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Ru H, Lee AL, Rappazzo KM, Dzierlenga M, Radke E, Bateson TF, Wright JM. Systematic review and meta-analysis of birth weight and perfluorohexane sulfonate exposures: examination of sample timing and study confidence. Occup Environ Med 2024; 81:266-276. [PMID: 38724253 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2023-109328] [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: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
We examined the association between mean birth weight (BW) differences and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) exposure biomarkers.We fit a random effects model to estimate the overall pooled effect and for different strata based on biomarker sample timing and overall study confidence. We also conducted an analysis to examine the impact of a continuous measure of gestational age sample timing on the overall pooled effect.We detected a -7.9 g (95% CI -15.0 to -0.7; pQ=0.85; I2=0%) BW decrease per ln ng/mL PFHxS increase based on 27 studies. The 11 medium confidence studies (β=-10.0 g; 95% CI -21.1 to 1.1) showed larger deficits than 12 high (β=-6.8 g; 95% CI -16.3 to 2.8) and 4 low confidence studies (β=-1.5 g; 95% CI -51.6 to 48.7). 10 studies with mid-pregnancy to late-pregnancy sampling periods showed smaller deficits (β=-3.9 g; 95% CI -17.7 to 9.9) than 5 post-partum studies (β=-28.3 g; 95% CI -69.3 to 12.7) and 12 early sampling studies (β=-7.6 g; 95% CI -16.2 to 1.1). 6 of 12 studies with the earliest sampling timing showed results closer to the null.Overall, we detected a small but statistically significant BW deficit across 27 studies. We saw comparable BW deficit magnitudes in both the medium and high confidence studies as well as the early pregnancy group. Despite no definitive pattern by sample timing, larger deficits were seen in postpartum studies. We also saw results closer to the null for a subset of studies restricted to the earliest biomarker collection times. Serial pregnancy sampling, improved precision in gestational age estimates and more standardised reporting of sample variation and exposure units in future epidemiologic research may offer a greater understanding of the relationship between PFHxS on BW and any potential impact of pregnancy haemodynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Ru
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment; Chemical and Pollutant Assessment Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Alexandra L Lee
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment; Chemical and Pollutant Assessment Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kristen M Rappazzo
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment; Public Health and Environmental Systems Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Michael Dzierlenga
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment; Chemical and Pollutant Assessment Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Elizabeth Radke
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment; Chemical and Pollutant Assessment Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Thomas F Bateson
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment; Chemical and Pollutant Assessment Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - J Michael Wright
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment; Chemical and Pollutant Assessment Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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Eze CG, Okeke ES, Nwankwo CE, Nyaruaba R, Anand U, Okoro OJ, Bontempi E. Emerging contaminants in food matrices: An overview of the occurrence, pathways, impacts and detection techniques of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Toxicol Rep 2024; 12:436-447. [PMID: 38645434 PMCID: PMC11033125 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2024.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used in industrial and consumer applications for ages. The pervasive and persistent nature of PFAS in the environment is a universal concern due to public health risks. Experts acknowledge that exposure to high levels of certain PFAS have consequences, including reduced vaccine efficacy, elevated cholesterol, and increased risk of high blood pressure. While considerable research has been conducted to investigate the presence of PFAS in the environment, the pathways for human exposure through food and food packaging/contact materials (FCM) remain unclear. In this review, we present an exhaustive overview of dietary exposure pathways to PFAS. Also, the mechanism of PFAS migration from FCMs into food and the occurrence of PFAS in certain foods were considered. Further, we present the analytical techniques for PFAS in food and food matrices as well as exposure pathways and human health impacts. Further, recent regulatory actions working to set standards and guidelines for PFAS in food packaging materials were highlighted. Alternative materials being developed and evaluated for their safety and efficacy in food contact applications, offering promising alternatives to PFAS were also considered. Finally, we reported on general considerations and perspectives presently considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chukwuebuka Gabriel Eze
- Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State 410001, Nigeria
- Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Science Aberystwyth University, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Emmanuel Sunday Okeke
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences & Natural Science Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State 410001, Nigeria
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, School of the Environment and Safety, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Rd., Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Chidiebele Emmanuel Nwankwo
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences & Natural Science Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State 410001, Nigeria
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Rd., Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Raphael Nyaruaba
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Uttpal Anand
- CytoGene Research & Development LLP, K-51, UPSIDA Industrial Area, Kursi Road (Lucknow), Dist.– Barabanki, 225001, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Onyekwere Joseph Okoro
- Department of Zoology and Environment Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State 410001, Nigeria
| | - Elza Bontempi
- INSTM and INSTM and Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, University of Brescia, via Branze 38, Brescia 25123, Italy
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Li J, Su X, Zhou Y, Ji H, Xie Z, Sun S, Wang Z, Yuan W, Miao M, Liang H. Association between prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and infant anthropometry: A prospective cohort study. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 257:114339. [PMID: 38401404 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114339] [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: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic organic chemicals with potential endocrine-disrupting effects, and have been found to impair the physical growth of offspring in both experimental and epidemiological studies. We aimed to investigate the effects of prenatal PFAS exposure on repeated measurements of multiple anthropometric indicators in infants. METHOD PFAS were measured in serum samples collected from pregnant women at 12-16 gestational weeks. We calculated z-scores for the weight-for-age (WAZ), weight-for-length (WLZ), head circumference-for-age (HCZ), arm circumference-for-age (ACZ), triceps skinfold-for-age (TSZ), and subscapular skinfold-for-age (SSZ) at birth, 6 months, and 12 months of age according to the child growth standards of the World Health Organization (WHO) for anthropometric indicators. A total of 964 mother-infant pairs were included. A multivariate linear regression was performed to examine the associations between prenatal PFAS concentrations and anthropometric indicators at each time point. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) model was used to examine the longitudinal effects of PFAS exposure on repeated measurements of anthropometric indicators. Ultimately, a Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model was used to assess the joint effects of the PFAS mixture on anthropometric indicators. RESULTS In GEE models, perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) in the high tertile group was associated with increased WAZ/WLZ, with β values (95% confidence intervals (CI)) of 0.12 (0.00, 0.23) and 0.18 (0.03, 0.32), respectively. Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) was associated with increased ACZ in the middle and high tertile groups. The BKMR models also presented the associations of the PFAS mixture with increased WAZ/WLZ throughout infancy, with more profound effects in females. Meanwhile, a pattern of inverse associations was observed between the perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) concentrations in the high tertile group and decreased WAZ, WLZ, and HCZ in males. In addition, the associations between PFAS and increased TSZ/SSZ at birth were identified by both linear regression and BKMR models. CONCLUSION Prenatal PFAS exposure (PFNA and PFDoA) was associated with increased infant anthropometry, especially in female infants, while prenatal PFOA exposure was associated with decreased weight, and head and arm circumference in male infants. The findings indicate that prenatal PFAS exposure may impair the growth trajectory of offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jincan Li
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Department of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Xiujuan Su
- Clinical Research Centre, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Foetal Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- National Reference Laboratory of Dioxin, Institute of Health Inspection and Detection, Hubei Provincial Academy of Preventive Medicine, Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Honglei Ji
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Zhenzhen Xie
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Department of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Songlin Sun
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Department of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Ziliang Wang
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Wei Yuan
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Maohua Miao
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Hong Liang
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, 200237, China.
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van Beijsterveldt IALP, van Zelst BD, Dorrepaal DJ, van den Berg SAA, Hokken-Koelega ACS. Early life poly- and perfluoroalkyl substance levels and adiposity in the first 2 years of life. Eur J Endocrinol 2024; 190:338-346. [PMID: 38554392 DOI: 10.1093/ejendo/lvae039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are nondegradable, man-made chemicals. They accumulate in humans with potential harmful effects, especially in susceptible periods of human development, such as the first months of life. We found that, in our cohort, exclusively breastfed (EBF) infants had 3 times higher PFAS plasma levels compared with exclusively formula-fed (EFF) infants at the age of 3 months. Thus, PFASs could potentially reduce the health benefits of breastfeeding. OBJECTIVE We investigated the associations between PFAS levels at the age of 3 months and accelerated gain in fat mass during the first 6 months of life, body composition at 2 years, and whether these associations differ between EBF and EFF infants. SETTING In 372 healthy term-born infants, we longitudinally assessed anthropometrics, body composition (by air-displacement plethysmography and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), and visceral and subcutaneous fat (by abdominal ultrasound) until the age of 2 years. MEASURES The plasma levels of 5 individual PFASs were determined by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry at the age of 3 months. MAIN OUTCOMES We studied associations between PFAS levels and outcomes using multiple regression analyses. RESULTS Higher early life plasma perfluorooctanoic acid and total PFAS levels were associated with an accelerated gain in fat mass percentage [FM%; >0.67 SD score (SDS)] during the first 6 months of life. Higher early life PFAS levels were associated with lower fat-free mass (FFM) SDS at the age of 2 years, but not with total FM% SDS at 2 years. Furthermore, we found opposite effects of PFAS levels (negative) and exclusive breastfeeding (positive) at the age of 3 months on FFM SDS at 2 years. CONCLUSION Higher PFAS levels in early life are associated with accelerated gains in FM% during the first 6 months of life and with lower FFM SDS at the age of 2 years, which have been associated with an unfavorable body composition and metabolic profile later in life. Our findings warrant further research with longer follow-up times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inge A L P van Beijsterveldt
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bertrand D van Zelst
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Demi J Dorrepaal
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd A A van den Berg
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anita C S Hokken-Koelega
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Dutch Growth Research Foundation, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Frangione B, Birk S, Benzouak T, Rodriguez-Villamizar LA, Karim F, Dugandzic R, Villeneuve PJ. Exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and pediatric obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Obes (Lond) 2024; 48:131-146. [PMID: 37907715 PMCID: PMC10824662 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-023-01401-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are potentially obesogenic for children. We undertook a systematic review to synthesize this literature and explore sources of heterogeneity in previously published epidemiological studies. METHODS Studies that collected individual-level PFAS and anthropometric data from children up to 12 years of age were identified by searching six databases. We excluded studies that only evaluated obesity measures at the time of birth. A full-text review and quality assessment of the studies was performed using the Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) criteria. Forest plots were created to summarize measures of association and assess heterogeneity across studies by chemical type and exposure timing. Funnel plots were used to assess small-study effects. RESULTS We identified 24 studies, of which 19 used a cohort design. There were 13 studies included in the meta-analysis examining various chemicals and outcomes. Overall prenatal exposures to four different types of PFAS were not statistically associated with changes in body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference. In contrast, for three chemicals, postnatal exposures were inversely related to changes in BMI (i.e., per log10 increase in PFOS: BMI z-score of -0.16 (95% CI: -0.22, -0.10)). There was no substantial heterogeneity in the reported measures of association within prenatal and postnatal subgroups. We observed modest small-study effects, but correction for these effects using the Trim and Fill method did not change our summary estimate(s). CONCLUSION Our review found no evidence of a positive association between prenatal PFAS exposure and pediatric obesity, whereas an inverse association was found for postnatal exposure. These findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the small number of studies. Future research that can inform on the effects of exposure mixtures, the timing of the exposure, outcome measures, and the shape of the exposure-response curve is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianna Frangione
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, K1S 5B6, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Sapriya Birk
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, K1S 5B6, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Tarek Benzouak
- Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, H3A 0G4, Montreal, Canada
| | - Laura A Rodriguez-Villamizar
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, K1S 5B6, Ottawa, Canada
- Faculty of Health, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Fatima Karim
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, K1S 5B6, Ottawa, Canada
| | | | - Paul J Villeneuve
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, K1S 5B6, Ottawa, Canada.
- CHAIM Research Centre, Carleton University, K1S 5B6, Ottawa, Canada.
