Interaction effects of polyfluoroalkyl substances and sex steroid hormones on asthma among children

Abstract

To evaluate the interactions between polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and reproductive hormones and associated asthma, a total of 231 asthmatic and 225 non-asthmatic adolescents were selected from northern Taiwan in the Genetic and Biomarkers study for Childhood Asthma from 2009-2010. The interaction between PFASs and reproductive hormones on asthma was analyzed with a two-level binary logistic regression model. The results showed that, among asthmatics, PFASs were positively associated with estradiol levels and negatively associated with testosterone levels. However, only significant association was identified for PFNA and estradiol in control group. After controlling for hormone levels, associations between PFAS exposure and asthma were consistently stronger among children with higher than lower estradiol, with odds ratios (OR) for asthma ranging from Asthma is an increasing new onset inflammatory disease that involves both intrinsic and environmental factors. Research indicates that perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), types of persistent organic pollutants, are associated with asthma and related outcomes, including airway hyperresponsiveness, increased serum levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), and switched type 2 T helper cell (Th2) polarization 1-4 . Anderson-Mahoney et al. first identified the positive association between PFOA exposure and asthma 4 . US National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES) data showed that serum PFOA concentrations are positively associated with self-reported lifetime asthma prevalence 5 .

Perfluoroalkyl substances exposure and immunity, allergic response, infection, and asthma in children: review of epidemiologic studies

“…At the age of ∼16 years, PFOS and PFHxS were positively associated with asthma whereas at ∼18 years, only PFOS was positively associated with asthma. In a study conducted by Zhou et al., 2017a , Zhou et al., 2017b results found children with asthma had significantly higher levels of all PFAS evaluated in the study including PFOA, PFDA, PFHxS, and PFNA.…”

Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and childhood atopic dermatitis: a prospective birth cohort study

“…This effect was supported by an experimental study conducted in mice [ 44 ]. A case-control study reported that PFASs were positively associated with estradiol levels and negatively associated with testosterone levels among asthmatics [ 45 ]. Furthermore, the interactions between estradiol and PFASs were significant for PFOS ( p = 0.026) and PFNA ( p = 0.043) among girls, suggesting that reproductive hormones might amplify the association between PFASs and asthma.…”

Application of the Key Characteristics of Carcinogens to Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

“…Reduced serum testosterone also correlated with PFOA, PFOS, and PFUnA, exposure in two Taiwanese cross-sectional adolescent studies [156,157]. PFOA, PFOS, PFDA and PFNA were also associated with increased estradiol levels among children with asthma [157].…”

“…Reduced circulating levels of testosterone and estradiol were observed in children age 6 to 9 exposed to PFOA and PFOS and reduced levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 were observed in children exposed to PFNA and PFOS [155]. Reduced serum testosterone also correlated with PFOA, PFOS, and PFUnA, exposure in two Taiwanese cross-sectional adolescent studies [156,157]. PFOA, PFOS, PFDA and PFNA were also associated with increased estradiol levels among children with asthma [157].…”

“…Animal Biosassay In Vitro PFOA Association: [153]; [154]; [155]; [156]; [157] Association: reviewed in [164]; [91]; [165]; [166]; [169]; [170]; [173]; [175]; [191]; [61] No association: [174] Association: [176]; [158]; [175]; [181]; [188]; [189]; [193]; [179]; [180] No association: [182] Long-chain PFAS a PFOS Association: [154]; [155]; [156]; [157]; [160]; reviwed in [163] No Association: [153] Association: [191]; [192] Association: [177]; [175]; [181]; [188]; [189]; [193]; [179]; [180] No association: [182] PFHxS Association: [159]; reviwed in [163] No association: [...…”