Serum levels of perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid in pregnant women: Maternal predictors and associations with birth outcomes in the PIPA Project

Abstract

Aim: Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are persistent pollutants associated with adverse birth outcomes. This study aimed to identify predictors of blood PFOA and PFOS concentrations in pregnant women and to estimate their associations with birth outcomes in Brazil. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 139 pregnant women enrolled in the pilot study of the Rio Birth Cohort Study on Environmental Exposure and Childhood Development (PIPA Project). Multiple linear regression was used to estimate associations between PFOA and PFOS with maternal predictors and birth outcomes. Results: Higher levels of PFOA were observed in women aged 16-19 and 20-39 years, while fish consumption from 0.6 to 2.0 times per week was associated with lower levels of the substance. PFOS levels were higher in women living in houses with up to four rooms but lower in those who reported passive exposure to smoking. Increased newborn length and head circumference were also associated with higher maternal levels of PFOA. Conclusions: In our study, age, fish consumption, passive smoking, and the number of rooms in the house were predictors of maternal PFAS levels. However, we did not observe significant associations between maternal plasma PFAS concentrations and birth outcomes.

Determinants of maternal and neonatal PFAS concentrations: a review

“…Five studies observed a positive predictive relationship between maternal age and maternal plasma [ 87 , 94 ] or serum or plasma neonatal [ 64 , 86 , 91 , 94 ] PFOA concentrations. One study observed a negative relationship between maternal age and PFOA concentrations [ 92 ], though the population was small ( N = 135) and differed geographically from other studies in this review (Brazil). Population sizes for the studies ranged from n = 66 [ 90 ] to n = 5897 [ 94 ].…”

“…1 ). The studies were conducted in 15 countries: Canada [ 60 – 63 ], Taiwan [ 64 ], Norway [ 65 – 71 ], Sweden [ 67 , 72 , 73 ], United States [ 42 , 74 – 80 ], Slovakia [ 81 ], Japan [ 82 ], Spain [ 83 ], France [ 84 ], Greenland [ 85 ], China [ 86 – 90 ], Belgium [ 91 ], Brazil [ 92 ], the United Kingdom [ 71 ], and Denmark [ 93 ]. One study evaluated nine European cohorts with data on PFAS concentrations measured in the blood of pregnant mothers or in neonatal cord blood, which was divided into groups.…”

“…Those using a categorical presented five-year intervals (i.e. < 25 years, 25–29 years, ≥ 30 years), though there were two clear exceptions: one study that categorized as < 28 years, 28–30 years, and > 30 years [ 89 ] and another that categorized as 16–19 years, 20–39 years, and ≥ 40 years [ 92 ]. Among studies evaluating maternal age as a determinant, all collected maternal measurements, except for three studies that obtained neonatal measures from cord blood [ 64 , 90 , 91 ].…”

“…Fourteen studies evaluated the predictive relationship between maternal age and PFOS concentrations; most observed ( n = 9) null or not statistically significant results in mothers or neonates with serum or plasma measures [ 64 , 66 , 67 , 72 , 74 , 77 , 91 , 92 , 94 ] (Table 3 ). Six studies observed a positive predictive relationship in mothers with serum or plasma measures [ 83 , 87 , 89 , 93 , 94 ] or neonate samples [ 86 ].…”

“…Two studies measured PFAS concentrations in neonates [ 64 , 91 ]. Three studies had paired samples [ 72 , 86 , 92 ]. One study evaluated determinants of both neonatal and maternal PFAS concentrations, though the measures were not paired [ 94 ].…”