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Wollin KM, Batke M, Damm G, Freyberger A, Gundert-Remy U, Mangerich A, Hengstler JG, Partosch F, Schupp T, Sonnenburg A, Foth H. PFASs-restriction proposal commentary on ECHA's Annex XV restriction report, proposal for a restriction, March 2023. Arch Toxicol 2023; 97:3305-3312. [PMID: 37801158 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03597-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
PFASs are defined as substances that contain at least one fully fluorinated methyl (CF3-) or methylene (-CF2-) carbon atom. The excellent technical properties of members of the PFAS group have led to their use in a wide range of applications. The substance group comprises more than 10,000 individual compounds. A variety of adverse effects has been described for single substances. For the majority of the PFASs, neither toxicokinetic data nor effect data is available. Hence, because of the small number of PFASs for which a full toxicological profile is available, grouping based on the existing data is not feasible. A critical problem of PFASs and their degradation products is the very high persistence, which clearly fulfils the criterion for the substance property Very Persistent (vP) according to Annex XIII of the REACH Regulation. Because of this property the European Commission is planning to take action. Defining suitable subgroups appears to be a scientifically based approach. However, to reach this goal, large data gaps would have to be closed which would take up to centuries, a time-frame, which is not defendable with respect to potential irreversible harm. Because of the time pressure resulting from the potential irreversible harm, the precautionary principle has been selected as an appropriate tool to handle PFASs and in the restriction proposal PFASs are treated as one group. This approach is justified in the view of the advisory committee of the German Society for Toxicology. ECHA's proposal received a lot of attention in the public. However, communication so far has obviously led to the misunderstanding of a proven health hazard for all PFASs. Communication should explain the justification of the broad inclusion of substances as being based on the precautionary principle. Data gaps versus current knowledge need to be clearly communicated; communication should also include the possibility for derogation of essential use. It should address the issue of suitable substitutes to avoid unintended health consequences; and it should mention that existing persistent environmental contamination calls for developing innovation in remediation techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Monika Batke
- University of Applied Sciences Hochschule Emden/Leer, Emden, Germany
| | - Georg Damm
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Visceral Transplantation, University Hospital, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alexius Freyberger
- Research and Development, Translational Sciences-Toxicology, Bayer AG, Wuppertal, Germany
| | | | - Aswin Mangerich
- Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jan G Hengstler
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | | | - Thomas Schupp
- Chemical Engineering, University of Applied Sciences Muenster, Steinfurt, Germany
| | - Anna Sonnenburg
- Department Pesticides Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heidi Foth
- Foth: Institute of Environmental Toxicology, University of Halle, Halle/Saale, Germany
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Wang YF, Zhang XR, Zou YX. Serum perfluoroalkyl substances and growth and development in US adolescents: a nationally representative cross-sectional study. Eur J Pediatr 2023; 182:4673-4681. [PMID: 37561199 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-023-05136-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), synthetic organic chemicals, have been discovered in the blood of both humans and animals throughout the world. This has raised widespread concerns about its toxicity, especially for growing children and adolescents. Most research on growth and development to date has concentrated on children at birth and during the first two years, while few studies have analyzed weight, height, and Body Mass Index (BMI) changes in children later in life. The present study aims to assess the association between serum PFAS levels and growth and development in adolescents. Through multiple linear regression, we explored the relationship between serum PFAS levels and weight, height, and BMI in adolescents (aged 12 to 19 years) participating in the 2015-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). After covariate adjustment, serum perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) was associated with decreased weight-for-age z-score in females (tertile 2 of PFOS: β = - 0.22, 95% CI: -0.68, 0.23; tertile 3 of PFOS: β = - 0.78, 95% CI: -1.20, - 0.36; P for trend = 0.009), while serum perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) was associated with decreased weight-for-age z-score in males (tertile 2 of PFNA: β = 0.09, 95% CI: -0.40, 0.58; tertile 3 of PFNA: β = - 0.44, 95% CI: -0.86, - 0.03; P for trend = 0.018).In addition, serum PFOS was associated with decreased BMI z-score in all participants (tertile 2 of PFOS: β = - 0.15, 95% CI: -0.46, 0.16; tertile 3 of PFOS: β = - 0.63, 95% CI: -1.06, - 0.20; P for trend = 0.013). CONCLUSION Our findings indicate a negative association between serum PFAS levels and weight, and BMI among adolescents, and we observed that the negative association was sex-specific in weight. WHAT IS KNOWN • Wide exposure to PFAS has led to concerns about its adverse effects, especially for children during their growth and development. • So far, much research has evaluated the effects of prenatal PFAS exposures on children, and the current results are mixed, with some research showing that there are sex differences. WHAT IS NEW • This study investigated the relationship between serum PFAS levels and height and weight in adolescents and is a good addition to current research. • Our study found that exposure to PFAS negatively affects adolescent growth and development and that this effect is sex-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Fan Wang
- Clinical School of Paediatrics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Department of Pulmonology, Tianjin Children's Hospital (Children's Hospital of Tianjin University), Machang Compus, 225 Machang Road, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300074, China
| | - Xu-Ran Zhang
- Department of Pulmonology, Tianjin Children's Hospital (Children's Hospital of Tianjin University), Machang Compus, 225 Machang Road, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300074, China
| | - Ying-Xue Zou
- Department of Pulmonology, Tianjin Children's Hospital (Children's Hospital of Tianjin University), Machang Compus, 225 Machang Road, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300074, China.
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Dai Y, Zhang J, Wang Z, Ding J, Xu S, Zhang B, Guo J, Qi X, Chang X, Wu C, Zhou Z. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in umbilical cord serum and body mass index trajectories from birth to age 10 years: Findings from a longitudinal birth cohort (SMBCS). ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 180:108238. [PMID: 37783122 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been linked to low birth weight but higher childhood weight and obesity. However, little is known regarding the associations between PFAS exposure and dynamic body mass index (BMI) trajectories, particularly from birth through preadolescence. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the associations of cord serum PFAS concentrations with BMI trajectories from birth to age 10 years and longitudinal BMI in different periods. METHODS Based on 887 mother-child pairs in the longitudinal prospective birth cohort, we measured 12 PFAS congeners in cord serum and calculated BMI with anthropometric indicators at 9 follow-up time points from birth to age 10 years. The BMI trajectories were identified using group-based trajectory model (GBTM). To estimate the associations of cord serum PFAS levels with BMI trajectories and longitudinal changes in BMI, logistic regression models, linear mixed models, Bayesian kernel machine regression, and quantile-based g-computation models (QGC) were used. RESULTS The median concentrations of 10 PFAS congeners included in statistical analysis ranged from 0.047 to 3.623 μg/L. Two BMI trajectory classes were identified by GBTM, characterized by high group and low group. In logistic regression models, five PFAS congeners (PFBA, PFHpA, PFHxS, PFHpS, and PFDoDA) were associated with the higher probability of being in high BMI trajectory group (odds ratio, OR: 1.21 to 1.74, p < 0.05). Meanwhile, higher PFAS mixture were related to elevated odds for the high group in both BKMR models and QGC models, with PFHpA and PFHpS being the two most important drivers jointly. In the sex-stratified analysis, the positive associations remained significant exclusively among males. In the longitudinal analysis, PFUnDA and PFDoDA were associated with increased BMI from birth to age 10 years. Furthermore, PFBS and PFHpA were negatively related to BMI throughout infancy and toddlerhood (from birth to age 3 years), whereas PFDoDA confirmed a positive association with mid-childhood (from age 6 to 10 years) BMI. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal PFAS exposure was positively associated with BMI trajectories from birth to preadolescence and longitudinal BMI in various periods. Future research could use better trajectory modeling strategies to shape more complete growth trajectories and explore the relationship between BMI trajectories and adulthood health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Dai
- Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of National Health Commission, School of Public Health, Fudan University, No.130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jiming Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of National Health Commission, School of Public Health, Fudan University, No.130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Zheng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of National Health Commission, School of Public Health, Fudan University, No.130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jiayun Ding
- Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of National Health Commission, School of Public Health, Fudan University, No.130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Sinan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of National Health Commission, School of Public Health, Fudan University, No.130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Boya Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of National Health Commission, School of Public Health, Fudan University, No.130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jianqiu Guo
- Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of National Health Commission, School of Public Health, Fudan University, No.130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xiaojuan Qi
- Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of National Health Commission, School of Public Health, Fudan University, No.130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China; Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No. 3399 Binsheng Road, Hangzhou 310051, China
| | - Xiuli Chang
- Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of National Health Commission, School of Public Health, Fudan University, No.130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Chunhua Wu
- Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of National Health Commission, School of Public Health, Fudan University, No.130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhijun Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of National Health Commission, School of Public Health, Fudan University, No.130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China.
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9
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Ellis AC, Boyer TH, Fang Y, Liu CJ, Strathmann TJ. Life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis of anion exchange and granular activated carbon systems for remediation of groundwater contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). WATER RESEARCH 2023; 243:120324. [PMID: 37451124 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120324] [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: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Anion exchange resin (AER) and granular activated carbon (GAC) have emerged as prominent technologies for treatment of waters contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). This study compares the life cycle environmental impacts and life cycle costs of remediating PFAS-contaminated groundwater with these competing technologies, using field pilot data to inform model inputs. Comparative analysis indicates that AER systems employing single-use "PFAS-selective" resins have lower environmental impacts and costs than systems using regenerable resins or GAC adsorbents, supporting its use in future remediation efforts. Use of GAC operated as a single-use adsorbent led to the highest emissions as well as the highest treatment costs, with thermally-reactivated GAC proving to be less impactful than regenerable AER treatment. Sensitivity analyses highlighted the dominance of media usage rate (MUR), which is highly dependent on the selected PFAS treatment goals, to determine environmental impacts and costs over a 30-year system life cycle. Selection of very stringent changeout criteria (e.g., detection of any PFASs in effluent) significantly reduces the advantages of single-use resins. For regenerable AER, environmental impacts were dominated by management of the PFAS-contaminated brine/co-solvent waste stream used to regenerate the adsorbent, as well as the cosolvent content of the regenerant mixture and the cosolvent recovery efficiency achieved via on-site distillation. High impacts estimated for GAC adsorption, the result of high MUR relative to ion exchange media, can be significantly reduced if spent adsorbents are reused after thermal reactivation, but impacts are still greater than those predicted for single-use ion exchange systems. Findings are expected to hold across a range of diverse sites, including drinking water systems treating more dilute sources of PFAS contamination, as PFAS breakthrough was not found to be highly sensitive to sourcewater PFAS concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anderson C Ellis
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, United States
| | - Treavor H Boyer
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment (SSEBE), Arizona State University (ASU), Tempe, AZ 85287, United States
| | - Yida Fang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, United States; CDM Smith, Bellevue, WA 98807, United Stats
| | - Charlie J Liu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, United States; Kennedy Jenks Consultants, San Francisco, CA 94118, United States
| | - Timothy J Strathmann
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, United States.
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10
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Lukić Bilela L, Matijošytė I, Krutkevičius J, Alexandrino DAM, Safarik I, Burlakovs J, Gaudêncio SP, Carvalho MF. Impact of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) on the marine environment: Raising awareness, challenges, legislation, and mitigation approaches under the One Health concept. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115309. [PMID: 37591052 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115309] [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: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) have long been known for their detrimental effects on the ecosystems and living organisms; however the long-term impact on the marine environment is still insufficiently recognized. Based on PFAS persistence and bioaccumulation in the complex marine food network, adverse effects will be exacerbated by global processes such as climate change and synergies with other pollutants, like microplastics. The range of fluorochemicals currently included in the PFAS umbrella has significantly expanded due to the updated OECD definition, raising new concerns about their poorly understood dynamics and negative effects on the ocean wildlife and human health. Mitigation challenges and approaches, including biodegradation and currently studied materials for PFAS environmental removal are proposed here, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and bridging research gaps. The PFAS EU regulations, good practices and legal frameworks are discussed, with emphasis on recommendations for improving marine ecosystem management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lada Lukić Bilela
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
| | - Inga Matijošytė
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Sauletekio ave. 7, Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Jokūbas Krutkevičius
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Sauletekio ave. 7, Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Diogo A M Alexandrino
- CIIMAR Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Department of Environmental Health, School of Health, P. Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Ivo Safarik
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Biology Centre, ISBB, CAS, Na Sadkach 7, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute, Palacky University, Slechtitelu 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Juris Burlakovs
- Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of Polish Academy of Sciences, Józefa Wybickiego 7 A, 31-261 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Susana P Gaudêncio
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry Department, NOVA Faculty for Sciences and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal.
| | - Maria F Carvalho
- CIIMAR Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
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11
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Frigerio G, Ferrari CM, Fustinoni S. Prenatal and childhood exposure to per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and its associations with childhood overweight and/or obesity: a systematic review with meta-analyses. Environ Health 2023; 22:56. [PMID: 37580798 PMCID: PMC10424367 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-023-01006-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent organic pollutants and suspected endocrine disruptors. OBJECTIVE The aim of this work was to conduct a systematic review with meta-analysis to summarise the associations between prenatal or childhood exposure to PFASs and childhood overweight/obesity. METHODS The search was performed on the bibliographic databases PubMed and Embase with text strings containing terms related to prenatal, breastfeeding, childhood, overweight, obesity, and PFASs. Only papers describing a biomonitoring study in pregnant women or in children up to 18 years that assessed body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), or fat mass in children were included. When the estimates of the association between a PFAS and an outcome were reported from at least 3 studies, a meta-analysis was conducted; moreover, to correctly compare the studies, we developed a method to convert the different effect estimates and made them comparable each other. Meta-analyses were performed also stratifying by sex and age, and sensitivity analyses were also performed. RESULTS In total, 484 and 779 articles were retrieved from PubMed and Embase, respectively, resulting in a total of 826 articles after merging duplicates. The papers included in this systematic review were 49: 26 evaluating prenatal exposure to PFASs, 17 childhood exposure, and 6 both. Considering a qualitative evaluation, results were conflicting, with positive, negative, and null associations. 30 papers were included in meta-analyses (19 prenatal, 7 children, and 4 both). Positive associations were evidenced between prenatal PFNA and BMI, between PFOA and BMI in children who were more than 3 years, and between prenatal PFNA and WC. Negative associations were found between prenatal PFOS and BMI in children who were 3 or less years, and between PFHxS and risk of overweight. Relatively more consistent negative associations were evidenced between childhood exposure to three PFASs (PFOA, PFOS, and PFNA) and BMI, in particular PFOS in boys. However, heterogeneity among studies was high. CONCLUSION Even though heterogeneous across studies, the pooled evidence suggests possible associations, mostly positive, between prenatal exposure to some PFASs and childhood BMI/WC; and relatively stronger evidence for negative associations between childhood exposure to PFASs and childhood BMI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianfranco Frigerio
- Environmental Cheminformatics, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Campus Belval | House of Biomedicine II, 6 Avenue du Swing, L-4367, Belvaux, Luxembourg.
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milano, Italy.
