Association between prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and asthma in 5-year-old children in the Odense Child Cohort

Abstract Background Asthma is the most common non-communicable disease in children. Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), a group of persistent environmental chemicals with endocrine disrupting abilities, has been associated with immunomodulation and may contribute to the aetiology of asthma. We investigated the associations between prenatal exposure to five PFASs and asthma in 5-year-old children. Methods We studied 981 mother-child pairs within the Odense Child Cohort (OCC), Denmark. We measured perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) in maternal serum donated in early pregnancy. A standardized questionnaire based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) was used to assess wheeze, self-reported asthma and doctor-diagnosed asthma among children at age 5 years. Associations were examined using logistic regression analyses adjusting for parity, maternal educational level, maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, asthma predisposition and child sex. Results Among the 5-year-old children 18.6% reported wheeze and 7.1% reported asthma. We found no association between prenatal exposure to PFAS and doctor-diagnosed asthma or wheeze. Prenatal PFAS exposure was associated with self-reported asthma, although only significant for PFNA (OR = 1.84, 95% CI 1.03,3.23). Conclusion Our findings support the suggested immunomodulatory effects of PFASs, however, additional studies are warranted. In order to verify our findings, it is important to re-examine the children with postnatal measurements of serum PFAS concentrations and additional clinical diagnostic testing at an older age where an asthma diagnosis is more valid.

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Maternal serum levels of perfluoroalkyl substances in early pregnancy and offspring birth weight

Pediatric Research ◽

10.1038/s41390-019-0720-1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 87 (6) ◽

pp. 1093-1099 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Sverre Wikström ◽

Ping-I Lin ◽

Christian H. Lindh ◽

Huan Shu ◽

Carl-Gustaf Bornehag

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Prenatal Exposure ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Placental Transfer ◽

Serum Levels ◽

First Trimester ◽

Maternal Serum ◽

Perfluoroalkyl Substances ◽

Perfluorodecanoic Acid ◽

Mother And Child

Abstract Background Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widespread, bioaccumulating, and persistent and show placental transfer. Emerging research indicates associations between prenatal exposure and low birth weight. The aim of this study was to assess the associations between first trimester exposure to PFASs and birth weight (BW) in the Swedish Environmental, Longitudinal, Mother and child, Asthma and allergy (SELMA) study and examine whether associations differ between girls and boys. Methods Eight PFASs were analyzed in maternal serum (median: 10 weeks of pregnancy). Associations between prenatal PFAS exposure and birth outcomes with BW, BW for gestational age, and birth small for gestational age (SGA) were assessed in 1533 infants, adjusted for potential confounders and stratified by sex. Results Increased maternal perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) were associated with lower BW, lower BW for gestational age, and SGA birth. Associations were significant only in girls, where prenatal exposure in the upper quartile was associated with a 93–142-g lower BW when compared with that of the lowest quartile exposure. The associations were not mediated by effects on gestational age. Conclusions We found associations between prenatal exposure for five different PFASs and birth weight, with more pronounced associations in girls than in boys.

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Associations between Prenatal Exposure to Phthalates and Timing of Menarche and Growth and Adiposity into Adulthood: A Twenty-Years Birth Cohort Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18094725 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (9) ◽

pp. 4725

Author(s):

Ye’elah E. Berman ◽

Dorota A. Doherty ◽

Katharina M. Main ◽

Hanne Frederiksen ◽

Martha Hickey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Weight ◽

Prenatal Exposure ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Maternal Serum ◽

Growth Patterns ◽

Environmental Chemicals ◽

Age At Menarche ◽

Z Score ◽

Phthalate Metabolites ◽

Phthalate Exposure

Phthalates are ubiquitous environmental chemicals with endocrine disrupting properties and potentially obesogenic effects. We hypothesised that antenatal phthalate exposure may influence growth and adiposity patterns in girls through childhood into adolescence. Among 1342 Raine Study singleton females, 462 had maternal serum and at least one outcome available up to 20 years of age. Individuals’ maternal serum collected at 18 and 34 weeks gestation was pooled and analyzed for concentrations of 32 metabolites of 15 phthalate diesters. Cox regression and linear models were used to determine associations between maternal phthalate levels and age at menarche, change in height and weight z-scores between birth and two years, height from birth to 20 years, BMI from two to 20 years, deviation from mid-parental height at age 20 and DEXA scan measures at age 20. Weak negative associations were detected with some phthalate metabolites and change in height and weight z-score during infancy. Weak positive associations between some of the high molecular weight phthalate metabolites and height z-score were detected during childhood. While still within the normal range, age at menarche was slightly delayed in girls with higher prenatal exposure to the higher molecular weight phthalate metabolites. We derived some associations between prenatal phthalate exposure with early growth patterns and age at menarche.

