The transplacental transfer efficiency of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): a first meta-analysis

Appel, Mareike; Forsthuber, Martin; Ramos, Romualdo; Widhalm, Raimund; Uhl, Maria; Hengstschläger, Markus; Stamm, Tanja; Gundacker, Claudia

doi:10.1080/10937404.2021.2009946

Cited by 36 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 83 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This review focused more on legacy PFAS due to the number of studies assessing their determinants, but this does highlight the need for further study of short-chain PFAS and PFAS alternatives in future studies evaluating PFAS determinants. Potential health outcomes associated with short-chain PFAS and alternatives are still not well understood, though short-chain PFAS appear to cross the placental barrier at rates like long-chain PFAS and limited evidence has suggested deleterious effects following exposure [ 175 , 176 ]. Few studies evaluated PFAS mixtures as summed measures, such as evaluating summed PFSAs, summed PFCAs, and summed PFAAs [ 60 , 77 , 87 , 93 ].…”

Section: General Discussion and Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of maternal and neonatal PFAS concentrations: a review

McAdam

Bell

2023

Environ Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

Section: General Discussion and Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of maternal and neonatal PFAS concentrations: a review

McAdam

Bell

2023

Environ Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…PFAS cross the placenta and concentrate in breast milk; thus, exposure to the developing fetus and infant occurs [ 73 , 74 ]. PFAS are known to have endocrine-disrupting properties [ 75 , 76 ].…”

Section: Potential Mechanisms Of Pfas Carcinogenesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward a Mechanistic Understanding of Poly- and Perfluoroalkylated Substances and Cancer

Boyd

Ahmad

Singh

et al. 2022

Cancers

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Poly- and perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) are chemicals that persist and bioaccumulate in the environment and are found in nearly all human populations through several routes of exposure. Human occupational and community exposure to PFAS has been associated with several cancers, including cancers of the kidney, testis, prostate, and liver. While evidence suggests that PFAS are not directly mutagenic, many diverse mechanisms of carcinogenicity have been proposed. In this mini-review, we organize these mechanisms into three major proposed pathways of PFAS action—metabolism, endocrine disruption, and epigenetic perturbation—and discuss how these distinct but interdependent pathways may explain many of the proposed pro-carcinogenic effects of the PFAS class of environmental contaminants. Notably, each of the pathways is predicted to be highly sensitive to the dose and window of exposure which may, in part, explain the variable epidemiologic and experimental evidence linking PFAS and cancer. We highlight testicular and prostate cancer as models to validate this concept.

show abstract

“…11 PFAS can be detected in the placenta, fetal tissue, and human milk. [12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Evidence from animal and toxicological studies suggests PFAS may disrupt biological pathways involved in mammary gland development and lactation, 7,[19][20][21] which could ultimately result in insufficient milk supply, which is a leading contributor to earlier-than-desired discontinuation of breastfeeding. 6,22 Several studies have examined associations between pregnancy PFAS concentrations and breastfeeding duration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances during pregnancy and breastfeeding duration

Friedman

Dabelea

Keil

et al. 2023

Environmental Epidemiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background/objectives: Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that may affect breastfeeding duration. We examined associations between maternal PFAS concentrations during pregnancy and breastfeeding cessation. We investigated potential effect modification by parity status. Methods: Among 555 women enrolled in the Healthy Start study (2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014), we quantified maternal serum concentrations of 5 PFAS during mid-to late-pregnancy (mean 27 weeks of gestation). Participants self-reported their breastfeeding practices through 18-24 months postnatally. Among all participants and stratified by parity, we estimated associations between maternal PFAS concentrations and breastfeeding discontinuation by 3 and 6 months, using Poisson regression, and breastfeeding duration, using Cox regression. Results: Median PFAS concentrations were similar to those in the general US population. Associations between PFAS and breastfeeding duration differed by parity status. After adjusting for covariates, among primiparous women, associations between PFAS and breastfeeding cessation by 3 and 6 months were generally null, with some inverse associations. Among multiparous women, there were positive associations between perfluorohexane sulfonate, perfluorooctane sulfonate, perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and perfluorononanoate and breastfeeding cessation by 3 and 6 months. For example, per ln-ng/mL increase in PFOA, the risk ratio for breastfeeding discontinuation by 6 months was 1.45 (95% confidence interval, 1.18, 1.78). Hazard ratios reflected similar patterns between PFAS and breastfeeding duration. Conclusions: Among primiparous women, we did not find evidence for associations between PFAS concentrations and breastfeeding duration. In contrast, among multiparous women, PFAS serum concentrations were generally inversely associated with breastfeeding duration, though estimates may be biased due to confounding by unmeasured previous breastfeeding.

show abstract

The transplacental transfer efficiency of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): a first meta-analysis

Cited by 36 publications

References 83 publications

Determinants of maternal and neonatal PFAS concentrations: a review

Determinants of maternal and neonatal PFAS concentrations: a review

Toward a Mechanistic Understanding of Poly- and Perfluoroalkylated Substances and Cancer

Maternal serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances during pregnancy and breastfeeding duration

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About