- Occupational Health Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
| | - Chiara Matilde Ferrari
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - Silvia Fustinoni
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
- Occupational Health Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
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12
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Hoadley L, Watters M, Rogers R, Werner LS, Markiewicz KV, Forrester T, McLanahan ED. Public health evaluation of PFAS exposures and breastfeeding: a systematic literature review. Toxicol Sci 2023; 194:121-137. [PMID: 37228093 PMCID: PMC10527886 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of man-made chemicals that are persistent in the environment. They can be transferred across the placenta to fetuses and through human milk to infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that the benefits of breastfeeding infants almost always outweigh the potential risks of harm from environmental chemicals. However, there are few chemical-specific summaries of the potential harms of exposure to PFAS during the neonatal period through breastfeeding. This systematic review explores whether exposure to PFAS through breastfeeding is associated with adverse health outcomes among infants and children using evidence from human and animal studies. Systematic searches identified 4297 unique records from 7 databases. The review included 37 total articles, including 9 animal studies and 1 human study measuring the direct contribution of exposure of the infant or pup through milk for any health outcome. Animal studies provided evidence of associations between exposure to PFOA through breastfeeding and reduced early life body weight gain, mammary gland development, and thyroid hormone levels. They also provided limited evidence of associations between PFOS exposure through breastfeeding with reduced early life body weight gain and cellular changes in the hippocampus. The direct relevance of any of these outcomes to human health is uncertain, and it is possible that many adverse health effects of exposure through breastfeeding have not yet been studied. This review documents the current state of science and highlights the need for future research to guide clinicians making recommendations on infant feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Hoadley
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, USA
| | - Michelle Watters
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA
| | - Rachel Rogers
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA
| | - Lora Siegmann Werner
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA
| | - Karl V. Markiewicz
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA
| | - Tina Forrester
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA
| | - Eva D. McLanahan
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA
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13
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Liu Y, Wosu AC, Fleisch AF, Dunlop AL, Starling AP, Ferrara A, Dabelea D, Oken E, Buckley JP, Chatzi L, Karagas MR, Romano ME, Schantz S, O’Connor TG, Woodruff TJ, Zhu Y, Hamra GB, Braun JM. Associations of Gestational Perfluoroalkyl Substances Exposure with Early Childhood BMI z-Scores and Risk of Overweight/Obesity: Results from the ECHO Cohorts. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:67001. [PMID: 37283528 PMCID: PMC10246497 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gestational per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure may be associated with adiposity and increased risk of obesity among children and adolescents. However, results from epidemiological studies evaluating these associations are inconsistent. OBJECTIVES We estimated the associations of pregnancy PFAS concentrations with child body mass index (BMI) z -scores and risk of overweight/obesity in eight U.S. cohorts. METHODS We used data from 1,391 mother-child pairs who enrolled in eight Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) cohorts (enrolled: 1999-2019). We quantified concentrations of seven PFAS in maternal plasma or serum in pregnancy. We measured child weight and height between the ages of 2 and 5 y and calculated age- and sex-specific BMI z -scores; 19.6% children had more than one BMI measurement. We estimated covariate-adjusted associations of individual PFAS and their mixture with child BMI z -scores and risk of overweight/obesity using linear mixed models, modified Poisson regression models, and Bayesian approaches for mixtures. We explored whether child sex modified these associations. RESULTS We observed a pattern of subtle positive associations of PFAS concentrations in pregnancy with BMI z -scores and risk of overweight/obesity. For instance, each doubling in perfluorohexane sulfonic acid concentrations was associated with higher BMI z -scores (β = 0.07 ; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.12). Each doubling in perfluroundecanoic acid [relative risk ( RR ) = 1.10 ; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.16] and N -methyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid (RR = 1.06 ; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.12) was associated with increased risk of overweight/obesity, with some evidence of a monotonic dose-response relation. We observed weaker and more imprecise associations of the PFAS mixture with BMI or risk of overweight/obesity. Associations did not differ by child sex. DISCUSSION In eight U.S.-based prospective cohorts, gestational exposure to higher levels of PFAS were associated with slightly higher childhood BMI z -score and risk of overweight or obesity. Future studies should examine associations of gestational exposure to PFAS with adiposity and related cardiometabolic consequences in older children. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11545.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Adaeze C. Wosu
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Abby F. Fleisch
- Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Maine Medical Center and Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland, Maine, USA
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center and Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland, Maine, USA
| | - Anne L. Dunlop
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Anne P. Starling
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Assiamira Ferrara
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Dana Dabelea
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, 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, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jessie P. Buckley
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Leda Chatzi
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Margaret R. Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Megan E. Romano
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Susan Schantz
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Thomas G. O’Connor
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Tracey J. Woodruff
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Yeyi Zhu
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Ghassan B. Hamra
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph M. Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - and the program collaborators for Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Maine Medical Center and Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland, Maine, USA
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center and Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland, Maine, USA
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, California, USA
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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14
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Wright JM, Lee AL, Rappazzo KM, Ru H, Radke EG, Bateson TF. Systematic review and meta-analysis of birth weight and PFNA exposures. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 222:115357. [PMID: 36706898 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
We used a systematic review that included risk of bias and study sensitivity analysis to identify 34 studies examining changes in birth weight (BWT) in relation to PFNA biomarker measures (e.g., maternal serum/plasma or umbilical cord samples). We fit a random effects model of the overall pooled estimate and stratified estimates based on sample timing and overall study confidence. We conducted a meta-regression to further examine the impact of gestational age at biomarker sample timing. We detected a -32.9 g (95%CI: -47.0, -18.7) mean BWT deficit per each ln PFNA increase from 27 included studies. We did not detect evidence of publication bias (pE = 0.30) or between-study heterogeneity in the summary estimate (pQ = 0.05; I2 = 36%). The twelve high confidence studies yielded a smaller pooled effect estimate (β = -28.0 g; 95%CI: -49.0, -6.9) than the ten medium (β = -39.0 g; 95%CI: -61.8, -16.3) or four low (β = -36.9 g; 95%CI: -82.9, 9.1) confidence studies. The stratum-specific results based on earlier pregnancy sampling periods in 11 studies showed smaller deficits (β = -22.0 g; 95%CI: -40.1, -4.0) compared to 10 mid- and late-pregnancy (β = -44.2 g; 95%CI: -64.8, -23.5) studies and six post-partum studies (β = -42.9 g; 95%CI: -88.0, 2.2). Using estimates of the specific gestational week of sampling, the meta-regression showed results consistent with the categorical sample analysis, in that as gestational age at sampling time increases across these studies, the summary effect estimate of a mean BWT deficit got larger. Overall, we detected mean BWT deficits for PFNA that were larger and more consistent across studies than previous PFAS meta-analyses. Compared to studies with later sampling, BWT deficits were smaller but remained sizeable for even the earliest sampling periods. Contrary to earlier meta-analyses for PFOA and PFOS, BWT deficits that were detected across all strata did not appear to be fully explained by potential bias due to pregnancy hemodynamics from sampling timing differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Wright
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health & Environmental Assessment, Chemical and Pollutant Assessment Division, USA.
| | - A L Lee
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health & Environmental Assessment, Chemical and Pollutant Assessment Division, USA
| | - K M Rappazzo
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health & Environmental Assessment, Public Health and Environmental Systems Division, USA
| | - H Ru
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health & Environmental Assessment, Chemical and Pollutant Assessment Division, USA
| | - E G Radke
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health & Environmental Assessment, Chemical and Pollutant Assessment Division, USA
| | - T F Bateson
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health & Environmental Assessment, Chemical and Pollutant Assessment Division, USA
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15
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Cai A, Portengen L, Govarts E, Martin LR, Schoeters G, Legler J, Vermeulen R, Lenters V, Remy S. Prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants and changes in infant growth and childhood growth trajectories. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 314:137695. [PMID: 36587911 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children are born with a burden of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) which may have endocrine disrupting properties and have been postulated to contribute to the rise in childhood obesity. The current evidence is equivocal, which may partly because many studies investigate the effects at one time point during childhood. We assessed associations between prenatal exposure to POPs and growth during infancy and childhood. METHODS We used data from two Belgian cohorts with cord blood measurements of five organochlorines [(dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB-138, -150, -180)] (N = 1418) and two perfluoroalkyl substances [perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)] (N = 346). We assessed infant growth, defined as body mass index (BMI) z-score change between birth and 2 years, and childhood growth, characterized as BMI trajectory from birth to 8 years. To evaluate associations between POP exposures and infant growth, we applied a multi-pollutant approach, using penalized elastic net regression with stability selection, controlling for covariates. To evaluate associations with childhood growth, we used single-pollutant linear mixed models with random effects for child individual, parametrized using a natural cubic spline formulation. RESULTS PCB-153 was associated with increased and p,p'-DDE with decreased infant growth, although these results were imprecise. No clear association between any of the exposures and longer-term childhood growth trajectories was observed. We did not find evidence of effect modification by child sex. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that prenatal exposure to PCB-153 and p,p'-DDE may affect infant growth in the first two years, with no evidence of more persistent effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anran Cai
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Department of Population Health Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium.
| | - Lützen Portengen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Department of Population Health Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Eva Govarts
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | | | - Greet Schoeters
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Juliette Legler
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Department of Population Health Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Department of Population Health Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Virissa Lenters
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Sylvie Remy
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
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16
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Criswell RL, Wang Y, Christensen B, Botelho JC, Calafat AM, Peterson LA, Huset CA, Karagas MR, Romano ME. Concentrations of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Paired Maternal Plasma and Human Milk in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:463-472. [PMID: 36574487 PMCID: PMC9837617 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c05555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmentally persistent endocrine-disrupting chemicals associated with long-term health outcomes. PFAS are transferred from maternal blood to human milk, an important exposure source for infants, and understanding of this transfer is evolving. We characterized concentrations of 10 PFAS in human milk (n = 426) and compared milk-to-plasma concentrations of 9 PFAS among a subset of women with paired samples (n = 294) from the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study using liquid chromatography-isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry. We examined the relationship between perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in plasma versus milk and fit linear regression models to assess relationships between milk PFOA and PFOS and participant characteristics. The median plasma PFOA concentration was 0.94 ng/mL (interquartile range, IQR, 0.59-1.34) and that of PFOS was 2.60 ng/mL (IQR 1.80-3.90); the median milk PFOA concentration was 0.017 ng/mL (IQR 0.012-0.027) and that of PFOS was 0.024 ng/mL (IQR 0.016-0.036). PFOA and PFOS plasma and milk concentrations showed correlations of ρ = 0.83 and 0.77, respectively (p < 0.001). Parity, previous lactation, week of milk collection, and body mass index were inversely associated with milk PFAS. We estimate that even among our general population cohort, some infants (∼6.5%) are exposed to amounts of PFAS via milk that may have long-term health impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yuting Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, The Geisel
School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03755,
United States
| | - Brock Christensen
- Department of Epidemiology, The Geisel
School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03755,
United States
| | - Julianne C. Botelho
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333,
United States
| | - Antonia M. Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333,
United States
| | - Lisa A. Peterson
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences,
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455,
United States
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of
Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United
States
| | - Carin A. Huset
- Minnesota Department of Health,
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101, United States
| | - Margaret R. Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, The Geisel
School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03755,
United States
| | - Megan E. Romano
- Department of Epidemiology, The Geisel
School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03755,
United States
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17
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Romano ME, Heggeseth BC, Gallagher LG, Botelho JC, Calafat AM, Gilbert-Diamond D, Karagas MR. Gestational per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances exposure and infant body mass index trajectory in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 215:114418. [PMID: 36162478 PMCID: PMC9841894 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmentally persistent, potential metabolic disruptors of concern for infants. Mothers participating in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study (NHBCS) provided a plasma sample during pregnancy to measure concentrations of seven PFAS, and infant weight and length were abstracted from well-child visits between birth and 12 months. Sex-specific growth patterns of child body mass index (BMI) were fit using a growth mixture model (GMM) and the relative risk ratios (RRR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) for the association of maternal plasma PFAS with BMI growth patterns during infancy were estimated by using multinomial logistic model for the group probabilities in the GMM. Four growth patterns were identified: Group 1) a steep increase in BMI during the first 6 months, then a leveling off; Group 2) a gradual increase in BMI across the year; Group 3) a steep increase in BMI during months 1-3, then stable BMI; and Group 4) a gradual increase in BMI with plateau around 3 months (reference group). For boys, higher maternal pregnancy perfluorooctanoate concentrations were associated with a 60% decreased chance of being in group 3 as compared to group 4, after adjusting for potential confounding variables (RRR = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.1, 0.9). For girls, higher maternal perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) concentrations during pregnancy were associated with a higher likelihood of following the growth pattern of groups 2 (RRR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.0, 6.1) and 3 (RRR = 2.8; 95% CI: 1.0, 7.6) as compared to group 4, adjusting for potential confounding variables. In this cohort, sex-specific associations of maternal plasma PFAS concentrations during pregnancy with growth patterns during the first year of life were observed, with greater BMI growth observed among infant girls born to mothers with higher pregnancy concentrations of PFOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E Romano
- Department of Epidemiology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Lebanon, NH, USA.