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Perfluoroalkyl substances and blood pressure in exposed young population in the Veneto Region, Italy

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.107 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

C Canova ◽

M Jare Zeddi ◽

G Barbieri ◽

M Gion ◽

F Daprà ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Diastolic Blood Pressure ◽

Sulfonic Acid ◽

Antihypertensive Drugs ◽

Adult Population ◽

Additive Models ◽

Perfluoroalkyl Substances ◽

Surveillance Program ◽

Veneto Region ◽

Large Area

Abstract Background Residents in a large area of the Veneto Region (North-Eastern Italy) were exposed to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) via drinking water. Studies on the association between PFASs and blood pressure (BP) levels are limited and results are inconsistent. Using cross-sectional data from the Regional health surveillance program, we aimed to quantify the associations between PFAS serum concentrations and blood pressure and hypertension prevalence. Methods The study included 16,224 individuals aged 20-39 years. Pregnant women (n = 327), participants with self-reported diagnosis or under treatment (n = 296) or with missing information on the selected covariates (n = 114) were excluded, leaving 15,487 subjects. Hypertension (HYP) was defined as any self-reported diagnosis, use of antihypertensive drugs, or raised systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP)≥140, DBP ≥90 mmHg). Serum PFASs were measured by HPLC-MS. Generalized additive models were used to investigate the relation between each PFAS (perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)) ln transformed and by decile, and SBP, DBP, HYP, adjusted for potential confounders. Results Both SBP and DBP increased significantly with an increase in the ln-transformed serum PFASs concentration in a monotonic way. The predicted increase in SBP and DBP were 1.62 (95% CI = 0.69, 2.55), 1.64 mmHg (95% CI = 0.96, 2.31) from lowest to highest decile of PFOA. The associations were stronger for SBP in men and DBP in women. One unit increase in each ln-PFAS was positively associated with an increased odds of HYP in men: PFOA OR = 1.07 (1.01-1.14), PFOS OR = 1.18 (1.05-1.32), PFHxS OR = 1.11 (1.03-1.19), PFNA OR = 1.19 (1.01-1.41). Conclusions Our findings suggest that exposure to PFAS is associated with increased blood pressure and thus may contribute as a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Key messages Serum PFASs were associated with raised systolic blood pressure in men and diastolic blood pressure in women in a large highly exposed young adult population. Serum PFASs were associated with raised prevalence of hypertension in men.

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Associations between exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and body fat evaluated by DXA and MRI in 109 adolescent boys

Environmental Health ◽

10.1186/s12940-021-00758-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mathilde Lolk Thomsen ◽

Louise Scheutz Henriksen ◽

Jeanette Tinggaard ◽

Flemming Nielsen ◽

Tina Kold Jensen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Fat ◽

Study Design ◽

Sulfonic Acid ◽

Standard Deviation Score ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Mass Spectrometry Data ◽

Perfluoroalkyl Substances ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Total Body

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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Placental Transfer of Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Associations with Thyroid Hormones: Beijing Prenatal Exposure Study

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/srep21699 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Lin Yang ◽

Jingguang Li ◽

Jianqiang Lai ◽

Hemi Luan ◽

Zongwei Cai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thyroid Hormones ◽

Prenatal Exposure ◽

Placental Transfer ◽

Perfluoroalkyl Substances ◽

Exposure Study

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Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and behavioral difficulties in childhood at 7 and 11 years

ISEE Conference Abstracts ◽

10.1289/isee.2020.virtual.p-0872 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 (1) ◽

Author(s):

J. Luo ◽

J. Xiao ◽

Y. Gao ◽

C.H. Ramlau-Hansen ◽

G. Toft ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prenatal Exposure ◽

Perfluoroalkyl Substances ◽

Behavioral Difficulties

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Prenatal Screening and Diagnosis

10.2310/tywc.19170 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Barbara O’Brien ◽

Emily Willner

Keyword(s):

Diagnostic Testing ◽

Chorionic Villus ◽

Clinical History ◽

Maternal Serum ◽

Specific Gene ◽

Chorionic Villus Sampling ◽

Genetic Syndromes ◽

Cell Free Dna ◽

Free Dna ◽

Ultrasound Evaluation

Prenatal genetic testing offers patients and providers the opportunity to screen for aneuploidy, genetic syndromes, and congenital malformations during pregnancy. Screening options include taking a clinical history, evaluation of maternal serum markers or noninvasive cell-free DNA, and ultrasound evaluation during the first and second trimesters. Invasive diagnostic testing such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling allows for further investigation of positive screening results and a directed test to identify aneuploidy as well as specific gene mutations and gain, loss, or rearrangement of genetic information. Laboratory methods for testing fetal samples differ by types of genetic abnormalities that can be detected and turnaround time for results; these methods include karyotype, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and microarray. This review contains 5 figures, 5 tables and 43 references Key words: amniocentesis, aneuploidy, cell-free DNA, chorionic villus sampling, karyotype, microarray, prenatal genetic screening, ultrasonography

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