PFOS, and 9Cl-PF3ONS); and 12 analytes were detected in DBS, with 3 detected in >50% of samples (PFBA, PFHxS, and PFOS). PFAS concentrations were generally lower than those reported in existing literature, with the exception of PFHxS, which was detected at higher concentrations. In cord blood, we noted suggestive (p < 0.05) or significant (p < 0.006) associations between higher PFHxS and male sex; higher PFPeA and residence in Northwest 'Upolu (NWU) compared to the Apia Urban Area (AUA); lower PFUnA and 9Cl-PF3ONS and greater socioeconomic resources; lower PFOA and higher parity; higher PFDA and higher maternal age; and lower PFUnA, PFTrDA, and 9Cl-PF3ONS and higher maternal BMI. In DBS, we found suggestive (p < 0.05) or significant (p < 0.025) associations between lower PFBA and residence in NWU versus AUA; lower PFBA and PFHxS and higher maternal age; and higher PFBA and higher maternal BMI. Finally, we observed associations between nutrition source at 4 months and DBS PFBA and PFHxS, with formula- or mixed-fed infants having higher concentrations compared to exclusively breastfed infants. This study represents the first characterization of PFAS contamination in Samoa. Additional work in larger samples is needed to identify potentially modifiable determinants of PFAS concentrations, information that is critical for informing environmental and health policy measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lacey W Heinsberg
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Shan Niu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Kendall J Arslanian
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Ruiwen Chen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Megha Bedi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Folla Unasa-Apelu
- Obesity, Lifestyle and Genetic Adaptations Study Group, Apia, Samoa.
| | | | | | - Yvette P Conley
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Health Promotion and Development, School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Daniel E Weeks
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Carla A Ng
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Nicola L Hawley
- Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Heinsberg LW, Niu S, Arslanian KJ, Chen R, Bedi M, Unasa-Apelu F, Fidow UT, Soti-Ulberg C, Conley YP, Weeks DE, Ng CA, Hawley NL. Characterization of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) concentrations in a community-based sample of infants from Samoa. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.11.10.23298357. [PMID: 37986966 PMCID: PMC10659488 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.10.23298357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent contaminants with documented harmful health effects. Despite increasing research, little attention has been given to studying PFAS contamination in low- and middle-income countries, including Samoa, where there is more recent modernization and potential window to examine earlier stages of PFAS exposure and consequences. Using data and biosamples collected through the Foafoaga o le Ola ("Beginning of Life") Study, which recruited a sample of mothers and infants from Samoa, we conducted an exploratory study to describe concentrations of 40 PFAS analytes in infant cord blood collected at birth (n=66) and dried blood spots (DBS) collected at 4 months post-birth (n=50). Of the 40 PFAS analytes tested, 19 were detected in cord blood, with 11 detected in >10% of samples (PFBA, PFPeA, PFHpA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnA, PFTrDA, PFHxS, PFOS, and 9Cl-PF3ONS); 12 analytes were detected in DBS, with 3 detected in >10% of samples (PFBA, PFHxS, and PFOS). PFAS concentrations were generally lower than those reported in existing literature, with the exception of PFHxS, which was detected at higher concentrations. In cord blood, we noted associations between higher PFHxS and male sex, higher PFPeA and residence in Northwest 'Upolu (NWU) compared to the Apia Urban Area (AUA), and lower PFUnA and 9Cl-PF3ONS with greater socioeconomic resources. In DBS, we found associations between higher PFBA and greater socioeconomic resources, and between lower PFBA and PFHxS and residence in NWU versus AUA. However, the latter association did not hold when controlling for socioeconomic resources. Finally, we observed associations between nutrition source at 4 months and DBS PFBA and PFHxS, with formula- or mixed-fed infants having higher concentrations compared to exclusively breastfed infants. This study presents the first evidence of PFAS contamination in Samoa. Additional work in larger samples is needed to identify potentially modifiable determinants of PFAS concentrations, information that is critical for informing environmental and health policy measures.
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Oyama S, Arslanian KJ, Fidow UT, Naseri T, Soti-Ulberg C, Hawley NL. Cross-sectional and prospective associations between household socioeconomic resources, appetite traits, and body size among Samoan infants. Appetite 2023; 185:106519. [PMID: 36870391 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.106519] [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: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
In high-income countries, household socioeconomic resources (as measured by education, occupation, income, and/or household assets) and childhood obesity risk tend to be negatively associated. This association may arise in part because children from households with fewer resources are exposed to obesogenic environments that shape appetite trait development. In contrast, many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) exhibit a positive association between socioeconomic resources and child body size. There is less evidence from LMIC settings about when during development this association emerges and whether appetite traits play a mediatory role. To explore these questions, we examined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between socioeconomic resources, appetite traits, and body size among infants in Samoa, an LMIC in Oceania. Data were from the Foafoaga O le Ola prospective birth cohort of 160 mother-infant dyads. Appetite traits were characterized using the Baby and Child Eating Behavior Questionnaires and household socioeconomic resources were quantified using an asset-based measure. While infant body size and household socioeconomic resources were positively associated in both cross-sectional and prospective analyses, we found no evidence that appetite traits mediate this relationship. These results suggest that other aspects of the food environment, such as food security and feeding style, may explain the positive association between socioeconomic resources and body size observed in many LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakurako Oyama
- Department of Anthropology, Yale University, 10 Sachem St, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA; Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, 333 Cedar St, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Kendall J Arslanian
- Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College St, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Ulai T Fidow
- Obstetrics & Gynecology, Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital, Samoa National Health Services, Apia, Samoa
| | | | | | - Nicola L Hawley
- Department of Anthropology, Yale University, 10 Sachem St, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA; Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College St, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
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