| | - Brianna C Heggeseth
- Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science, Macalester College, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Lisa G Gallagher
- Department of Epidemiology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Julianne Cook Botelho
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Margaret R Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Lebanon, NH, USA
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18
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Zhang S, Lei X, Zhang Y, Shi R, Zhang Q, Gao Y, Yuan T, Li J, Tian Y. Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and childhood adiposity at 7 years of age. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 307:136077. [PMID: 36002061 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An increasing number of studies have reported that prenatal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure may increase childhood adiposity. However, limited data is available in China, and the overall effects of PFAS mixture remain unclear. OBJECTIVE To examine the association of prenatal exposure to individual PFAS and their mixture with childhood adiposity at 7 years of age. METHODS A total of 206 mother-infant pairs were recruited from the Laizhou Wan (Bay) Birth Cohort in China between 2010 and 2013. Ten PFAS were measured in maternal serum. The measurements of fat mass, body fat percentage, body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio and overweight/obesity were used to assess adiposity in children aged 7. We fitted logistic regression, linear regression and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models to estimate the association of prenatal exposure to individual PFAS and their mixture with childhood adiposity. RESULTS We found negative associations of perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) and perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA) exposure with adiposity measurements in all children. The result from the WQS model consistently revealed that the PFAS mixture was inversely related to adiposity measurements. Each quartile increase of the PFAS mixture was associated with a 1.14 kg decrease (95% CI: -2.27, -0.02) in fat mass and a 2.32% decrease (95% CI: -4.51, -0.14) in body fat. Moreover, significant sex differences were found. PFAS mixture was negatively associated with five adiposity measurements in boys, but positively associated with all adiposity measurements except body fat percentage in girls. PFOSA, PFHpA and perfluorobutanesulfonate (PFBS) with weights >0.300 were the main contributors to the overall effects observed among all children, boys and girls, respectively. CONCLUSION This study suggests potential sex-specific associations of prenatal exposure to individual PFAS and their mixture with childhood adiposity, with the observed relationship being negative for boys but positive for girls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanyu Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoning Lei
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Rong Shi
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qianlong Zhang
- MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xin Hua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Gao
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tao Yuan
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiong Li
- MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xin Hua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Clinical Epidemiology-Department of Clinical Medicine, Arhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ying Tian
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xin Hua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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19
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Li L, Yu N, Wang X, Shi W, Liu H, Zhang X, Yang L, Pan B, Yu H, Wei S. Comprehensive Exposure Studies of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the General Population: Target, Nontarget Screening, and Toxicity Prediction. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:14617-14626. [PMID: 36174189 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c03345] [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] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Novel per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the environment and populations have received extensive attention; however, their distribution and potential toxic effects in the general population remain unclear. Here, a comprehensive study on PFAS screening was carried out in serum samples of 202 individuals from the general population in four cities in China. A total of 165 suspected PFASs were identified using target and nontarget analysis, including seven identified PFAS homolog series, of which 16 PFASs were validated against standards, and seven PFASs [4:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (4:2 Cl-PFESA), 7:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (7:2 Cl-PFESA), hydrosubstituted perfluoroheptanoate (H-PFHpA), chlorine-substituted perfluorooctanoate (Cl-PFOA), chlorine-substituted perfluorononanate (Cl-PFNA), chlorine-substituted perfluorodecanoate (Cl-PFDA), and perfluorodecanedioic acid (PFLDCA n = 8)] were reported for the first time in human serum. The Tox21-GCN model (a graph convolutional neural network model based on the Tox21 database) was established to predict the toxicity of the discovered PFASs, revealing that PFASs containing sulfonic acid groups exhibited multiple potential toxic effects, such as estrogenic effects and stress responses. Our study indicated that the general population was exposed to various PFASs, and the toxicity prediction results of individual PFASs suggested potential health risks that could not be ignored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laihui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, People's Republic of China
| | - Nanyang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuebing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongling Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, People's Republic of China
| | - Liuyan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, People's Republic of China
| | - Bingcai Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongxia Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, People's Republic of China
| | - Si Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, People's Republic of China
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20
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Ku MS, Pan WC, Huang YT, Hsieh WS, Hsu YH, Chen PC, Liu CY. Associations between prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances, hypomethylation of MEST imprinted gene and birth outcomes. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 304:119183. [PMID: 35331797 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure has been linked to adverse birth outcomes, but the underlying mechanism has yet to be elucidated. DNA methylation changes in mesoderm-specific transcript (MEST) imprinted gene may be a mechanism of the prenatal exposure effects of PFASs on fetal growth. The aim was to investigate the prenatal PFASs exposure effects on DNA methylation changes in MEST imprinted gene involved in fetal growth. Among 486 mother-infant pairs from the Taiwan Birth Panel Study, PFASs and DNA methylation levels at 5 CpG sites of MEST promoter region were measured in cord blood. Univariable and multivariable linear regressions were performed to estimate the associations between prenatal PFAS exposure, MEST DNA methylation levels, and child birth outcomes. Mediation analysis was performed to examine the potential pathway of MEST methylation between PFASs and birth outcomes. We found that higher prenatal perfluorooctyl sulfonate (PFOS) exposure was significantly associated with lower methylation levels at 5 CpG sites of MEST promoter region (an adjusted β range: -1.56, -2.22). Significant negative associations were also found between MEST methylation levels and child birth weight. Furthermore, the associations between PFOS and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) exposure and MEST methylation levels were more profound in girls than in boys. The mediated effect of average MEST methylation level between PFOS exposure and birth weight was 18.3 (95% CI = 2.1, 40.2; p = 0.014). The direct effect of PFOS exposure to birth weight independent to average MEST methylation level was -93.2 (95% CI = -170.5, -17.8; p = 0.018). In conclusion, our results suggest that prenatal PFAS exposure, especially PFOS, is associated with lower methylation levels at MEST promoter region, which not only leverages the role of imprinted gene in ensuring the integrity of fetal growth but also provides a potential mechanism for evaluating the prenatal exposure effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Sheng Ku
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chi Pan
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Tsung Huang
- Institute of Statistical Science, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wu-Shiun Hsieh
- Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsiang Hsu
- Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, MA, 02131, USA; Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Boston, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Pau-Chung Chen
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Yu Liu
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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21
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Lind PM, Lind L, Salihovic S, Ahlström H, Michaelsson K, Kullberg J, Strand R. Serum levels of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and body composition - A cross-sectional study in a middle-aged population. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 209:112677. [PMID: 35074350 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It has been suggested that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are endocrine disruptors with a potential to influence fat mass. OBJECTIVE The primary hypothesis tested was that we would find positive relationships for PFAS vs measures of adiposity. METHODS In 321 subjects all aged 50 years in the POEM study, five PFAS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)) were measured in serum together with a Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan for determination of fat and lean mass. Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging scan was performed and the body was divided into >1 million voxels. Voxel-wise statistical analysis was carried out by a novel method denoted Imiomics. RESULTS PFOS and PFHxS, did not show any consistent associations with body composition. However, PFOA, and especially PFNA and PFDA, levels were inversely related to most traditional measures reflecting the amount of fat in women, but not in men. In the Imiomics analysis of tissue volume, PFDA and PFNA levels were inversely related to the volume of subcutaneous fat, mainly in the arm, trunk and hip regions in women, while no such clear relationship was seen in men. Also, the visceral fat content of the liver, the pericardium, and the gluteus muscle were inversely related to PFDA and PFNA in women. DISCUSSION Contrary to our hypothesis, some PFAS showed inverse relationships vs measurements of adiposity. CONCLUSION PFOS and PFHxS levels in plasma did not show any consistent associations with body composition, but PFOA, and especially PFNA and PFDA were inversely related to multiple measures reflecting the amount of fat, but in women only.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Monica Lind
- Department of Medical Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Lars Lind
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cardiovascular Epidemiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Samira Salihovic
- Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
| | - Håkan Ahlström
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Section of Radiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Antaros Medical AB, Mölndal, Sweden.
| | - Karl Michaelsson
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Unit of Medical Epidemiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Joel Kullberg
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Section of Radiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Antaros Medical AB, Mölndal, Sweden.
| | - Robin Strand
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Section of Radiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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22
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Gui SY, Chen YN, Wu KJ, Liu W, Wang WJ, Liang HR, Jiang ZX, Li ZL, Hu CY. Association Between Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Birth Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Public Health 2022; 10:855348. [PMID: 35400049 PMCID: PMC8988915 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.855348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A large body of emerging evidence suggests that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) affect birth outcomes in various pathways, but the evidence is inconsistent. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically review the epidemiological evidence on PFAS exposure and birth outcomes. Methods Three electronic databases were searched for epidemiological studies through February 13, 2021. We used random-effects meta-analysis for eight birth outcome indicators to calculate summary effect estimates for various exposure types. The risk of bias and the overall quality and level of evidence for each exposure-outcome pair were assessed. Results The initial search identified 58 potentially eligible studies, of which 46 were ultimately included. Many PFAS were found to have previously unrecognized statistically significant associations with birth outcomes. Specifically, birth weight (BW) was associated with PFAS, with effect sizes ranging from −181.209 g (95% confidence interval (CI) = −360.620 to −1.798) per 1 ng/ml increase in perfluoroheptanesulfonate (PFHpS) to −24.252 g (95% CI = −38.574 to −9.930) per 1 ln (ng/ml) increase in perfluorodecaoic acid (PFDA). Similar patterns were observed between other PFAS and birth outcomes: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) with birth length (BL) and ponderal index (PI), PFOS and perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoDA) with head circumference (HC), PFHpS with gestational age (GA), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and PFHpS with preterm birth (PTB). Additionally, PFDA showed a statistically significant association with small for gestational age (SGA). The level of the combined evidence for each exposure-outcome pair was considered to be “moderate”. Conclusion This study showed that PFAS exposure was significantly associated with increased risks of various adverse birth outcomes and that different birth outcome indicators had different degrees of sensitivity to PFAS. Further studies are needed to confirm our results by expanding the sample size, clarifying the effects of different types or doses of PFAS and the time of blood collection on birth outcomes, and fully considering the possible confounders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Yu Gui
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yue-Nan Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Clinical Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ke-Jia Wu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wen Liu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wen-Jing Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Clinical Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Huan-Ru Liang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Zheng-Xuan Jiang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ze-Lian Li
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- *Correspondence: Ze-Lian Li
| | - Cheng-Yang Hu
- Department of Humanistic Medicine, School of Humanistic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Cheng-Yang Hu
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Gao Y, Luo J, Zhang Y, Pan C, Ren Y, Zhang J, Tian Y. Prenatal Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Child Growth Trajectories in the First Two Years. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:37006. [PMID: 35285689 PMCID: PMC8919954 DOI: 10.1289/ehp9875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnant women are ubiquitously exposed to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Prenatal exposure to PFAS has been associated with lower birth weight but also with excess adiposity and higher weight in childhood. These mixed findings warrant investigation of the relationship between PFAS and dynamic offspring growth. OBJECTIVES To investigate the association between prenatal PFAS exposure and early-life growth trajectories during the first 2 y. METHODS Pregnant women (n=3,426) were recruited from 2013 to 2016 from the Shanghai Birth Cohort (SBC) Study, and their children were followed up from birth to 2 y of age. Seven PFAS congeners were quantified in pregnant women's serum during the first trimester. Our study population was restricted to 1,350 children who had five repeated measurements for at least one anthropometric measure. Four anthropometric measures, including weight, length/height, weight-for-length, and head circumference, were evaluated at birth, 42 d, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months, and standardized into z-scores using the World Health Organization reference. Trajectories of each measure were classified into five groups using group-based trajectory modeling. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for trajectory groups according to log2-transformed PFAS concentrations, and the moderate-stable group was selected as the reference group for all measures. RESULTS Higher prenatal exposure to PFAS was associated with elevated odds for the low-rising weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) trajectory, and the high-rising length-for-age z-score (LAZ) trajectory. Meanwhile, PFAS levels were associated with decreased odds for the low-rising and high-rising weight-for-length z-score (WLZ) trajectories. In addition, the associations of PFAS with growth trajectory groups differed by sex, where males had greater odds for the low-rising and low-stable WAZ trajectories and for the high-stable and low-rising WLZ trajectories. In contrast, inverse associations were consistently observed with trajectories of the high-stable, low-stable, and low-rising head-circumference-for-age z-score (HCZ) in relation to most individual PFAS congeners. PFAS mixtures analysis further confirmed the above findings. DISCUSSION Trajectory analysis approach provided insight into the complex associations between PFAS exposure and offspring growth. Future studies are warranted to confirm the present findings with trajectory modeling strategies and understand the clinical significance of these trajectory groups. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9875.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Gao
- Ministry of Education – Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children’s Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiajun Luo
- Institute for Population and Precision Health, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chengyu Pan
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunjie Ren
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Ministry of Education – Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children’s Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Tian
- Ministry of Education – Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children’s Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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24
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Predieri B, Alves CAD, Iughetti L. New insights on the effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on children. J Pediatr (Rio J) 2022; 98 Suppl 1:S73-S85. [PMID: 34921754 PMCID: PMC9510934 DOI: 10.1016/j.jped.2021.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are present in many areas and materials of the common life, and exposure to these chemicals can occur from products to personal care, from air and food. This review aims to summarize the more recent epidemiological findings for the impact of EDCs on endocrine system health in children, including effects in growth, metabolism, sexual development, and reproduction. SOURCES The MEDLINE database (PubMed) was searched on August 24th, 2021, filtering for EDCs, endocrine disruptors, children, and humans. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS Intrauterine exposure of EDCs can have transgenerational effects, thus laying the foundation for disease in later life. The dose-response relationship may not always be predictable as even low-level exposures that may occur in everyday life can have significant effects on a susceptible individual. Although individual compounds have been studied in detail, the effects of a combination of these chemicals are yet to be studied to understand the real-life situation where human beings are exposed to a "cocktail effect" of these EDCs. Epidemiological studies in humans suggest EDCs' effects on prenatal growth, thyroid function, glucose metabolism, obesity, puberty, and fertility mainly through epigenetic mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS EDCs cause adverse effects in animals, and their effects on human health are now known and irrefutable. Because people are typically exposed to multiple endocrine disruptors, assessing public health effects is difficult. Legislation to ban EDCs and protect especially pregnant women and young children is required and needs to be revised and adjusted to new developments on a regular basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Predieri
- University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of the Mothers, Children and Adults, Pediatric Unit, Modena, Italy
| | - Crésio A D Alves
- Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital Universitário Prof. Edgard Santos, Unidade de Endocrinologia Pediátrica, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Lorenzo Iughetti
- University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of the Mothers, Children and Adults, Pediatric Unit, Modena, Italy.
