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Pacyga DC, Papandonatos GD, Rosas L, Whalen J, Smith S, Park JS, Gardiner JC, Braun JM, Schantz SL, Strakovsky RS. Associations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances with maternal early second trimester sex-steroid hormones. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 259:114380. [PMID: 38657330 PMCID: PMC11127781 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114380] [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: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Pregnant women are exposed to persistent environmental contaminants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that disrupt thyroid function. However, it is unclear if PFAS alter maternal sex-steroid hormone levels, which support pregnancy health and fetal development. METHODS In Illinois women with relatively high socioeconomic status (n = 460), we quantified perfluorononanoic (PFNA), perfluorooctane sulfonic (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic (PFOA), methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamide acetic acid, perfluorohexanesulphonic (PFHxS), perfluorodecanoic (PFDeA), and perfluoroundecanoic (PFUdA) acid concentrations in fasting serum samples at median 17 weeks gestation, along with plasma progesterone, testosterone, and estradiol. We evaluated covariate-adjusted associations of ln-transformed hormones with each ln-transformed PFAS individually using linear regression and with the PFAS mixture using quantile-based g-computation (QGComp). RESULTS Interquartile range (IQR) increases in PFOS were associated with higher progesterone (%Δ 3.0; 95%CI: -0.6, 6.6) and estradiol (%Δ: 8.1; 95%CI: 2.2, 14.4) levels. Additionally, PFHxS was positively associated with testosterone (%Δ: 10.2; 95%CI: 4.0, 16.7), whereas both PFDeA and PFUdA were inversely associated with testosterone (%Δ: -5.7; 95%CI: -10.3, -0.8, and %Δ: -4.1; 95%CI: -7.6, -0.4, respectively). The IQR-standardized PFAS mixture was not associated with progesterone (%Δ: 1.6; 95%CI: -5.8, 9.2), due equal partial positive (%Δ: 9.2; driven by PFOA) and negative (%Δ: -7.4; driven by PFOS) mixture associations. Similarly, the mixture was not associated with testosterone (%Δ: 5.3; 95%CI: -9.0, 20.1), due to similar partial positive (%Δ: 23.6; driven by PFHxS) and negative (%Δ: -17.4; driven by PFDeA) mixture associations. However, we observed a slightly stronger partial positive (%Δ: 25.6; driven by PFOS and PFUdA) than negative (%Δ: -16.3; driven by PFOA) association resulting in an overall non-significant positive trend between the mixture and estradiol (%Δ: 8.5; 95%CI: -3.7, 20.9). CONCLUSION PFAS mixture modeled using QGComp was not associated with maternal sex-steroid hormones due to potential opposing effects of certain PFAS. Additional prospective studies could corroborate these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana C Pacyga
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | | | - Libeth Rosas
- The Beckman Institute, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801, USA
| | - Jason Whalen
- Michigan Diabetes Research Center Chemistry Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Sabrina Smith
- Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Environmental Protection Agency, Berkeley, CA 94710, USA
| | - June-Soo Park
- Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Environmental Protection Agency, Berkeley, CA 94710, USA; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Joseph C Gardiner
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Joseph M Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Susan L Schantz
- The Beckman Institute, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801, USA; Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USA
| | - Rita S Strakovsky
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
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Cinzori ME, Pacyga DC, Rosas L, Whalen J, Smith S, Park JS, Geiger SD, Gardiner JC, Braun JM, Schantz SL, Strakovsky RS. Associations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances with maternal metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers in early-to-mid-pregnancy. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 250:118434. [PMID: 38346483 PMCID: PMC11102845 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can disrupt metabolism. Early-to-mid pregnancy is characterized by amplified metabolic processes and inflammation to support maternal adaptations and fetal growth. Thus, we cross-sectionally evaluated whether PFAS are individually and jointly associated with these processes in early-to-mid pregnancy. METHODS Pregnant Illinois women (n = 452) provided fasted blood samples at median 17 weeks gestation. We quantified serum perfluorononanoic (PFNA), perfluorooctane sulfonic (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic (PFOA), methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamide acetic acid (Me-PFOSA-AcOH), perfluorohexanesulfonic (PFHxS), perfluorodecanoic (PFDeA), and perfluoroundecanoic (PFUdA) acid. Key outcomes were plasma glucose, insulin, C-peptide, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), adiponectin, leptin, triglycerides, free fatty acids, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and interleukin 6. We calculated homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). We evaluated associations of PFAS with each metabolic/inflammatory