Maternal Concentrations of Polyfluoroalkyl Compounds during Pregnancy and Fetal and Postnatal Growth in British Girls

Abstract

Background: Prenatal exposures to polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) may be associated with adverse changes in fetal and postnatal growth.Objective: We explored associations of prenatal serum concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) with fetal and postnatal growth in girls.Methods: We studied a sample of 447 singleton girls and their mothers participating in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Data on weight and length were obtained at birth and at 2, 9, and 20 months. Serum samples were obtained in 1991–1992, from mothers during pregnancy. We explored associations between prenatal PFC concentrations and weight at birth as well as longitudinal changes in weight-for-age SD scores between birth and 20 months.Results: PFOS (median, 19.6 ng/mL), PFOA (median, 3.7 ng/mL), and PFHxS (median, 1.6 ng/mL) were detected in 100% of samples. On average, girls born to mothers with prenatal concentrations of PFOS in the upper tertile weighed 140 g less [95% confidence interval (CI): –238, –42] at birth than girls born to mothers with concentrations in the lower tertile in adjusted models. Similar patterns were seen for PFOA (–133 g; 95% CI: –237, –30) and PFHxS (–108 g; 95% CI: –206, –10). At 20 months, however, girls born to mothers with prenatal concentrations of PFOS in the upper tertile weighed 580 g more (95% CI: 301, 858) when compared with those in the lower tertile. No differences in weight were found for PFOA and PFHxS.Conclusions: Girls with higher prenatal exposure to each of the PFCs examined were smaller at birth than those with lower exposure. In addition, those with higher exposure to PFOS were larger at 20 months.

PFAS in Paper and Board for Food Contact

“…PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PFHxS, and indices of foetal growth/development, including birth weight, birth length, ponderal index, gestational age, and pre-term birth, have been conflicting. Some have shown increased levels to be inversely related (Andersen et al, 2010;Apelberg et al, 2007;Fei et al, 2007;Wu et al, 2012;Darrow et al, 2013, Maisonet et al, 2012Wang et al, 2011), whereas others have reported no effect or an opposite association (Fei et al, 2008b, Hamm et al, 2010Olsen et al, 2009).…”

Receptor research on xenohormone effects of human serum extracts containing the actual mixture of perfluorinated alkyl acids: a short review

“…For instance, Fei et al found that maternal serum levels of PFOA were inversely associated with birth weight among newborns from the Danish national birth cohort [9] . This was supported by Maisonet et al who found that British girls born to mothers with PFOA, PFOS and PFHxS concentrations in the upper tertile on average weighed less than those in the low tertile [10] . However, 20 months after the birth, the girls born to mothers with PFOS concentrations in the upper tertile weighed significantly more than those in the lowest tertile.…”

Per- and polyfluorinated substances in the Nordic Countries

“…Data from a subgroup of the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort study (n = 901 women; 2003-2004) showed lower birth weight among infants born to mothers in the highest quartiles of PFOA (and PFOS) compared to lowest quartiles (Whitworth et al, 2012a). Also a British study found that girls born to mothers with maternal serum concentrations of PFOA in the upper tertile weighed less (130 g (95%CI: -237, -30)) at birth compared with girls born to mothers with serum concentrations in the lower tertile (Maisonet et al, 2012). Contrary to the above findings, 2 smaller Canadian studies found no evidence of decreased birth weight and maternal PFOA levels (Monroy et al, 2008;Hamm et al, 2010).…”

“…The most extensive set of studies has examined foetal growth, birth weight, duration of gestation, and related indices of in utero development (Apelberg et al, 2007;Fei et al, , 2008Hamm et al, 2010;Hoffman et al, 2010;Monroy et al, 2008;So et al, 2006;Washino et al, 2009;Maisonet et al, 2012). In the Danish National Birth Cohort study (DNBC) (n = 1,400 mother/child), Fei et al investigated the possible correlations between the concentration of PFOA (and PFOS) in the maternal blood during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy and the birth weight and risk of premature birth .…”

“…A British study found that girls born to mothers with maternal serum concentrations of PFHxS in the upper tertile weighed less (-108 g; 95% CI: -206 to -10) at birth compared with girls born to mothers with serum concentrations in the lower tertile (Maisonet et al, 2012).…”