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25
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Zhang Y, Pan C, Ren Y, Wang Z, Luo J, Ding G, Vinturache A, Wang X, Shi R, Ouyang F, Zhang J, Li J, Gao Y, Tian Y. Association of maternal exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluroalkyl substances with infant growth from birth to 12 months: A prospective cohort study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:151303. [PMID: 34749968 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although maternal perfluoroalkyl and polyfluroalkyl substances (PFASs) were associated with adverse birth outcomes, much less is known about their impact on infant growth during early infancy. OBJECTIVES We investigated the association between maternal PFASs exposure and infant growth during the first 12 months of life. METHODS Participating 2395 pregnancies were recruited from Shanghai Birth Cohort between 2013 and 2016. Ten PFASs were quantified from maternal plasma collected during early pregnancy (median, 15 gestational weeks). We measured infant length, weight, and head circumference at birth, 42 days, 6 months, and 12 months. Linear mixed regression model was used to estimate the associations between PFAS concentrations and repeated measurements of infant growth. Effect modification by infant sex was estimated. RESULTS Elevated perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) concentration was negatively associated with infant length-for-age Z score (LAZ) (β = -0.06, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.11, -0.01) during the first year. Adverse associations were also observed for perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) and weight-for-length Z score (WFL) (β = -0.02, 95% CI: -0.04, -0.00) and BMI-for-age Z score (BAZ) (β = -0.02, 95% CI: -0.04, -0.00). However, perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) was positively associated with WFL (β = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.00, 0.06) and BAZ (β = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.00, 0.06). The adverse association of PFHpA and LAZ was more pronounced among males (β = -0.06; 95% CI: -0.11, -0.00) than females (β = 0.06; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.12). CONCLUSIONS In our study, negative associations were found for maternal PFHpA exposure and infant LAZ, PFBS and WFL and BAZ. Meanwhile, maternal PFDoA exposure was positively related with WFL and BAZ. The adverse association of maternal PFHpA exposure and infant LAZ was more pronounced among males. The results should be interpreted with caution, further prospective cohort studies with longitudinal and detailed measures are warranted to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025 Shanghai, China
| | - Chengyu Pan
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025 Shanghai, China
| | - Yunjie Ren
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025 Shanghai, China
| | - Zixia Wang
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025 Shanghai, China
| | - Jiajun Luo
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, 06510 New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Guodong Ding
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200040 Shanghai, China
| | - Angela Vinturache
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, T8V2E8, Alberta, Canada
| | - Xiaojin Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Clinical Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025 Shanghai, China
| | - Rong Shi
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025 Shanghai, China
| | - Fengxiu Ouyang
- MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200092 Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200092 Shanghai, China
| | - Jiong Li
- MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200092 Shanghai, China; Department of Clinical Medicine-Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Yu Gao
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025 Shanghai, China.
| | - Ying Tian
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025 Shanghai, China; MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200092 Shanghai, China.
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26
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Stratakis N, Rock S, La Merrill MA, Saez M, Robinson O, Fecht D, Vrijheid M, Valvi D, Conti DV, McConnell R, Chatzi VL. Prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants and childhood obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis of human studies. Obes Rev 2022; 23 Suppl 1:e13383. [PMID: 34766696 PMCID: PMC9512275 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the associations between prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and childhood obesity. We focused on organochlorines (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane [DDT], dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene [DDE], hexachlorobenzene [HCB], and polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs]), perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) that are the POPs more widely studied in environmental birth cohorts so far. We search two databases (PubMed and Embase) through July/09/2021 and identified 33 studies reporting associations with prenatal organochlorine exposure, 21 studies reporting associations with prenatal PFAS, and five studies reporting associations with prenatal PBDEs. We conducted a qualitative review. Additionally, we performed random-effects meta-analyses of POP exposures, with data estimates from at least three prospective studies, and BMI-z. Prenatal DDE and HCB levels were associated with higher BMI z-score in childhood (beta: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.21; I2 : 28.1% per study-specific log increase of DDE and beta: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.53; I2 : 31.9% per study-specific log increase of HCB). No significant associations between PCB-153, PFOA, PFOS, or pentaPBDEs with childhood BMI were found in meta-analyses. In individual studies, there was inconclusive evidence that POP levels were positively associated with other obesity indicators (e.g., waist circumference).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikos Stratakis
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Sarah Rock
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Michele A La Merrill
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Marc Saez
- Research Group on Statistics, Econometrics and Health (GRECS), University of Girona, Girona, Spain.,CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Oliver Robinson
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Daniela Fecht
- UK Small Area Health Statistics Unit, MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Martine Vrijheid
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.,ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Damaskini Valvi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - David V Conti
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Rob McConnell
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Vaia Lida Chatzi
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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27
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Bloom MS, Commodore S, Ferguson PL, Neelon B, Pearce JL, Baumer A, Newman RB, Grobman W, Tita A, Roberts J, Skupski D, Palomares K, Nageotte M, Kannan K, Zhang C, Wapner R, Vena JE, Hunt KJ. Association between gestational PFAS exposure and Children's adiposity in a diverse population. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 203:111820. [PMID: 34343551 PMCID: PMC8616804 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely distributed suspected obesogens that cross the placenta. However, few data are available to assess potential fetal effects of PFAS exposure on children's adiposity in diverse populations. To address the data gap, we estimated associations between gestational PFAS concentrations and childhood adiposity in a diverse mother-child cohort. We considered 6 PFAS in first trimester blood plasma, measured using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, collected from non-smoking women with low-risk singleton pregnancies (n = 803). Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), fat mass, fat-free mass, and % body fat were ascertained in 4-8 year old children as measures of adiposity. We estimated associations of individual gestational PFAS with children's adiposity and overweight/obesity, adjusted for confounders. There were more non-Hispanic Black (31.7 %) and Hispanic (42.6 %) children with overweight/obesity, than non-Hispanic white (18.2 %) and Asian/Pacific Islander (16.4 %) children (p < 0.0001). Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS; 5.3 ng/mL) and perfluorooctanoic acid (2.0 ng/mL) had the highest median concentrations in maternal blood. Among women without obesity (n = 667), greater perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) was associated with their children having higher WC z-score (β = 0.08, 95%CI: 0.01, 0.14; p = 0.02), fat mass (β = 0.55 kg, 95%CI: 0.21, 0.90; p = 0.002), and % body fat (β = 0.01 %; 95%CI: 0.003, 0.01; p = 0.004), although the association of PFUnDA with fat mass attenuated at the highest concentrations. Among women without obesity, the associations of PFAS and their children's adiposity varied significantly by self-reported race-ethnicity, although the direction of the associations was inconsistent. In contrast, among the children of women with obesity, greater, PFOS, perfluorononanoic acid, and perfluorodecanoic acid concentrations were associated with less adiposity (n = 136). Our results suggest that specific PFAS may be developmental obesogens, and that maternal race-ethnicity may be an important modifier of the associations among women without obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Bloom
- Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA.
| | - Sarah Commodore
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Pamela L Ferguson
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Brian Neelon
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - John L Pearce
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Anna Baumer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Roger B Newman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - William Grobman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Alan Tita
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - James Roberts
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Daniel Skupski
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, Queens, New York, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kristy Palomares
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saint Peter's University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Michael Nageotte
- Department of Perinatology, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Kurunthachalam Kannan
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cuilin Zhang
- Division of Intramural Population Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Ronald Wapner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - John E Vena
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Kelly J Hunt
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
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28
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Canova C, Di Nisio A, Barbieri G, Russo F, Fletcher T, Batzella E, Dalla Zuanna T, Pitter G. PFAS Concentrations and Cardiometabolic Traits in Highly Exposed Children and Adolescents. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182412881. [PMID: 34948492 PMCID: PMC8701234 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182412881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Background: Residents of a large area of north-eastern Italy were exposed for decades to high concentrations of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) via drinking water. Despite the large amount of evidence in adults of a positive association between serum PFAS and metabolic outcomes, studies focusing on children and adolescents are limited. We evaluated the associations between serum PFAS concentrations that were quantifiable in at least 40% of samples and lipid profile, blood pressure (BP) and body mass index (BMI) in highly exposed adolescents and children. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in 6669 adolescents (14–19 years) and 2693 children (8–11 years) enrolled in the health surveillance program of the Veneto Region. Non-fasting blood samples were obtained and analyzed for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated. Systolic and diastolic BP were measured, and BMI z-score accounting for age and sex was estimated. The associations between ln-transformed PFAS (and categorized into quartiles) and continuous outcomes were assessed using generalized additive models. The weighted quantile sum regression approach was used to assess PFAS-mixture effects for each outcome. Analyses were stratified by gender and adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Among adolescents, significant associations were detected between all investigated PFAS and TC, LDL-C, and to a lesser extent HDL-C. Among children, PFOS and PFNA had significant associations with TC, LDL-C and HDL-C, while PFOA and PFHxS had significant associations with HDL-C only. Higher serum concentrations of PFAS, particularly PFOS, were associated with lower BMI z-score. No statistically significant associations were observed between PFAS concentrations and BP. These results were confirmed by the multi-pollutant analysis. Conclusions: Our study supports a consistent association between PFAS concentration and serum lipids, stronger for PFOS and PFNA and with a greater magnitude among children compared to adolescents, and a negative association of PFAS with BMI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Canova
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (G.B.); (E.B.); (T.D.Z.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Andrea Di Nisio
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy;
| | - Giulia Barbieri
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (G.B.); (E.B.); (T.D.Z.)
- Eurac Research, Institute for Biomedicine, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Francesca Russo
- Directorate of Prevention, Food Safety, and Veterinary Public Health-Veneto Region, 30123 Venice, Italy;
| | - Tony Fletcher
- Public Health, Environments and Society Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, UK;
| | - Erich Batzella
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (G.B.); (E.B.); (T.D.Z.)
| | - Teresa Dalla Zuanna
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (G.B.); (E.B.); (T.D.Z.)
| | - Gisella Pitter
- Screening and Health Impact Assessment Unit, Azienda Zero-Veneto Region, 35131 Padua, Italy;
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29
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Lazarevic N, Barnett AG, Sly PD, Callan AC, Stasinska A, Heyworth JS, Hinwood AL, Knibbs LD. Prenatal exposure to mixtures of persistent environmental chemicals and fetal growth outcomes in Western Australia. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2021; 240:113899. [PMID: 34883336 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental chemicals have been implicated in the etiology of impaired fetal growth. However, few studies have assessed the effects of chemical mixtures or considered the possibility of non-monotonic exposure-response relationships for chemicals that act through the endocrine system. METHODS We assessed exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers, organochlorine pesticides, metals, and perfluorinated alkyl substances in blood and urine samples collected approximately two weeks prior to delivery in 166 non-smoking pregnant women, and subsequent birth weight, length, and head circumference of neonates who were part of the Australian Maternal Exposures to Toxic Substances (AMETS) study. We used Bayesian structured additive regression models with spike-slab priors to estimate mixture effects, identify important exposures, and model non-linearity in exposure-response relationships. RESULTS Mixtures of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, organochlorine pesticides, metals, and perfluorinated alkyl substances were not associated with fetal growth outcomes. Estimated change in fetal growth outcomes for an increase in exposure from the 25th to 75th percentile suggested no meaningful associations; the strongest evidence was for a small inverse association between birth weight and cesium exposure measured in whole blood (-124 g, 90% credible interval: -240 to -3 g). We identified several chemicals that may be associated with fetal growth non-linearly; however, 90% credible intervals contained small values consistent with no meaningful association. CONCLUSIONS Using a Bayesian penalized regression method, we assessed the shapes of exposure-response relationships, controlled for confounding by co-exposure, and estimated the single and combined effects of a large mixture of correlated environmental chemicals on fetal growth. Our findings, based on a small sample of mother-neonate pairs, suggest that mixtures of persistent chemicals are not associated with birth weight, length, and head circumference. The potential for non-monotonic relationships between environmental chemicals and fetal growth outcomes warrants further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Lazarevic
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia; National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, ANU College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia.
