Prenatal Exposure to Perfluorocarboxylic Acids (PFCAs) and Fetal and Postnatal Growth in the Taiwan Maternal and Infant Cohort Study

Abstract

Background:Perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) are environmentally and biologically persistent synthetic chemicals. PFCAs include perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA; C8) and long-chain PFCAs (C9–C20). Studies examining long-chain PFCAs and fetal and postnatal growth are limited.Objectives:We investigated the associations of prenatal exposure to long-chain PFCAs with fetal and postnatal growth.Methods:For 223 Taiwanese mothers and their term infants, we measured PFOA and four long-chain PFCAs (ng/mL) in third-trimester maternal serum; infant weight (kg), length and head circumference (cm) at birth; and childhood weight and height at approximately 2, 5, 8, and 11 years of age. For each sex, we used multivariable linear regression to examine associations between ln-transformed prenatal PFCAs and continuous infant measures, and logistic regression to examine small for gestational age (SGA). Linear mixed models were applied to prenatal PFCAs and childhood weight and height z-scores.Results:In girls, prenatal perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDeA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), and perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoDA) concentrations were inversely associated with birth weight [e.g., βbirth weight (kg) = –0.06, 95% CI: –0.11, –0.01 per 1 ln-unit PFUnDA increase]; prenatal PFDeA and PFUnDA were associated with elevated odds of SGA; and PFDeA, PFUnDA, and PFDoDA were associated with lower average childhood height z-score. In boys, prenatal PFNA, and PFDoDA were associated with reductions in height at certain ages in childhood, but not with size at birth.Conclusions:Prenatal exposure to long-chain PFCAs may interfere with fetal and childhood growth in girls, and childhood growth in boys.Citation:Wang Y, Adgent M, Su PH, Chen HY, Chen PC, Hsiung CA, Wang SL. 2016. Prenatal exposure to perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) and fetal and postnatal growth in the Taiwan Maternal and Infant Cohort Study. Environ Health Perspect 124:1794–1800; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1509998

Concentration of perfluorinated compounds and cotinine in human foetal organs, placenta, and maternal plasma

“…concentrations support previous measurements from pregnant women (Monroy et al, 2008;Okada et al, 2013Okada et al, , 2014Cho et al, 2015;Manzano-Salgado et al, 2015;Papadopoulou et al, 2015;Callan et al, 2016;Wang et al, 2016). PFUnDA has been previously detected both at higher and lower concentrations (Okada et al, 2013;Callan et al, 2016;Wang et al, 2016).…”

“…PFUnDA has been previously detected both at higher and lower concentrations (Okada et al, 2013;Callan et al, 2016;Wang et al, 2016). The literature is not conclusive regarding the concentrations of PFOS and PFOA in plasma.…”

Evidence of exposure to chemicals and heavy metals during pregnancy in Japanese women

“…Elevated concentrations of PFCs have been associated with the consumption of seafood, meat, and a high intake of salty snacks . Exposure to PFCs is associated with reduced fetal growth and endocrine disruption in females . PFCs remain in the human body for a long time after exposure because of their highly stable chemical structure .…”

“…Fetuses are more vulnerable than adults to the harmful effects of chemicals . Prenatal exposure to environmental chemicals, such as organophosphate pesticides, tobacco smoke, PFCs and heavy metals, has been shown to be associated with low birthweight of infants and neurobehavioral function . Exposure to phthalates is associated with allergic diseases, aberrant neurodevelopment, endocrine disruption, and preterm birth .…”

“…Exposure to phthalates is associated with allergic diseases, aberrant neurodevelopment, endocrine disruption, and preterm birth . Some previous reports showed that PFCs are associated with fetal growth and pregnancy‐induced hypertension . PFCs exposure in early life is also associated with energy metabolic disorders .…”