Our
aim was to investigate the relation between PBDEs and fetal
growth or newborn anthropometry in a Spanish cohort (2003–2008).
PBDE congeners (BDE-47, -99, -153, -154, and -209) were determined
in serum of 670 mothers at gestational week 12 and in 534 umbilical
cord samples. Abdominal circumference (AC), estimated fetal weight
(EFW), femur length (FL), and biparietal diameter (BPD) during gestation
were measured by ultrasounds. At birth, weight (BW), head circumference
(HC), and length (BL) were also measured. We assessed growth in the
intervals between 12–20 and 20–34 weeks of gestation
and size at birth by standard deviation (SD)-scores adjusted for constitutional
characteristics. We conducted multivariate linear regression analyses
between PBDE congeners and their sum (ΣPBDEs) and outcomes.
We found statistically significant inverse associations between ΣPBDEs
and AC, EFW, and BPD at weeks 20–34 and HC at birth. Regarding
congeners, the association was clearer with BDE-99, with inverse associations
being found with AC, EFW, and BPD at weeks 20–34, and with
BW and HC at delivery. These outcomes decreased between 1.3% and 3.5%
for each 2-fold PBDE increase. Concerning matrices, we found statistically
significant inverse associations with BPD, HC, and BW when using maternal
serum, and for AC and EFW with cord serum. In conclusion, PBDEs may
impair fetal growth in late pregnancy and reduce birth size.
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