| | - Adrian G Barnett
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia
| | - Peter D Sly
- Children's Health and Environment Program, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia
| | - Anna C Callan
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Ania Stasinska
- School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Jane S Heyworth
- School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Andrea L Hinwood
- United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi, Kenya; School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Luke D Knibbs
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
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30
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Marks KJ, Howards PP, Smarr MM, Flanders WD, Northstone K, Daniel JH, Sjödin A, Calafat AM, Hartman TJ. Prenatal exposure to mixtures of persistent endocrine disrupting chemicals and postnatal body size in British girls. Early Hum Dev 2021; 161:105450. [PMID: 34418724 PMCID: PMC8464514 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2021.105450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) exposure is ubiquitous. EDC exposure during critical windows of development may interfere with the body's endocrine system, affecting growth. Previous human studies have examined one EDC at a time in relation to infant growth. By studying mixtures, the human experience can be better approximated. AIMS We investigated the association of prenatal exposure to persistent EDCs (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs)) as mixtures with postnatal body size among female offspring. SUBJECTS We used a sub-sample of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (N = 425), based in the United Kingdom. STUDY DESIGN We quantified 52 EDCs in maternal serum collected during pregnancy. We used Bayesian kernel machine regression with a random intercept to examine the association of prenatal concentrations of EDC mixtures with longitudinal postnatal body size measures for each EDC class separately (PFAS, PCBs, and OCPs) and for all three classes combined. OUTCOME MEASURES Weight and height measures at 0, 2, 9, and 19 months were obtained by health professionals as part of routine child health surveillance. RESULTS The mixture representing all three classes combined (31 chemicals) (n = 301) was inversely associated with postnatal body size. Holding all EDCs in the 31-chemical mixture at the 75th percentile compared to the 50th percentile was associated with 0.15 lower weight-for-age z-score (95% credible interval -0.26, -0.03). Weak inverse associations were also seen for height-for-age and body mass index-for-age scores. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that prenatal exposure to mixtures of persistent EDCs may affect postnatal body size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin J. Marks
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States,Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, United States,Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, 100 ORAU Way, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, United States,Corresponding author: Kristin J. Marks, PhD, MPH, Mailstop S106-6, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, 770-488-3414,
| | - Penelope P. Howards
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Melissa M. Smarr
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - W. Dana Flanders
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States,Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, United States
| | - Kate Northstone
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, United Kingdom
| | - Johnni H. Daniel
- Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, United States
| | - Andreas Sjödin
- Division Of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, United States
| | - Antonia M. Calafat
- Division Of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, United States
| | - Terryl J. Hartman
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States,Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, United States
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31
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Pfohl M, Marques E, Auclair A, Barlock B, Jamwal R, Goedken M, Akhlaghi F, Slitt AL. An 'Omics Approach to Unraveling the Paradoxical Effect of Diet on Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) and Perfluorononanoic Acid (PFNA)-Induced Hepatic Steatosis. Toxicol Sci 2021; 180:277-294. [PMID: 33483757 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfaa172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of toxicants universally detected in human serum and known to cause dyslipidemia in animals and humans. Hepatic steatosis, which is defined as lipid deposition in the liver, is known to be a consequence of poor diet. Similarly, PFAS are known to induce hepatic steatosis in animals on a low-fat chow. This study explored diet-PFAS interactions in the liver and their potential to modulate hepatic steatosis. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed with either a low-fat diet (10% kcal from fat, LFD) or a moderately high-fat diet (45% kcal from fat, HFD) with or without perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (3 ppm, PFOS) or perfluorononanoic acid (3 ppm, PFNA) in feed for 12 weeks. Livers were excised for histology and quantification of PFAS and lipids. The PFOS and PFNA coadministration with HFD reduced the hepatic accumulation of lipid and PFAS relative to the LFD treatment groups. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis revealed that PFAS administration in the presence of an HFD significantly reduces expression of known hepatic PFAS uptake transporters, organic anion transporter proteins. Transcriptomics and proteomics further revealed several pathways related to lipid metabolism, synthesis, transport, and storage that were modulated by PFAS exposure and further impacted by the presence of dietary fat. Both dietary fat content and the chemical functional head group exerted significant influence on hepatic PFAS accumulation and the resulting biochemical signature, suggesting that diet and structure should be considered in the design and interpretation of research on PFAS induced hepatic steatosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa Pfohl
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881
| | - Emily Marques
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881
| | - Adam Auclair
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881
| | - Benjamin Barlock
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881
| | - Rohitash Jamwal
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881
| | - Michael Goedken
- Rutgers Translational Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08901
| | - Fatemeh Akhlaghi
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881
| | - Angela L Slitt
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881
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32
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Thomsen ML, Henriksen LS, Tinggaard J, Nielsen F, Jensen TK, Main KM. Associations between exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and body fat evaluated by DXA and MRI in 109 adolescent boys. Environ Health 2021; 20:73. [PMID: 34187491 PMCID: PMC8244201 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00758-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) has been associated with changes in body mass index and adiposity, but evidence is inconsistent as study design, population age, follow-up periods and exposure levels vary between studies. We investigated associations between PFAS exposure and body fat in a cross-sectional study of healthy boys. METHODS In 109 boys (10-14 years old), magnetic resonance imaging and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were performed to evaluate abdominal, visceral fat, total body, android, gynoid, android/gynoid ratio, and total fat percentage standard deviation score. Serum was analysed for perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid, perfluorononanoic acid, and perfluorodecanoic acid using liquid chromatography and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Data were analysed by multivariate linear regression. RESULTS Serum concentrations of PFASs were low. Generally, no clear associations between PFAS exposure and body fat measures were found; however, PFOS was negatively associated with abdominal fat (β = -0.18, P = 0.046), android fat (β = -0.34, P = 0.022), android/gynoid ratio (β = -0.21, P = 0.004), as well as total body fat (β = -0.21, P = 0.079) when adjusting for Tanner stage. CONCLUSIONS Overall, we found no consistent associations between PFAS exposure and body fat. This could be due to our cross-sectional study design. Furthermore, we assessed PFAS exposure in adolescence and not in utero, which is considered a more vulnerable time window of exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Lolk Thomsen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet and Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Louise Scheutz Henriksen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet and Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jeanette Tinggaard
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet and Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Flemming Nielsen
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Tina Kold Jensen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet and Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Katharina M. Main
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet and Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Espindola Santos ADS, Meyer A, Dabkiewicz VE, Câmara VDM, Asmus CIRF. Serum levels of perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid in pregnant women: Maternal predictors and associations with birth outcomes in the PIPA Project. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2021; 47:3107-3118. [PMID: 34111903 DOI: 10.1111/jog.14883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
AIM Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are persistent pollutants associated with adverse birth outcomes. This study aimed to identify predictors of blood PFOA and PFOS concentrations in pregnant women and to estimate their associations with birth outcomes in Brazil. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study with 139 pregnant women enrolled in the pilot study of the Rio Birth Cohort Study on Environmental Exposure and Childhood Development (PIPA Project). Multiple linear regression was used to estimate associations between PFOA and PFOS with maternal predictors and birth outcomes. RESULTS Higher levels of PFOA were observed in women aged 16-19 and 20-39 years, while fish consumption from 0.6 to 2.0 times per week was associated with lower levels of the substance. PFOS levels were higher in women living in houses with up to four rooms but lower in those who reported passive exposure to smoking. Increased newborn length and head circumference were also associated with higher maternal levels of PFOA. CONCLUSIONS In our study, age, fish consumption, passive smoking, and the number of rooms in the house were predictors of maternal PFAS levels. However, we did not observe significant associations between maternal plasma PFAS concentrations and birth outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline de Souza Espindola Santos
- Occupational and Environmental Branch, Public Health Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Armando Meyer
- Occupational and Environmental Branch, Public Health Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Emídio Dabkiewicz
- Center for Studies of Human Ecology and Worker's Health, National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Volney de Magalhães Câmara
- Occupational and Environmental Branch, Public Health Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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34
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Hu JMY, Arbuckle TE, Janssen P, Lanphear BP, Zhuang LH, Braun JM, Chen A, McCandless LC. Prenatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemical mixtures and infant birth weight: A Bayesian analysis using kernel machine regression. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 195:110749. [PMID: 33465343 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnant women are regularly exposed to a multitude of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). EDC exposures, both individually and as mixtures, may affect fetal growth. The relationship of EDC mixtures with infant birth weight, however, remains poorly understood. We examined the relations between prenatal exposure to EDC mixtures and infant birth weight. METHODS We used data from the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) Study, a pan-Canadian cohort of 1857 pregnant women enrolled between 2008 and 2011. We quantified twenty-one chemical concentrations from five EDC classes, including organochlorine compounds (OCs), metals, perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), phenols and phthalate metabolites that were detected in >70% of urine or blood samples collected during the first trimester. In our primary analysis, we used Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models to assess variable importance, explore EDC mixture effects, and identify any interactions among EDCs. Our secondary analysis used traditional linear regression to compare the results with those of BKMR and to quantify the changes in mean birth weight in relation to prenatal EDC exposures. RESULTS We found evidence that mixtures of OCs and metals were associated with monotonic decreases in mean birth weight across the whole range of exposure. trans-Nonachlor from the OC mixture and lead (Pb) from the metal mixture had the greatest impact on birth weight. Our linear regression analysis corroborated the BKMR results and found that a 2-fold increase in trans-nonachlor and Pb concentrations reduced mean birth weight by -38 g (95% confidence interval (CI): -67, -10) and -39 g (95% CI: -69, -9), respectively. A sex-specific association for OC mixture was observed among female infants. PFAS, phenols and phthalates were not associated with birth weight. No interactions were observed among the EDCs. CONCLUSIONS Using BKMR, we observed that both OC and metal mixtures were associated with decreased birth weight in the MIREC Study. trans-Nonachlor from the OC mixture and Pb from the metal mixture contributed most to the adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice M Y Hu
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - Tye E Arbuckle
- Population Studies Division, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Patricia Janssen
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Bruce P Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Liheng H Zhuang
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Joseph M Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Aimin Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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35
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Papadopoulou E, Botton J, Caspersen IH, Alexander J, Eggesbø M, Haugen M, Iszatt N, Jacobsson B, Knutsen HK, Meltzer HM, Sengpiel V, Stratakis N, Vejrup K, Brantsæter AL. Maternal seafood intake during pregnancy, prenatal mercury exposure and child body mass index trajectories up to 8 years. Int J Epidemiol 2021; 50:1134-1146. [PMID: 33713119 PMCID: PMC8407875 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyab035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Maternal seafood intake during pregnancy and prenatal mercury exposure may influence children’s growth trajectories. Methods This study, based on the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), includes 51 952 mother-child pairs recruited in pregnancy during 2002–08 and a subsample (n = 2277) with maternal mercury concentrations in whole blood. Individual growth trajectories were computed by modelling based on child’s reported weight and length/height from 1 month to 8 years. We used linear mixed-effects regression analysis and also conducted discordant-sibling analysis. Results Maternal lean fish was the main contributor to total seafood intake in pregnancy and was positively but weakly associated with child body mass index (BMI) growth trajectory. Higher prenatal mercury exposure (top decile) was associated with a reduction in child’s weight growth trajectory, with the estimates ranging from -130 g [95% Confidence Intervals (CI) = -247, -12 g] at 18 months to -608 g (95% CI = -1.102, -113 g) at 8 years. Maternal fatty fish consumption was positively associated with child weight and BMI growth trajectory, but only in the higher mercury-exposed children (P-interaction = 0.045). Other seafood consumption during pregnancy was negatively associated with child weight growth compared with no intake, and this association was stronger for higher mercury-exposed children (P-interaction = 0.004). No association was observed between discordant maternal seafood intake and child growth in the sibling analysis. Conclusions Within a population with moderate seafood consumption and low mercury exposure, we found that maternal seafood consumption in pregnancy was associated with child growth trajectories, and the direction of the association varied by seafood type and level of prenatal mercury exposure. Prenatal mercury exposure was negatively associated with child growth. Our findings on maternal seafood intake are likely non-causal.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jérémie Botton
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Châtenay-Malabry, France
| | | | - Jan Alexander
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Skoyen, Oslo, Norway
| | - Merete Eggesbø
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Skoyen, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Nina Iszatt
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Skoyen, Oslo, Norway
| | - Bo Jacobsson
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Skoyen, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital Gothenburg/Östra, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | | | - Verena Sengpiel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital Gothenburg/Östra, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Nikos Stratakis
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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36
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Szilagyi JT, Avula V, Fry RC. Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Their Effects on the Placenta, Pregnancy, and Child Development: a Potential Mechanistic Role for Placental Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs). Curr Environ Health Rep 2021; 7:222-230. [PMID: 32812200 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-020-00279-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review summarizes studies highlighting perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their effects on the placenta, pregnancy outcomes, and child health. It highlights human population-based associations as well as in vitro-based experimental data to inform an understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying these health effects. Among the mechanisms by which PFAS may induce toxicity is via their interaction with the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), nuclear receptors that regulate lipid metabolism and placental functions important to healthy pregnancies, as well as fetal and child development. RECENT FINDINGS In utero exposure to prevalent environmental contaminants such as PFAS is associated with negative health outcomes during pregnancy, birth outcomes, and later in life. Specifically, PFAS have been associated with increased incidence of gestational diabetes, childhood obesity, preeclampsia, and fetal growth restriction. In terms of placental molecular mechanisms underlying these associations, studies demonstrate that PFAS interfere with trophoblast lipid homeostasis, inflammation, and invasion. Moreover these effects could be mediated in part by the interaction between PFAS and PPARs, as well as other biological mechanisms. This review summarizes how PFAS, critical environmental contaminants, may contribute to diseases of pregnancy as well as early and later child health.