biomarker individually using covariate-adjusted linear regression and jointly using quantile-based g-computation. RESULTS In linear regression, all PFAS (except Me-PFOSA-AcOH) were negatively associated with insulin, HOMA-IR, and leptin, whereas all PFAS were positively associated with HDL cholesterol. We also observed negative associations of some PFAS with TNF-α and MCP-1; positive associations with adiponectin and total cholesterol also emerged. Additionally, PFOS was positively, whereas Me-PFOSA-AcOH was negatively, associated with triglycerides and VLDL. Each 25% increase in the PFAS mixture was associated with -31.3% lower insulin (95%CI: -45.8, -12.9), -31.9% lower HOMA-IR (95%CI: -46.4, -13.4), and -9.4% lower leptin (95%CI: -17.3, -0.8), but 7.4% higher HDL cholesterol (95%CI: 4.6, 10.3). For most outcomes, the major contributors to the PFAS mixture often differed compared to single-PFAS analyses. IMPLICATIONS Individual and joint PFAS exposures were associated with markers of maternal metabolism and inflammation in pregnancy. Further investigation is needed to elucidate possible mechanisms and consequences of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria E Cinzori
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA; Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Diana C Pacyga
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA; Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Libeth Rosas
- The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Jason Whalen
- Michigan Diabetes Research Center Chemistry Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Sabrina Smith
- Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Environmental Protection Agency, Berkeley, CA, 94710, USA
| | - June-Soo Park
- Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Environmental Protection Agency, Berkeley, CA, 94710, USA; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Sarah D Geiger
- The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, 61801, USA; Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801, USA
| | - Joseph C Gardiner
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Joseph M Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Susan L Schantz
- The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, 61801, USA; Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USA
| | - Rita S Strakovsky
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA; Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
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Hansen S, Xu S, Huber S, Alvarez MV, Odland JØ. Profile of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, source appointment, and determinants in Argentinean postpartum women. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 915:170096. [PMID: 38224894 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals with potential adverse health effects. Information concerning PFAS concentrations in relation to pregnancy is scarce in South America and non-existent in Argentina. AIM We aimed to investigate an extended maternal PFAS profile herein serum concentrations in a regional and global view, source appointment, and determinants in Argentinean women. METHODS A cross-sectional study with a sampling period from 2011 to 2012 included 689 women from Ushuaia and Salta in Argentina. Serum samples collected two days postpartum were analyzed by ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray negative ionisation tandem-quadrupole mass-spectrometry. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) following absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) was used for PFAS source appointments. Determinants of PFAS were explored through a MLR approach. A review of previous studies within the same period was conducted to compare with present levels. RESULTS Argentinean PFAS concentrations were the lowest worldwide, with PFOS (0.74 ng/mL) and PFOA (0.11 ng/mL) as the dominant substances. Detection frequencies largely aligned with the compared studies, indicating the worldwide PFAS distribution considering the restrictions. The PCA revealed region-specific loading patterns of two component groups of PFAS, a mixture of replaced and legacy substances in Ushuaia and long-chain in Salta. This might relate to a mix of non-diet and diet exposure in Ushuaia and diet in Salta. Region, age, lactation, parity, household members, migration, bottled water, and freshwater fish were among the determinants of various PFAS. CONCLUSION This is the first study to monitor human PFAS exposure in Argentina. Maternal PFAS concentrations were the lowest observed worldwide in the same period. Exposure contributions are suggested to be affected by restrictions and substitutions. Given the limited population-based studies and the emergence of PFAS, it is essential to conduct further monitoring of PFAS in Argentina and South America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solrunn Hansen
- Department of Health and Care Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Shanshan Xu
- Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway.
| | - Sandra Huber
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, 9038 Tromsø, Norway.
| | | | - Jon Øyvind Odland
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7491 Trondheim, Norway; Department of General Hygiene I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119992 Moscow, Russia; School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.
