Temporal Trends in Prenatal Exposure (1998–2018) to Emerging and Legacy Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Cord Plasma from the Beijing Cord Blood Bank, China

Abstract

Due to developmental toxicity, prenatal exposure to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in animals may result in adverse effects on the fetus. However, little information is available on PFASs presence in the human cord plasma. Here, we measured the levels of 37 emerging and legacy PFASs in 650 cord plasma samples collected every 5 years spanning 1998 to 2018 by the Beijing Cord Blood Bank and evaluated changes in PFASs concentrations using generalized additive models. We observed an increase in the concentrations of 24 PFASs (Σ 24 PFASs) from 1998 to 2003 followed by a decrease every 5 years from 2003 to 2018. For legacy PFASs, similar trends were observed for PFOS, whereas PFOA levels did not decline until 2013. For emerging chemicals, 6:2 Cl-PFESA showed a similar trend as PFOS, and prenatal exposure to 6:2 Cl-PFESA could be traced back to 1998, with a median concentration of 0.411 ng/mL in plasma. Our data showed that prenatal exposure to legacy PFASs has gradually decreased in cord plasma from the Beijing Cord Blood Bank in recent years, and the discovery of the presence of emerging chemicals in 1998 suggested that further evaluation is needed to assess possible health risks to pregnant women and fetuses.

Prenatal exposure to poly-/per-fluoroalkyl substances is associated with alteration of lipid profiles in cord-blood

“…A total number of 104 cord plasma samples collected from 2018 were archived in the Beijing Cord Blood Bank (Beijing, China) (Wang et al, 2020 ). Shortly, the cord blood sample was collected into a plastic blood bag containing citrate phosphate dextrose adenine as an anticoagulant, and then was shipped to Beijing Cord Blood Bank within 24 h. Blood sample was centrifuged (1500× g for 20 min, 4 ℃), and the plasma was stored in cryogenic vial at − 40 ℃.…”

“…Details of the sample collection can be found at: http://www.globalcordbloodcorp.com/en_US/ . Concentrations of PFAS were measured in another study (Wang et al, 2020 ). Clinical characteristics such as maternal age, delivery type, and infant gender and birth weight were obtained from obstetric records are provided in Table 1 .…”

A pilot study on extractable organofluorine and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water from drinking water treatment plants around Taihu Lake, China: what is missed by target PFAS analysis?

“…11 The regulations have led to the phase-out of these substances, and manufacturers have shifted to the compensatory production and usage of replacements such as some novel PFAS (mainly the substitutes of PFOA and PFOS) which already showed ubiquitous occurrence. 12,13 Besides, ultra-short PFAS (C2 and C3) also attract increasing attention due to their mobile properties, and among them, trifluoroacetate (TFA) has already been widely reported in surface water, rainwater, the atmosphere, and sediments. 14–17…”

“…See https://doi.org/10.1039/d2em00073c showed ubiquitous occurrence. 12,13 Besides, ultra-short PFAS (C2 and C3) also attract increasing attention due to their mobile properties, and among them, triuoroacetate (TFA) has already been widely reported in surface water, rainwater, the atmosphere, and sediments. [14][15][16][17] According to OECD, there are nearly 5000 individual PFAS.…”

Exposure of Preconception Couples to Legacy and Emerging Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: Variations Within and Between Couples

“…Polyfluoroalkyl phosphate diesters (PAPs) were inclined to be transformed in vivo to fluorotelomer carboxylic acids, fluorotelomer unsaturated carboxylic acids and PFCAs, acting as a significant indirect source of PFAS to humans . Since the first report of diPAPs in human serum in 2009, a few studies have investigated human exposure to these PFAS precursors. − However, biomonitoring data remain very limited in Chinese populations. A recent study reported a lower detection rate (<20%) of 6:2diPAP in cord plasma from the Beijing Cord Blood Bank .…”