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Affiliation(s)
- John T Szilagyi
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Vennela Avula
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. .,Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. .,Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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37
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Braun JM, Eliot M, Papandonatos GD, Buckley JP, Cecil KM, Kalkwarf HJ, Chen A, Eaton CB, Kelsey K, Lanphear BP, Yolton K. Gestational perfluoroalkyl substance exposure and body mass index trajectories over the first 12 years of life. Int J Obes (Lond) 2021; 45:25-35. [PMID: 33208860 PMCID: PMC7755727 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-020-00717-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Gestational exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a ubiquitous class of persistent endocrine disrupting chemicals, is associated with increased risk of obesity and cardiometabolic disease. However, it is unclear if gestational PFAS exposure is associated with adiposity trajectories related to adult obesity and cardiometabolic health. SUBJECTS/METHODS We measured perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononaoic acid, and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) concentrations in maternal serum collected between 16 weeks gestation and delivery in a cohort of 345 mother-child pairs in Cincinnati, OH (enrolled 2003-06). From age 4 weeks to 12 years, we measured weight and length or height up to eight times and calculated child body mass index (BMI) (1865 repeated measures). Using covariate-adjusted linear mixed models and splines to account for repeated BMI measures and nonlinear BMI patterns, respectively, we estimated the age/magnitude of infancy BMI zenith (~1 year) and childhood BMI nadir (~5 years), BMI accrual from 8 to 12 years, and BMI at age 12 years by PFAS terciles. RESULTS BMI trajectories varied by PFOA concentrations (age × PFOA interaction p value = 0.03). Children born to women with higher PFOA concentrations had lower infancy and early childhood BMI, earlier BMI nadir, accelerating BMI gains in mid-childhood and adolescence, and higher BMI at age 12 years. Some of these associations were non-monotonic. PFOS and PFHxS were not associated with alterations in BMI trajectories, but were monotonically associated with lower BMI across infancy, childhood, and adolescence. Compared to children in the first PFOS tercile, those in the second (β: -0.83; 95% confidence interval (CI): -2.11, 0.51 kg/m2), and third (β: -1.41; 95% CI: -2.65, -0.14 kg/m2) had lower BMI at age 12 years. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that gestational PFOA exposure may be associated with BMI trajectories related to adult obesity and cardiometabolic disease, while PFOS and PFHxS exposure is associated with lower BMI in the first 12 years of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph M Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
| | - Melissa Eliot
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | | | - Jessie P Buckley
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kim M Cecil
- Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Heidi J Kalkwarf
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Aimin Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Charles B Eaton
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Family Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Karl Kelsey
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Bruce P Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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38
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Lee YJ, Jung HW, Kim HY, Choi YJ, Lee YA. Early-Life Exposure to Per- and Poly-Fluorinated Alkyl Substances and Growth, Adiposity, and Puberty in Children: A Systematic Review. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:683297. [PMID: 34566884 PMCID: PMC8458955 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.683297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a family of synthetic polyfluorinated compounds, are widely used in consumer products. Ubiquitous exposures to PFAS, in consideration of their persistence, bioaccumulation potential, and toxicities have led to concerns regarding possible harmful effects during critical periods of development in early-life and long-term consequences on health. The potential effects of PFAS depend on various factors including the type of PFAS and the timing and level of exposure. We performed a systematic review of the epidemiologic literature to assess the effects of early-life PFAS exposure on prenatal and postnatal growth, adiposity, and puberty in children and adolescents. For birth size, most studies indicated that prenatal PFAS exposure, in particular long-chain PFAS, may impair fetal growth, albeit some reports of null associations with maternal PFAS. For growth within 2 years of age, prenatal PFAS exposure showed no associations with height and either null or negative associations with weight. However, postnatal PFAS exposures were inversely related to height and weight at 2 years in a cross-sectional study. For postnatal adiposity, prenatal PFAS may mostly have negative associations with body mass index in the first 2 years of life, but positive relationships with adiposity in childhood and adolescence, although some studies showed null associations. For puberty, the evidence for associations between early-life PFAS exposure and pubertal development or sex hormone levels were limited and inconclusive. From experimental studies, plausible mechanisms through which PFAS may affect early-life growth and puberty include PFAS-induced activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, alterations of thyroid or steroid hormone synthesis and metabolism, and their weak estrogenic or anti-androgenic properties. Although the published literature suggests possible effects of PFAS exposures on early-life growth, adiposity, and puberty, current human evidence is limited in establishing PFAS-induced effects on early-life physical development. Further investigation is warranted to clarify PFAS-induced effects on growth and physical development in consideration of the critical time-window of exposure, concomitant exposure to chemical mixtures including various PFAS types, and possible non-monotonic dose-response relationship for growth and adiposity trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Jeong Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hae Woon Jung
- Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hwa Young Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yoon-Jung Choi
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Environmental Health Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Young Ah Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Young Ah Lee,
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39
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Liu Y, Li N, Papandonatos GD, Calafat AM, Eaton CB, Kelsey KT, Chen A, Lanphear BP, Cecil KM, Kalkwarf HJ, Yolton K, Braun JM. Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Adiposity at Age 12 Years: Evaluating Periods of Susceptibility. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:16039-16049. [PMID: 33269902 PMCID: PMC7917013 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c06088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure may increase adiposity and obesity risk in children. However, no studies have extended these findings into adolescence or identified periods of heightened susceptibility. We estimated associations of repeated pre- and postnatal serum PFAS concentrations with adolescent adiposity and risk of overweight/obesity. We studied 212 mother-offspring pairs from the HOME Study. We quantified serum concentrations of four PFAS in mothers at ∼16 week gestation and their children at birth and ages 3, 8, and 12 years. We assessed adiposity at 12 years using anthropometry and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Using multiple informant models, we estimated covariate-adjusted associations of an interquartile range (IQR) increase in log2-transformed PFAS for each time period with adiposity measures and tested differences in these associations. Serum perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) concentrations during pregnancy were associated with modest increases in central adiposity and risk of overweight/obesity, but there was no consistent pattern for postnatal concentrations. We observed nonlinear associations between PFOA in pregnancy and some measures of adiposity. Overall, we observed a pattern of modest positive associations of gestational PFOA and PFHxS concentrations with central adiposity and the risk of obesity in adolescents, while no pattern was observed for postnatal PFAS concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Box G-S121-2, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, United States
| | - Nan Li
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Box G-S121-2, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, United States
| | - George D Papandonatos
- Department of Biostatistics, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, United States
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30329-4018, United States
| | - Charles B Eaton
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Box G-S121-2, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, United States
- Center for Primary Care and Prevention, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Pawtucket, Rhode Island 02860-4499, United States
- Department of Family Medicine, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Karl T Kelsey
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Box G-S121-2, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, United States
| | - Aimin Chen
- Department of Biostatics, Epidemiology & Informatics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Bruce P Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Kim M Cecil
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3026, United States
| | - Heidi J Kalkwarf
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3026, United States
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3026, United States
| | - Joseph M Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Box G-S121-2, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, United States
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Szilagyi JT, Avula V, Fry RC. Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Their Effects on the Placenta, Pregnancy, and Child Development: a Potential Mechanistic Role for Placental Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs). Curr Environ Health Rep 2020. [PMID: 32812200 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-020-0q279-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review summarizes studies highlighting perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their effects on the placenta, pregnancy outcomes, and child health. It highlights human population-based associations as well as in vitro-based experimental data to inform an understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying these health effects. Among the mechanisms by which PFAS may induce toxicity is via their interaction with the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), nuclear receptors that regulate lipid metabolism and placental functions important to healthy pregnancies, as well as fetal and child development. RECENT FINDINGS In utero exposure to prevalent environmental contaminants such as PFAS is associated with negative health outcomes during pregnancy, birth outcomes, and later in life. Specifically, PFAS have been associated with increased incidence of gestational diabetes, childhood obesity, preeclampsia, and fetal growth restriction. In terms of placental molecular mechanisms underlying these associations, studies demonstrate that PFAS interfere with trophoblast lipid homeostasis, inflammation, and invasion. Moreover these effects could be mediated in part by the interaction between PFAS and PPARs, as well as other biological mechanisms. This review summarizes how PFAS, critical environmental contaminants, may contribute to diseases of pregnancy as well as early and later child health.
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Affiliation(s)
- John T Szilagyi
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Vennela Avula
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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Gennings C, Wolk A, Hakansson N, Lindh C, Bornehag CG. Contrasting prenatal nutrition and environmental exposures in association with birth weight and cognitive function in children at 7 years. BMJ Nutr Prev Health 2020; 3:162-171. [PMID: 33521525 PMCID: PMC7841844 DOI: 10.1136/bmjnph-2020-000099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Good nutrition is essential for individual health, a notion that is particularly true during pregnancy. We have used a nutrition index that measures the adequacy of one’s diet relative to the unique nutritional needs of individuals due to, for example, their activity level, dietary restrictions, lifestyle and body size. The use of this personalised metric of dietary nutritiousness in the analysis of prenatal environmental exposures and developmental outcomes permits testing for potential mitigating effects of good nutrition. We also provide an analysis strategy for investigating the balance in beneficial food sources which are also the source of environmental toxicants. Methods A holistic measure of nutrition, My Nutrition Index (MNI), measures the nutrient quality (ie, ‘nutritiousness’) of a specified daily diet. MNI is calculated based on quantification of dozens of macronutrients and micronutrients that are specific to an individual’s nutritional needs by incorporating dietary restrictions, subject characteristics, activity level and health behaviours. The Swedish Environmental, Longitudinal, Mother and child, Asthma and allergy Study is a Swedish pregnancy cohort, with prenatal endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) exposure and dietary data available. This makes it possible to test for the potential mitigating effects of good nutrition on health and development effects in offspring from EDCs. Results Using prenatal Food Frequency Questionnaire data to construct an individual’s MNI, the index was significantly and positively associated with important metabolic outcome (as measured by birth weight) and cognitive function at age 7 years (as measured by WISC IQ) in children when adjusted for covariates and prenatal concentrations of an EDC. In a stratified analysis of ‘low’ and ‘high’ fish consumption, a potential source of perfluoro-octanesulfonic acid (PFOS), the association between PFOS and birth weight was diminished in the high consumption group compared with the low consumption group. Conclusions Thus, MNI is evidently a metric of the general nutritiousness of daily diets and is useful in environmental health studies in representing the impact of good nutrition, even during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Gennings
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Alicja Wolk
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Niclas Hakansson
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christian Lindh
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Jensen RC, Andersen MS, Larsen PV, Glintborg D, Dalgård C, Timmermann CAG, Nielsen F, Sandberg MB, Andersen HR, Christesen HT, Grandjean P, Jensen TK. Prenatal Exposures to Perfluoroalkyl Acids and Associations with Markers of Adiposity and Plasma Lipids in Infancy: An Odense Child Cohort Study. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2020; 128:77001. [PMID: 32628516 PMCID: PMC7338787 DOI: 10.1289/ehp5184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) are repellants that cross the placental barrier, enabling interference with fetal programming. Maternal PFAA concentrations have been associated with offspring obesity and dyslipidemia in childhood and adulthood, but this association has not been studied in infancy. OBJECTIVES We investigated associations between maternal PFAA concentrations and repeated markers of adiposity and lipid metabolism in infancy. METHODS In the prospective Odense Child Cohort, maternal pregnancy serum concentrations of five PFAA: Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) were measured in 649 women. Offspring were examined at birth (n=613) and at 3 months (n=602) and 18 months (n=503) of age. Total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglyceride were evaluated at 3 months (n=262) and 18 months (n=198) of age. Mixed effects linear regression models estimated associations between PFAA and standardized (SDS) body mass index (BMI), ponderal index, and waist circumference. Associations between PFAA and body fat% (BF%) and plasma lipids SDS at 3 months and 18 months of age were investigated with linear regression models. RESULTS PFNA and PFDA were associated with higher BMI SDS [adjusted β=0.26; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03, 0.49 and β=0.58; 95% CI: -0.03, 1.19, respectively, for 1-ng/mL increases] and ponderal index SDS (β=0.36; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.59 and β=1.02; 95% CI: 0.40, 1.64, respectively) at 3 and 18 months of age (pooled) in girls. Corresponding estimates for boys were closer to the null but not significantly different from estimates for girls. In boys and girls (combined), PFNA and PFDA were associated with BF% at age 3 months (for 1-ng/mL PFDA, β=0.40; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.75), and PFDA was associated with total cholesterol SDS at 18 months (β=1.06; 95% CI: 0.08, 2.03) (n=83). DISCUSSION Prenatal PFAA were positively associated with longitudinal markers of adiposity and higher total cholesterol in infancy. These findings deserve attention in light of rising rates of childhood overweight conditions and dyslipidemia. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP5184.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Christian Jensen
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Pia Veldt Larsen
- Telepsychiatric Centre, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Dorte Glintborg
- Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Christine Dalgård
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Flemming Nielsen
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Helle Raun Andersen
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Henrik Thybo Christesen
- Odense Child Cohort, Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Philippe Grandjean
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tina Kold Jensen
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Odense Child Cohort, Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Odense Patient data Exploratory Network (OPEN), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Gaballah S, Swank A, Sobus JR, Howey XM, Schmid J, Catron T, McCord J, Hines E, Strynar M, Tal T. Evaluation of Developmental Toxicity, Developmental Neurotoxicity, and Tissue Dose in Zebrafish Exposed to GenX and Other PFAS. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2020; 128:47005. [PMID: 32271623 PMCID: PMC7228129 DOI: 10.1289/ehp5843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 194] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse class of industrial chemicals with widespread environmental occurrence. Exposure to long-chain PFAS is associated with developmental toxicity, prompting their replacement with short-chain and fluoroether compounds. There is growing public concern over the safety of replacement PFAS. OBJECTIVE We aimed to group PFAS based on shared toxicity phenotypes. METHODS Zebrafish were developmentally exposed to 4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoate (ADONA), perfluoro-2-propoxypropanoic acid (GenX Free Acid), perfluoro-3,6-dioxa-4-methyl-7-octene-1-sulfonic acid (PFESA1), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluoro-n-octanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), or 0.4% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) daily from 0-5 d post fertilization (dpf). At 6 dpf, developmental toxicity and developmental neurotoxicity assays were performed, and targeted analytical chemistry was used to measure media and tissue doses. To test whether aliphatic sulfonic acid PFAS cause the same toxicity phenotypes, perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS; 4-carbon), perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS; 5-carbon), PFHxS (6-carbon), perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS; 7-carbon), and PFOS (8-carbon) were evaluated. RESULTS PFHxS or PFOS exposure caused failed swim bladder inflation, abnormal ventroflexion of the tail, and hyperactivity at nonteratogenic concentrations. Exposure to PFHxA resulted in a unique hyperactivity signature. ADONA, PFESA1, or PFOA exposure resulted in detectable levels of parent compound in larval tissue but yielded negative toxicity results. GenX was unstable in DMSO, but stable and negative for toxicity when diluted in deionized water. Exposure to PFPeS, PFHxS, PFHpS, or PFOS resulted in a shared toxicity phenotype characterized by body axis and swim bladder defects and hyperactivity. CONCLUSIONS All emerging fluoroether PFAS tested were negative for evaluated outcomes. Two unique toxicity signatures were identified arising from structurally dissimilar PFAS. Among sulfonic acid aliphatic PFAS, chemical potencies were correlated with increasing carbon chain length for developmental neurotoxicity, but not developmental toxicity. This study identified relationships between chemical structures and in vivo phenotypes that may arise from shared mechanisms of PFAS toxicity. These data suggest that developmental neurotoxicity is an important end point to consider for this class of widely occurring environmental chemicals. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP5843.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaza Gaballah
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Integrated Systems Toxicology Division (ISTD), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), Office of Research and Development (ORD), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Adam Swank
- Research Cores Unit, NHEERL, ORD, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jon R. Sobus
- Exposure Methods and Measurement Division, National Exposure Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Xia Meng Howey
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Integrated Systems Toxicology Division (ISTD), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), Office of Research and Development (ORD), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Judith Schmid
- Toxicology Assessment Division, NHEERL, ORD, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Tara Catron
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Integrated Systems Toxicology Division (ISTD), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), Office of Research and Development (ORD), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - James McCord
- Exposure Methods and Measurement Division, National Exposure Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Erin Hines
- National Center for Environmental Assessment, ORD, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Mark Strynar
- Exposure Methods and Measurement Division, National Exposure Research Laboratory, ORD, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Tamara Tal
- ISTD, NHEERL, ORD, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
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Intrauterine exposure to perfluorinated compounds and overweight at age 4: A case-control study. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230137. [PMID: 32176721 PMCID: PMC7075550 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Aims The aims were to investigate the association between maternal serum levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) in early pregnancy and overweight in the child at 4 years and to assess potential heterogeneity in exposure effect between strata with different levels of other risk factors for overweight. Methods We used a case-control design and included 354 cases (ISO-BMI ≥ 18 kg/m2) and 2 controls per case (ISO-BMI ≤17 kg/m2) from child health care centers in Malmö, Sweden. Controls were selected stratified on risk scores for overweight in a propensity score framework. Maternal serum levels were analyzed in biobanked samples collected by routine around gestational week 14. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios between quartiles of maternal serum levels and child overweight at age 4. Results There were no consistent monotonic exposure-response relationships. We found some significant odds ratios in specific quartiles but these were regarded as spurious findings. The absence of an effect was consistent over risk strata. Conclusions We did not find evidence of an association between maternal serum levels of PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS and PFNA in early pregnancy and child overweight at age 4. The level of other risk factors for overweight did not affect children’s susceptibility to prenatal PFAS exposure.