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Niu S, Cao Y, Chen R, Bedi M, Sanders AP, Ducatman A, Ng C. A State-of-the-Science Review of Interactions of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) with Renal Transporters in Health and Disease: Implications for Population Variability in PFAS Toxicokinetics. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:76002. [PMID: 37418334 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in the environment and have been shown to cause various adverse health impacts. In animals, sex- and species-specific differences in PFAS elimination half-lives have been linked to the activity of kidney transporters. However, PFAS molecular interactions with kidney transporters are still not fully understood. Moreover, the impact of kidney disease on PFAS elimination remains unclear. OBJECTIVES This state-of-the-science review integrated current knowledge to assess how changes in kidney function and transporter expression from health to disease could affect PFAS toxicokinetics and identified priority research gaps that should be addressed to advance knowledge. METHODS We searched for studies that measured PFAS uptake by kidney transporters, quantified transporter-level changes associated with kidney disease status, and developed PFAS pharmacokinetic models. We then used two databases to identify untested kidney transporters that have the potential for PFAS transport based on their endogenous substrates. Finally, we used an existing pharmacokinetic model for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in male rats to explore the influence of transporter expression levels, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and serum albumin on serum half-lives. RESULTS The literature search identified nine human and eight rat kidney transporters that were previously investigated for their ability to transport PFAS, as well as seven human and three rat transporters that were confirmed to transport specific PFAS. We proposed a candidate list of seven untested kidney transporters with the potential for PFAS transport. Model results indicated PFOA toxicokinetics were more influenced by changes in GFR than in transporter expression. DISCUSSION Studies on additional transporters, particularly efflux transporters, and on more PFAS, especially current-use PFAS, are needed to better cover the role of transporters across the PFAS class. Remaining research gaps in transporter expression changes in specific kidney disease states could limit the effectiveness of risk assessment and prevent identification of vulnerable populations. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11885.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Niu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yuexin Cao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ruiwen Chen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Megha Bedi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Alison P Sanders
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Alan Ducatman
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Carla Ng
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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McAdam J, Bell EM. Determinants of maternal and neonatal PFAS concentrations: a review. Environ Health 2023; 22:41. [PMID: 37161484 PMCID: PMC10170754 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-023-00992-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are used for their properties such as stain and water resistance. The substances have been associated with adverse health outcomes in both pregnant mothers and infants, including pre-eclampsia and low birthweight. A growing body of research suggests that PFAS are transferred from mother to fetus through the placenta, leading to in utero exposure. A systematic review was performed using the PubMed database to search for studies evaluating determinants of PFAS concentrations in blood matrices of pregnant mothers and neonates shortly after birth. Studies were included in this review if an observational study design was utilized, exposure to at least one PFAS analyte was measured, PFAS were measured in maternal or neonatal matrices, at least one determinant of PFAS concentrations was assessed, and results such as beta estimates were provided. We identified 35 studies for inclusion in the review and evaluated the PFAS and determinant relationships among the factors collected in these studies. Parity, breastfeeding history, maternal race and country of origin, and household income had the strongest and most consistent evidence to support their roles as determinants of certain PFAS concentrations in pregnant mothers. Reported study findings on smoking status, alcohol consumption, and pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) suggest that these factors are not important determinants of PFAS concentrations in pregnant mothers or neonates. Further study into informative factors such as consumer product use, detailed dietary information, and consumed water sources as potential determinants of maternal or neonatal PFAS concentrations is needed. Research on determinants of maternal or neonatal PFAS concentrations is critical to estimate past PFAS exposure, build improved exposure models, and further our understanding on dose-response relationships, which can influence epidemiological studies and risk assessment evaluations. Given the potential for adverse outcomes in pregnant mothers and neonates exposed to PFAS, it is important to identify and understand determinants of maternal and neonatal PFAS concentrations to better implement public health interventions in these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan McAdam
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | - Erin M Bell
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, Rensselaer, NY, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany, Rensselaer, NY, USA.
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Shen C, Ding J, Xu C, Zhang L, Liu S, Tian Y. Perfluoroalkyl Mixture Exposure in Relation to Fetal Growth: Potential Roles of Maternal Characteristics and Associations with Birth Outcomes. TOXICS 2022; 10:650. [PMID: 36355941 PMCID: PMC9695392 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10110650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) exposure is suggested to interfere with fetal growth. However, limited investigations considered the roles of parity and delivery on PFASs distributions and the joint effects of PFASs mixture on birth outcomes. In this study, 506 birth cohorts were investigated in Hangzhou, China with 14 PFASs measured in maternal serum. Mothers with higher maternal ages who underwent cesarean section were associated with elevated PFASs burden, while parity showed a significant but diverse influence. A logarithmic unit increment in perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and perfluorononane sulfonate (PFNS) was significantly associated with a reduced birth weight of 0.153 kg (95% confidence interval (CI): -0.274, -0.031, p = 0.014), 0.217 kg (95% CI: -0.385, -0.049, p = 0.012), and 0.137 kg (95% CI: -0.270, -0.003, p = 0.044), respectively. Higher perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) and perfluoroheptane sulphonate (PFHpS) were associated with increased Apgar-1 scores. PFOA (Odds ratio (OR): 2.17, 95% CI: 1.27, 3.71, p = 0.004) and PFNS (OR:1.59, 95% CI: 1.01, 2.50, p = 0.043) were also risk factors to preterm birth. In addition, the quantile-based g-computation showed that PFASs mixture exposure was significantly associated with Apgar-1 (OR: 0.324, 95%CI: 0.068, 0.579, p = 0.013) and preterm birth (OR: 0.356, 95% CI: 0.149, 0.845, p = 0.019). In conclusion, PFASs were widely distributed in the maternal serum, which was influenced by maternal characteristics and significantly associated with several birth outcomes. Further investigation should focus on the placenta transfer and toxicities of PFASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chensi Shen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jiaxin Ding
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Chenye Xu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Long Zhang
- Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Shuren Liu
- Interdisciplinary Research Academy (IRA), Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Yonghong Tian
- Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310000, China
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