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Gaston SA, Birnbaum LS, Jackson CL. Synthetic Chemicals and Cardiometabolic Health Across the Life Course Among Vulnerable Populations: a Review of the Literature from 2018 to 2019. Curr Environ Health Rep 2020; 7:30-47. [PMID: 32037478 PMCID: PMC7187897 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-020-00265-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Although vulnerable populations are disproportionately exposed to synthetic chemicals with endocrine disrupting properties, few recent reviews have summarized the impact of synthetic chemicals on cardiometabolic health among these groups. RECENT FINDINGS Of 37 eligible epidemiological studies among vulnerable populations published between January 2018 and April 2019 in which over half were prospective, the most investigated populations were pregnant women and children. Racial/ethnic minorities, individuals of low socioeconomic status (SES), and those occupationally exposed were studied the least. The most studied persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were per-/poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and the most studied non-POPs were phenols. Across chemical classes, studies found certain POPs (e.g., PFAS) and non-POPs (i.e., phenols, phthalates, and parabens) to be associated with gestational diabetes and dysregulated glucose metabolism. Results for other cardiometabolic health outcomes were inconsistent but suggested certain chemicals may negatively affect cardiometabolic health. Synthetic chemicals likely adversely affect cardiometabolic health, but current findings were inconclusive. Few recent studies focused on racial/ethnic minorities, low SES, and occupationally exposed populations. To address poor cardiometabolic health and related disparities, more studies across vulnerable populations are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Symielle A Gaston
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, 111 TW Alexander Drive, MD A3-05, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Linda S Birnbaum
- Office of the Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Chandra L Jackson
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, 111 TW Alexander Drive, MD A3-05, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA.
- Intramural Program, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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Xiao C, Grandjean P, Valvi D, Nielsen F, Jensen TK, Weihe P, Oulhote Y. Associations of Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances With Thyroid Hormone Concentrations and Birth Size. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2020; 105:dgz147. [PMID: 31665456 PMCID: PMC7112969 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgz147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adequate thyroid function during pregnancy is essential for optimal fetal growth. Gestational exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can negatively affect birth size and disrupt maternal and neonatal thyroid function, although the interrelationship is unclear. OBJECTIVE We aimed to quantify the associations between maternal serum-PFAS concentrations and birth weight, birth length, and cranial circumference. We also aimed to estimate associations between PFAS and thyroid hormone (TH) concentrations, thereby elucidating whether THs potentially mediate the associations between PFAS concentrations and birth size. METHODS We studied a population-based prospective cohort of 172 mother-singleton pairs from the Faroe Islands. Twelve PFAS were measured in maternal serum obtained at 34 weeks of gestation. THs were measured in maternal and cord serum. Associations between PFAS concentrations and birth size and TH concentrations were estimated using multivariable linear regressions. Sex-stratified analyses along with a mediation analysis were performed to estimate potential mediating effects of THs in the association between PFAS and birth outcomes. RESULTS Several PFASs were negatively associated with birth weight, length, and head circumference, and a general positive association between maternal serum-PFASs and cord serum-thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH; also known as thyrotropin) was found. For instance, a doubling in perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was associated with a 53% (95% CI, 18%-99%) and 40% (95% CI, 8%-81%) increases in TSH concentrations, respectively. There was little evidence of sexually dimorphic associations. Overall, THs were not found to mediate associations between PFASs and birth size. CONCLUSION In this study, several PFASs were negatively associated with birth size and increased THs; however, this did not explain lower birth weight among children exposed to PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Xiao
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- EHESP-School of Public Health, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Rennes, France
| | - Philippe Grandjean
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Damaskini Valvi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Flemming Nielsen
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Tina Kold Jensen
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Pal Weihe
- The Faroese Hospital System, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
| | - Youssef Oulhote
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Massachusetts
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Tanner EM, Bornehag CG, Gennings C. Dynamic growth metrics for examining prenatal exposure impacts on child growth trajectories: Application to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and postnatal weight gain. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 182:109044. [PMID: 31874421 PMCID: PMC7027597 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.109044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epidemiologic studies investigating prenatal exposures in relation to growth typically rely on cumulative growth measures such as weight or BMI. However, less is known about how prenatal exposure may impact other aspects of growth dynamics, including timing and velocity. OBJECTIVES To describe and apply a nonlinear growth model previously used in other health science fields to characterize postnatal growth trajectories for use in environmental epidemiology studies. METHODS We used a double logistic function to model child weight trajectories from birth to 5.5 years using data from the Swedish Environmental Longitudinal Mother and Child, Asthma and Allergy (SELMA) study. From this, we approximated several infant growth metrics: 1) duration of time needed to complete 90% of the infant growth spurt (Δt1), 2) the maximum growth rate in infancy or infant peak growth velocity (PGV), 3) the age at infant PGV (δ1), a measure of growth tempo, and 4) the weight plateau at the end of the infant growth spurt (α1). We assessed these metrics in relation to prenatal perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) exposure among 1334 mother-child pairs, and differences between boys and girls. RESULTS Average estimated infant PGV and its timing (δ1) were 0.68 kg/month and 3.4 months, respectively. Mean infant growth spurt duration (Δt1) was 13 months, ending at an average weight plateau (α1) of 8.2 kg. Higher prenatal PFOA concentrations were related to a longer duration of infant growth (Δt1: 0.06; 95% CI = 0.01, 0.11). PGV was not impacted, but higher prenatal PFOA concentrations were significantly related to delayed infant PGV (δ1: 0.58; 95% CI = 0.17, 0.99) and a higher post-spurt weight plateau (α1: 0.81; 95% CI = 0.21, 1.41). After adjusting for false discovery, results were only significant for δ1 and α1. We observed a significant interaction by sex for the association with δ1, and stratified analyses revealed the association was only significant among girls. CONCLUSION Model-derived growth metrics were consistent with published growth standards. This novel application of nonlinear growth modeling enabled detection of altered infant growth dynamics in relation to prenatal PFOA exposure. Our results may help describe how PFOA yields lower birthweights, but higher weight later in childhood. Future applications may characterize adolescent growth or additional metrics of biological interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva M Tanner
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Carl-Gustaf Bornehag
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden
| | - Chris Gennings
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Kashino I, Sasaki S, Okada E, Matsuura H, Goudarzi H, Miyashita C, Okada E, Ito YM, Araki A, Kishi R. Prenatal exposure to 11 perfluoroalkyl substances and fetal growth: A large-scale, prospective birth cohort study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 136:105355. [PMID: 32029284 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal maternal exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has been reportedly associated with decreased birth weight. Although a majority of epidemiological studies concerning perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have focused on PFOS and PFOA, epidemiological studies of PFAS with longer carbon chains are scarce. In this study, we investigated whether prenatal maternal exposure to 11 PFAS, in particular those with longer carbon chains, is associated with fetal growth. METHODS The study included 1985 mother-infant pairs (inclusive of preterm and post-term infants), who enrolled in a large-scale, prospective birth cohort study in any of the 37 hospitals in Hokkaido, Japan between 2003 and 2009. The concentration of 11 PFAS was measured in maternal plasma collected during the third trimester of pregnancy, using ultra-performance liquid chromatography in combination with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Associations between the measured PFAS values and weight, length, and head circumference of all newborns at birth were examined using multiple regression analyses with adjustment for potential confounders based on data collected from medical records, questionnaires, and those for maternal plasma samples. RESULTS Of the 11 PFAS analyzed, prenatal perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) [per log10-unit: regression coefficient (β) = -96.2 g, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), -165.3 to -27.1] and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) (β = -72.2 g, 95% CI, -138.1 to -6.3) concentrations were inversely associated with birth weight. Furthermore, PFNA concentrations were inversely associated with birth length (per Log10 unit: β = -0.48 cm, 95% CI; - 0.86 to -0.11). Maternal perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) exposure showed a significant inverse association with birth weight only for female infants (per Log10 unit: β = -99.8 g, 95% CI, - 193.7 to -6.0) (P for interaction = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that prenatal, maternal exposure to PFAS with longer carbon chains tends to be inversely associated with birth size of newborn infants, which may indicate that these commercially used compounds have an adverse effect on fetal growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikuko Kashino
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Japan; Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Japan.
| | - Seiko Sasaki
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
| | - Emiko Okada
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Matsuura
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, Division of Applied Bioscience, Hokkaido University, Japan.
| | - Houman Goudarzi
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Japan.
| | - Chihiro Miyashita
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Japan.
| | - Eisaku Okada
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yoichi M Ito
- Department of Statistical Data Science, The Institute of Statistical Mathematics, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Atsuko Araki
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Japan.
| | - Reiko Kishi
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Japan.
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Starling AP, Adgate JL, Hamman RF, Kechris K, Calafat AM, Dabelea D. Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and infant growth and adiposity: the Healthy Start Study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 131:104983. [PMID: 31284113 PMCID: PMC6728170 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.104983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposures to certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been linked to lower weight and adiposity at birth but greater weight and adiposity in childhood. We hypothesized that faster growth in early infancy may be associated with maternal PFAS concentrations. METHODS Among 415 mother-infant pairs in a longitudinal cohort study, we estimated associations between maternal pregnancy serum concentrations of six PFAS and offspring weight and adiposity at ~5 months of age, and growth in early infancy. Linear and logistic regression models were adjusted for potential confounders including maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index. Effect modification by infant sex was evaluated. We evaluated potential confounding by correlated exposures via multipollutant linear regression and elastic net penalized regression. RESULTS Associations between maternal PFAS concentrations and infant weight and adiposity differed by offspring sex. In male infants, maternal perfluorooctanoate and perfluorononanoate were positively associated with adiposity, with percent fat mass increases of 1.5-1.7% per ln-ng/mL increase in PFAS (median adiposity at ~5 months: 24.6%). Maternal perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) were associated with lower weight-for-age z-score among female infants only (-0.26 SD per ln-ng/mL PFOS, 95% CI -0.43, -0.10; -0.17 SD per ln-ng/mL PFHxS, 95% CI -0.33, -0.01). In analyses pooled by sex, 2-(N-methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido) acetate above vs. below the limit of detection was associated with greater odds of rapid growth in weight-for-age (odds ratio [OR] 2.2, 95% CI 1.1, 4.3) and weight-for-length (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.8, 6.2). Multipollutant models generally confirmed the results and strengthened some associations. DISCUSSION We observed sex- and chemical-specific associations between maternal serum PFAS concentrations and infant weight and adiposity. Multipollutant models suggested confounding by correlated PFAS with opposing effects. Although maternal PFAS concentrations are inversely associated with infant weight and adiposity at birth, rapid gain may occur in infancy, particularly in fat mass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne P Starling
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA; Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
| | - John L Adgate
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Richard F Hamman
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA; Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Katerina Kechris
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Dana Dabelea
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA; Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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Marks KJ, Cutler AJ, Jeddy Z, Northstone K, Kato K, Hartman TJ. Maternal serum concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances and birth size in British boys. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2019; 222:889-895. [PMID: 30975573 PMCID: PMC6571162 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been widely used in commercial and industrial manufacturing processes since the 1950s. Inverse associations between prenatal exposure to PFAS and birth size have been found in populations around the globe. This study examined the association of prenatal maternal serum concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and birth size in British boys. The study included 457 mother-son dyads participating in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Birth weight (g), crown to heel length (cm), and head circumference (cm) were collected at delivery. PFAS were detected in all maternal serum samples during pregnancy (median: 30 weeks gestation (interquartile range: 12-33)). Median concentrations (interquartile range) were 13.8 ng/mL (11.0, 17.7), 3.0 ng/mL (2.3, 3.8), 1.9 ng/mL (1.4, 2.5), and 0.4 ng/mL (0.3, 0.5) for PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, and PFNA, respectively. In multivariable linear regression models, inverse associations were detected between PFOS (continuous) and birth weight (β = -8.50 g, 95% CI = -15.93, -1.07 g), crown to heel length (β = -0.04 cm, 95% CI = -0.08, -0.01 cm), and head circumference (β = -0.02 cm, 95% CI = -0.04, -0.002 cm). In conclusion, prenatal exposure to high levels of PFOS may be associated with reduced birth size in male infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin J Marks
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322, United States; National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, Atlanta, GA, 30341, United States.
| | - Anya J Cutler
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322, United States; National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, Atlanta, GA, 30341, United States
| | - Zuha Jeddy
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, Atlanta, GA, 30341, United States
| | - Kate Northstone
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Kayoko Kato
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, Atlanta, GA, 30341, United States
| | - Terryl J Hartman
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322, United States; National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, Atlanta, GA, 30341, United States
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